Hanumān Carried Out the Orders of God
The history of Hanumān perfectly illustrates the supreme power of unconditional service to the Absolute Truth. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the highest perfection of life is not to merge into the existence of God, but to remain a humble servant, executing His divine will with complete faith, devotion, and courage.
The Ideal Servant and Companion
The Supreme Lord is always accompanied by His most confidential servitors in every incarnation. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that the servant devotees in Gokula are Raktaka, Citraka, Patraka and so on; in Dvārakā there are servants like Dāruka, and in the Lord's pastimes in the material world there are servants like Hanumān. While some conditioned souls may become confused by the Lord's earthly pastimes, true devotees understand His absolute position; we may doubt whether Lord Rāmacandra could be in the same category of viṣṇu-tattva, since He was carried by Hanumān, not by Garuḍa, and had neither four hands nor the śankha, cakra, gadā and padma. Nevertheless, His identity is supreme, and during His earthly exile, the Lord was also accompanied by Hanumān (or by another monkey, Sugrīva), king of the monkeys, and by His own younger brother Lord Lakṣmaṇa, both of whom gave Him relief from the fatigue of wandering in the forest. Today, this eternal service continues, as in Kimpuruṣa-varṣa the great devotee Hanumān is always engaged with the inhabitants of that land in devotional service to Lord Rāmacandra, the elder brother of Lakṣmaṇa and dear husband of Sītādevī.
- The servant devotees in Gokula are Raktaka, Citraka, Patraka and so on. In Dvaraka there are servants like Daruka, and in the Lord's pastimes in the material world there are servants like Hanuman.
- We may doubt whether Lord Ramacandra could be in the same category (of visnu-tattva), since He was carried by Hanuman, not by Garuda, and had neither four hands nor the sankha, cakra, gada and padma.
- The Lord was also accompanied by Hanuman (or by another monkey, Sugriva), king of the monkeys, and by His own younger brother Lord Laksmana, both of whom gave Him relief from the fatigue of wandering in the forest.
- In Kimpurusa-varsa the great devotee Hanuman is always engaged with the inhabitants of that land in devotional service to Lord Ramacandra, the elder brother of Laksmana and dear husband of Sitadevi.
Perfection Through Service
Devotional service is the direct path to spiritual perfection. Every great soul finds success in their specific relationship with the Supreme; for example, Arjuna made friends with the Lord, and Hanumān carried out the orders of Lord Rāmacandra. The Vedic literatures confirm this variety of successful surrender, stating that by worshiping the Lord, Pṛthu Mahārāja attained perfection, by serving the lotus feet of the Lord, the goddess of fortune, Lakṣmī, attained perfection, and by rendering personal service to the Lord, Hanumān attained the desired result. Reaffirming this truth, Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that Hanumān became successful by rendering personal service to Lord Rāmacandra, Arjuna became successful by being a friend of Kṛṣṇa, and Bali Mahārāja became successful simply by offering all of his possessions to Kṛṣṇa. Ultimately, Hanumān (Mahāvīra), the famous nonhuman devotee of Lord Śrī Rāmacandra, attained success simply by carrying out the orders of the Lord.
- Arjuna made friends with the Lord, and Hanuman carried out the orders of Lord Ramacandra.
- By worshiping the Lord, Prthu Maharaja attained perfection. (6) By serving the lotus feet of the Lord, the goddess of fortune, Laksmi, attained perfection. (7) By rendering personal service to the Lord, Hanuman attained the desired result.
- Hanuman became successful by rendering personal service to Lord Ramacandra. Arjuna became successful by being a friend of Krsna. And Bali Maharaja became successful simply by offering all of his possessions to Krsna.
- Hanuman (Mahavira), the famous nonhuman devotee of Lord Sri Ramacandra, attained success simply by carrying out the orders of the Lord.
Using Anger and Power for God
Emotions and physical abilities achieve perfection only when employed for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that anger can also be used in the service of Kṛṣṇa when it is applied to the nondevotee demons, and Hanumānji applied his anger in this way. He fought with Rāvaṇa not for his personal self, but Rāma wanted that, "He has kidnapped the queen of Rāma. She must be delivered," and there was fighting; that is the principle. To accomplish this, the Lord empowered him immensely, because nobody can cross over the big ocean in a sudden jump; what was possible for Hanumān by the grace of Lord Rāma is not possible for an ordinary man. Still, the servant never claims to be greater than the master; Śrī Hanumānji crossed the Indian Ocean by jumping over the sea, and Lord Śrī Rāmacandra engaged Himself in marching over the bridge, but this does not mean that Hanumānji was more powerful than the Lord.
