Yaavad raamakathaam viira shroshye’ham prithivitale  /
Taavat sharire vatsyantu mama praanaa na samshayah  //

(Sri Hanuman ji vowed)
“O valiant Rama, as long as I hear your story told everywhere, you may be sure life will remain in my body.”
(Valmiki Ramayan 7:39:16)

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Lord Rama embracing His dear devotee Hanuman

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Ramayana is an epic portraying exemplary characters. Rama is the ideal king, Sita the perfect wife and Hanuman the perfect devotee. The character of Hanuman exemplifies how devotional service is practiced in its perfection, how a pure devotee relates with his worshippable Lord and how the Lord reciprocates.

Origin of Hanuman
Hanuman was born the son of Kesari and Anjani. His mother Anjani was previously an Apsara (celestial lady) named Punjikasthala who took birth in the monkey race as a result of a curse. Despite this her beauty was unrivalled and once attracted Vayu, the powerful god of the winds. Hanuman was born as a result of the union of Anjani and Vayu-deva, but as Vayu-deva revealed that this was not a sinful activity since the appearance of Hanuman was ordained by the great Lord Vishnu Himself.

When Ravana had become invincible by the boons he had obtained from Brahma, he became a terror to even the powerful demigods. With Lord Brahma at their head, they prayed to the omniscient Lord Vishnu for help. In response, Lord Vishnu confirmed that He would descend as Rama, the son of King Dasaratha. He also ordered the demigods as follows, "Soon My advent on earth will occur. Assisted by all of you I will crush the despicable Ravana. The evil one did not ask for immunity from humans and animals. As promised I will descend as a human. Without leaving your posts as the controllers of the universe, you are capable of expanding yourselves. You should therefore appear on the earth as monkeys." In accordance to the wish of Lord Vishnu, Indra, the king of the demigods, expanded into Vali, Surya, the sun-god, into Sugriva, Vishwakarma, the celestial architect, into Nala and the Ashwini twins into Mainda and Dvivida. Vayu, the wind-god, expanded into the mighty Hanuman.

When appraised of their role in assisting Lord Vishnu, both Kesari and Anjani became exceedingly grateful and were soon blessed with the birth of an effulgent and powerful progeny they called Bali, one who is extremely powerful. He was also called Bajrang Bali, Kesari-nandana (son of Kesari), Anjani-putra and Anjaneya (son of Anjani).

Hanuman tries to swallow the Sun
As a child once Hanuman thought the rising Sun in the sky to be an apple and quickly flew up in the sky desiring to eat it. Indra alarmed at the sight of some one approaching to swallow the Sun, quickly deployed his weapon the Vajra. Struck by this powerful weapon, the child Hanuman fell down unconscious. When Vayu-deva witnessed this he became extremely angry and withdrew himself from the universe. When the winds in the sky and the very life-airs became suspended, there was great anguish in the three worlds. All the demigods, headed by Brahma implored Vayu-deva to give up his anger.

Vayu-deva finally gave up his anger and resumed his function in the universe and the grateful demigods showered many benedictions on Hanuman. Indra gave him the boon of being able to die only when he desired, Brahma gave his protection from his powerful weapon the brahma-astra and the other demigods showered him with many mystic powers and weapons. Since the weapon of Indra and struck and broken the jaw of Hanuman, he got the name by which he would be most famous. Hanuman which means "one with a broken jaw."

Hanuman accepted the very same Sun god he had tried to swallow as his guru and learned from him the Vedic scriptures and science of war. Later on, Hanuman on several occasions displayed his impeccable grasp on Vedic scriptures, when trying to convince Ravana to give up Sita, when counseling Sugriva and by strictly following the codes of battle in the war against the rakshasas. His strength and skills as a warrior are matched by his keen intellect, knowledge of the scriptures and a deep compassion for all living entities.

Hanuman looses his powers
As a young child Hanuman could not control his great powers and in childish exuberance caused much disturbance to the peaceful sages in the forests. Much disturbed by his excessive energy and indefatigable powers, the rishis finally cursed him to loose all his powers. However by their mystic vision they realized that Hanuman would play a vital role in later assisting Lord Rama in His pastimes. They therefore decreed that when some one would remind Hanuman of his powers the effect of the curse would be lifted and Hanuman would get complete recollection of his great powers.

Meeting with Lord Rama
While living in exile with Sugriva, Hanuman first encountered Rama and Lakshmana as they searched for Sita. Hanuman on the orders of Sugriva had disguised himself as a Brahman to try and find out if the two mighty bowmen were sent by Vali, the vengeful brother of Sugriva. However on seeing Them, all doubts were immediately wiped from the mind of Hanuman who immediately revealed his true form.

From this time, Hanuman became completely absorbed in one and only one thing, the service of Rama. Later when Hanuman and his troop of monkeys were stuck on the southern shore of the country, separated from Lanka by the ocean, Jambavana reminds Hanuman of his great powers. The duration of the curse thus ends and a greatly powerful Hanuman jumps across the ocean to wreak havoc in the golden city of Ravana.

Hanuman the perfect devotee
The relationship between Rama and Hanuman demonstrates the perfection of devotion in the mood of service (dasya-rasa). In an almost classical manner Hanuman demonstrated the symptoms of pure devotional service. Everything that he did was only for the pleasure of Lord Rama, whether it was building bridges, fighting rakshasas or flying across the country to fetch life saving herbs, his constant meditation was how to best serve Rama. When he sought out Sita in Ravana's Lanka, he was not merely satisfied at delivering to her the message of Lord Rama. He also destroyed the forest, killed many rakshasas and burnt down half of Lanka. That is the mood of a pure devotee. To consciously cultivate everything that is positive to the service of the Lord and reject everything that is not.

Even though Lord Rama reciprocated very sweetly with gratitude, praise or benedictions for Hanuman, he never had any expectation for them. Hanuman often presented himself as a simple ignorant monkey in front of Rama. When Hanuman returned from Lanka with news of Sita, an overjoyed Rama embraced him tightly. However a clearly uncomfortable Hanuman stated that his position could only be at the feet of his Lord. The highest reward for him was to serve Lord Rama. Service to Rama was the most exalted destination for Hanuman, and he constantly endeavored to perfect himself in this respect.

Glories to Hanuman
After ruling for eleven thousand years when the time came for Lord Rama to return to His eternal abode, most of His close associates, including Sugriva, accompanied Him. However Lord Rama ordered Hanuman to stay back, to protect and inspire His future devotees. Lord Rama gave Hanuman the benediction that he would live for as long as His glories would be sung in any corner of the world.

Even though Hanuman appeared in the Treta-yuga, millions of years later he made an appearance again in the Dwapara-yuga to help his younger brother Bhima. In order to serve Krishna, in the battle of Mahabharata, Hanuman personally resided in the flag on the chariot of Arjuna. During the battle, the fierce cries of Hanuman struck terror in the hearts of the opposition and greatly encouraged the Pandava warriors.

Devotees pray to Hanuman to protect them from material obstacles in the path of devotional service and engage them in the service of the Supreme Lord Rama.

source: iskcon dc

This chapter entitled "Sri Mukhyaprana - The Avatar of Vayu" is designed to prepare you, the reader, to understand who is Sripad Madhwacarya, why he appeared, and how Vayu, the Wind God, expanded himself into three plenary portions whilst still keeping his original identity to serve and associate with his worshipful Lord and master, Lord Visnu. For the necessary information to compile this chapter, I have mostly followed Narayana Panditacarya's Madhwa Vijaya, Sripadiraja Tirtha's Sri Madhwa-nama, and Trivikram Panditacarya's Hari Vayu Stuti, Hrisikesha Tirtha's Anu Madhwa Vijay, however there have also been some inserts from various Puranas with due credits attatched, so the reader can accept with confidence the following subject matter.
 I also found, but was initially reluctant to include, because of lack of traditional Madhwa reference the instances how Mukhyapran (Hanuman) also joined in to assist in 'Caitanya lila' as Murari Gupta(Locan dasa Thakura. Caitanya Mangala.; 1994. Mahanidhi Swami. pages 4.; 134.; 153.; 241.) & Sri Navadwip Dham - A Pilgrims Guide(Anakadundubhi das. 1987. pages 36-37.). Then I thought, "How could this legacy be completely portrayed when I hold back relevant information to such a great soul, that I'd found?"

However, the main source was, I feel, was Madhwa Vijay of Narayana Panditacarya. Let us see who is Narayana Panditacarya and where he fits in, and why he should be accepted as the authority on the events leading up to Sripad Madhwacarya's appearance and Sripad Madhwacarya's glorious life.
 Sri Narayana Panditacarya was the third and youngest son of Sripad Madhwacarya's disciple, Trivikrama Panditacarya who wrote several books Hari Vayu Stuti, his great work Usaharana, and most famous, his Tattwapradipa. He was, like his father, a great poet and philosopher, what to speak of devotee. Sri Narayana Panditacarya wrote around twenty books of which Madhwa Vijaya and Madhwa Vijaya Bhavaprakashika are most famous.
 In his books he makes it clear that he was a small boy when the great Madhwacarya was preaching and exhibiting his pastimes for all to see. Sriman Trivikrama Pandit told these stories to his son, who put them into poetic form, outlining the life, tours, and dynamic preaching as recorded in Trivikrama's diary on Sripad Madhwacarya.

Sriman Narayana Panditacarya was born in 1287 A.D., and left his body in 1350 A.D. As the generally accepted birth date of Madhwa is 1238 A.D. Sripad Madhwacarya would have been forty nine at the time of his birth, so Narayana Panditacarya would have spent thirty years associating with Madhwacarya and his disciples.

Iskcon's Founder Acarya Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, states in his descriptive purport of Madhwa's pastimes in Sri Caitanya Caritamrta (Madhya lila Vol 4:9:245.), that "If one wants to know more about Madhwacarya one should read Madhwa Vijaya of Narayana Panditacarya." Sriman Narayana Panditacarya is eternally glorified for his Madhwa Vijaya by all branches of Madhwa Vaisnavas.

I therefore humbly offer my respectful obeisances unto Sriman Narayana Panditacarya trying to follow in his footsteps in compiling the life of Sripad Madhwacarya for the pleasure of the Vaisnavas, though unworthy to do so, or to write on this subject. Seeing the need for more information as to who is Sripad Madhwacarya, in my humble way I have tried to glorify dually the Lord and His devotee. I am a conditioned soul simply praying for the mercy of the Vaisnavas to bless me, to empower me, to in turn satisfy you all with a true rendition of the life of Sripad Madhwacarya Bhagavatapad. I hope and pray that if anything has been left out, or that as appreciators of Sripad Madhwacarya you feel should have been there in this summary study, or that due to my many imperfections in presentation, I have not portrayed the full meaning to Madhwacarya's glory, you will accept my deepest apologies, I am sorry. Making such mistakes, I pray that by your merciful Vaisnava nature's these things will not be taken as offensive, and that my short comings will be overlooked, in that way in this first edition, your kindness be shown to me in a gentle Vaisnava way.

In Sriman Narayana Panditacarya's Madhwa Vijaya, which is as I have said our main source of information, he starts with obeisances to Lord Narayana "Whose brightness is just like the sun and Who dispels all darkness in all directions. He then offers his obeisances to His Divine Consort Srimati Laxmidevi. Then defining that Divine Couple, Sri Laxmi-Narayana as the self-same worshipful Lordships of Bharati devi (Sarasvati) and Mukhyaprana (Vayudeva)".

