Raamayana’s heroes in DwaaparayugaPart 1

The Himalayan Flower

When the Paandava brothers with their wife were in exile, they spent a week at the foothills of a mountain called Gandhamaadana*. On the last day of their stay, carried along with it an intoxicatingly fragrant flower, “sougandhika” (kalyanasougandhika), also called “kalahaara”. Droupadi was enchanted by it and asked Bheema to get her more of those flowers.

*In the Himalayas, believed to be the place where Hanuman resides, to date.

Bheema set out, without telling anyone, to find them for his beloved wife. Trudging along the mountain Gandhamaadana, he walked fearlessly without a hint of fatigue or second thoughts, just as Hanuman had flown over the ocean (without rest or a break). Bheema’s handsome face showed no sign of weariness despite the arduous trek.

It is said that this encounter had a three-fold purpose; to provide delight/“saatvik aananda” to gnyaanis, to provide amusement/“taamasic aananda” to agnyaanis, and for Hanuman to declare that he would be present in the war that was to take place as “Kapi-dhwaja”, in Arjuna’s flag atop his chariot, contributing to the terror that would be unleashed on the Kauravas, by his roars.

The sons of Vayu

When Lord Vishnu dons an avataara, there is no difference between him and his avataaras. When gods like Indra or Yama, dwell on earth, there is a perceptible difference between them and their avataaras. In the case of Vayu devaru, all three incarnations, Hanuma, Bheema and Madhwa are equal to each other. There is an imperceptible difference between the three avataaras of Vayu and Vayu himself, only to highlight the difference between the Paramaatma and the Jeevaatma.

As part of divine play, the two sons of Vayu acted as if they were strangers. Bheema requested the monkey to move aside. When the monkey feigned helplessness and asked Bheema to step across, Bheema replied that to step across a living being was to show disrespect to the Lord who dwelt within, and hence he could not (step across). He added that, if not for this consideration, he (Bheema) could have easily stepped across the entire mountain and not just an old monkey, just as Hanuman had flown across the ocean. When the monkey asked him who Hanuman was, Bheema, his heart bursting with pride replied, “Who doesn’t know Hanuman? The second hero of Raamayana,he’s my elder brother (poorvaroopa), and I am his equal in every way!” The monkey heard him quietly and said, “Please move my tail aside and step across. I am too frail to move.”

The mighty Bheema casually used his left hand to lift the tail. He experienced something he had never ever, failure! He used both hands and all his might but was unable to move the tail. He wondered at the strength of the monkey, if the tail alone was so strong. Begging for forgiveness at having interacted in a light manner, he asked the monkey who he really was.

The monkey said, “I am Kesari and Anjana’s child, the son of Vayu. I am Hanuman, the brother you spoke about!” Then he described his role in the Raamayana briefly and expressed gratitude to Bheema for having made him relive the glory of Raama’s story.

Bheema put forth a request. He wished to see the enormous form of Hanuman, in which he had crossed the ocean. Hanuman jested that he no longer had such special powers in that (Dwaapara)yuga. Bheema was persistent and Hanuman finally revealed his powerful form which seemed to link the skies and the earth.

Bheema was awe-struck. He had only one question in his mind. Why did Raama have to gather such a large army and wage a war against Raavana, when all he had to do was command Hanuman to finish off Raavana? Hanuman explained the impropriety of him rescuing Sita, depriving Raama his glory, and of Vishnu’s promise to kill Raavana and Kumbhakarna* himself.

*Jaya and Vijaya

Hanuman then blessed Bheema and told him that he had a huge responsibility to shoulder in the war to come, and to provide unstinted support to Yudhishtira.

Additionally, Hanuman promised Bheema to be present on the battle-field in the flag of Arjuna’s chariot, and to strike terror in the hearts of the Kaurava army by his terrible roars which would accompany Krishna blowing the conch, Paanchajanya, and Arjuna’s twang of his mighty bow, the Gaandiva! Hanuman was a silent listener to the Bhagavad Geethe revealed to Arjuna. The sons of Vayu held each other in a tight embrace. Thus ended the glorious meeting of Hanuman and Bheema!

You could also read:
https://www.prekshaa.in/mahabharata-episode-bhima-gets-saugandhika-flowersyudhi%E1%B9%A3%E1%B9%ADhira-ajagara-conversation