*Ashish Sharma/Ram* AT#36 Dhanurdharaya Ram !!! - Page 105

"O mighty hero how am I to compensate you for all you have done for me and my family?"

Many would have wanted wealth, name or fame, approbation or recognition or VIP line in return for their services. But Sri Hanuman was above all these:

"I desire nothing, Prabhu!"

Then, Maa Sita removed a valuable necklace of pearls from her neck and offered it to the humble Sri Hanuman.

Sri Hanuman received the necklace with great respect from Mata Sita, but began to break the pearls with His teeth.

Sita, and other ministers who were sitting in the council-hall, were quite astonished at this queer act of Sri Hanuman. Some wondered why the noble and great warrior Sri Hanuman was behaving like a monkey. Was it the monkey mind?

Sita asked Hanuman, "O mighty Hero! What are You doing? Why do You break the pearls?"

Sri Hanuman said, "O venerable Mother! It is the most valuable necklace, indeed, as it has come to me through Thy holy hand. But I want to find out whether any of the pearls contains my beloved Lord Rama. I do not keep a thing devoid of Him. I do not find Him in any of the pearls."

At this, one of the assembly members ironically remarked, "You would not wear any thing that has not got in it the Name of Rama. Well, You are wearing your body. You are carrying it about with you. Prove to us that you have the Name in it."

Hanuman laughed aloud; he said, "I shall prove, See!"

Sri Hanuman then tore his chest open with his mighty hands and Lo! Sri Rama and Maa Sita were seated in his heart!

Lord Rama came down the throne and embraced Hanuman and blessed Him. He asked him, "Hanuman! What can I offer you on this occasion? I have no gift worthy to be given to you. I am giving you myself as my gift to you." Then, he offered his body to be clasped by Hanuman's hands. The assembly was moved into shouts of "Jai ho" at this unique act of Grace. They praised Hanuman and declared that there was no one to equal him in all the worlds. They praised the devotion and dedication of Hanuman.

When Sri Rama ascended to His Supreme abode, Hanuman also wished to follow Him. But the Lord asked him to remain in this world as His representative, and attend the assemblies of saints where discourses (katha) on His deeds were held and heard, and help His devotees in cultivating devotion.