He offers his respectful obeisances unto Srila Vyasadeva (Vasistakrsna) by whose mercy the pure cloud of Vedic knowledge, which is dark blackish blue like an early monsoon cloud and Who is raining Vedic wisdom upon us without change or adulteration from time immemorial, and who is very dear to Bhima, the husband of Draupadi.
 He then glorifies Lord Sri Krsna saying "It is that same Lord Sri Krsna Who is the charming cowherd boy of Vrndavana having a dark blackish blue complexion like a refreshing monsoon cloud, Who is full in all opulence's and Who is dear to the Pandavas."
 He then offers his respects unto Sripad Ananda Tirtha Madhwacarya "..who, shining like the sun, dispels ignorance in the form of dark philosophies in this fallen age". Respectful obeisances are offered unto his father, the great devotee and direct disciple of Sripad Madhwacarya, and says how by Trivikrama Panditacarya's great philosophical work of the name Tattwa-Pradipa he has enlightened the people in general by it's cooling rays, like moonshine, and which give great pleasure and delight to those who come into this world with doubts, by shedding light upon the nature and personality of Godhead.

Sriman Narayana Panditacarya goes on to say how he will describe the spotless pastimes of the three avatars of Sri Mukhyaprana (Vayudeva) such as Sri Hanumanji who appeared in the Treta Yuga, Bhima who appeared in the Dwarpara Yuga, and Madhwa who appeared in the Kali Yuga.
 He who is always the dear devotee of the Supreme Lord Mukunda, Who is revealed to those who surrender to 'guru' and Krsna.

The humble Vaisnava poet Narayana Panditacarya's writings start first by asking those persons who are richly endowed with the qualities of kindness to please disregard any defects and comprehension of merits. He says he has little knowledge and brief words, but has a sincere desire to recount the story of the 'avatars' of Sri Mukhyaprana which are worthy of being described by even demigods like Rudra and Indra. Sriman Narayana Panditacarya compares himself to a jewel maker who may lack expertise in craftsmanship but whose curiosity and love for the subject inundates everything with his devotion for Lord Visnu and His devotee Lord Vayu, who appears in these three incarnations called Mukhyaprana.

(Unannounced) Murari Gupta.
In a similar humble mood, Sri Murari Gupta first begs for the blessings of all 'mahabhagavatas'. "Then I can properly sing the glories of the Lord. I am the lowest of the low, so how can I explain the greatness of Sri Caitanya's transcendental character? Since I don't know anything, what's the use of my incoherent words? If, without knowing the highest truths about Lord Caitanya, I try to say something, I will suffer embarrassment before the great souls.
 Although I am not qualified and full of faults, I cherish an intense desire to sing about the sweet qualities of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu."
 "While living in Navadwip, Sri Murari Gupta had the opportunity to remian always in the company of Gaurachandra. Who can describe his greatness? He is known throughout the world as Hanuman. After crossing the ocean to Lanka, Hanuman burned Ravan's palace to the ground. Then Hanuman brought Rama the good news about His beloved Sita. He revived Laksmana by bringing 'visalya-karani' (a medical herb). That same Hanuman now resides in Nadia as Murari Gupta.
 Being highly realised, Murari Gupta knows all truths. As an eternal associate of the Lord, he is fixed at the lotus feet of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu. He expertly told all of Lord Caitanya's childhood and boyhood pastimes in his great Sanskrit epic, 'Sri-Krishna-Caitanya-carita-mahakavya',(also called 'Karcha', dairy.).(Caitanya Mangala. 1994. Mahanidhi Swami, page 4.)

Murari Gupta begged Lord Caitanya (Gauranga) to "please be merciful, please give me ecstatic love of God!"
 "Lord Gauranga said, 'Listen Murari, You have love for Me. So just serve the 'Parabraman' appearing in the human form, having the colour of an 'indranila' gem(blue sapphire). He stands most attractively in His three-fold bening form, carrying a flute in His hand. Worship Srimati Radharani, the golden comlexioned daughter of King Vrshabhanu. She is the original energy of the Lord, and Her effulgence defeats the colour of 'gorachana' (bright yellow).
 "Engage yourself in the service of the 'gopis', and you'll attain the son of Nanda. In 'cintamani-bhumi', Vrindavana-dham, He sits on a jewelled throne resting upon a gem-studded platform surrounded by 'kalpa-vrksha' trees. By His inconceivible potency, 'Kama-dhenu' (surabhi-cows) wander everywhere fulfilling all desires. His glittering bodily effulgence is known as the formless 'Brahman'. You should know that this is the sweet truth about Krishna."
 'The devotees felt transcendental joy to hear these talk from Lord Gauranga. I a mood of submission, Murari Gupta requested, "My lord, I want to see the Lord's form as Raghunatha (Lord Rama)."
 Within a second, Murari saw Lord Ramachandra in His beautiful body the colour of fresh green grass. Sitadevi, Laksmana, bharata and Satrughna stood around the Lord. Murari rolled on the ground in astonishment. Gaurasundara pacified him with the touch of His lotus hand while blessing him. "May you become saturated in love of God. Actually Murari, you are no one other than Hanuman, and I am the same Lord Rama." After saying this, the Lord entered the temple."(Caitanya Mangala. Locan dasa Thakura.; Mahanidhi Swami. 1994. page 134.)
 Once Lord Caitanya asked Murari Gupta to recite some verses he had composed, "For My pleasure, please recite that verse you composed."
 'Murari Gupta cited his book Sri Krishna Caitanya-carita: "I worship the blessed Lord and master of the three worlds, Sri Ramachandra. He wears a brilliant crown covered with a strand of jewels whose shining lights up all directions. His dazzling earings defeat the brilliance of Sukra and Brhaspati. his beautiful face looks like a pure spotless moon.
 "I worship the lotus feet of the master of the three worlds, Sri Ramachandra, whose charming eyes appear like blossoming lotus flowers. his red lips look like 'bimba' fruits, and His well-shaped nose attracts eveyone. His wonderfull smile embarrasses the moonlight."
 After hearing these verses, Gaura put His feet on Murari's head. Then He wrote the name "Ramadasa" on his forehead. Prabhu said, "Murari, from today on, by My mercy, you'll be known as Ramadasa. Without Raghunatha, you can't live a moment. Know for certain that I am that same Lord Raghunath (Rama)."
 To the surprise of everyone present, Lord Gauranga showed His transcendental form as Lord Ramachandra, long with Janaki (Sita), Laksmana, Hanuman, and other associates. Instantly, Murari fell at the Lord's feet and praised Gauranga. "All glories to Raghavira. He's the same as the darling of Sacimata." Then Murari rolled in the dust. Crying in happiness, he offered more prayers.
 Showing mery, Mahaprabhu said, "Murari, you should worship Me, and forget anything other than 'bhakti'. Although I am your worshippable Lord Raghunatha, still you should worship the lord of Radha. Perform 'sankirtan', attentively hear the glories of Radha and Krishna, and be devoted to Me."(Caitanya Mangala. Locana dasa Thakura.; Mahanidhi Swami, page 153-154.)

The Lead Up To Hanuman's Birth.
Once Lord Shiva wished to see the most beautiful form of a woman, that being the temporary incarnation of Lord Visnu called Mohini Murti. Lord Shiva knew that he could not be agitated by any so-called beautiful woman. He thought, "The Daityas may have been bewildered but the demigods could not be agitated, what to speak of me who am the best of all the demigods?  I will certainly remain unaffected by seeing Her." Because Lord Shiva wanted to see Lord Vishnu's form as a woman, Lord Visnu decided to appear as a woman and show him a form that would immediately put him in an ocean of lusty desires. In effect therefore, Lord Visnu told Lord Shiva, "I will show you my form as a woman, and if you become agitated and lusty, don't blame Me."

The following is taken from Srimad Bhagavatam (8:12:18-34.), and Bhaja Madhwesam (26.).
 "Thereafter, in a nice forest nearby, full of trees with reddish-pink leaves and varieties of flowers, Lord Siva saw a beautiful woman playing with a ball. Her hips were covered with a shining 'sari' and ornamented with a belt. Because the ball was falling down and bouncing up, as She played with it Her breasts trembled, and because of the weight of those breasts and Her heavy flower garlands, Her waist appeared to be all but breaking at every step, as Her two soft feet, which were reddish like coral, moved here and there. The woman's face was decorated by broad, beautiful restless eyes, which moved as the ball bounced here and there from Her hand. The two brilliant earrings on Her ears decorated Her shining cheeks like bluish reflections, and the hair scattered on Her face made Her even more beautiful to see. As she played with the ball, the 'sari' covering Her body became loose, and Her hair scattered. She tried to bind Her hair with her right hand. This was so attractive that the Supreme Lord, by His internal potency, in this way captivated everyone.

"While Lord Shiva observed the beautiful woman playing with the ball, She sometimes glanced at him and slightly smiled in bashfulness. As he looked at the beautiful woman and She watched him, he forgot both himself and Uma, his most beautiful wife, as well as his associates nearby. When the ball leaped from Her hand and fell at a distance, the woman began to follow it, but as Lord Shiva observed these activities, a breeze suddenly blew away the fine dress and belt that covered Her. Thus Lord Shiva saw the woman, every part of whose body was beautifully formed, and the beautiful woman also looked at him. Therefore, thinking that She was attracted to him, Lord Shiva became very much attracted to Her. Lord Shiva, his good sense taken away by the woman because of lusty desires to enjoy with Her, became so mad for Her that even in the presence of Bhavani (his wife) he did not hesitate to approach Her. The beautiful woman was already naked, and when She saw Lord Shiva coming toward Her, She became extremely bashful. Thus She kept smiling, but She hid Herself among the trees and did not stand in one place. His senses being agitated, Lord Shiva, victimised by lusty desires, began to follow Her, just as a lusty elephant follows a she-elephant. After following Her with great speed, Lord Shiva caught Her by the braid of Her hair and dragged Her near him. Although She was unwilling, he embraced Her with his arms. Being embraced by Lord Shiva like a female elephant embraced by a male, the woman whose hair was scattered, swirled like a snake. O King, this woman, who had large, high hips, was a woman of Yogamaya presented by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. She released Herself somehow or other from the fond embrace of Lord Shiva's arms and ran away. As if harassed by an enemy in the form of lusty desires, Lord Shiva followed the path of Lord Visnu, Who acts very wonderfully and who had taken the form of Mohini. Just as a maddened bull elephant follows a female elephant who is able to conceive pregnancy, Lord Shiva followed the beautiful woman and discharged semen, even though his discharge of semen never goes in vain. O King, wheresoever on the surface of the globe fell the semen of the great personality of Lord Shiva, mines of gold and silver later appeared. Following Mohini, Lord Shiva went everywhere - near the shores of the rivers and lakes, near the mountains, near the forests, near the gardens, and wherever there lived great sages."(Srimad Bhagavatam 8:12:18-34.)
 Some of the semen was carried carefully by Vayu, the wind-god and impregnated into the ear of the monkey Queen Anjana, and thus Hanumanji was conceived, by Vayu.(Shiva Purana, Satarudrasamhita).

