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101
Hanumāna attains disgust
Once, Hanumāna scaled the loftiest mountain Meru, to visit the temples dedicated to the tirthankaras. At the time of sunset, he began his return journey. He saw the luminous solar disc, gradually immersing in the sea, and the radiant sky, gradually turning into an ocean of darkness. He thought, every day, the sunrise, in a mute language, proclaims the advent of evening which is in offing. It proclaims that everything in the world is bound to an end and is transitory. Whatever is born, dies, whatever that is created, is bound to perish. People worship the rising sun. but the setting sun is all by himself, no one offers prayers to it. When I left for Lanka in the quest of Sita, I was in the prime of my life, ! was like a rising sun. By the grace of God, I am still strong and able, but by the time I reach the twilight years, I too will be like the setting sun ... all by myself, but before this happens, let me make some efforts to escape the transitory world and embrace the eternal. Only through renouncing the world and all its short living pleasures, one can reach the salvation."
to everyone what Rāma was thinking, and added, "Rama is a noble and lofty soul, who is certainly going to achieve salvation in this life, yet like other mortals, he is mocking the eternal path of salvation. Who can understand this enigma of Mohaniya karmas, which entice and enchant the heart and mind? The attachments are indeed strange! The reason for this strange behaviour of Rama is his deep attachment for Laksmana. This has hindered the awareness in his heart."
The entire assembly of the celestial beings was awestruck when it heard this. Two of the dieties were especially moved, 'The deep love between two of the mortal beings is applauded by none other than Devendra, the emperor of dieties. In order to test this love, they descended the skies and reached Ayodhyā. They reached the palace, and using their magical powers, created an illusion that depicted the death of Rama. Rama was seen lying motionless on his couch and the women in the harem were lamenting, "O Rama, why have you forsaken us? You freed the entire universe from fear, and why are you lying motionless? What has caused your untimely demise ?"
Muni Hanumāna's Vihāra
When he reached home, he at once handed over the empire to his heir and became an ascetic. Sri Dharmaratnācārya sage initiated him into a new realm and they began their Vihara-journey by walking barefoot. His entire harem accepted the vows. Hanumāna, through meditation and non-action, vanquished both, the virtues and sins, and finally achieved the salvation.
When the news of Hanumāna's dikşā reached Rama, he thought, Inspite of being endowed with every materialistic comfort and power, why did Hanumana embrace initiation, which give nothing but hardship and pain?' Indra, the emperor of the celestial worlds learnt about Rama's thoughts through avadhigyana-clairvoyance, that he possessed. He, as usual sitting in the assembly of the dieties, revealed
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