Basically, Vanar aspect was introduced in Ramayan in the KishKimdha Kand. Ram and Lakshaman were shown to be searching Sita with the help of dropdown Alankars of Sita. Over the peroid they reached to Pampa-Sarover. This is the place where they meet Hanuman and Sugrrev. Hanuman and Sugreev were shown to dress as Buddist Monks(Bhikkus). All Vanars in Ramayan were shown to wear like Bhikkus. That clearly shows the influence of Buddha in the Ramayan period. Vaners in Ramayan are shown to be most polite,strong and sharp minded. Ram took the help of Vanars to get Sita back from Lanka. Hanuman-Ram met first time at RishyaMuka parvat. Hanuman met Ram as envoy(Doot) of King Sugrrev and not as Ram Bhakta. This is explicitly mentioned in Kishkindha kand:
Vacho Vignaya HanumanSuggreevasya MahatManaH |
ParvataDrushyaMukattu Pupluway Yatra Ragavaoo|| 4.3.1||
KapiRupam Paritajya HanumanaMarutamajaH |
BhishuRupam Tato Bheje ShataBudhitaya KapiH||4.3.2||
SamPujaya VidhivaDwiro Hanumanavarotam: || 4.3.4||
Uvacha Kamato Vakayam Mrudu Satyam Prakramoo || 4.3.5 ||
Later on again it is explicitly mentioned that Vanar were all intelligent and well built as well.
Evamuktatva tu hanumanastoo veeroo ramlakshamaoo |
Vakyano VakyaKushalaHaPunarnavacha kinchan || 4.3.24 ||
Sanskar krama sampanamAbhutamvilimtam |
Ucharyati Kalyani Vacham HridayaHarshanim || 4.3.32 ||
This clearly shows that Hanuman, although a Bhikku, was equally good at Sanskrit. Ram and Lakshaman were shown to praise Hanuman's ability to talk in Sanskrit language. Hanuman and all Vanars in Ramayan were shown to be good at Sanskrit language. This gives the indication of Vedik and Buddhist amalgametion in the Ramayan period. Now one must wonder how a Vanar(Monkey) can talk like a human being? Moreover how can Monkey be more intillegent than Human being? This is absurd. We know that in the process of evolution Human race is the ultimate in intelligence. Ramayan shows Vanar more powerful than most intelligent of men (Buddhimatam Varistam). This means that Ramayankar did not mean Vanar as Monkey but Vanar means Va+Nar. Va means astonishing or surprising and Nar means Manav. This means that those who are astonishing and surprising in the eyes of many are Vanar. Vedik people considered abilities of Buddihsit monk as astonishing and surprising. The life style of those people were shown to be entirly different than that of vedik people hence Vanar. At that times there must be some Budha bhikkus living in the deep forest and surviving on the forest only. Vanar in Ramayan shown to be totally Vegetarian. All these aspects were totally surprising for vedik people hence Vanar. At the end of Ramayan these Vanar were responsible for Ram-Sita Milan. This way actully Ramayankar wanted to show that even Buddha thought is as well capable of achiving Satvik Sadhana.
This clearly shows the influence of Buddha thought in the period of Ramayan. Maharshi Valmiki had to consider the strong effect and good will enjoyed by bhikkus at that time. Maharishi Valmiki depicted sages or bhikkus following the Buddha as Vanar where as Pandit who followed Buddha were termed as Rakshas(Ravan). This indicates that at that time there were two types of Buddha followers 1) Who were silently and truly following Buddha principles where as 2) others like Ravan who were more pronounced in there claims of acheiving the Brahma state. They were more aggresive in their propoganda and claims and hence were treated as Rakshasas. Ramayn depicted all these as battle of tendencies with the social structure of that time.
Now in our opinion this word is the most technological word used in the Ramayan. This is the place where Ram-Hanuman were shown to meet first time in Ramayan. It is very interesting to find why Maharishi Valmiki shown the place as to be Pampa Sarover? Why not any other place? Let's see the word formation. Pampa is Pa+Amba. 'Pa' means derogation and Amba means Water or Jala. Sarover means water lake. This means that the state in which Sadhak derogats and be in Aap State. As disscussed earlier, Sadhana Sadhak is in either of the five states:
Ram Sadhak was shown in the Tejas state, where as Vanar like Sugrrev and Hanuman were shown in the Vayu state.Ram sadhak would fall down to next to Tejas state i.e. Aap state and hence Hanuman should also fall down to the same state.Both must fall down to Aap state in order to full fill their wishes(Ram wanted to free Sita from Ravan and Hanuman wanted Sugrreev's wife Roma from Bali). To describe this falling down of the grate sadhana states Maharishi Valmiki depicted Pampa Sarover. Ram wanted to free Sita from Ravan.The satvik tendency(Sita) is kiddnapped by Ravan(Rakshasas) which bliss tendency(Ram) wanted to free. To desire is a sign of derogation(Patan) hence Ram sadhak who is shown to be in Tejas state must come down to Aap state. On the other hand Hanuman as well wanted his Kings(Sugrreva) wife and Kingdom back from the Sugrrevas brother Bali. Hanuman is depicted in the Vayu state but to desire is Patan and since Ram must come down from Tejas to Aap, Hanuman as well must fall down to the same level. Hence to depict all these activities Maharishi Valmiki made the word Pampa Sarover.