This story of Shiva becoming lusty and following Lord Visnu in the temporary form of Srimati Mohini Murti is to be found also in the Bhagavata (8:12. adh.), of Sripad Madhwacarya, and the Shiva Purana, Satarudrasamhita.
 There is another story from the Ananda Ramayana which is also found in the Bhavishya Purana, Pratisagar parva relates how King Dasaratha, who had at that time no children, performed the 'Putrakamesti Yajna'. From that 'yajna' some 'prasadam' ('payasam'-'caru') was to be given to Dasaratha's wives so that they could be blessed with sons. However, just as King Dasaratha was going to administer the sweet to his wives, a large kite-like bird snatched some of the prasadam in it's beak and flew off into the forest. In the forest was the monkey queen who was sitting performing austerities to return to the service of Brhaspati. As the kite-bird flew over some of the 'payasam' fell from it's beak landing on the fingers of Anjana. When Anjana finished her austerities she put her fingers to her mouth, and thus eating some of the 'payasam' from the 'Putrakamesti Yajna'. Soon after that by the Lord's divine plan Keshari and Anjana tried to conceive a child. At that time an fierce aspect of Lord Shiva entered Keshari, and then Vayu entered the ear of Anjana. Anjana gave birth to a small baby monkey who was so ugly that in disgust, and angry at Shiva and Vayu, Anjana wanted to throw him into the Tungabhadra River from the top of their mountain, but Vayudeva appeared on the scene and pacified her saying. "This monkey son of yours in not ordinary. He is actually my son and is a great devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Rama."
 As soon as Hanuman was born, Anjana was released from the curse of Brhaspati and she wanted to return to her former service.
 The monkey child's first questions to his mother after being born were, what was there to eat, what his future was, and how he would maintain himself. Anjana told the boy not to worry, that he would never be destroyed or die, and that fruits were his food, ripened by the sun. She pointed to the sun, and the monkey child jumped up and tried to reach the sun to eat it, thinking it a fruit. Jumping for the sun and caught it in his mouth, then he saw Rahu, so he jumped at him to eat him, for he was bigger than the sun. Then as he flew through the sky he saw Lord Indra's elephant Airavata and tried to eat him too. Indra, seeing this, threw his mighty thunderbolt at the monkey which hit his chin and he fell to the earth wounded.
 Sri Vayudeva carried him off and comforted and glorified him. Due to the scar made by Indra's Vajrayudha weapon on his chin ('hanu'), the demigods and Lord Visnu named him Hanuman. Everyone blessed him. Lord Visnu said: "May you live all your life as my greatest devotee." Indra said: "No weapon of any kind will wound or hit your body." Agni said: "Fire will never affect or disturb you." Kala (time personified) said: "May death never come to find you." Vayu blessed him to have more speed than air. Brahma said: "He will have more strength than even Garuda."
 Sri Brahmaji said, "Don't worry, I will use my mystic powers." And he read Hanuman's mind. Sri Hanumanji was thinking "Why is there is no fruit in this world, all I wanted was something to eat?" Brhaspati came to know of his desire and he came forward and said, "Hanuman, I will give you all the fruits in this world, and I will give you the knowledge of Ayurveda by which you will know all the fruits, all the plants, and all the trees. Any plant in the creation, you will know it, what is the proper use of it, and how to apply it. You will know all these things, and what is the medicinal effect of it you will also know. This is my benediction to you." Then Lord Dhanvantari spoke, "I will be at your command. Whatever medicine that you put on anyone they will revive from their ailment and again become alive." So then Hanuman opened his mouth, and the Sun-god was there, he came out and the demigods ('devas') were very much satisfied.
 Sri Hanumanji is known as the best of the monkeys and is surrendered to the lotus feet of Lord Rama. Upon their meeting Lord Ramacandra glorified Hanuman for his having studied all the Vedic literatures, knowing perfect presentation of philosophy and grammar, with never any faulty expression. Lord Rama said that Hanuman had captured the essence of all the Vedic studies yet still he remained humble rendering menial service to Lord Rama.
 Hanuman still wasn't sure how he would recognise his worshipful Lord in the pastimes yet to come. So Brahma gave him a diamond necklace, and told him, "This is the highest benediction you can get. You will be always remain the eternal servant of the eternal Lord, and only your Lord will be able to recognise this necklace. That means you will be recognised by him, and he will be recognised by you as the one who recognised the necklace."
 Later on when Lord Ramacandra asked the beggar, "What kind of a beggar are you?  You have a wonderful necklace on your neck." Then Hanuman immediately recognised, that this is my worshippable Lord. And he immediately surrendered to Him..

Sri Hanumanji had so many other exploits too, some we have included when he was a small boy. After the sun-swallowing pastime there were so many other pastimes. He used to take elephants and tigers and play with them. One day he caught hold of a very wise elephant.  He was holding it by the tusk, and he was also holding a tiger by the tail, and swinging them around. They were making some sounds. This was the innocent nature of Hanuman's fun.  As he played like this with the animals he saw an ashram. The sage who lived here had never gotten angry in his life. He was known for his sense control. Hanumanji thought to himself, "Now we will test his sense control." So he put the tiger and the elephant tied up together in front of his ashram. This was early in the morning, during the 'brahma-muhurta' time. So the 'rishi' slowly opened the door and took his 'lota' for taking bath. Then to his surprise as he looked out he saw this tiger, so he immediately ran back inside and closed the door. Up to that time he had constipation, but when he saw this tiger suddenly and by the grace of God, he felt nature calling. But what could he do, there was a tiger outside his door? He looked out the door again, and this time he saw the elephant as well, so he quickly shut the door again. He had to pass. But how could he pass inside? He then had some inspiration to climb out of the window, there was a tree outside of the window, and looking  up he saw Hanuman at the top of the tree. Seeing him there the rishi said, "Ah! So you are the cause of this mischief. Come here!" Hanuman thought, "He's becoming angry. I must go."  So he came down from the tree, and using his mystic siddhis he became very small and entered the window. The 'rishi' then cursed Hanuman that would limited his strength. "Why did you curse me like this?" Hanuman asked. "This is only for you own good. Your strength has been controlled so that you can use it only for the Lord's service, no more of these pranks. And when it is time for you to render service to Lord Rama, the Lord will arrange for someone to remind you." So then Hanuman said, "I will never tie an elephant to a tiger any more. And I will certainly not put it in front of your ashrama." Then he came back to his home, and he didn't go out to play for a whole week. Keshari was asking, "Hanuman, how come there have been no complaints from anyone for a whole week? Have you become a good boy?" Hanuman said, "I don't want to give trouble to anyone." Then they heard a sound, a very nice sound. Keshari said, "What is this? It sounds like the great Narada Muni coming!" Hanuman asked, "Who is this person?" Keshari replied, "He is a very great devotee. He doesn't need any introduction. You just go to him and you will find out his greatness." Immediately Hanuman jumped up just as Narada was on his way past their place, going to see some 'rishis', so Hanuman jumped in his path and paid 'pranams', obeisances unto you great sage. "Narada Muni, I heard that you are a very great person, so you must bless me. Without blessing me, you are not allowed to go." Narada said, "What blessing do you want?" Hanuman said, "Already the demigods have given me so many blessings. I cannot think of anything else, so you think of a blessing, and you give it to me." Narada thought, "What blessing does Hanuman not have?" And so Narad said, "You will become expert in music." That was the only benediction left to give. So then Hanuman duly received that benediction, and Narada Muni said, "So I have given you the benediction as you requested, and now I am going." Hanuman said, "One minute, one minute." "What do you want now?" Narada asked. "How will I know that I am the most expert in music?" Hanuman inquired. "My father told me that you are the most expert in music, so you must do me a favour today. Give me the benediction that I will be more expert than you." So Narada said, "All right, I will sit somewhere and listen to you." "Shall I start singing?" Hanuman asked. "Yes." Narada Muni put his 'vina' on a rock, and he sat down on the ground. So Hanuman selected a tune, simply by his singing all wondrous things began to happen. His singing changed the nature of things like the rock on which Narad Muni had rested his 'vina'. The rock melted in ecstacy, and then the 'vina' was there sitting in the liquid. He was singing and singing, and the 'vina' was floating in the liquid rock. Narada was closing his eyes and enjoying, and he said, "All right Hanuman, you are the best musician you even surpass me. You can stop singing now."  Hanuman said, "You open your eyes and tell me if I should I stop singing." Narada said, "What, how do you mean?" Hanuman replied, "You open your eyes." So Narada opened his eyes and looked around. He didn't notice the vina floating in the 'rock pool'. "Yes, you can stop singing." So then Hanuman stopped singing, and the liquid stone became again rock, and the 'vina' became stuck.  Narada said, "I am going," and he went to take his vina, but it wouldn't move. "What did you do, Hanuman?" Hanuman said, "I only sung a song. You told me to sing a song, and you also gave me the ability. Now why are you complaining. I have been a good boy for a whole week.?" Narada said, "One week of doing nothing means that before that week you did too much." And then Hanuman told him all about what he had done, swallowing the sun etc, and Narada became very pleased. Then he said, "Now whatever it was, you please sing the tune again, so I can get my vina out." Hanuman said, "Well, I don't know...." Narada Muni said, "Please do it!" "No I won't", Hanuman said, and he jumped up and ran inside the palace. Narada Muni came in there and called out, "Hanuman, come and get my 'vina' out of the rock! I have to go." Just then Keshari came out, and when he saw Narada Muni he touched his feet. "What is my son doing, he is giving you some trouble?" Narada said, "Oh no, no trouble, just that he got my vina stuck in the rock." Sriman Keshari said, "Oh no, he has started his mischief again. Hanuman, get Narada's 'vina' out of the rock!" Then Hanuman said, "I want Narada Muni's feet to touch every room in this palace, that is why I was doing this. Now he has touched all the rooms, I will release his 'vina'. The dust from his lotus feet is so rare that what is the use of just having it in one part of our kingdom? We should have it all over." Narada said, "You are already blessed, because you are Lord Rama's eternal servant."
 Sri Hanuman went and sung for Narada, who quickly took his 'vina' and left. In this way, Hanuman had so many wonderful pastimes. Then he told Keshari, "I want to begin my education. I have so many benedictions, but I need some education too, I need 'vidya'. I am very much hankering for 'vidya'." Keshari thought out loud and said, "But who could give you 'vidya'? You have so many benedictions, but you also have this uncontrollable behaviour. I can't find a 'guru' for you, because you are so strong, and so naughty also." Hanuman said, "This means that you are not going to perform the duty of the father. You're not giving me the necessary education." Keshari said, "I have to give you education, but I would like you to do one thing. You go to the Sun-god. He is the most powerful. Some time ago he was suppressed by you, but I can't think of anyone else He is most learned. So you go and approach him." Hanuman went to see the Sun-god, and when the Sun-god saw Hanuman coming, he thought, "It's Hanuman again. What is he here for? He's grown up now, so hopefully he would have stopped playing his mischievous deeds."
 Sri Hanuman had changed, he came up and paid his obeisances very respectfully. The Sun-god said, "What are you here for now? Whom are you going to swallow?" Hanuman objected, "No, no, all that was because I was a small child in ignorance. I still have so much ignorance, but I want to get some knowledge. I've heard that you are a great 'pandit', so please teach me. I've come to join your 'gurukula'." So then the Sun-god looked down. He has a big sitting place in the front of his chariot. There, we can understand from 'shastra' that there are six million 'rishis' sitting, and they are constantly reciting Yajur-veda, Rg-veda, Sama-veda and Atharva-veda to the Sun-god. So he looked to see if there was any vacant seat, but the whole place was filled up, so he said, "Sorry, there is no room for admission.." Hanuman said, "If there is no seat then I will stand and learn from you." The Sun-god said, "But I have to keep moving. If you stand in front of me then I won't be able to move and then the various seasons won't be there on time. I will be in trouble, I have my service too." Hanuman said, "Then I will move and learn." The Sun-god said, "All right. But you have to face me and move backwards. In this way you have to listen to me, and whatever I say you have to learn. I won't repeat it." So Hanuman was there in front of the Sun-god, and he was walking backwards. He was so sense-controlled that he could join the orbit of the sun. In 60 orbits he learnt everything, Rg, Sama, Yajur and Atharva, the Upanisads, Puranas everything. As the Sun-god spoke it, Hanuman heard it and immediately he remembered and realised it. The Sun-god said, "Very good, but you have to give me some dakshina." Hanuman said, "Well what do you want? Do you want Indra's crown?  You tell me anything that you want and I will get it for you in a second." The Sun-god said, "No, I don't want anything of that nature. Only one 'guru-dakshina' I need from you. I have a monkey friend. You must become his minister. You must always protect his life."  Hanuman said, "Oh? This is only glory for me. I will do it, I will protect him as I would my own life."
 The Sun-god told him who that monkey is. It was Sugriva, and actually he is the son of the Sun-god. How Sugriva became the Sun-god's son in relation to this is in itself a wonderful story. There was one lady who was known as Narayani, and her husband was called Ugra-tapas. That means one who performs "ferocious austerities," but in actuality he never did any austerities. He was only engaged in sense gratification. Due to living a life like that he became so diseased and paralysed that he had to be carried in a basket. Narayani would carry him in a basket so that he could go to different places and get sense gratification. Ugra-tapas told Narayani, "You must take me to such and such prostitute today." So she was carrying him. While Ugra-tapas was in the basket and Narayani was carrying him, there was one 'rishi' whose name was Bishmanda Rishi, and he had been put on a trident by a king because of some misunderstanding, and was suffering in that condition. He had 'tri-kala-jnan', knowledge of past, present and future, and when he saw Ugra-tapas he knew he was going to a prostitute's place, and even despite the fact that he was crippled and being carried by his wife. So naturally the 'Rishi' got so upset, amazed at this mans stupidity and forgot about his pain. He called out, "Hey Ugra-tapas, what are you doing? Your name is Ugra-tapas, and what is your life like? And now you are asking your wife to carry you to a prostitute's when you are paralysed. What kind of a person are you?  You should die immediately. In fact let me assist. When the sun rises tomorrow you will die." When Narayani heard this she said, "When the sun rises tomorrow my husband will die? Then I curse by my austerity of chastity that the sun will not rise." The sun then became motionless. The Sun-god's charioteer Aruna was getting ready, packing the horses etc., for a normal daily journey of the sun. But then he looked back and saw the sun had become static. "Oh? Is this a vacation for me? I never got any holiday before, because there was never any chance. Let me have some fun." So he went and asked the sages that sit on the Sun-god's chariot, "How come the sun is not moving any more?" "This is the curse of a chaste lady," they replied. "How long will this curse last?" Aruna asked. "At least one day."  "That's good," Aruna said. "One day is good enough. I can enjoy nicely in that time." So Aruna got one day's holiday. He was thinking, "How can I enjoy this day? It never happened in the creation before, and it will probably never happen again. The sun never goes on holiday. I only have one day, so I must  make the most of this and get the highest enjoyment." So he took a book, like a tourist guide for the heavenly planets, and he found out that Indra was having a special feast banquet and dinner in respect of some great personality, and Menaka the heavenly society girl was dancing at that festival. "Oh I must go and see that," he said. But in this party, only the invited guests were allowed. You had to bring an invitation, and you had to be dressed in a special way. It was known that only Indra's close personal friends were invited. So he was wondering, "How will I go? I know, I will also become a dancer." So he turned himself temporarily into a woman, Aruna became Aruni. This Aruni was so beautiful, because he always sat with the sun and he was shining so brightly. He came in front of Indra's palace. The gateman asked, "Who are you?" "I am Menaka's make-up assistant," she said. Menaka forgot to put one line on her face, so I have to do it. I am the only one who is expert enough." "All right, you may enter." So then Aruni entered the assembly. Menaka was dancing on one side and Aruni was hiding on the other watching. Indra was looking through the crowd, and suddenly he saw Aruni. "She is more beautiful than Menaka," he said. Indra thought that it has been a wonderful party everyone has had a great time, so now we can say that its all over, and he immediately wound up the party, and started showing everyone out. Aruni was also going to leave, but Indra caught hold of her affectionately and said, "Wait a minute! Who are you, beautiful celestial maiden?" Aruni said, "I am Menaka's make-up assistant. Please leave me alone! I am going now the party is over." "No you are not going fair maiden, you are staying here with me," Indra said. "I'm staying where?" The beauty recoiled. "With me, I want to enjoy your beauty." Indra said. "No, I am not staying with you. I know your history, you have done this so many times." Aruni said. Indra said, "No, no, I will keep you next to Indrani." Aruni objected, "Even if you keep me more than Indrani, I cannot be here because actually I am a man." Indra said, "Don't play these games with me, I know you are a woman, I can see the alluring shape of your form." Aruni said again, but with much emphasis, "No I am not a woman! I am a man! I just turned myself into this form to come to the party." Indra said, "Even if that is the case, still you are the most beautiful woman that I have seen and I want to enjoy you anyway." Aruni said, "If you were to make me conceive, then who would bring up the child? I am the charioteer of the Sun-god." Indra said, "Whatever or whoever you are, and whatever will come out of it, I don't care, I'm going to enjoy you." Aruni was then overpowered by the lusty desires of Indra, 'she' had little choice but to agree, immediately there was a conception, and a demigod was born. Aruni then ran and shed that illusory feminine beauty, and assumed his normal form, because it was getting late already, and the Sun-god was slowly getting his movement back.. At the last possible moment Aruna jumped on the chariot and grabbed the reins. The Sun-god said, "Where did you go?" "Oh, nowhere," Aruna answered. "Tell me!" "Oh, I went to Indra's planet." "Did you meet him. What did he say to you?" the Sun-god asked. "More than say. He seduced me and gave me a child." "How did he give you a child, Arun?" Aruna said, "It's getting late now, we only have a few moments." The Sun-god said, "A few moments is all right. It needs only one moment. Tell me how this came about and what beautiful form captivated the mind of Indra. Show it to me. Let me see that beautiful form." Aruna objected, "No, no. This will only cause more trouble, I don't want to go through all that again." "No, I must see," said the Sun-god. "You are my servant." "All right," said Aruna, and he became Aruni again. In the next moment Surya was also over come by lust, and there was another conception. It is mentioned in the Visnu Purana that anyone who hears this story loses the attraction for going to the heavenly planets. Anyway. So now two babies were crying. This was not usually the way that birth happened in the heavenly planets, normally they didn't have to undergo this screaming stage as they are usually born full grown, so this time all the demigods were disturbed in their sense gratification. They all went to Brahma, and Brahma approached Indra, saying, "You are the cause of this problem. It is up to you settle this problem down." "I can't have babies crying in the heavenly planets, its just not conducive for either meditation or sense gratification" Indra said. "We'll have to give them to someone." Then he remembered the king of Vanaras, Riksharaja, who had no children.  Moreover he was performing austerities to please Indra so he could get a son.  Its not unusual to find through history that these kinds of "benedictions" from the demigods are usually something that demigods don't want disturbing them in the heavenly planets, so they give it away. So Riksharaja was standing on one leg to get some children, and Indra came and said, "Your rigid austerities are now fruitful? Here are two babies you can have." So Riksharaja and his queen had two sons, Vali and Sugriva. Vali was the son of Indra, and Sugriva was the son of the Sun-god. And the Sun-god got the benediction of 'guru-dakshina' from Hanuman that he would always protect Sugriva. In this way, when Vali was anointed the king after Riksharaja, Sugriva became his minister, and Hanuman became the minister of Sugriva.
 Sri Hanumanji, without haughty thoughts, simply serving his Lord, he jumped across the sea to Lanka to reclaim Sita Devi (Lord Rama's consort) from the wicked King of the Raksasas, who, like a dog, steals food from his master's house, stole away Srimati Sitadevi by deceit after tricking the loyal Laksmana away from Her. In the form of a mendicant, the unscrupulous Ravana approached and took the most chaste lady to Lanka, his island of gold. The faithful Hanuman searched the city of Lanka and found Sita in the Ashoka grove. Pure, chaste and in separation from Sri Rama, she waited like a beautiful white lotus surrounded by cruel thorny Raksasas. Hanumanji gave Sita Rama's finger-ring to win her confidence, then allowing his own capture by the Nagastra, snake-rope weapon of Indrajit, then caused havoc to the demons in Lanka by jumping from roof top to roof top, his tail acting as a giant fire lighter. When the whole of Lanka was ablaze he sped back to his Lord.
 The Vanaras and bears celebrated Hanuman's return by visiting the honey grove and became intoxicated from the honey. When Sri Rama heard about this, he understood that Hanuman had been successful in finding Sita Devi.
 The war that followed is described as a big 'yajna', or fire sacrifice - Hanuman as the 'adhvaryu' (the runner who sets things up), and Laksmana as the 'pratiprasthatri' or first assistant to the 'adhvaryu' (Hanuman). One of the 'pratiprasthatris' special functions is to lead the wife of the sacrificer and to guide her. Knowing the events of the story that took place, we can see that the celebate Laksmana the 'brahmacari', carried out his particular sacrificial duties without saying very much. Sri Rama was the form of fire, Sugriva, the King of the monkeys, was the 'yajuman' (the beneficiary), and Angada and the other monkeys were the 'Ritviks' (assistants).

