Hanuman mistaking the sun for a fruit (Wikimedia Commons)
The
Exclusive Interview of Hanuman
Interviewer: First I would
like to thank you Hanuman for agreeing to meet with me for this exclusive
interview.
Hanuman: Not a problem, I
always enjoy a good conversation.
Interviewer: May we begin
with your formative years? Although your
adventures with Rama during the war with Ravana, not many know about your childhood.
Hanuman: Sure thing, I have
very fond memories. However, depending
on who else you ask you may get different answer.
Interviewer: It is well
known that your father is the god of wind Vayu, and your mother is the monkey
Anjana. In your known opinion who do you
take after more?
Hanuman: Both of my parents
are a huge influence on me. My powers
and immortality of course came from my father.
However, my wit and cleverness I inherited from my mother. She always told me that there will always be
someone stronger and faster than me and told me not to rely on my powers
only. My father agreed and said that the
mind is the most powerful tool. There is
no limit to what I can achieve when I put my mind to it.
Interviewer: It is true you showed
your cleverness, and quick thinking when you infiltrated Lanka. Is there anyone other than your parents to
who helped with your education as a child?
Hanuman: Oh yes of course
there is! Although I got my tenacity
from my parents. The strategic, decisive,
and unorthodox think came from my teacher.
Well, to be honest he is more than my teacher, mentor would be a better
word. Surya was my instructor for most
of my childhood. Although, he did not
care for me at first.
Interviewer: How so? Do you care to elaborate?
Hanuman: Well, when I was a
toddler, maybe two or three, I looked up at the sky and thought the sun was a
nice juicy mango. So, pushing my fledging
powers to the limit, I grew large and jumped as high as I could, so I could eat
it. To say the least, Surya did not
enjoy the experience, and he took it personally.
Interviewer: Ha- Ha! I dare say one would enjoy that! So how did you convince him to take you on as
a pupil?
Hanuman: Well, at first, he
refused. He claimed he was too busy
traveling all day, then resting all night.
However, I did not accept that answer.
I decided to train my strength and endurance at the same time Surya
educated my mind. So, I pushed my mass
manipulation abilities to the maximum, by increasing my size to where I had one
leg in the east and the other in the west.
I held that shape all day, and I always faced Surya, giving him my
undivided attention. Fortunately, he
changed his mind and tutored me since I did not keep him from his daily
travels.
Interviewer: How long did he
tutor you?
Hanuman: Well, it is
difficult to say, I have a lot of foggy gaps in my memory.
Interviewer: Could you take
a guess?
Hanuman: I guess I would
have been about eleven or twelve. I can definitely
say the lessons stopped when my powers were bound by the sages and monk’s. There spell was so complete I forgot that I
had powers. Let alone even using them to
continue my education with Surya.
Interviewer: Oh my. That must have been so tragic for you.
Hanuman: Not at all! You can’t miss what you don’t know you
possess. Besides they did not permanently
separate me from my powers. They allowed
me to regain them when someone reminded me that I had them. Can’t say that I blame them. All they wanted was peace and quiet to
meditate. I never allow them either one
as a child. My powers are fully restored
now. So, I say no harm no foul.
Interviewer: Well Hanuman, I
am afraid that that is all the time we have today. I was wondering if we could do this
again? I and my readers would love to
hear your firsthand account of your adventures with Rama.
Hanuman: Of course! I would enjoy that as well.
Interviewer: Thank you for
your time.
Hanuman: No problem,
anytime.
Authors Note:I chose to use an interview format instead of a prose style for this weeks story. Without a doubt, Hanuman is my favorite character in the Ramayana. He is just so cool. So for the reading this week I read the graphic novel The Triumph of Hanuman. I really liked it, but I wanted to know more about what Hanuman was thinking. So I thought an interview with him would be the easiest way to do that. Also, I enjoyed the last pages in the book the best because it give me more background information about Hanuman. I focused on that information so that way people who have only read the Ramayana would learn more about Hanuman.
Source:
Tulsidas Sundarkaand, The Triumph of Hanuman
