Caupai 1-7       

Caupai 1: 
jaya hanuman jnana guna sagara /
jaya kapisa tihuloka ujagara // 1 // 

Victory to you, O Hanuman, who is an ocean of knowledge and virtues. Victory to you. O Hanuman (Lord of the monkeys), who is well known in all the three worlds.

Hanu means chin. But anyone who has a chin be called as Sri Hanuman? His chin was cut, cleaved in the middle and the whole mouth is swollen. When he was born early in the morning, he was the rising sun and thought it was a fruit. He had the ability to fly and he flew to the sun and swallowed it. The whole world became dark. Nobody could understand who this little child was that had swallowed the sun?

At that time, Lord Indra, king of all gods came there with his thunderbolt. His thunderbolt is infallible and whoever is struck by it will be dead instantly. Lord Indra struck that little child with his thunderbolt to free the sun. The bolt struck Sri Hanuman on the chin. However, being all-powerful, he did not die but releasing the sun, he fell on the earth and became unconscious. When the Wind God came to know what had happened, he became very angry and stopped the flow air. Everyone was dying without air. They started praying to Wind God and all gods came and sought apology. The Wind God said, ‘All of you will have to bless my son with all your powers and good qualities that you possess.’ Thus Sri Hanuman came to be blessed with all might and strength.

Sri Hanuman is so strong that he could withstand a blow from the mighty thunderbolt of Lord Indra. Saint Tulsidas says that he is strong and he uses this strength in the service of the Lord and others. Many people who are also strong use their strength to subjugate others and become dictators. Sri Hanuman does not misuse his strength.

jnana guna sagara means, ‘you are an ocean of knowledge and virtue’. Often people who have some knowledge or a degree from some university become very arrogant. They consider themselves superior to others. But Sri Hanuman is the best among all learned people (buddhimatam varistham) and also he has all the noble virtues. The greatest virtues are humility and nobility of character. He is the very embodiment of these virtues. And the greatest knowledge is Self-knowledge. Sri Hanuman has that too. He knew exactly who he was. Lord Rama once asked him, ‘What is your relationship with me?’ Sri Hanuman answered, ‘As a body, I am your servant; as an individual soul, I am a part of you and you are the whole; as the Self, we both are one. This is my firm conviction!’ – (deha-buddhya tu daso’smi jiva-buddhya tvadamsakah / atma-buddhya tvamevaham iti me niscita matih // Valmiki Ramayana)

Besides, Sri Hanuman is always good in his dealings with everyone and dealt with each person appropriately depending on his rank and stature. Valmiki Ramayan says that he was a scholar and knew 9 kinds of Sanskrit grammar (nava-vyakarana panditah). But at the same time, he is an epitome of humility (guna sagara). jaya kapisa means victory to the Lord of the monkeys. In Tulasi Ramayan, at first Bali was the king of the monkeys and then Sugreeva. They were kings, but Sri Hanuman was the Lord who was a kingmaker! When Sugreeva was running around, being afraid of his brother Bali, it was Sri Hanuman’s courage and bravery that gave him strength. And who is a true king? Is it one who rules over a piece of land or a kingdom? Is it one who gets power because the majority of people voted for him? Or is it the one who rules over the hearts of all people? Crowned king is an appointed head of the state. But real Lordship is an uncrowned king who is worshipped and respected by all. Such a king is Sri Hanuman. He is Kapisah (kapi means monkey and isah Lord). Also the word kapi stands for one who drinks the joy of Brahman, which is the true happiness. (ka – joy (sukham) and pi (pipate) – one who drinks). The Chandogya Upanishad says, ‘That which is infinite, that alone is happiness’. That which is finite is not happiness. So one who knows this and revels in the joy of Brahman is a kapi. Sri Hanuman is not an ordinary monkey and none should insult him by calling him a monkey-God. He is in the form of a monkey, but he is a brahmajnanin, one who has supreme knowledge. 

tihuloka ujagara means, he who is well known in all the three worlds. The light of his fame spreads everywhere, everyone knows him and respects him.

Caupai 2: 
Ramaduta atulita baladhama /
Anjani-putra pavana-suta nama // 2 //

You are the envoy of Lord Rama, an abode of incomparable strength, the son of Anjana (popularly) known with the name Pavana-suta (son of the Wind God).

