There are many stories that connect Ramayana with the Mahabharatha.
One of the lesser known stories is the one where Lord Hanuman meets Lord Krishna !
THE STORY :
Once it so happened that Arjuna goes to Rameshwaram to perform ritual for the deceased.
Post the pooja, he goes to see the Bridge built by Vanaras to cross the Great Sea to reach Lanka.
Seeing the bridge, Arjuna loudly wonders "If Lord Rama was the Best Archer, why didnt he build this Bridge with his Arrows, why did he take the help of Vanaras" ?
Seeing this....Lord Hanuman comes in the form of a Vanara and tells Arjuna "Hey Arjun, Vanaras were very strong and the arrows would not have held the weight of those Vanaras, hence Lord Rama built the bridge with these stones"
Arjuna arrongantly remarked "No....If Lord Rama was the best Archer....he should have built it with arrows. If I had a chance, I would have built a bridge of Arrows, more stronger and even faster">
Lord Hanuman, unhappy, challenges Arjuna that if indeed Arjuna could build a bridge that withstands his weight, let alone the army of Vanaras, he (Lord Hanuman) would be ready to on the flag of Arjuna's chariot.
But, if Arjuna fails, then Arjuna should give up his life by entering a pyre.
Arjuna immediately builds the bridge in a jiffy with his Arrows. But, when Hanuman stepped on the bridge, the whole bridge collapsed !
Shocked and Crestfallen, Arjuna decides to end his life.
At this moment, Lord Krishna appears as a old man and stops him and asks "Wait, Dhanurdhar.....was there any witness to your challenge? No...then rebuild the bridge again and I will be witness, if you fail again...then you can indeed enter the pyre"
Having been humbled earlier, this time Arjuna remembers his friend, guide, philospher LORD KRISHNA and starts shooting the Arrows.
The bridge indeed looked stronger than before and Arjuna asks Hanuman to walk over it.
Despite his best efforts, Hanuman is not able to break the bridge.
Not able to understand, Hanuman again walks on the bridge......and while walking happens to look below the bridge....and lo! what he sees.
A GAINT TORTOISE IS HOLDING THE BRIDGE.
Hanuman instantly understand that all this is the Leela of the Lord.
Hanuman instantly recognises that Lord Krishna is indeed his own beloved Lord Rama and is overcome with emotion.
Both Arjuna and Hanuman fall at the feet of Lord Krishna and seek his blessings.
 |
| Add caption |
Hanuman then promises aid to Arjuna by being on the flag of his chariot, thus stabilising and protecting it.
Hanuman's flag signifies the CONTROL OF SENSES AND CONTROL OF MIND which gives victory over the lower nature.
This story teaches us that
WE SHOULD ALWAYS REMEMBER OUR GURU/MENTOR AND THE LORD WHILE DOING ANYTHING AND WE WILL NEVER FAIL.
WE SHOULD ALWAYS REMEMBER OUR GURU/MENTOR AND THE LORD WHILE DOING ANYTHING AND WE WILL NEVER FAIL.
Regards,
Srikanth Matrubai
