Some families have a tradition of reciting the Hanuman Chalisa Lyrics together every Tuesday.
Hanuman Chalisa Chaupai 20 in English with Meaning & Analysis
Hanuman Chalisa Chaupai 20 In Southeast Asia
दुर्गम काज
जगत के जेते ।
सुगम अनुग्रह
तुम्हरे तेते ॥
Durgam kaj
jagath ke jete.
Sugam anugraha
tumhre tete.
All tough jobs
in this world.
Become easy
with your grace.
Hanuman Chalisa Chaupai 20 Meaning in English
A few years ago, Indian media went abuzz with the news that Barack Obama, former President of the United States of America, carried, amongst many things, an image of Hanuman in his pocket. On closer examination, it turned out to be not the image enshrined in Hindu temples of India, but the image of Hanuman popular in Thailand.
Hindus who see this image will not feel the same emotion they feel on secing a Hanuman image from India.Be that as it may, Hanuman grants everyone the psychological strength to cope with crises, which makes solving problems easier. Even an exiled Ram was able to raise an army of monkeys, build a bridge across the sea, defeat Ravana and his army of demons, and rescue Sita, with Hanuman by his side.
This story of Hanuman’s ability to solve problems travelled beyond Indian shores on merchant ships travelling to Southeast Asia, which Indians knew as the golden land, or Suvarnabhumi. It is said that on the long sea voyages, sailors created the art of shadow-puppetry projected on the ship’s sail using leather dolls, to tell the story of the Ramayana.
Hence, along the coast of India and in many islands of Southeast Asia one finds this art form even today. In Thailand, the old capital was called Ayuthaya, the local name for Ayodhya, and the kings were seen as descendents and embodiments of Ram. The Southeast Asian Ramayanas include the Hikayat Seri Rama of Malaysia, Yama Zatdaw of Burma, and Ramakien, the national epic of Thailand. In these epics, one encounters a local version of Hanuman.
There are three differences between the Hanuman of India, and the Hanuman of Southeast Asia. First, the Ramayana mingles and merges with the local Buddhist lore of the regions. Second, the Hanuman depicted in these regional epics is a more strong and clever and funny monkey; loyal to Ram, but not quite a wise devotee, suggesting that the stories reached there from Indian shores over a thousand years ago, before the widespread popularity of the Bhakti doctrine.
Third, Hanuman is not necessarily depicted as a celibate brahmachari or yogi; he is a charming rake, and a powerful warrior who battles demons and is able to satisfy the demonic desires of rakhasa women including Ravana’s sister, Surpanakha, and his wife, Mandodari.
In the Vedas, there is a ribald argument between Indra and his wife Indrani over a huge male monkey, Vrishakapi, who happens to be Indra’s friend. The conversation deals with Indra’s lack of virility, Vrishakapi’s excess virility, and Indrani’s frustrated desires. It ends with the journeys and sacrifice of the monkey who restores Indra’s power and Indrani’s fertility.
Some people postulate that this Vedic Vrishakapi transforms into the Ramayana’s Hanuman. Details of his potent sexuality were rejected in India where society preferred a Hanuman with control over his senses, emotions, and desires.
However, this idea may have travelled to Southeast Asia where Hanuman is known for his humourous erotic adventures.There are many stories of Hanuman that are unique to Southeast Asian retellings. In one story, he battles the mermaid queen Suvarna-maccha (golden fish) who tries to disrupt the building of the bridge across the sea to Lanka.
In another story, Benyakai or Benjkaya, the daughter of Vibhishan, uses her magical form to appear like the dead body of Sita washed up on the shores; Hanuman senses mischief and decides to cremate the ‘dead body’, which suddenly comes alive as the flame rises and runs away.
When Ravana tries to break the bridge to Lanka, he expands in size and stretches his tail so that Ram and the army of monkeys can cross to Lanka with ease. These tales remind us how Hanuman, even in other lands, makes the toughest jobs look easy, even fun.
Hanuman Chalisa Chaupai 20 Analysis in English
durgama kaja jagata ke jete
sugama anugraha tumhare tete ||20||
All impossible tasks in this world,
Become easily doable with your mercy. (20)
Some acharyas analyse that Sita represents the Jivatma and Rama, Parmatma. Whereas Ravana represents pride or false ego. Hanuman achieves the difficult task of uniting the soul with the Parmatma by defeating ego.