Sri Hanuman is a messenger of Lord Rama. Being a messenger is a difficult job. One has to make sure that one delivers the message promptly and correctly. In Sri Hanuma’s case, the job was more difficult because he had to deliver a message to the enemy, King Ravana of Lanka. The messenger even can get killed in this endeavor! Prior to this, he had to secretly deliver Lord Rama’s message to Mother Sita, concealing himself from all the demon guards. But Sri Hanuman’s greatness is that whatever he undertakes, he does well, with complete devotion and courage.

He is the very epitome of immeasurable strength, strength that you cannot compare with anything (atulita). Saint Tulsidas says, ‘The first thing that one notices is Sri Hanuman’s superhuman powers. His mother’s name was Anjani (also, Anjana), which means pure intellect. So. he was born of pure intellect, the son of a pure hearted mother. Anjana also stands for the beautifying paste that you put in your eyes. Guru’s grace (gurukrpa) is also called Anjana, by which one realizes the whole world to be Lord Rama. Putra means a son who saves his parents from going to hell. Various kinds of heaven and hell are described in our scriptures. One of these is called pum.

A true son is one who saves his parents from suffering and Misery (punnamno narakadyasmat-trayate pitaram sutah. Tasmat putra iti proktah). Such a son was Sri Hanuman. Also he brought so much fame to his parents. If not for him, who would know Anjani?

Caupai 3: 
mahabira bikrama bajarangi /
kumati nivara sumati ke sangi // 3 //

You, with the body as hard (strong) as diamond, are a great warrior of incomparable valor; you are the remover of wicked thoughts, and (you) grant me the company of the wise.
Virah is a man of courage, strength, and valour. But he is a mahabira, greatest warrior. Lord Rama Himself sang his glories. Some poet or author would glorify an ordinary warrior. But when the Lord Himself honors and praises a person, that person cannot be an ordinary one.

Generally when one hears the word virah one considers him having heroism and courage in the battlefield. But there are five kinds of heroism (virata) are mentioned in the scriptures:

1. Tyagavirah or dharmavirah – Hero in renunciation and sacrifice. For the sake of righteous living, one often has to sacrifice a lot. One who does this to live a life of dharma is called tyagavirah.

2. Dayavirah – Hero in compassion. One who is great even in compassion, cannot stand the sorrows of others, and will do anything to alleviate them is a dayavirah.

3. Vidyavirah – Hero in knowledge and learning.

4. Danavirah – Hero in charity. Sri Hanuman gives you anything you seek (dharmah, arthah, kamah and moksah). But his greatest gift is that he gives you –devotion to Lord Rama (rama-bhaktih).

5. Ranavirah – Brave warrior in the battlefield.

In the world, we may find people who have one kind of heroism. They may be brave in battle, but lacking knowledge (vidya) or compassion (daya). Sri Hanuman is such a hero who has all five kinds of valour, hence he is called mahabira. If all the five are used in the service of the Lord, there can be nothing greater. Such a person is called a Supreme Hero (paramavirah). Lord Rama said to Sri Hanuman, ‘I am forever indebted to you. I will never be able to repay you debt’.

bikrama – A mighty person, one who has great valour. Sri Hanuman is also known as bajarangi. The original Sanskrit word is vajra-angi. Sri hanuman has a body made up of a steel-like frame, strong enough to withstand the thunderbolt of Lord Indra. So, the word vajra-angi became bajarangi in avadhi language, which is easier to pronounce.

kumati nivara sumati ke sangi – You eliminate all illusions of the mind. kumati means all vicious, negative tendencies of the mind. nivara means, to get rid of. sumati ke sangi – you gave us bright intellect or you are the friend of a person of good intellect. Sri Hanuman gives us good thoughts and eliminates evil thoughts. These words can also mean that Sri Hanuman punishes people who are evil and he supports those who are good.

Caupai 4: 
kancana barana biraja subesa /
anana kundala kuncita kesa // 4 //
Your golden complexion shines more in attractive clothes (which you are wearing) and with the glittering earrings and (your) curly hair.

Caupai 5: 
hatha bajra au dhvaja biraja /
kandhe munja janeu sajai // 5 //

You have the thunderbolt (in one hand) and the flag (in another), and the sacred thread across your shoulder made of munja grass decorates you.

