In the bustling heart of Ayodhya, a city teeming with history and myth, a grand celebration unfolded to mark the triumphant return of Lord Shri Ram Chandra, the divine hero who had defeated the demon king Ravana and rescued his beloved Sita ji. The streets were adorned with flowers, and the city’s jubilant residents came together to honor their beloved prince and his heroic feats.
At the center of this joyous spectacle was a magnificent banquet, where the people of Ayodhya, both high and low, joined hands with the valiant members of Lord Ram’s loyal monkey army. It was a display of unity, transcending the boundaries of caste and species.
In this harmonious gathering, Sugreev ji, a prominent figure in the monkey army, imparted a profound message. “In this splendid celebration,” he declared, “we are the esteemed guests, and the noble citizens of Ayodhya, our gracious hosts. Let us comport ourselves with the utmost grace and respect, remembering that we should never underestimate the dignity of our simian lineage.”
His words resonated with the assembly, instilling a sense of purpose and decorum. Yet, one sagacious monkey, with humility in his heart, dared to raise a thoughtful concern. He approached Sugreev ji, bowing deeply, and respectfully offered, “My Lord, we pledge to conduct ourselves with utmost decorum, but it is essential to acknowledge our innate simian nature. Errors may inadvertently surface. To safeguard our image in the eyes of Ayodhya’s people, I propose we designate a leader who can provide guidance and manage our seating arrangements. This will prevent internal conflicts that could mar our collective reputation.”
Sugreev, known for his wisdom, appreciated the wisdom of this suggestion. Among the noble monkeys, Hanuman, the epitome of devotion and Lord Rama’s most cherished devotee was the obvious choice for this pivotal role.
Thus, Hanuman assumed the responsibility of overseeing the seating arrangements for the grand banquet, ensuring that every guest was comfortably accommodated.
On the day of the magnificent feast, Hanuman meticulously organized the seating, ensuring that every guest was comfortably settled. His dedication and precision were evident in every detail.
Upon completing this task, Hanuman, the humble devotee of Lord Shri Ram, approached his beloved Lord. In an unexpected turn of events, Shri Ram, with a tender smile, extended a warm invitation to Hanuman, inviting him to dine together.
Hanuman was faced with a profound dilemma. He harbored no aspiration to dine on equal terms with the divine. Instead, he sought to partake of the feast as prasad, a divine offering, after Lord Shri Ram had concluded his meal. The banquet offered no individual seating arrangements or banana leaves for the monkeys, which compounded Hanuman’s uncertainty.
Perceiving the inner turmoil of his devoted servant, Shri Ram magnanimously expanded the seating area for Hanuman, mirroring his divine capacity to expand the universe itself. However, he did not create an additional banana leaf.
With unparalleled grace, Shri Ram offered a profound revelation, saying, “Dear Hanuman, just as we are one in spirit, share this banana leaf with me, for the devotee and the divine are eternally intertwined. Those who offer their sincere devotion to you shall ultimately find their path to me.”
In response, Hanuman, with unwavering devotion, humbly declared, “My Lord, no matter how you stress our equality, I shall never be your equal, nor do I aspire to be. I will forever be your devoted servant, at your divine lotus feet. I am unworthy to partake of the same leaf as you.”
Shri Ram, understanding the depths of Hanuman’s unwavering devotion, tenderly used the middle finger of his right hand to draw a line down the center of the banana leaf, thereby transforming it into two halves. With one half, he partook of the meal, while the other half was offered to Hanuman.
This symbolic act beautifully epitomized the unity within duality, where two halves coexisted as one, symbolizing the inseparable bond between the devotee and the divine, forever bound by the threads of love and devotion.
🙏🐒🕊️ #UnityInDuality #Devotion #LordHanuman #LordRam