Hanuman had found Sita in Ashok Vatika and passed Rama’s message on to her. With Sita’s blessings and permission, Hanuman proceeded to observe the city of Lanka. As he was scrutinizing the strategic points in the city, he noticed a shining golden altar. Situated on the golden altar under the canopy of a giant Ashok tree was a beautiful temple. Hanuman crept inside the temple and saw an effulgent dark complexioned goddess.
The goddess was beauty personified with her three eyes resembling Cupid’s bow. Wearing a garland of skulls, she was dancing to the auspicious sounds of drums and bells that she played with her four hands. Surrounding her were her followers dressed as yoginis.
All of them were eulogizing Ravana. Shouts of ‘Hail Ravana’, ‘Victory to Ravana’ filled the room. Hanuman was disgusted at this sight. Letting out an angry roar, he jumped into their midst terrifying the yoginis. The goddess herself was startled at the sudden intrusion. Pacifying her frightened followers, she asked Hanuman, “Who are you, O’ Vanara? And how did you get in here?”
Hanuman introduced himself, “My name is Hanuman. I am the son of the Wind God. I have accepted the servitude of Lord Rama by whose mercy I can destroy the entire earth with its oceans and forests. I came here searching for Mother Sita who has been held captive by wicked Ravana.
Who are you and why are you wishing for the victory of a sinner like Ravana?” The goddess replied, “I am the daughter of Himalayas residing in Chandasvarupa. Hence, I am known as Chandika. I am also known as Parvati and Kali. Ravana has conquered me with his devotional worship due to which I shield him from his enemies. O’ monkey, kindly show me your colossal form about which you were boasting some time ago.”
Hanuman obliged by expanding himself. Eyes popped out as the goddess and her followers observed his gargantuan size. The goddess could see different rakshasas smashed and shred into pieces dangling from Hanuman’s sharp nails and teeth. From his pores emerged innumerable colossal vanaras who were annihilating the rakshasa army. On Hanuman’s head shone the beautiful emerald complexioned Lord Rama killing Ravana with his arrows.
He held the severed head of the giant Kumbhakaran in his hand that wielded the bow. On Hanuman’s forehead stood Lakshmana whose complexion was like gorochan. Fixing his gaze upon the lotus feet of Rama and Sita, Lakshmana destroyed Meghanada, Ravana’s unconquerable son. A blazing and burnt Lanka lay between Hanuman’s eyebrows and the pious Vibhishan ruling Lanka as the king could be seen in Hanuman’s heart. The goddess was astounded looking at Hanuman’s wondrous form.
Humbly, she prayed, “O’ divine monkey, it is certain that you are none other than Lord Shiva himself who has appeared as a vanara for the annihilation of Ravana and his clan. It is for this very purpose that you have accepted the service of Lord Rama. Please let go of your anger and command me as to what can I do for you.”
Hanuman assumed his original form and said, “O” divine goddess, I request you to leave Lanka at this very instant. Why do you wish victory for a sinner like Ravana? The entire universe will be in chaos if he doesn’t die. If you continue to protect Ravana, the expansion of my energy in you will also be contaminated for siding with this sinner.”
The goddess replied, “The one who insulted Sita has also insulted me. I will leave Lanka as you have instructed.” Hanuman said, “O’ Parvatnandini Maheshwari, you are worshipped by the great trinity, Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesha. You are the great illusory energy that maintains this material world. You are the Adishakti and maintainer of all the demigods and Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesha. Please bless Rama with victory and assist him in eliminating Ravana.”
Goddess Chandika blessed Rama, saying, “Sri Rama will surely gain victory over Ravana and shine as the sun of the glorious Ikshvaku dynasty. He has all my blessings to annihilate Ravana. O’ Hanuman, the demigods are obliged to anyone who appeases them by performing rituals as prescribed in the Vedas.
In the Pousha Magha month, the period for worshipping demigods is 13 days, which has passed. Thus, Ravana cannot restrict me now. Had this been the stipulated worship period, it would have been difficult for me to leave Lanka. Since I am not compelled now, I bless Rama with victory.”
Chandika then departed from Lanka. Hanuman returned to Ashoka Vatika. He killed the rakshasas that tried to resist him and offered them to Goddess Chandika with their blood. Uprooting the trees, he offered them as flowers unto her. Ravana’s son Akshay Kumar was her sacrificial offering. When Hanuman was finally captured by Indrajeet and his tail set on fire, he lit up the entire Lanka and set it ablaze as offering of incense and lamps unto the goddess.