To answer the question , we may have to first see the relationship of Suggrreva and Bali. Bali and Suggrreva were shown as idential brothers enjoying very healthy atmosphre in their kindom of Kishkindha. The Kishkindha was capital of the Bali-Suggerreav kingdom. Bali being elder of the two, was shown as King of the Kishkindha. This city had a enemy named as Dundhibhi. Every year Dundhibhi used to attack Kishkindha but Bali being very powerful used to send him back. One year Bali got very angry with Dundhibhi and decided to settle the problem of Dundhibhi once for all. He chased Dundhibhi to every possible corner. Ultimatly, Dundhibhi, went into burrow (beel) to save his life. Dundhibhi was shown as Mahakaya rakshasas but still he was able to go into small hole!!!. Bali chased him there as well. But before going in,Bali asked Sugrreva to stand infornt of the burrow as a guard. Suggrreva did exactly as told by his elder brother. One year passed but neither Dundhibhi nor Bali came out of the burrow. Suggrreva became very anxious and ultimatly decided to put a large stone infornt of the burrow so as to protect Bali from outside enviornments. Suggrreva then declared himself as king of Kishkindha.Here one peculiar custom of society at that time is shown. Tara, wife of king of Kishkindha. Yes, Tara was shown as wife of King not a person. Accordingly, she was first wife of Bali and now in the absence of Bali, that of Suggrreva as Suggrreva declared himself as King of Kishkindha. What a tradition! Two brothers were shown to have very deep and healthy relationship but both shown to share wife! The character of Tara was repeated later in Mahabharat as Draupadi!! Here Bali after one year or so came out of the burrow after killing Dundhibhi. Bali saw Suggrrev missing and he suspected that Suggrrev must have delibiratly gone to the Kiskindha and must be enjoying heavily with Tara. Actually, Bali did not realize the amount of time he spend inside that burrow, so he thought that he came outside just within minutes.Since he lost sense of time he was justifed being angry about Suggrreva's absence outside burrow. Suggrrev was also justified since he waited for one full year and as far as enjoying Tara as told earlier she was shown as married to a person whosoever is a King of Kishkindha. Bali immediatly captured Kishkindha and asked Suggrrev to leave the capital at the earlist. At this point Suggrrev went into hiding in deep jungle. Suggrrev was accompanied by Hanuman.
Here many questions ariese
The word Bali is combination of Va+Ali; As seen earlier,Va means astonishing or surprising and Ali means friend or state(Avastha). That means Bali means anybody who is in surprising state. Bali is shown to be in highly surprising state of Sadhana. Such a state can be obtained from being in Vayu state only. Bali is shown to be in Vyau state with all joyfull outcomes. See that Ram Sadhak is in Tejas state where as Bali sadhak is shown in the Vyau state. Tejas state is inferior to Vyau state. Tejas sadhak can not directly kill tendencies present and required for Vayu state hence Ram is shown to kill Bali indirectly.
Su+Greeva; Greeva means throat(Kantha) and Su means excellent. That means anybody who is good at talking and using the voice is Suggrreva. Naturally,this type of Sadhak is shown as glib talker. Through this Maharishi Valmiki wanted to depict the state of sadhak in which one attempts to be more polite and glib in talking. That way the sadhak becomes weak or timid. Such a sadhak although very close to know Brahma should be avoided.Anyone gets immpressed by his glib talking but such sadhak is not capable enough to make a way to reach at brahma state. Excess of everything spoils this type of sadhak. Through Suggrreva character Maharishi wanted to alarm about such state of sadhana.
So, Bali-Suggrrev were depicted to represent two different tendencies. They are shown as identical but not twins brothers. This is to indicate that their external apperance might be same but one is supirior tendency over other. Bali tendency is shown more upright and supirior than Suggrreva tendency. Both these tendencies are supirior than Ram tendency. Bali was shown as most upright and powerful and hence difficult for Ram tendency sadhak to empower.It is impossible for a sadhak in Ram state(Tejas) to overpower Bali state(Vayu). Whereas, Suggrreva is tendency of over expressions and politeness. Ram sadhak in order to acquire Satvik Vrutti(Sita) must require to conquer these tendencies. Bali tendency is impossible to overpower and Suggrreva trendency is easily manipulated. That is the reason why Ram is shown to have a friendly relationship with Suggrreva where as Ram sadhak requires to kill by treachery a Brahma knowing Bali. Honest killing of Bali by Ram was not possible hence it was shown in dishonest way. This indicates that honest Bhikku tendency can never die. One can only create illusions of its death. A true bhikku tendency will always remain.
