Shri Hanumanji is a great listener and narrator of Shri Ram Katha

Jai Shri Krishna,

When Bhagavan Shri Ram completes his leela and at the end decides to return to his abode (Vaikunth), he doesn’t go alone, but takes everyone in Ayodhya with him including insects, dogs and other animals. Everyone proceeds with him to the river Saryu to reach his abode when suddenly, someone realised Shri Hanumanji was not with them. The devotee said to God, “Your greatest follower, Shri Hanumanji, cannot be seen and the first person worthy of entry in your abode should be a follower like him.”

One follower turned behind and saw that Hanumanji was standing outside Ayodhya watching everyone leave and bidding farewell to Shri Ramji with tears in his eyes. Shri Ramji summoned Hanumanji who immediately presented in front of Shri Ramji. Shri Ramji said, “Hanuman, come with us. Why are you standing there all alone? I am taking everyone with me and you deserve to be in my abode first.”
Hanumanji replied, “Lord, please answer one question, will I get to hear your katha in your abode?”
Ramji smiled and said, “Oh! I will be present there myself!”
To this Hanumanji said, “Lord, you will definitely be there, but this servant is asking if your katha will be there?”
Ramji responded, “Hanuman! My katha is only available on this earth. I will be present in my abode, but my katha will not be.”
Hanumanji said, “Lord, then you proceed to your abode. Please command this servant of yours to stay here. Until your katha is present on this earth, bestow me with your blessings that I will continue to listen to it.”
To this Ramji said, “so be it!”

Hence, Shri Hanumanji did not proceed to Shri Ramji’s abode due to the longing for Ram Katha.

Prabhu charitra sunibe ko rasiya, Ram Lakhan Sita man basiya
Meaning: You are an ardent listener, always keen to listen to Shri Ram’s katha.
You dwell in the hearts of Shri Ram, Shri Lakshman and Shri Sita.

Shri Hanumanji either listens to Ram Katha or narrates it, and whoever Shri Hanumanji has narrated the Ram Katha to, has indeed attained Shri Ram. For example, Shri Hanumanji narrated Ram Katha to Sugriv and Sugriv met Shri Ram; Shri Vibhishanji acquainted Shri Ram after listening to Ram Katha from Shri Hanumanji as seen in Sunderkand in Shri Ram Charit Manas.

Shri Hanumanji narrated Ram Katha in Ashok Vatika which Maa Sita heard. Hence Maa Sita re-united with Shri Ram:
Ram Chandra goon barne laagaa, sunatahi Sita kar dukh bhaagaa
Meaning: As soon as Shri Hanumanji narrated the Ram katha, Shri Sitaji's grief disappeared.

Shri Hanumanji is such a great and thoughtful narrator. One who listens to him without doubt, gains darshan of Shri Ram. In addition, he is also a great listener. He listens to Ram Katha with complete affection. It is tradition to invite Shri Hanumanji at the beginning of every Ram Katha, as who can be a better listener than him? And Indeed, Hanumanji does arrive to listen to Ram Katha.

Come let us all celebrate this auspicious day of Shri Hanumanji’s birthday and pay our obeisance to him by singing along with Pujya Bhaishri to the divine Hanuman Chalisa.

Let us all pray to Shri Hanumanji to bless us all with his grace so that we can affectionately listen to Shri Ram Katha every day.

Jai Jai Shri Bajrangbali!

Celebration of Shri Ram Navmi with a Divine Stuti from Shri Ram Charit Manas

Jai Shri Krishna,

Lord Shri Ram was born on the ninth day of the first fortnight (Shukla Paksha) of the month of Chaitra according to the Hindu Calendar. On this auspicious day of the birth of Lord Shri Ram, let us all invite him into our lives by singing along with Pujya Bhaishri to Maharshi Atri Stuti with devotion and therefore fill our lives with bliss and peace. We present the stuti in English, Gujarati and Hindi with its meaning.

Maharishi Atri Stuti
Namami Bhakta Vatsalam   I               Krupalu Sheel Komalam   I
Bhajami Te Padambujam   I               Akaminam Svadhamadam I I 1 I I
I pray reverence to you, who is so fond of your devotees and has a gentle disposition.
I wosrship your lotus feet, which grants your abode to your selfless lovers.