After having completed his mission, Hanuman went to Mother Sita to seek her blessings. After bidding her farewell, he leapt over the ocean and returned to his eagerly awaiting retinue to convey Sita’s message to Rama, durgama kaja jagata ke jetei sugama anugraha tumhare tete.
Every time Rama would sever his limb, it would rejoin once again. It was magnetism of the highest order. It appeared as if Ravana was practically immortal. Even when all his heads were chopped off, they would roll back into place. Even when Rama threw his severed arms far into the ocean, they would fly back and rejoin the body instantly.
It had been more than an hour since Rama had been trying his best. By now he had come to the conclusion that it was impossible to eliminate Ravana by normal methods. There had to be a secret to this whole thing, and obviously a well-guarded secret at that. Vibhishan walked towards him and reconfirmed his premonition. The secret was in a boon that Lord Brahma had offered Ravana. It was definitely a boon, but there was a condition to it that could prove to be useful to Rama.
Vibhishan explained that Lord Brahma had offered the boon to Ravana that his limbs even if severed, would rejoin instantly. Thus his body could never be destroyed. Technically he had ensured Ravana’s immortality. But while giving this boon, Brahma also offered him an arrow within which he had locked Ravana’s destiny. He warned Ravana that his life was literally within that arrow.
If this arrow was shot at his navel, it would instantly sap away all his strength, eliminating him that very moment. As long as that arrow remained protected, Ravana’s life remained protected. The monkeys became really excited that some hope was still there, though they also wondered if they would ever find that wonder arrow. Of course, as usual Vibhishan had an answer to that too. He announced that the only person other than Ravana who knew the whereabouts of that arrow was Mandodari.
The question now was who would do the impossible. Hanuman immediately stepped in and said that he could try. durgama kaja jagata kejete, all the arduous tasks of this world Hanuman would be always eager to try. Taking the blessings of Rama and with a loud cry of Jai Sri Rama, Hanuman leaped towards the inner sanctorum of Lanka. When he landed, he wasn’t Hanuman the vanara hero anymore but an old frail and wise astrologer who had to walk with the help of a stick since he was stooped with wisdom.
Every demon in Lanka flocked to him to hear predictions about their life and that of their family members. The mothers were especially worried about their sons who had gone to war. The old astrologer was so accurate with anything he told that people were astounded.
Soon word spread across the length of Lanka till it did rounds of the royal palace and reached the ears of Mandodari. She immediately wanted a private audience with him. Soon the astrologer was wobbling into the palace with a naughty grin on his wrinkled old face.
The moment they were alone, Mandodari broke down. She was really worried about the safety of her husband. She had almost lost everyone she considered a relative and now her world only revolved around one person, Ravana. She wanted to know from the astrologer whether her husband would win. She wanted to know if there was any processes that would ensure his victory.
Looking very grim, the astrologer began to study his astrological charts intensely. Finally he declared that today was doomsday. Either Ravana would rule forever or he would be dead. The word death sent a shiver down Mandodari’s spine. When she asked for a plan that could seal his victory, the astrologer looked at her very seriously.
He told her that her husband’s life was safe as long as she held the secret a secret. She was confused what that meant. At the same time, she felt that he was referring to the secret arrow that she had hidden away carefully. But when he told her to not to give it to anyone who comes to her asking for it including Lord Brahma himself, she knew that he knew about that secret arrow. Reassured that he was her well- wisher, Mandodari promised him that she would not give to anyone, no matter who.
The astrologer smiled at her and got up to leave. Just as he was stepping out of the room, he turned around partially and asked her if she was sure that the secret hideout was really a secret after all this time especially since Vibhishan had now joined the enemies. He knew every small and big secret of the palace. What was the guarantee that he didn’t know about the secret arrow?
That question made Mandodari think a bit. But after a moment she snapped out of her thoughts and reassured the astrologer that there was no way Vibhishan or anyone else could know about the secret place. But not wanting to take any risk since it was the question of her husband’s life, she asked the astrologer if he had a better place to house the arrow than the glass pillar within which she had embedded it.
The moment she pointed out to the pillar, the next moment itself the pillar shattered to pieces with a thunderous sound followed by an intense chant of Jai Sri Rama. The shocked Mandodari saw Hanuman jump out of her window with the secret arrow in his hand. That was the end of Ravana! sugama anugraha tumhare tete