A Setu, bridge of floating stones was placed on the sea and the army advanced quickly towards Lanka. Sri Hanumanji carried Rama on his shoulders and Angada carried Laksmana. Hanuman was the pride of all creatures who came to help Sri Rama retrieve Sita from the demon Ravana. After Laksmana killed Ravana's son Indrajit, Ravana became extremely angry and personally came to attack Sri Rama and the Vanara army. At the sight of this ferocious demon, many of the Vanaras ran, but not Hanuman. Ravana first tried to kill Vibhisana, his pious brother and friend of Sri Rama, but Laksmana saved his life.
 Ravana turned on Laksmana and knocked him unconscious. Sushena, the great physician, was sent for, to restore Laksmana's life, the sun had not many more hours in the sky, the Vanaras had to act fast. According to the pastime, if the sun rose the next day without the Vishalya Karani herb brought from the Gandhamadana Mountain in the Himalayas, Laksmana would die. Sri Hanuman, being blessed by Vayu to move faster than the wind, leaped into the sky and headed north to look for the golden creeper with blue flowers. Ravana saw Hanumanji cross the sky and sent for the magician Kalanemi to trick him. Taking the form of a hermit in the Himalayas, Kalanemi tried to have Hanuman eaten by a crocodile, but Hanuman killed the crocodile, freeing an Apsara who had been cursed to remain in that form until Hanuman came. Hanuman then killed Kalanemi and threw him back to Lanka with a flick of his tail. The powerful Ravana, mad with anger summoned the sun god. He ordered him to appear in the sky, even though it was not yet his scheduled time for him to rise. When the sun god mounted his chariot to rise early, Hanuman expanded himself larger than the largest and captured the sun god, chariot, horses and all, and placed them under his arm pit.
 As he still hadn't found the herb 'sanjivani', and out of deep attachment, affectionate desperation to save Laksman he lifted the whole of Gandhamadana Mountain effortlessly with one hand whilst keeping the sun still locked safely under his other arm, and with a single jump flew through the sky and returned to his Lord Rama. Sushena quickly climbed the mountain found the herb and revived Laksmana by holding it under his nose. Sri Hanumanji then flew with the mountain back to the Himalayas and replaced it where he had found it. The sun still had not risen and everyone was confused. Then Hanuman returned, and resuming his normal size, freed the sun god from under his arm to rise into the sky to start the final day for Ravana. Lord Sri Rama killed Ravana that day, and Ravana's pious brother Vibhisana brought Sita from the Ashoka Grove. She was thin and weak, but in her usual natural elegant beauty, and was  now free to join her Rama. Everyone was in ecstasy.
 Lord Rama told Hanuman, his greatest devotee, that They Sita and Rama would always stay in his heart, and Hanuman will remain as long as the Ramayana is told.

     yavad ramakatham vira srosye 'ham prthivitale
       tavat sarire vatsyantu mama prana na samsayah

Hanuman vowed, "O My Lord Rama, O Valiant King, as long as I hear Your story told, I will remain in this body for you."
 As stated in the Puranas, Hanuman perfected his life in servitude to his Lord and to this day constantly worships Sri Ramacandra in Kimpurusha varsha, Hanumans' 'eternal' abode.