Nikam Shyam Sundaram    I               Bhavambunaath Mandaram I
Prafull Kanj Lochanam       I               Madadi Dosh Mochanam      I I 2 I I
You have an exquisitively beautiful dark-complexioned form, you are the form of Mount Madara to churn the ocean of mundane existence.
Your eyes are like a fully blossomed lotus and you rid your devotees of pride and other vices.

Pralamb Bahu Vikramam    I               Prabhoprameya Vaibhavam  I
Nishang  Chap Sayakam     I               Dharam Trilok Naayakam       I I 3 I I
Oh God! The might of your long arms is vast and your glory is immeasurable.
You carry on you a bow, arrow and a quiver, and are the lord of the three worlds.

Dinesh Vansh Mandanam  I               Mahesh Chap Khandanam I
Munindra Sant Ranjanam  I               Surari Vrund Bhanjanam   I I 4 I I
You are an ornament to the solar race, and destroyer of the bow of Lord Shiv.
You provide bliss to the sages and saints and are the destroyer of the enemies of the demi-gods, the demons.

Manoj  Vairi Vanditam       I               Ajaadi Dev Sevitam         I
Vishuddh Bodh Vigraham  I               Samast Dooshnaapaham I I 5 I I
The enemy of Kaam deva (demi-god of love), lord Shiv, bows to you and you are respected by Shri Brahma and other demi-gods.
You are an embodiment of sacred knowledge and the destroyer of all evils.

Namami Indira Patim           I               Sukhakaram Sataam Gatim  I
Bhaje Sashakti Saanujam    I               Shachi Pati Priyanujam        I I 6 I I
I bow to you Oh Lord of Shri Lakshmi; You are the fountain of joy and the salvation of virtuous persons.
I pay my obeisances to you, the younger brother of Indra (Lord Vaman), Shri Jankiji and your  younger brother, Lakshman.

Tvadanghri Mool Ye Naraha  I               Bhajanti Heen Matsaraha   I
Patanti No Bhavarnave          I               Vitark Veechi Sankule        I I 7 I I
Those who worship your lotus feet free from jealousy, do not drown into the ocean of life filled with waves of wrangling from speculation.

Vivikta Vaasinaha Sada       I               Bhajanti Muktaye Muda      I
Nirasya Indriyadikam           I               Prayanti Te Gatim Svakam I I 8 I I
Those aspirants living in solitutde, who worship you to attain salvation, by subduing their senses and mind, are able to achieve self-realisation.

Tamekmadbhutam Prabhum     I               Nirihmishvaram Vibhum    I
Jagadgurum Cha Shaasvatam   I               Turiymev Kevalam            I I 9 I I
I worship you, who is the one and only, extraordinary, all powerful, desireless, the master of all, omnipresent, the teacher of the world, eternal, transcendent from the three states of consciousness and self-existent.

Bhajaami Bhav Vallabham    I               Kuyoginaam Sudurlabham  I
Svabhakta Kalpa Paadapam I              Samam Susevyamanvaham  I I 10 I I
I continously worship the Lord who: is fond of devotion, extremely diffiult to attain to those who are sensually-minded, fulfils all the desires of his devotees like a wish-yielding tree, is impartial and is worthy of being happily served all the time.

Anoop Roop Bhupatim      I               Natohmurvija Patim            I
Prasid Me Namami Te       I               Padabja Bhakti Dehi Me     I I 11 I I
I bow to you the king of the earth, of incomparable beauty and the Lord of Shri Sitaji.
Bestow your delightful grace upon me, I pay my obeisance to you, grant me devotion to your lotus feet.

Pathanti Ye Stavam Idam  I               Naraadaren Te Padam        I
Vrajanti Natra Sanshayam I               Tvadiya Bhakti Sanyutaha  I I 12 I I
One who recites this prayer with respect, attains your divine abode combined with your devotion, without a doubt.

A Happy Ram Navmi to All!!
Jai Shri Ram!