#275 Hanumat Pancharatnam Stotram – its powerful blessings and meaning

After Bhagavan Rama, just the mention of Hanuman brings a smile to our faces. He has become the beloved of all due to his unparalleled courage, power and devotion. There is no one like him in our Itihāsa, or Purāna. As one of the seven chiranjeevis, he still roams the earth and is very quick to respond to any prayer.  

How did his name come about?

In Sanskrit, ‘hanu’ refers to the jaw. Hanumān derives his name from the incident during his childhood when his jaw was struck by the thunderbolt weapon of Indra known as the Vajrāyudha.

Hanumān as a young child was hungry one day and mistook the red rising sun to be a fruit and decided to fly toward it and eat it. Indra tried to prevent Hanumān from doing so and struck him on the jaw with the Vajrāyudha. Hanumān fell to the ground unconscious.

Hanuman’s father Vāyu, the wind god, in anger took revenge on Indra by halting the movement of air. All the living beings started to lose their breath and the Devās including Indra and Brahma requested Vāyu to restore the circulation of air. Vāyu refused to do so until his son was brought back to life. Indra agreed and Hanuman regained consciousness.

All the Devās blessed him with a gift of their own greatest power and though Hanumān

was naturally strong as the son of Vāyu, he was now bestowed with further powers and strengths. Agni blessed Hanuman such that fire won’t harm him; Varuna blessed him such that  water won’t harm him. Vayu his own father blessed him that he would be as fast as wind and the wind won’t harm him. Brahma also granted Hanuman a wish that he could move to any place where he would not be stopped. Brahma blessed him that the Brahmāstra will not affect him. This boon helped protect Hanumān in his fight with Indrajit at Lanka while in search of Sitā.

Hanumat Pancharatnam by Jagadguru Adi Shankararachya is a stotram of five gems in praise of Hanumān, the greatest bhakta/devotee of Rāma. ‘Hanumat’ is the main word or pratipadika to which certain case endings are added which make it Hanuman – The one who has a prominent jaw. When Hanumat comes together in a samaasa, a word compound, then the case ending is dropped and hence it is Hanumat Pancharatnam – five gems of Hanumat or Hanuman.

श्रीहनुमत् पञ्चरत्नम् 

वीताखिल-विषयेच्छं जातानन्दाश्र पुलकमत्यच्छम् ।
सीतापति दूताद्यं वातात्मजमद्य भावये हृद्यम् ॥ १॥

I now meditate on the most beloved Hanumān, the foremost messenger of Rāma and son of Vāyu, who has abandoned all mundane desires, who is ever in the experience of the Ananda of Rāma as seen by his tears of bliss and horripilation, and who is ever pure. ॥ 1॥

bhāvaye hṛdyam – I now meditate on Hanuman.

A description follows –

vītākhila-viṣayecchaṃ – who is free of all desires.

After Sri Rama has returned to Ayodhya, when he asks Hanuman ‘What service can I do for you in return? Hanuman replies, ‘Everything is attainable by your grace.’ He further says, ‘Love for you is the source of the greatest happiness. Please grant me unending love’. To these heartfelt and sincere words Sri Rama says – so be it. In these two lines we understand the purpose of his work. Love for Sri Rama expressed itself in the willingness to serve.

The thing about love as in Hanuman’s case, is that it provides its own immediate satisfaction. The reward is immediate, continuous and continues to gladden the heart. Hanuman has understood the connection between love and happiness which expressed as the desire to serve.

jātānandāśra pulakamaty-accham – Who is filled with tears of Ananda filled with rapture, and whose hair stand on end.

accham – who is the purest of the pure

sītāpati  – Who is the consort of Sita Devi

dūtādyaṃ the foremost of Sri Rama’s messengers.

Sri Rama trusted Hanuman to be his messenger who more than excelled in even this work.

When Hanuman reached Lanka in search of Sita, he overpowering the rakshasa-s presiding over the city of Lanka, discovered Sita and actually comforted her. Hanuman’s service to Rama had its moments of pain and insult. He allowed himself to be bound and taken prisoner in Lanka. He was paraded around the city and the citizens were given the opportunity to kick him and his tail was set to fire. His devotion to Sri Rama did not wane.

Later in the battle, the leaders of Ravana’s army, the sons of his ministers, his own servants and son all of these were struck down there by Hanuman single handed. Lanka was reduced to ashes.

Vātātmajam-adya – The son of Vayu devata. 

Anjana was married to Kesari, a famous soldier of the Vaanara group. One day while Kesari was in meditation, Maharishi Agastya visited him. Both his wives Anjana and Adri welcomed the unexpected guest and served him wholeheartedly. Agastya was delighted with their hospitality and asked the two wives to ask for a boon they wished.

Anjana requested “I want the mightiest son, who will be very bold and strong in the world, totally devoted to universal welfare”.

“So be it,” Maharishi Agastya approved the wish for both of them. Soon after he granted this boon, Maharishi Agastya realized that Lord Shiva Himself was going to be born as the son of Anjana. He instructed her to go to meditate on Venkatadri Hill in Vrishabhachal on the bank of the Akashaganga. This was the most appropriate place to materialize her desire.

