Hanuman Ji’s Bhakti: Lessons of Humility and Ego-Free Devotion
There comes a time when Hanuman ji meets Lord Ram, becomes his devoted follower, and resolves to spend his entire life at Lord Ram’s feet—chanting his name and performing bhakti.
Once, Lord Ram was discussing with Maharaj Sugreev how they might bring Mata Janki ji (Sita) back from Lanka. Sugreev replied that, just like Hanuman ji, there are countless vanaras (monkey warriors) who reside in his kingdom.
Ram ji then instructed Sugreev to summon all the vanaras.
When the vanaras received the news that they would have the divine sight (darshan) of Lord Ram, Narayan himself, they arrived in their lakhs, singing bhajans and kirtans joyfully.
Amidst all the vanaras, Hanuman ji was walking at the very back. Ram ji noticed that everyone coming to see him bowed respectfully, but Hanuman was nowhere to be seen at the front.
Ram ji wondered, “Hanuman ji, you are my greatest devotee and consider me your guru. Why do you walk behind the lakhs of vanaras? You should be at the front.”
Hanuman ji replied with humility:
“Mere man prabhu as vishwa-sa,
Ram te adhik - Ram ke das.”
(I have firm faith in my Lord Ram,
but I love even more those who are devoted to him.)
Hanuman ji explained, “I know my love for Lord Ram is boundless, but I love even more those who love and serve him, who become his servants and true devotees.”
This teaches us that on the path of bhakti (devotion), one must let go of ego and the desire for prominence. True service bears fruit only when performed with humility and love, not pride.
The Shivlinga Story – A Lesson Against Pride in Devotion
There was a time when even Hanuman ji experienced a fleeting moment of pride at being Lord Ram’s greatest devotee. One day, Lord Ram asked Hanuman ji to bring a Shiva Linga from Varanasi so that he could perform puja to Mahadev (Shiva) before the battle against Lanka.
Lord Ram said, “Oh Hanuman, there is no devotee greater than you.”
These words of praise stayed with Hanuman ji, and for a brief moment, he thought, “There is no devotee of Lord Ram greater than me. I am at the top of Ram ji’s list.”
With this thought in mind, Hanuman ji immediately flew to Varanasi and brought back the Shiva Linga. But upon his return, he saw that Lord Ram had already built a Shiva Linga out of sand.
Hanuman ji, holding the Shiva Linga from Varanasi, said, “Prabhu, I am here. I suppose I got delayed in bringing the Shiva Linga.”
Ram ji replied, “No, Hanuman, you were not late. While you were on your way, your mind was constantly thinking of something.”
Then Ram ji said, “Place the Shiva Linga you brought on top of the sand Shiva Linga. First, remove the sand Shiva Linga and then set your Shiva Linga above it.”
Hanuman ji tried to move the sand Shiva Linga, but it would not budge.
Ram ji said you are powerfl , this is mere sand Shivlinga, remove it to place the one you got, Hanuman use your tail strength to relocate this Shivlinga,
Even using all his strength, and then his tail, Hanuman ji could not move it.
Ram ji smiled and asked, “Hanuman, were you thinking something?”
Hanuman ji replied, “Within me, there is only the chant of your name, Ram-Ram.”
Ram ji gently said, “No, Hanuman. I told you something, and that thought lingered in your mind.”
Hanuman ji realized, “Yes, I was thinking that I am your supreme devotee.”
Lord Ram explained, “I may say that you are my greatest devotee, but you should never let that thought grow within you.
Instead, you should always feel that you still have much to improve before truly becoming my supreme devotee.
A devotee should never praise himself; only when the guru or Lord praises may a devotee listen—but that praise should never turn into pride or ego.”
This story teaches us that on the path of devotion, one must remain humble and never let pride enter the heart, no matter how much praise one receives.
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