Sri Hanuman carries a mace (gada) in his hand that is strong like Lord Indra’s thunderbolt and kills whoever it is used on. The word gada also means ‘to speak’. This weapon is used in the battlefield to eliminate enemies and the other, to flatten and destroy ignorance and ego with the help of words (true knowledge). dhvaja birajai – He carries the flag of Lord Rama in his hand which symbolically shows that he always honors and remembers Lord Rama. Dhvaja also stands for victory to Lord Rama. Usually flags were flown on warrior’s chariots to identify them to a friend or a foe. But Sri Hanuman’s body itself is like a chariot as he flies from place to place. Thus, he has to carry Lord Rama’s flag in his hand. Saint Tulsidas says that Sri Hanuman carries the flag of truthfulness, good character and faith in God’s name.

kandhe munja janeu sajai – janeu is the sacred thread made of cotton that is worn around the neck when one is initiated into gayatri-mantrah. Originally it was made of munja grass and therefore known as munja janeu. This thread ceremony is carried out when a boy is between 5 and 10 years old to inform him that his playful days are over. Thereafter, he has to begin a life of Study and discipline. The knot in the thread represents Brahman – the Supreme Consciousness. The three threads woven together represent the three qualities (sattva, rajas and tamas) and that they are centered on Brahman. Traditionally, people are advised to hold on to the knot of Brahman while chanting the gayatri-mantrah. Sri Hanuman wears the sacred thread made of munja grass on his shoulder and his attention is always on Brahman.

Caupai 6: 
sankara-suvana kesari-nandana /
teja pratapa maha jaga-bandana // 6 //

You are an incarnation of Shiva and son of Kesari. Everyone in the world respects you because of your luster and great valor.

Sankara-suvana kesari-nandana – Son of lord Shiva and also son of Kesari. One may wonder as to how many people is he the son of? Wind god, Lord Shiva and Kesari? When Ravana’s atrocities were increasing and he was playing havoc in the world, all the gods and ascetics prayed to Lord Vishnu. They appealed to Him that the earth cannot take much more of this misery and requested the Lord to come and save everyone. Lord said, ‘I will take birth as Rama, to free the earth the evil grip of Ravana.’ Lord Brahma said to all gods, ‘Since Lord Vishnu is coming on this earth; we must all serve him there. As He is assuming the form of human (narah), we should all assume the lower form of monkeys (vanarah). So all the monkeys that served Lord Rama were none other than the gods themselves. Vali was the son of Indra, Sugreeva was the son of Surya, etc. Vayu blessed Anjani and Kesari (parents of Sri Hanuman) with his glow (tejas). This power he placed in Sri Hanuman when he was born. Therefore he is called as son of Wind.

Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are good friends. When one takes birth, the other wants to serve him. Lord Shiva thought, ‘I wish to serve Lord Vishnu when he comes as Lord Rama. If I comes as a member of his family, he may hesitate to take service from me and may want to serve me back. But if I come in a lower (monkey) form there will be no such problem!’ Thinking thus, he placed his tejas in Sri Hanuman to serve Lord Rama Therefore, Sri Hanuman is called as son of Lord Shiva (sankara suvana) and also known as an incarnation of lord Shiva (rudra-avatarah).

His father’s name was Kesari, which also means ‘lion’. Therefore, Sri Hanuman is born of a lion-like monkey who is fearless, brave and strong. Sri Hanuman purifies everybody that he comes in contact with, like Wind-God He has the purity of intellect. He blesses everyone, like Lord Shiva.

teja pratapa maha jaga-bandana – His glow or fame is very bright and is praised by the entire world. Everyone glorifies the name of Sri Hanuman.

Caupai 7: 
bidyavana guni ati catura /
rama kaja karibe ko atura // 7 //

You are well versed in all the lores: you are fully of virtues: you are highly intelligent. You are ever ready to carry out the missions of Lord Rama.

bidyavana – Man of great knowledge and guni a person of great virtue. ati catura – Extremely wise. There are many people in this world who are very energetic and wise but all their energy is directed into worldly matters. If you ask them to do anything for God, or to go to the temple, they suddenly find all kinds of excuses. They will wake up early in the morning to play tennis, but not for meditation. But Sri Hanuman is ever ready to do the Lord’s work. When Lakshmana was struck by the arrow of Indrajit (Ravana’s son), he fell unconscious. The life saving sanjivani plant (a kind of elixir) had to be brought right away to save his life. Sri Hanuman said, ‘Put mustard seed in boiling oil. In the time that it takes the seed to cook, I will be back with the plant.’ When he went to the Himalayan Mountains, he could not find the plant so he brought the entire mountain. His service for the lord is constant, with full of love and devotion (rama kaja karibe ko atura).