Before Kunti was married to Pandu she was given a mantra from Durvasa Muni after pleasing him with her service. The story is related that Durvasa Muni, who is reputed for his quick anger, came one day to King Kuntibhoja. As a transcendental test Kunti was bidden to serve him as nicely as possible. Once he came to her and demanded his meal be ready by the time he had taken his bath. He was back within a few moments but Kunti had managed to cook for him, which she placed before him on a plate. Alas, it was too hot, so Durvasa looked at her, staring at her back. She realised that he wanted her to turn her back towards him, so she did. Durvasa stuck the hot plate of food onto her back. Kunti tolerated the pain of the hot meal and Durvasa ate his meal from her blistering back. So cultured was Kuntidevi that for her guest she tolerated Durvasa's behaviour, consequently being pleased with her humility and tolerance, he gave her a special 'mantra' by which she could call any demigod to come and beget children in her. Like a child with a new toy, Kunti was excited and wanted to test the efficacy of the 'mantra'. So she chanted it and thought of the sun god. The sun-god immediately appeared before her eyes and Kunti, being shy chaste and unmarried at the time, she panicked. Surya assured her that though she would have a child by him, she would remain a virgin maiden. The child was born in due course of time, and Kunti placed him in a box on the waters of the Ganges River. The child was later found by the charioteer, Adiratha who brought him up as his own son, and he was known as Karna.

Once when Pandu was out hunting he killed a male deer who was having sex with his mate. Actually the deer were really the sage Kindama and his wife, and before they died, they cursed Pandu that if he ever tried to embrace either of his wives he would immediately die. As he hadn't any children, Kunti told Pandu about the boon she had received from Durvasa. Taking his permission she bore three more sons, Yudhisthira from Yamaraja, Bhima from Vayu, and Arjuna from Indra. She then gave the 'mantra' to Madri who had twin sons by the Aswini Kumaras, and they were called Sahadeva and Nakula. At the time of Pandu's death, Madri climbed the funeral pyre and left Kunti to care for her sons.
 On the tenth day after Bhima's birth he fell from his mother's lap over a cliff after she was startled by something. He fell onto some rocks, but was not hurt, not only was he not hurt, but the rocks of that Sat Satasrnga, the precipice where that young Bhima fell over, where landed, the boulders below were smashed into a powder upon his weighty impact.

The 'Rsis' who stayed at Sat Satasrnga, like Kasyapa and Vyasadeva, gave the boy his samskaras of 'nama-karana' (name giving) and 'upanayana' (sacred thread), and at a young age. Bhima learned the art of fighting with a club from Suka. Later he underwent intensive training in club warfare from the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, Lord Balarama.
 According to the great 'acarya' Sripada Vadiraj Tirtha in his Madhwastakam, Bhima appeared specifically to destroy six evils personified that had become present in the Dwapara yuga, they are Kicaka of evil desires, Dussasana of anger, Duryodhana of greed, Maniman of delusion, Baka of haughtiness, and Jarasandha of jealousy. In Sripad Madhwacarya's Mahabharatatatparyanirnaya chapter 19., when the demon Duryodhana had constructed the house of lac, disguising it with costly jewels and decorations, and then sending the rascal Purocana, who previously was Ravana's associate Prahasta, to escort the Pandavas to their new abode and remain there as their aid, Bhima was the one who sensed that something was not right. For the use of poetic licence, we can say he smelt a rat. The presence of the rat Purocana was not the only give away fragrance, Yudhisthira noticed a strange smell of highly inflammable lac and fish oil, and thus told mighty Bhima to be alert. There kind uncle Vidura had given his hints that this was in store for them, now sent an artisan to dig an escape tunnel leading to a distant place, finishing his job, he left that place. Bhima waited, carefully biding his time for six months in that house anticipating Purocana's next move.
 One day Purocana's sister arrived with her five sons, she was a drunkard and as demoniac as her brother, for she had come to poison the Pandavas. That night she prepared the meal for the Pandavas, and lacing it with enough poison to kill one hundred men she gave that food to the fearless Bhima, who meditating on his Lord Sri Krishna, ate that food which was meant for all of them. Bhima digested the food without any problem of ill effects from the poison, but thought to himself that this was the last straw, they tried to kill my mother and brothers. Seizing the opportune moment sent by providence Bhimasena decided to rid the world of such demons and so while Purocana, his sister and her sons slept, Bhima set fire in the Laksagrha, allowing time to present to Duryodhana his desired five charred male bodies and that of the mother. Little did the demoniac Duryodhana know that the Pandavas had all been carried to safety on the shoulders of the mighty Bhimasena through the tunnel which took them to the bank of the Yamuna (Ganga), where Vidura had a boatman waiting to take them all across the river. The next morning the towns folk saw the mess, and the black charred bodily remains and presumed that it was the Pandavas.
 Vidura went along with the whole charade and even performed the obsequies to the "departed souls". After the Pandavas and their mother Kunti escaped from the house of lac, all five of them were carried to safety by Bhima, way out into the darkest forest.

One night, while Bhima was standing guard over his sleeping family, a 'raksasa' who dwelled in that part of the forest by the name Hidimba sent his sister Hidimbi to lure Bhima away, so Hidimba could kill and eat him, considering Bhima's body size a feast of a meal. This Hidimbi previously was an 'apsara' in Indra's treasury, but due to having some affair with Indra, Sacidevi, Indra's consort, cursed her to become an ugly demoness. When Hidimbi saw Bhima her heart and knees became weak and she felt Cupid's arrows sinking deep into her. She changed her appearance into that of a beautiful young damsel, and desiring Bhima for her husband, she came before him and told him her lusty desires, and her brother's wish to kill him. Hidimba, in the meanwhile, was hungry and lost all patience and so had decided to attack Bhima anyway.
 In the fight that followed in the dead of the night Bhima killed Hidimba despite the fact that Hidimba had received a boon from Lord Shiva, that he could not be killed. With the noise of the exchange of clubs, trees, rocks and punches, then finally with the excruciating death blows to Hidimba, the other Pandavas awoke. Hidimbi pleaded to Kunti that due to her heart being given to Bhima out of affection that she had already accepted him as her husband, even though he had killed her brother, so now she wanted the blessings of Kunti that they could at least unite and fulfil her amorous lusty desires. Bhimasena turned a deaf ear to the appeals of both Kunti and Yudhisthira. Finally Bhima agreed to the arrangements, on the condition that Bhima return to them to protect them after a child was born to Hidimbi. Hidimbi explained that she would now return to her natural form, which was in fact possessed of an aspect of Bharati Devi the consort of Mukhyaprana, and so it was all right for her to feel this way towards Bhima. To demonstrate her mystic powers of knowing the future Hidimbi mentioned to Bhima that tomorrow Srila Vyasadeva, the literary incarnation of Lord Krsna would come to this forest abode and would give her hand in marriage to her lord, Bhimasena. And as foretold by her, full of all auspicious qualities personified Srila Vyasadeva appeared before them, and glancing at the Pandavas, Mother Kunti and the beautiful consort to be of Bhima's, Vyasa glanced over them all with His lotus eyes, and smiled with great affection. The Pandavas then worshipped their 'Guru' and rendered service to Him. Hidimbi also offered her obeisances to Srila Vyasadeva; looking at her He addressed Bhima, "...this girl is the crest jewel of Sidonga Loka... marry her". After the marriage exchange of garlands, to everyone's surprise Hidimbi picked up Bhima, placed him upon her shoulders and flew into the sky. They then spent their time in amorous pursuit in the sky and on mountain tops, and celestial gardens by the arrangement of Hidimbi's mystic powers, and  they returned that evening, but due to being in the heavenly planets six months had passed here on Earth. In due course of time a child was born to them who was named Ghatokacha, actually he was an aspect of Rudra, a celestial being named Niryati. This child was quite unique the word 'ghata' in his name refers to the size and shape of his head, 'ghata' means a pot, and 'otkata' means on who has hair standing on end, which he had. Immediately he became full grown, and, staying with his mother in the forest after the Pandavas departure, he told Bhima that if ever he needed him, all he had to do was call his name, and he would come to that place. When Bhima rejoined the other Pandavas, Hidimbi returned to the heavenly planet, 'swarga'.
 Srila Vyasadeva then took the Pandavas to a village named Ekacakra and placed them in the 'safe-house' of a 'brahmana' and his family, informing them that they, the Pandavas incognito, were his disciples. Because they assumed the guise as 'brahmins' they were to maintain themselves by begging from door to door. Bhima nearly blew his cover, when as a begging bowl he had a huge mud pot as big as a house which everyone knew only Bhima could eat the contents of. Yudhisthira advised him to get rid of the 'house like pot' or attract the attention of Duryodhana. Then suggested that actually Bhima didn't have to go out but instead stay at home and look after Mother Kunti, the others will collect enough for them all.
 At that time a 'raksasa' by the name of Baka had the whole village of Ekacakra at his mercy. Previously he would attack and carry off the inhabitants for his food, and because the villagers were unable to live peacefully for fear of the daily attacks of the 'raksasa' they came to a compromise with him. In return for his "protection of the village", they would regularly send him a cart laden with food, plus one human being for him to eat. This deal had gone on for some thirteen years. One day the Pandavas noticed that there was much distress in the house of the 'brahmana' family they were staying with. Upon learning that it was the 'brahmanas' turn to be feed for the 'raksasa', Kunti immediately told them not to worry, that she would send her son Vrkodara, Bhima out of gratitude for their hospitality.
 Because of the wicked way that this demon had imposed himself upon the innocent townsfolk, when Bhima was requested to do this function of killing this Baka-asura a glint of pleasure came in his eyes that the Pandavas all recognised. When he heard that he would be taking a cart load of food to Baka, Vrkodara, the voracious eater was very happy. Yudhisthira was apprehensive as usual and stated that the Pandavas were depending upon the might of Bhima to protect them all, so how could Kunti throw him to the wolves in this way. Kunti then explained to Dharmaraja, Yudhisthira, that Bhima was not to be defeated by any demon, demigod ('deva'), 'gandharva', 'yaksa', ghost or anything else, he is Vayudev incarnate, the empowered life air of Lord Visnu, so have no fear. Setting out early the next morning, Bhima drove the cart loaded with food up the winding road towards the residence of the 'raksasa'. Then suddenly he thought, "...why should we waste so much good food on some 'raksasa', better we put it to some good use." So Bhima started eating the food on the cart, in fact he ate most of the food in the cart before he reached the approach road to the 'raksasas' residence. When Baka saw that not only was Bhima late, but that a large amount of food-stuffs was gone, the 'raksasa' was furious, due to his greed, and it's being thwarted by Bhimasena, that lust turned to anger and so attacked Bhima. While Bhima finished the rest of the food with one hand he kept the angry 'raksasa' playfully at bay with the other. Having now finished his meal and washing his hands, Bhima cut the maternal uncle of Ravana, Baka, down in the way that a king swan cuts down lesser birds with his powerful wings.  Formerly Baka could not be subdued by either Jarasandha, Narakasura, or even Lord Rama's young brother Bharata when they met in the forest. Thi time he had met his match.
 Baka's body was left at the village boundary battered and dismembered by the powerful son of Vayudeva, specifically to show the village people not to worry any more, out of gratitude they gave their normal food offerings meant for Baka to Bhima. Bhima offered the foods to Lord Sri Hari in the form of Narasimha at the temple in the town. On the advice of Srila Vyasadeva the Pandavas left Ekacakra still travelling incognito.

Srila Vyasadeva, the spiritual preceptor of the three worlds then told the story of Draupadi from the time of her birth, and  asked the pandavas to proceed to King Draupada's capital.
 King Draupada upon receiving the 'news' of the Pandavas deaths he was quite grief stricken, but never even for a moment did he really believe that the Pandavas had died in the house of lac.