One day, when she was absorbed in a long meditation, Vayu devata appeared and said, “Adorable devi, I am very pleased with you. Soon a mighty son will be born to you. He will not be affected by any weapons whatsoever. He will be equal to me in power and speed.” Thus saying, Vayu infused his celestial light into Anjana. In due course of time, Anjana gave birth to Vayuputra, Hanuman who became all powerful.

Further description of Hanuman follows –

तरुणारुण मुख–कमलं करुणा–रसपूर–पूरितापाङ्गम् ।
सञ्जीवनमाशासे मञ्जुल–महिमानमञ्जना–भाग्यम् ॥ २॥

I pray to Hanumān, the good fortune of Anjana, whose lotus face is red like the early morning rising sun, whose sidelong glance is full of compassion, who restores to life even the dead, and whose greatness has the quality of sweetness.

taruṇāruṇa mukha-kamalaṃ  – whose lotus face is red like the young rising sun

karuṇā-rasapūra-pūritāpāṅgam – whose side-long glance is full of compassion.

Sañjīvanamāśāse – who restores to life even the dead

In the battle Lakshmana had been seriously injured while fighting  against Ravana’s son, Indrajit. Lakshmana became unconscious and any attempts to revive him did not work.

Sri Rama sent Hanuman to fetch a potent life restoring herb, Sanjivani, from the Dronagiri Mountains in the Himalayas, using which Lakshmana’s health could be restored. Ravana, on hearing this, plans for Lakshmana’s death, as then Rama would be too grief-stricken to be able to fight in a war.

He dispatches Kalanemi to disrupt Hanuman’s attempts of finding the herb on time. Kalanemi, disguised as a sage, initially succeeds in fooling Hanuman. However, Hanuman finds out the disguise with the help of an apsara, whom he released from her cursed state of a crocodile. He then kills Kalanemi.

Ravana, still doesn’t give up on his attempts, and calls upon Surya to rise earlier than its schedule, Ravana knew that Lakshmana would succumb to his wounds if not treated till daybreak. Hanuman, on realizing this danger, transforms himself into many times his normal size, to prevent the Surya Devata to appear. And then as he continued his search for the precious herb, he realized that he was not being able to recognize the specific herb that was required to cure Lakshmana. So, as a solution to his problem he lifts the entire mountain, owing to his phenomenal strength. He carries it and places the mountain in the battlefield of Lanka, where Sushena, the physician identifies the herb and uses it successfully to resuscitate Lakshmana back to life.

What would Hanuman not do for Sri Rama and Lakshmana? Whichever task was given to Hanuman, he not only executed it superbly, he battled many odds. His love truly moved mountains. In a touching moment, Sri Rama gratefully and warmly embraced Hanuman as he saved his dear brother.

mañjula-mahimānam – whose greatness has the quality of sweetness.

Usually we are daunted by powerful people. But Hanuman ‘s devotion makes him  approachable and endearing inspite of his greatness.

añjanā-bhāgyam – the good fortune of Anjana, his mother.

शम्बरवैरि-शरातिगमम्बुजदल-विपुल-लोचनोदारम् ।
कम्बुगलमनिलदिष्टम् बिम्ब-ज्वलितोष्ठमेकमवलम्बे ॥ ३॥

I seek refuge in the one who flies faster than the arrows of Madana, whose eyes wide as the petals of the lotus are filled with kindness, whose neck is smooth and well-formed as the conch shell, who represented good fortune to the wind god, and whose lips are bright red like the Bimba fruit. ॥ 3॥

Śambara-vairi – the enemy of Śambara

Śarātigam – whose arrows are faster than the arrows of Madana

Manmatha, the god of desire or kāma, was sent on a mission by Indra to bring Shiva out of His meditation so that Shiva would marry Parvati, and the son Subrahmanya who would be born to them, would vanquish the asura Surapadma.

Surapadma could not be conquered at that time since he had received a boon from Brahma that he could only be defeated by a son of Shiva. Shiva opened his third eye and burned Manmatha to ashes. Manmatha was later re-born as Pradyumna, the son of Krishna and Rukmini. Pradyumna was captured as a baby by the asura Śambara. Krishna prayed to Devi and Devi responded that  Pradyumna would defeat Śambara when he attained the age of fourteen and would then return to Krishna. Manmatha is therefore referred to as the enemy of Śambara.

ambujadala -vipula-locanodāram – whose eyes wide as the petals of the lotus are filled with kindness

Kambu-galam-anila-diṣṭam whose neck is beautifully shaped like the conch; who is the good fortune of Vāyu;

bimba-jvalitoṣṭham– whose lips shine like the red Bimba fruit;

ekam– who is unlike any other and beyond comparison,

avalambe – I seek as support, Hanumān,

The next shloka is a prayer requesting the vision of Hanumān. This beautiful oft-quoted shloka and a favorite of many saints and acharyas, describes the characteristics and leelas of Hanumān.