Hanu+Man; Hanu means Chin(Thuddi). A person with a beautiful chin is described as Hanuman in Ramayan.Hanuman is shown to have attacked Sun immediatly after the birth. He could not suucced and hence falls down. That injures his chin. That makes the chin beautiful and hence Hanuman. How is it possible for a new born to fly and attack Sun. It is not possible. The mother of Hanuman is shown as Anjani. Ann+Jani; Ann means vibrations(Spandan) and Jani means to take birth.The sadhak that gives birth to super vibrations is Anjani. We know that everything in the world has vibrations. A force that causes super vibrations is what is called as Brahma. Brahma makes every possible vibrations hence it is as well called as Annjani. That makes Hanuman to be created by Brahma force only.That means Hanuman is created spontenously.Hence it can not be destroyed. This makes Hanuman one of the Cheerenjeev(which can not die). Attack on Sun by baby Hanuman is to indicate the tendency of such sadhak to destroy every possible thing. Anyone who acheives Brahma state tends naturally to destroy every possible thing if not properly channelized. Such sadhak are very good at manipulating Tejas tendencies of Sun is an indicator. Fire is primary means of desrtoying everything. A sadhak that has acheived spontenous high speed vibrations must genarate fire. This natural in physics. Every high speed vibrating material should genarate fire. That is why baby Hanuman is shown to attack Sun(Fire). Such a sadhak that has acheived Brahma state must be in Vayu state because of its Vibrant nature. A Vayu state sadhak natural follower i.e. Bhakt.
So we have Bali,Suggrreva,and Hanuman all living in the city of Kishkindha. Bali was shown as king of Kishkindha. Bali as aleady said in Brahma state in most astonishing fashion. He is shown to run Kishkindha city. Let's see the Kishkindha.
This another word Maharishi created with his super intellectual power. KiHi+Kim+Dha makes KishKinDha. KiHi means by whom or by which and Kim means What or Who and Dha means to hold(Dharan Karna).So KishKinDha word is to indicate "by Whom and What is that has been hold" This is purely an attempt to describe the Samadhi avastha. In the super Samadhi avastha every thing is wordless and expressionless. This state is beautifully expressed by Maharishi in Ramayan as KishKimDha. This is a Shyunya avastha or Nirvan avastha. Bali is supposed to be king of this state. Hence Ba+Ali Bali. So Bali is fully aware of Brahma state and hence is shown as Brahma only. Suggrrev is a weak tendency always require some assitence. Hanuman is high speed viration tendency that is omnipotent hence cheeranjeev. Hanuman tendency must live means it can not get involved totaly with Brahma to loose identity. It must remain vibraant. Bali is total Brahma state. So Hanuman can not be part of Bali. Hence Hanuman is not shown as follower of Bali. Otherwise it would require to die.Moreover, Suggrreva must have some assitence to be in the Brahma state. Hence Ramayan describes Hanuman as follower of Suggrreva rather than Kishkindha or Bali. Had it been then Maharishi would have killed him through Bali or would have made as wife of Bali. Maharishi actually did this by showing the expressive tendencies of a Samadhi avastha as wife of Kishkindha as Tara.
As seen earlier, Kishkimdha is a Nirvan or Samadhi Avastha and Bali is the Sadhak who enjoys this state. Anybody who happens to be in full Samadhee avastha must rediate all his power. Tara means to radiate. So the knowledge that radiates from Bali sadhak is called as Tara. This will always be with Samadhee avastha. That is why Tara is shown as wife of KishKimDha and not of a person.
We have seen that KishKimDha was attacked by a Rakshash called Dundibhee. Every year Dundubhi is shown to attack kishkindha and every year Bali is shown to have overpower it. One year finally Bali decides to overpower him once for all. Who was is Dundubhee rakshash. Basically, a sadhana sadhak in the Yog science will expireance a drum sound(Anahat Nad) before it goes in the Samadhee state. Till the time this type of sound is heard sadhak can not be in Sanadhee avastha. Sadahk must work hard to overcome this sound. Dundubhee means sound of Big Drum(Dhol or Nagara). This is very intersting situation. Bali is shown to be in Brahma avastha but without killing this sound he can not be in that state. That is why Bali is shown to attack every time on Dundubhee. Finally, Bali is shown to decide to overpower this Anahat sound. To do this he has to control his Shusmuna nadi. Any one who controls Shusmuna nadi that runs between Ida and Pingla nadi enjoys Brahma avastha. The Shushmuna nadi is describe here as Burrow. Because once you go into Shushmuna nadi one tends to loose sense of time and hence deprived of any outer surroundings. Bali does this excercise over Shushmuna nadi for entire one year to over come the sound of drum(Anahat Nad). In doing so he looses sense of time that is why one year of time becomes one moment for Bali.
This finishes the list of important characters of Ramayan. We shall see remaing characters as and when require to. From here we are now ready to read some of the important incidents depicted in Ramayan by Maharishi Valmiki.
Click here to read Bala-Kanda.
Please send comments to: Softbit
Computers Pvt.Ltd.
Page Updated 12-April-2002.
(c) 2000-2003 Softbit Computers ©
copyright Softbit Computers Pvt. Ltd , 1999-2003 .All rights
reserved.