On the way  travelling north by night they encountered one yaksa of the name Citraradha residing in the waters of the sacred Ganges, he knew that they were actually ksatriyas and not Brahmins and so tried to frighten them. "It is not allowed for humans to safely wander in the forest at night it is not your abode, therefore I shall teach you all a lesson and kill you." At this Arjuna shot his powerful Agneya arrow at the 'yaksa' burning his chariot to pieces, but out of compassion for the poor fool, Arjuna dragged him by his hair from the burning debris. The yaksa was terrified, scorched dark reddish black, he begged at the feet of Yudhisthira for his life. Arjuna forgave him and told him many stories how he had accepted Dhaumyacarya as his 'purohit' 'family priest'. Arjuna then gave Cirtaradha the weapon Agneya, that had almost killed him. In return the 'yaksa' now known as Angara Varna, the dark reddish black one, gave the Pandavas the gift of being able to make one's self invisible at will, and a set of divine horses. He then left for the heavenly planets whence he had once came.
 Feeling that the Pandavas were living incognito and wanting to bring them to his kingdom Maharaja Draupada publicly announced the 'swayamvara' of his beautiful daughter, Draupadi. The Pandavas decided, as advised by Srila Vyasa, and attracted by the wonderful qualities of Draupadi, headed for Pancala, dressed as 'brahmanas' themselves. The contestants for Draupadi's hand had to string a huge steel bow which had been placed in the centre of the arena and shoot the target in the eye through a revolving disc, taking aim in the reflection in water. Many princes came but many could not even string the bow, what to speak of shoot it at the target. Sisupala bruised himself badly as he tried to bend the bow  and string it, Jarasandha was so disgusted with his own performance, in his usual mood of false pride left the assembly without even looking at the faces of those there. The Kauravas princes also came and tried, and failed. The whole time the beautiful Draupadi stood, holding a garland for the valiant prince who could win her hand. Then the "unknown archer," Arjuna dressed as a brahmana ask for permission to join in the 'svayamvara'. He first asked permission from Bhima and mentally offered obeisances to Lord Krsna who was there also. He strung the bow, shot his arrows through the revolving disc and into the eye of the target. Dhrstadyumna led Draupadi to came forward and in her natural shy, and chaste manner placed the garland around his neck. They paid their respects to Sri Krsna and Draupadi, Arjuna and Bhima left to go their own way.
 The  envious Kauravas were so perplexed as to who this person was, to have shot better than even Karna. King Draupada sent his son Dhrstadyumna to find out the identity of the 'brahmana', making sure that it was, as he thought, non other than Arjuna the Pandava, King Draupada was very pleased. In the mean-time, and seeing the other kings were making an aggressive pact to chase after Draupadi and the "unknown archer". To deter their envy Bhima took up a gigantic tree and ran at them all wielding it to confront them. Bhima took them all by surprise and within seconds there was an absence of kings, though their bodies remained.

Lord Krsna spoke to His brother Balarama and pointed out that this was the Pandavas, and all the Yadu's became very happy.
 When Arjuna returned to show his new bride to his mother, Kunti, thinking he was returning from collecting alms, Mother Kunti told him to share whatever he may have with his brothers, as was their usual practice. At this time again Srila Vyasadeva appeared on the scene and treasured the beautiful daughter of Draupada that actually this was not an ordinary assembly of brothers these were plenary portions of Yamaraja, Vayudev, Purandara, the present Indra, and the Aswini Kumara twins so do not fear oh Goddess, Draupadi.
 Srimati Draupadi Devi became the wife of all five of the Pandavas, but she was always considered the most chaste lady, and was nicely protected by all. In Madhwacarya's Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya (19:156.), he makes some very strong character references in defence of Srimati Draupadi Mathaji's chastity. As some persons with contaminated lusty minds sometimes cast doubts on the five Pandavas dealings, having one common wife. But it is explained that actually Draupadi was only with one husband at any one time, each of them she spent one year with in close association, whilst the others protected her in a caring protective way, but through detachment. Ordinary humans cannot be like this, being on the mundane bodily conception of life. Madhwa then states, and so emphasises how actually these Pandavas were all great demigods here to serve the Lords' mission. Within the divine body of Draupadi each of her husbands' particular 'deva'-consort was present. When she was with Yudhisthira, as the 'tattwa' of Yama, Syamala was present. With Bhima, the 'tattwa' of Vayu, Bharati devi was present. Arjuna, the 'tattwa' of Indra, Saci was present.  Nakula and Sahadeva coming from the Aswnin Devatas - Usha was present. It is also said that the consort of Shiva sent her energy (Uma), but because Shiva was not externally present as her husband, Uma remained undisclosed within the body of Draupadi.
 The Pandavas, their new bride, and Kunti then returned to Hastinapura where they were given half of the kingdom of the miserly Kauravas known as Khandavaprastha, a piece of waste land. Later by the grace of their dear friend Sri Krsna it was renamed Indraprastha after, Indra, the king of the heavenly planets. Then after the sanction of Lord Krsna He empowered many other demigods to transform this desolate place into a wonderful fertile kingdom. Lord Krsna doesn't allow His dear most devotees to suffer unnecessarily.
 Soon after, desiring to perform the Rajasurya, Yudhisthira sent word to Krsna, "Desiring unrivalled sovereignty, King Yudhisthira intends to worship You (Krsna) with the greatest fire sacrifice, the Rajasurya. Please bless his endeavour."(Srimad Bhagavatam 10:70:41.) Yudhisthira was very anxious however, when he heard that King Jarasandha of Magadha did not accept his sovereignty. Lord Krsna then informed him of a plan devised by Uddhava for conquering King Jarasandha. Dressing themselves in the garb of 'brahmanas', Krishna, Arjuna, and Bhima started out for Girivraja, the capital city of Jarasandha. King Jarasandha, even though a renowned demon, was a very dutiful householder and he had great respect for 'brahmanas', so when Krishna, Arjuna, and Bhima asked for charity from him, even though he could understand that from the marks of bow strings on their arms they were actually warriors in disguise, out of fear of offending 'brahmanas' he said he would give them whatever they wanted. Revealing their identity and their desire to fight with him, he refused to fight with Sri Krsna claiming that He was Rancora, a coward as He once fled the battlefield. He also refused to fight with Arjuna, saying he was too young and inferior in size. He considered Bhima a worthy opponent, so he handed him a club and they went outside the city for their combat.
 "Jarasandha and Bhima skilfully circled left and right like actors dancing on a stage. The fight presented a magnificent spectacle."(Srimad Bhagavatam 10:72:35.) They fought for several days, breaking their clubs on each other, pummelling each other with their iron-like fists, which slapped one another. As they fought they could see they had equal training, strength and stamina. On the twenty-eighth day Bhima said to Krsna, 'na sakto 'ham jarasandham nirjetum yudhi madhava' — "Madhava, I cannot defeat Jarasandha in battle." Taking complete shelter of his dearmost friend in this way, in confidence Lord Krsna then told Bhima the story of Jarasandha's birth and how to kill him.
 Jarasandha's father, Brhadratha, was a powerful King who, although he married two daughters of the King of Kasi, had no sons. Being disappointed, the King along with his wives, went to live in the forest to perform austerities. While there he was benedicted by a great 'rishi' named Candra Kausika to have a son, and the 'rishi' gave a mango to be eaten by the queens. The queens ate the mango and very soon became pregnant. The King was very happy to see the queens bearing children, but when the ripe time approached the queens delivered half a child each. In disgust, King Brhadratha threw the two parts into the forest where a she-demon named Jara lived. She was glad to have some delicate flesh and blood from the newly born child, but out of curiosity she joined the two parts together, and the child became complete and regained his life. Being compassionate to the childless King she went to him and presented him with the child. The king, being pleased with the she-demon, asked her what she wanted as a reward. Jara asked that the child be named after her. This child, now called Jarasandha one who was joined by Jara, was actually born as one of the parts and parcels of the demon Vipracitti, and thus he did so many demoniac acts such as killing humans as offerings to Lord Siva, Mahabairava.
 However, now his end was in sight. Krsna demonstrated to Bhima how to kill him, by taking a small tree and tearing it down the middle by its outspread branches. Bhima, due to his sharp intelligence being firmly focused on Krsna, Bhima had no difficulty in  understanding this message. Then being the best amongst fighters Bhima seized the arrogant rascal Jarasandha's feet and threw him to the ground. Then just as a great elephant might break a branch of a tree, or a piece of sugar cane to devour it, Bhima pressed down on one of Jarasandha's legs with his foot while grabbing the other leg with his hands, and tore Jarasandha apart from the anus upwards. The King's subjects saw him lying there in two separate pieces, each with one leg, one thigh, one testicle, one hip, one shoulder, one arm, one eye, one eyebrow, one ear, and half a back and chest. Arjuna and Krsna congratulated Bhima by embracing him, and then the Pandava princes released all the Kings and Princes imprisoned by Jarasandha and returned to the Kaurava kingdom.

On the Pandavas return to Hastinapur they resided in the palace created for them by the demon Maya Danava. Mayasura built this palace out of gratitude to Krsna for saving him in the forest fire in the Khandava Forest where he was hiding when Agni devoured it. He also presented Bhima with a magnificent fighting club. After the Rajasurya sacrifice was performed, Duryodhana, being always envious of the Pandavas, came to the mansion created by Maya Danava's illusions. Bewildered by illusions of many kinds, Duryodhana mistook the solid floor for water and lifted the end of his garment to walk forward on what he thought was shallow water but it was solid floor, and after a few more steps he fell into waist deep water mistaking it for a solid floor. Proud Duryodhana, who was wearing his crown and a costly necklace was very angry, but when he fell into the water everyone laughed, especially Draupadi and Bhima. Yudhisthira tried to check the laughing of all the women in the palace, by raising his hand and his glances. Lord Krsna however, encouraged it by the suggestive gestures of His eyebrows. Humiliated and swearing revenge, Duryodhana turned his face downwards and went back to Hastinapura.
 The Kurus then made a conspiracy to trick Yudhisthira into a gambling match by which the Kauravas (Kurus) could cheat the Pandavas out of everything with the dice made from Sakuni's bones. During the match Yudhisthira lost his kingdom, wealth, jewellery, clothing and finally even gambled and lost his wife. When Dussasana went to fetch the chaste Draupadi, she said she couldn't come to the assembly as she was undergoing her monthly period, and was only dressed in one piece of cloth (a simple 'sari'). Draupadi had a beautiful bunch of hair which was sanctified at the ceremonial Rajasurya Yajna, but Dussasana defiled that sacred lady and grabbed her by her hair just to insult her. When he started to pull off her sari just to make her naked, Draupadi, realising that she had no hope of help from her husbands as they too had been lost, by Yudhisthira being tricked into upholding mundane moralistic codes and now had no free will to act (though Bhima was transcendentally situated from such sentimental codes his brothers tried to make him  restrained to follow Yudhisthira's mood and etiquette). Draupadi then cent per cent, completely surrendered to Krsna, and to the amazement of the assembly, as much 'sari' as Dussasana took from her body, as much again replaced it. Lord Krsna, though protecting his surrendered devotee, decided that for their sinful behaviour the Kurus would be inevitably killed at the Battle of Kuruksetra and all of their wives would too loosen their hair in public, but  this time as widows.
 As we mentioned earlier when the Pandavas were exiled to the forest for twelve years after a second gambling match, the Kurus made a clause, that after the completion of twelve years the Pandavas had then to spend one year incognito, thus making thirteen years all told. If, during the final year the Pandavas's whereabouts were discovered, they again had to spend another twelve years in the forest.
 Because the Pandavas were concerned how to feed the 'brahmanas' who accompanied them to the forest, Srimati Draupadi Devi was given a pot by the sun god called by Aksayapatra. This pot would never be empty until Draupadi had taken her meal and turned the pot upside down. Then it would produce no more for that day. Once Draupadi had finished cooking and had just taken her meal when the Muni Durvasas arrived with many of his disciples. The angry sage Durvasas and his disciples had secretly been asked to go there by the Kauravas who knew that by this time Draupadi would have taken her meal, and if she was unable to offer them anything to eat, she would incur the wrath of Durvasa. Durvasas and his disciples went to the river to bathe and freshen up before taking their meal. Draupadi, full of anxiety, prayed to Lord Krsna to help her. Lord Sri Krsna then told Draupadi that if there was a morsel of food left He would be satisfied if that were offered by Draupadi, His pure devotee with love to Him. Seeing a fragment of spinach stuck to the side of the pot, Krsna asked for it, Draupadi offered it to Krsna, and simply by eating that morsel of foodstuffs, all of Durvasas' men and Durvasas himself became completely full and satisfied, and out of embarrassment slipped away and didn't come to demand a meal from Draupadi as the sinful Duryodhana had arranged for them to do.