दूरीकृत–सीतार्तिः प्रकटीकृत–रामवैभव–स्फूर्तिः ।
दारित–दशमुख–कीर्तिः पुरतो मम भातु हनुमतो मूर्तिः ॥ ४॥

May the form of Hanumān, who removed the misery of Sīta, who made the ever-visible glory of Rāma known to everyone, who destroyed the fame of Rāvana, shine in front of me ॥ 4॥

dūrīkṛta-sītārtiḥ Hanumān, who removed the misery of Sīta;

After Devi Sita was kidnapped by Ravana and abducted to Lanka, many months had passed, while she languished in Ashok Vatika. After an elaborate search, Hanuman approaches Sita and introduces himself as a messenger of Lord Rama. He reassures her that her husband is alive and well, and he has been sent by Rama to find her. Sita, initially cautious, is moved by Hanuman’s sincerity and begins to trust him.

Hanuman narrates the story of Lord Rama’s search for her, describing the battle with various asuras, the challenges faced, the unwavering love Sri Rama has for her. Sita listens intently, tears streaming down her face as Hanuman’s words bring solace to her heart.

prakaṭīkṛta-rāmavaibhava-sphūrtiḥ who brought out the ever-visible glory of Rāma.
The ever-visible glory of Sri Rāma was illumined by Hanumān. When Hanumān first saw Sīta under the Simshupa Tree in the Ashoka Vātika at Lanka, he first narrated the story of Rāma from atop the branch of the tree, and thus instilled confidence in Sīta.

Hanumān accomplished this was by always announcing himself as Rāmadūta, the messenger of Rāma and by always bringing out the glory of Rāma.

dārita-daśamukha-kīrtiḥ Hanumān, who destroyed the fame of the ten-headed Rāvana

purato mama bhātu hanumato mūrtiḥ May that form of Hanumān shine in front of me.

The previous shloka was a prayer requesting the vision of Hanumān, and now having had the vision, Adi Shankara describes further the characteristics of Hanumān.

वानर–निकराध्यक्षं दानवकुल–कुमुद–रविकर–सदृशम् ।
दीन–जनावन–दीक्षं पवन तपः पाकपुञ्जमद्राक्षम् ॥ ५॥

I saw Hanumān, who is the chief of all Vaanaras, who destroys the clan of asuras just as the sun rays close the lily, who has taken the vow of protecting those worthy of compassion, who is the fruition of all the tapah, penances of Vāyu. ॥ 5॥

vānara-nikarādhyakṣaṃ Hanumān, who is the chief of the group of monkeys;

dānavakula-kumuda-ravikara-sadṛśam who is (inimical)like the rays of the sun to the lily of the clan of asuras.

Poetically, the sun is described as the foe of the lily as the lily blooms only in the night and it

closes with the appearance of the first rays of the sun.

dīna-janāvana-dīkṣaṃ – who has taken the vow of protecting those worthy of compassion

pavana tapaḥ pāka-puñjam-adrākṣam – I saw Hanumān who is the fruition of all the penances of Vāyu.

The next and the last shloka is the phalashruti – the fruit of reciting this stotram.

एतत्-पवन-सुतस्य स्तोत्रं यः पठति पञ्चरत्नाख्यम् ।
चिरमिह-निखिलान् भोगान् भुङ्क्त्वा श्रीराम-भक्ति-भाग्-भवति ॥ ६॥

Whoever reads this Hanumat Pancharatnam Stotram in praise of Hanumān, the son of Vāyu, will enjoy a long life and all pleasures in this world, and become the possessor of devotion to Shri Rāma. ॥ 6॥

etat-pavana-sutasya stotraṃ yaḥ paṭhati pañcaratnākhyam – Whoever reads this stotram, named Pancharatna, in praise of the son of Vāyu…
Ciram-iha-nikhilān …will live a long life,

bhogān bhuṅktvā – and having enjoyed all pleasures in this world

 śrīrāma-bhakti-bhāg-bhavati  he/she will become the possessor of Shri Rāma Bhakti (devotion to Shri Rāma).

Once true bhakti grows as love for all forms, nothing more is required. All pleasures of the world are recognised as transient. What is it that sustains one through changing situations? Shri Rāma Bhakti.

Having Shri Rāma Bhakti should not be misinterpreted as limited to thinking of Rāma every now and then, chanting His shlokas, or performing a pūja or hōmam.

Rama the word is that in whom you revel always and that is nothing else but oneself, the Atma.

The love for Sri Rama, the Atma leads to love for all forms and an enquiry into the reality of forms leads one to Sri Rama as oneself. The journey of Bhakti is complete.

इति श्रीमच्छंकर-भगवतः कृतौ हनुमत्-पञ्चरत्नं संपूर्णम् ॥

iti śrīmacchaṃkara-bhagavataḥ kṛtau hanumat-pañcaratnaṃ saṃpūrṇam ॥

Here ends Hanumat Pancharatnam, composed by Shri Shankara Bhagavatpadaa, Adi Shankaracharya.