- Anger can also be used in the service of Krsna when it is applied to the nondevotee demons. Hanumanji applied his anger in this way.
- He (Hanuman) fought with Ravana not for his personal self, but Rama wanted that, "He has kidnapped the queen of Rama. She must be delivered," and there was fighting. That is the principle.
- Nobody can cross over the big ocean in a sudden jump. What was possible for Hanuman by the grace of Lord Rama is not possible for an ordinary man.
- Sri Hanumanji crossed the Indian Ocean by jumping over the sea, and Lord Sri Ramacandra engaged Himself in marching over the bridge, but this does not mean that Hanumanji was more powerful than the Lord.
Pure Devotion Without Personal Desire
A pure devotee desires absolutely nothing in return for his service. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that even the animals may be included in devotional service to the Lord, and the best example is set by Śrī Vajrāngajī, or Hanumān, the great devotee of Lord Śrī Rāma. In this connection, Prahlāda Mahārāja cited the example of Hanumān, the eternal servitor of Lord Rāmacandra, who also set an example by never asking any material favor from the Lord. His rejection of personal ambition was so profound that Hanumān said, "I do not want anything which diminishes my relationship with You as master and servant, even after liberation." Because of this flawless dedication and complete purity of heart, being the eternal servant of Lord Rāmacandra, Hanumānji has been respectfully worshiped for many hundreds and thousands of years.
- Even the animals may be included in devotional service to the Lord, and the best example is set by Sri Vajrangaji, or Hanuman, the great devotee of Lord Sri Rama.
- In this connection, Prahlada Maharaj cited the example of Hanuman, the eternal servitor of Lord Ramacandra, who also set an example by never asking any material favor from the Lord.
- Hanuman said, "I do not want anything which diminishes my relationship with You as master and servant, even after liberation."
- Being the eternal servant of Lord Ramacandra, Hanumanji has been respectfully worshiped for many hundreds and thousands of years.
Worshiped and Glorified Worldwide
Because he fully satisfied the Supreme Lord, Hanumān is recognized universally as a symbol of pure devotion. Accordingly, in almost all the cities and towns of India there are temples of Hanumānji, the eternal servant of Lord Rāmacandra. To successfully establish this pure standard of worship in Western society, a guru instructs his disciples that first they must see that they have sufficient brahmins who are very well trained and qualified, then they can consider to install Sītā, Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, and Hanumān; They are the ideal King and it will be very suitable that They reign over the capitol of America. His powerful presence is invoked on the battlefield as well, as the flags mentioned above were all painted with the picture of either Garuḍa or Hanumān, the two great servitors of the Lord. Indeed, during the historic Battle of Kurukṣetra, both Rāma and Hanumān were present on the chariot of Arjuna to help him.
- In almost all the cities and towns of India there are temples of Hanumanji, the eternal servant of Lord Ramacandra.
- First see that you have sufficient brahmins who are very well trained and qualified, then you can consider to install Sita, Rama, Laksmana, and Hanuman. They are the ideal King and it will be very suitable that They reign over the capitol of America.
- The flags mentioned above were all painted with the picture of either Garuda or Hanuman, the two great servitors of the Lord.
- Both Rama and Hanuman were present on the chariot of Arjuna to help him.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda’s teachings regarding Hanumān establish the ultimate standard for all aspiring devotees. By completely surrendering to the will of Lord Rāmacandra, Hanumān achieved a level of success that surpasses all mystic perfections and desires for liberation. He perfectly demonstrated how to utilize everything—including immense physical power and formidable anger—exclusively for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Never asking for a single material or spiritual benediction in return, Hanumān desired only to remain the eternal, humble servant of his Lord. Therefore, Hanumān is eternally worshiped alongside Sītā, Rāma, and Lakṣmaṇa, his life serving as the supreme historical proof that by simply carrying out the orders of God, one attains the highest perfection of existence.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category God and Hanuman. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.