The last year of their exile was to be spend incognito, so the Pandavas chose to spend it in the kingdom of Maharaja Virata. After hiding their weapons in a tree in the nearby burial ground, each of the Pandavas took a different disguise. Bhima chose to act as a cook to keep up his 'swadharma'; as a true 'kshatriya' cannot eat food cooked by others. Choosing to cook himself avoided the difficulty. You can imagine, after 12 years of forest dwelling he couldn't wait to get a good feed, so out of natural affection for the service, Bhima (Vrkodara) happily served in the Kings royal kitchen. Another reason for Bhima taking the part of cook was to avoid the chance of being recognised. His incisive perception and sharp comments would have definitely been made in Virata's court during discussions on Vedic scriptures, should he have heard anything bogus or against the conclusions of 'sanatana dharma'. Nakula was always good with horses, and he showed the King some incredible tricks and feats of training. The King saw these as magical tricks, and immediately employed him in his stable. Sahadeva was put in charge of the cows. Arjuna, accepting a curse from Urvasi to loose his manhood for a year, was engaged as the dancing teacher for all the princesses. Arjuna had previously visited his father, Indra, in the heavenly planets and was approached by Urvasi. Refusing her as she was previously a consort of one of his forefathers, Urvasi cursed him to become a eunuch, but Indra reduced the curse to one year, to be used during their period of hiding. So now for everyone to behold, with a high-pitched voice and effeminate walk and gestures, Arjuna, now known as Brhannala, taught the girls dance, drama and music. The King, recognising Yudhisthira's intelligence, morality and judgement, accepted him as his companion and court adviser. Draupadi became the chief maidservant to Queen Sudbesna and her daughter Uttara, and was known as Malini or Sairandhri. She told the Queen that she had five Gandharva husbands and that due to a curse she had now come to earth away from them. Thus being from the heavenly planets  she knew how to dress and decorate herself very nicely.

In Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya of Madhwacarya there is an interesting story about when once a powerful wrestler came to the King's court and made challenges to the men of Virata's kingdom. He said he had received the blessings of Lord Shiva, Mahadeva. All the King's wrestlers were too afraid of the mighty Mahadeva and made themselves unavailable. Yudhisthira advised Virata that he should call for his cook for he looks powerful enough to overthrow anyone, thus saving Virata's honour. Bhima then came before the King, the court, and assembly, and vowed that he would kill the wrestler by Lord Sri Hari's grace. Bhima then paid his respects to his elder brother Dharmaraja, Yudhisthira. Actually again these respects were to the Antaryami Krsna, Paramatma within Yudhisthira's heart as even Yudhisthira is also a name of Hari meaning He who stays fast in battle. In this verse there is an explanation as to why Bhima has emphasised his invoking Lord Hari's grace. It was because the term Mahadeva in it's prime meaning refers to Visnu (Sri Hari). Lord Kesava (Sri Hari) is the Supreme Personality among the devas, therefore He is Mahadeva. In Visnu-sahasra-nama, Visnu is called Shiva (Auspicious) as he is the original all auspicious person. It is stated that all these terms or qualitative titles given to the 'devas' in their primary sense refer only to Sri Hari - Krsna. All others are Shiva dasa, Indra dasa, Agni dasa, Chandra dasa, etc. etc.
 Bhima states therefore by the Supreme grace of Lord Hari he will be enabled/empowered to defeat this wrestler. "I am His devotee; the specific term Keshava is quite apt: the term denotes, as per scripture, Brahma (Visnu), the ruler of all embodied souls, 'kah vrhya isa'. Lord Sri Hari as the indwelling supersoul also controls the 'devas', therefore he is Mahadeva. Philosophically one can see the mentality of the proud wrestler who says, he now has Mahadeva's power by his blessings. Bhima's reply is his full surrender knowing Lord Sri Hari to be the only object of worship and adoration. And due to his sole worship of the original Mahadeva, Bhima is certain of victory over the falsely proud wrestler.
 Bhima then approached the mighty wrestler and in a couple of powerful deliveries had smashed the wrestler's head as one does a ripe tomato, and the victim of his own pride was sent to the nether regions, his limp body spread bloody on the ground.

Towards the end of the year, Kicukar, the Queen's brother, arrived back at the palace from a military campaign. As he came into the royal court his eyes were immediately fixed on Draupadi, at which he lost his intelligence due to lust, and became infatuated. "Who is this fine looking beauty?" he asked the Queen. Queen Sudbesna compelled Draupadi to fetch wine and take it to Kicuka's room, but when she did so, Kicukar forcibly caught hold of her. By praying to Krsna, Lord Vasudeva seated within everyone's heart and the indwelling Lord of the sun, she managed to free herself and ran to the King's court crying, "Help, there's a brute after me. He wants me to succumb to his lusty advances." The King and men of the court said, "So, she is a mere maidservant. He is a King why shouldn't he fulfil his desires for her?"  Kicukar had caught Draupadi by the hair, pushed her to the floor and kicked her. Draupadi glanced at Yudhisthira, but not wanting to expose their hiding, made the arrangement for Kicukar to go to Draupadi's room that night. Kicukar made himself as attractive as possible, smothering himself with perfumes and drinking intoxicating liquors for relaxation. Kicukar was dwelling on these proposed amorous coming events all day, and now it was time!
 Draupadi had told Bhima what had happened and how the chief of Virata's army wanted to abuse her body, so Bhima said he would deal with the problem, and had decided to kill him. When Kicukar slipped into Draupadi's bedroom that night, unbeknown to him it was the lion among men, Bhima who was waiting for him, and not the beautiful Draupadi. In an angelic voice, angelic for Bhima that is, Bhima said, "I've been waiting for you my love. Come here." Kicukar leaned across the bed and kissed who he thought was Malini (Draupadi) on the hand, then Bhima pounced. He grabbed the rascal Kicukar and began to pound him into a ball. He pushed his head down between his shoulder, his legs up into his stomach, and his broken arms into his chest. Kicukar was smashed into a round ball of mangled flesh.
 Seeing Kicukar dead, all of Kicukar's 105 brothers tied Draupadi to Kicukar's dead body to cremate them together. Draupadi cried very loudly, Bhima hearing her plaintive cry, tore up a huge tree, and with it killed all the brothers of Kicukar and led Draupadi back to the palace.

This incident took place about fourteen days before the end of the final year incognito. The Kauravas heard of the death of Kicukar and pieced all the details together to come to the conclusion that this was the Pandavas, so along with the Trigartas, the Kauravas attacked Virata's kingdom on two separate days and stole away his cows. The cow herdsmen appealed to Virata's son to bring them back, but seeing Duryodhana's army was too powerful for him to attack alone, so he ran away. Arjuna was asked to be the chariot driver, but then unable to see the King's son in this way, then revealed his disguise, persuaded the young boy to get back into the chariot and drive it for him (Arjuna). They then successfully defeated the Kaurava army and returned victorious with the cows.
 The next morning the Pandavas, their exile now over, bathed and adorned themselves with precious jewels and clothes and sat on Virata's throne. When Virata entered they fully revealed their identities, and Virata immediately handed over his kingdom to them, agreeing to become subordinate. From his kingdom, the Pandavas sent invitations to all the Kings to become their allies against the Kauravas for the pending war at Kuruksetra. At that time Lord Sri Krsna the friend of the Pandavas also arrived there.

King Dhrtarastra's eyes were blind, so his chaste wife Gandhari, a descedent of the king of Afghanistan, took a vow of her own accord to not try to be better than her husband, and so she blindfolded herself. During the course of the Battle of Kuruksetra, Gandhari sent for her son, Duryodhana. She told him that by dint of the austerity she had performed, just be glancing over his body she could make his body as hard as steel, impervious to any destruction, undefeatable, but he had to come to her quarters naked. As Duryodhana was going through the palace towards Gandhari's room, however Krsna, Who is none other than the Supersoul, the Knower of all things, appeared before the naked Duryodhana. Knowing that Gandhari was about to give her son this benediction, Krsna desired to fix things in favour of his devotee, namely Bhima. Lord Krsna asked, "Where are you going naked like that, Duryodhana?" Duryodhana replied that he was going to his mother's room. Sri Krsna told him, "You can't go before your mother like that, it's just not proper. At least you should cover your lower parts in front of your mother." Duryodhana then went before his mother who took off her blindfold. Gandhari glanced over his body, then down, and said, "I told you to come naked. Why are your lower parts covered?" Duryodhana replied saying that he had met Krsna on his way to her room and Krsna told him that it wasn't proper to go before her naked, and that was why he covered those parts. Gandhari told him, "All parts of your body will be protected except for these parts, which are covered, for they didn't obtain my glance."

In the final duel between Bhima and Duryodhana, the arrogant Duryodhana was taking every club that Bhima could give him, sometimes knocking Duryodhana off his feet, but Duryodhana would always get back up and laugh. Even Krsna's elder brother tried to stop the fight saying, "Duryodhana and Bhima! Listen! You two warriors are equal in fighting powers. I know that one of you has greater physical power, while the other has been trained to use a hidden technique." In terms of strength Duryodhana didn't have a hope, but due to his mother's glance he couldn't be defeated even by the great Bhima, until suddenly Lord Krsna revealed and reminded Bhima of two things simultaneously. Krsna slapped His thigh, thus indicating Duryodhana's unprotected weak spots, but also at the same time reminding Bhima of the attempt to unveil the chaste Draupadi at the gambling match. In which in an intoxicated lusty mood Duryodhana slapped his thigh, in a suggestive manner, requesting Draupadi to become naked and to come to him. At that time Bhima pledged that he would smash that sinful thigh. Now, by Lord Sri Krsna's grace, Bhima took up his club, and with renewed vigour dealt Duryodhana several deadly blows, dropping Duryodhana to the ground, smashed by Bhima's relentless club.

These are just some of the pastimes of Bhimasena. It is said that Bhima was the last of the Pandavas to give up this world, fasting he walked continuously until he reached the abode of Lord Badri Narayana at Badrinath where he gave up his former association with that body and went to be with Srila Vyasa.

The above copywrited stories are from "The Life and Legacy of Sripad Ananda Tirtha - Madhwacharya" chapter four.
Copyright © 1990-2001 Jaya Tirtha Charan dasa.

Panchasya machuta maneka vichitra Veeryam
Shri sankhachakra ramaneeya bhujagradhesam
Peethambaram makara kundala noopurangam
Dhyayedhidham Kapivaram hrudhi bhavayami

The details of Panchamuka are:

1. East facing ANJANEYA to grant humanity ISHTA SIDDHI.
2. South facing KARALA UGRAVEERA NARASIMHA to grant humanity ABHISTA SIDDHI
3. West facing MAHAVEERA GARUDA to grant humanity SAKALA SOWBHAGYA
4. North facing LAKSMI VARAHA to grant humanity DHANA PRAPTHI, and
5. Urdhva Mukha {atop} being HAYAGRIVA to grant humanity SARVA VIDYA JAYA PRAPTHI.

Here's a meditation for Panchmukha Hanuman:

TO BECOME FREED FROM GHOSTS.

The form of panca mukha Hanuman is as follows;

1/. The eastern face is that of a monkey, with his eyebrows raised. Its worship is equivalent to crores  of pujas to Surya.

2/. The southern face is of Lord Narasimha, by worship of who removes all worries, fears, etc.

3/. The face of the western side is that of Garuda , who's tip of his beak is curved, pointed and ready  to pierce. This form removes the fear from ghosts, poison, for he is the killer of such possessors  like snakes.

4/. The northern face is that of Sukra (Venus), who is the curer of all disease.

5/. The fifth face which is upraised is of  Prshava (Varaha), this face is very ferocous, dreadfull, and  is the destroyer of all rakshasas (demons).

RECITE THE FOLLOWING MANTRA 10,000 TIMES.

PERFORM HOMAS WITH 1000 AHUTIS OF ASHAT GANDHA.

ashad gandh is a kind of samaghri made of fragrant items.

 It comprises of 8 materials - agar (fragrant oils; hina, amber, sandal etc), tagar (Valerian), gorochan (sandal wood mixed with camphor and kum kum), kasturi (fenugreek leaves), white chandan (white sandal), sindoor (orange iron oxide poder), lal chandan (red sandal) and kesar (saffron).The powder of these materials is mixed together with holy water (Gangajalam). (Pure oils that have a scent or rose water may also be used as a substitute for missing items). The combination of 8 materials can vary to some extent.

AFTER ATTAINING THE SIDDHI OF THE MANTRA, THE PERSON IS TO BE EXORCISED 21 TIMES BY SPRINKLING WITH WATER , OR TO DRINK THE WATER THAT HAS HAD THE MANTRA CHANTED OVER IT FOR 21 TIMES WITH THE FOLLOWING MANTRA TO PANCAMUKHA HANUMANJI.

OM DAKSHINMUKHAYE PANCAMUKH HANUMATE KRAL
VADNAYE NARSIMHAE OM HARANG HARANG HOON HAUN

HA SAKAL BHOOT PREET DAMNAYE SAWAHA

More about Panchamukha Hanuman

Asaadhya Saadhaka Swaamin Asaadhyam Thava Kim Vadha /
Sri Raama Dhootha Krupaa Sindhoh Muth Kaaryam Saadhaya Prabhoh //

"Oh! SrI RAma dhootha!  (Hanuman) You are the one who can accomplish the impossible. Come! Tell me! Is there anything that by the mercy of RAma, you cannot accomplish? Oh! Ocean of mercy! My Lord!  Kindly make my wishes come true"

Prayer to Hanuman - to find lost things:

SRI HANUMAN MANTRA

WHEN ONE HAS HAD THE GREAT MISFORTUNE TO HAVE LOST SOMETHING , ONE CAN CHANT THE FOLLOWING MANTRA TO RECLAIM THAT OBJECT :-----

THIS MANTRA WAS CHANTED BY HANUMAN TO RECLAIM LANKA-SITADEVI FROM THE HANDS OF RAVAN, THE ASURA.

TO GAIN ITS SIDDHI ONE SHOULD CHANT THIS MANTRA FOR ONE LAKHA OF TIMES. (When chanting mantras for attaining fruit, it is imperative that one is familiar with the mantra, it's essence / purpose, and metre - so that one may concentrate upon what one wants to achieve.)

HOWEVER BY THE MERCY OF SRI HANUMANJI ALSO ALL THAT IS REQUIRED TO GAIN THE EFFECT OF THIS MANTRA IS TO JUST WITH ATTENTION AND FAITH, CHANT THIS MANTRA THRICE, (THREE TIMES), WHILST FACING THE NORTHERN DIRECTION (Hanuman's Direction) WHILST REMEMBERING HOW HANUMAN RECLAIMED MAYASITA FROM LANKHA FOR HIS BELOVED RAMA.

       NAMO STU RAMYA SA LAKSAMANAYA
          DEVYAI CA TASYAI JANAK ATMA JAYAI
       NAMO STU RUDENDRA YAMA ANILEBHYO
          NAMO STU CANDRAYA MARUD GANEBHYAH       (X 3 = time three)

Pay Obeisance to Hanuman and chant
 SRI ANJANA SUTO HANUMAN KI JAYA !

If it is to be found He will find it!!!

atulita-bala-dhaaman hema shilabha deham
danujavana-krsnam janina-mgraganyam
sakalagunaa-nidhaanam vaanaranaa-madhiisam
raghupati-priya-bhaktam vataa jaatam namaami

I salute the son of the Wind God (Hanuman), the leader of the monkeys and the messenger of Rama, whose strength in matchless, whose body is like a hill of gold, who burns up the forest of asuras (demons) like a jungle fire, who towers among the spiritually illumined ones, and who is a treasure-house of all virtues.
 

gospadi-krta-varaasim-masakikrta-raksasaam
ramaayana-mahaamala-ratnam vande-nilaatmajam

Salutation to the son of the Wind God (Hanuman), who crossed the ocean as if it were a puddle in the hoof-marks of a calf, who squashed the Rakshasas as if they were mosquitoes, and who by his deeds shines like the central gem in the necklace of the Ramayana.

anjana nandanam viram janaki-soka naashanam
kapisha maksahan taaram vande lanka-bhayankaram

I salute the heroic Hanuman, the leader of the monkeys and the son of Anjana, who is the slayer of (Ravan’s son) Akshkumara, who was a terror to the inhabitants of Lanka, and who assuaged the grief of Sita.

ullanghya sindhoh salilam salilam
yaah shoka vahanim janakat majayah
adayaa tenaiva dadahaa lankam
namaami tam pranjalir-anjaneyam

With palms joined in reverence, I prostrate to the son of Anjana who leaped across the sea as in sport, removing the fire from Sita’s mind and burning Lanka with that very fire.

manojavam maruta tulyavegam
jitendriyam budhimaatam varishitam
vaatmajam vanaraayutha mukhyam
srirama dhuutam sharanam prapadhye

I bow my head to hanuman, the Wind God’s Son, Messenger of Rama, Leader of the Monkey Army, who is fast as the wind and quick as the mind, who is the master of his senses and most distinguished and wise.
 

anjaneya mati patalaananam
kanchanadri kamaniya-vigraham
parijata tarumula-vasinam
bhavayaami paavamana-nananam

I meditate on the son of the Wind God and Anjana, whose face is deep red in complexion, whose body is as fascinating as a mountain of gold, and whose favourite resort is the base of the Parijata tree.

yatra yatra raghunaatha-kirtanam
tatra tatra krta masta kaanjalim
baspa vaari paripurna-locanam
maarutim naamata rakshas-antakam

SankaTamochana hanumaanaashhtaka
Eight verses on Hanuman as remover of problems

mattagayanda chhanda

ko nahin jaanata hai jagamen kapi
sankatamochana nama tihaaro

O Hanuman! Who does not know in the world that you name dispels all stress!

baala samaya rabi bhaxi liyo taba
tInahun loka bhayo andhiyaaro
taahi son trasa bhayo jaga ko
yaha sankata kaahu son jata na taro
devana aani kari binati taba
chhandi diyo rabi kashhta nivaaro
ko nahin jaanata hai jagamen kapi
sankatamochana nama tihaaro

In the very childhood, when you O Hanuman!, devoured the rising Sun, darkness prevailed all throughout the universe. Consequently, the entire world got frightened and felt that the calamity could not be dispelled by anybody. When gods appeared and prayed, you released the Sun, thereby dispelling the distress of the world. O Hanuman! Who does not know in the world that you name dispels all stress!
 

baali ki traasa kapisa basai jiri
jaata mahaaprabhu pantha nihaaro
chaunki mahaa muni saapa diyo taba
chaahiya kauna vichaara vichaaro
kai dvija ruupa livaaya mahaaprabhu
so tuma daasa ke soka nihaaro
ko nahin jaanata hai jagamen kapi
sankatamochana nama tihaaro

Frightened by Bali, Sugreeva was living on top of the hill, to which the former had no access because of the curse of a sage. One day not knowing that it was Lord Rama who was approaching the hill with his brother Laxmana, Sugreeva was perturbed and dispatched you O Hanuman, to ascertain who they were. Going to them in the guise of a Brahmin, you brought them to Sugreeva and helped Lord Rama rid Sugreeva of the trouble. O Hanuman! Who does not know in the world that you name dispels all stress!

angada ke sanga lena gaye siya
khoja kapIsa yaha vaina uchaaro
jIvata na bachihau hama so ju
binaa sudhi laae ihan pagu dhaaro
hari thake tata sindhu sabai taba
laaya siyaa sudhi praana ubaaro
ko nahin jaanata hai jagamen kapi
sankatamochana nama tihaaro

When Sugreeva commanded the monkeys, led by Angad to go in search of Sita, he warned them that the life of none would be spared, in case they returned without any news of Sita. When the party got tired after an intense search and was stranded by the seashore, you summoned up courage and flew to Lanka and brought news about Sita after meeting her, thus saving the lives of your companions who were immersed in despondency. O Hanuman! Who does not know in the world that you name dispels all stress!
 

raavana traasa daI siya ko saba
raaxasi son kahi soka nivaaro
taahi samaya hanumaana mahaaprabhu
jaaya mahaa rajanIchara maaro
chaahata sIya asoka son aagi sudai
prabhu mudrikaa soka nivaaro
ko nahin jaanata hai jagamen kapi
sankatamochana nama tihaaro

Instructed by Ravana, when demonesses were troubling Sita in Ashokvana, it was you who through a dream made the demonness Trijata restrain others from doing so, by telling that Ravana’s end was near. Then you also killed a big demon. On account of Ravana’s harassment, when Sita asked the Ashoka tree to give her some fire for ending her life, it was you O Hanuman who dispelled her grief by giving her the ring of Lord Rama. O Hanuman! Who does not know in the world that you name dispels all stress!
 

baana lagyo ura lachhimana ke taba
praana taje suta raavana maaro
lai grriha vaidya sushhena sameta
tabai giri drona su vIra upaaro
aani sajIvana haatha daI taba
achhimana ke tuma praana ubaaro
ko nahin jaanata hai jagamen kapi
sankatamochana nama tihaaro

During the battle in Lanka, when Laxmana was struck by a deadly arrow discharged by Meghnaad, the son of Ravana and was lying unconscious, almost on the verge of death, it was you O Hanuman who brought the divine Physician Sushhena from Lanka, procured the life-saving herb ‘sanjivani’ from Drona Hill to revive Laxmana back to life. O Hanuman! Who does not know in the world that you name dispels all stress!
 

raavana juddha ajaana kiyo taba
naaga ki phansa sabai sira daro
shrIraghunaatha sameta sabai dala
moha bhayo yaha sa.nkata bharo
aani khagesa tabai hanumaana ju
bandhana kati sutrasa nivaaro
ko nahin jaanata hai jagamen kapi
sankatamochana nama tihaaro

When Ravana fought a fierce battle, managing to tie Lord Rama and his entire army in the noose of a magic snake, none could think of relief from this bondage O Hanuman. It was you who brought Garuda, the arch enemy of snakes and freed everyone from the deadly noose. O Hanuman! Who does not know in the world that you name dispels all stress!
 

bandhu sameta jabai ahiraavana lai
raghunaatha pataala sidhaaro
devihin puji bhalI vidhi son bali
dehu sabai mili mantra bichaaro
jaaya sahaaya bhayo taba hi
ahiraavana sainya sameta sanhaaro
ko nahin jaanata hai jagamen kapi
sankatamochana nama tihaaro

When Ahiravan secretly carried away Lord Rama and his brother Laxmana to the ‘patal-loka’ (nether-world), the demon consulted his friends and decided to sacrifice the life of the two divine brothers at the altar of his chosen Deity with due ceremony. But O Hanuman, it was you who reached there for the rescue of your Lord Rama and his brother, saving their life by killing Ahiravan and his army. O Hanuman! Who does not know in the world that you name dispels all stress!
 

kaaja kiyo bada devana ke tuma

bIra mahaprabhu dekhi bichaaro
kauna so sankata mora garIba ko
jo tumson nahin jaata hai taro
begi haro hanumaana mahaaprabhu
jo kuchha sankata hoya hamaaro
ko nahin jaanata hai jagamen kapi
sankatamochana nama tihaaro

O Great Warrior! You have accomplished many a task for the good of gods. Can there be any problem or distress that I am facing that you cannot dispel when you have even helped the gods? O Great Lord. I pray to you to quickly rid me of whatever distress I am suffering from. O Hanuman! Who does not know in the world that you name dispels all stress!

Hanuman Jayanti:

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