War Between Rama And Hanuman

Once, Sage Vishwamitra arrived at the court of Kashi. The King was so immersed in the entertainment provided by his court damsels, that he did not see him. The Sage was so enraged, by what he considered an insult by the King, that he went straight to Lord Rama.

“Rama, The King of Kashi has disrespected me by not acknowledging my presence in his court. I want you to kill him,” he ordered.

Sage Vishwamitra was Rama’s guru and Rama could not say no to him. He agreed to kill the King, though there was no personal enmity between them.

The King was very scared when he came to know that the divine and powerful Rama had been ordered by his guru to kill him. At that moment Sage Narada appeared before him.

“You look scared, oh King,” said Narada. “What is troubling you?”

The frightened King related the entire incident to Narada and begged for help.

“There is only one person who can help you and that is Hanuman,” said Narada. “Go and fall at the feet of Hanuman’s mother, Anjana and seek her protection.”

The King ran to Anjana Devi and fell at her feet. She was surprised.

“Mother Anjana, please protect me” he entreated. When she came to know the whole story and that the King wanted protection against being killed by Lord Rama, she was dismayed. But she agreed to protect the king as he had sought refuge in her. Anjana called her son, Hanuman.

“Hanuman, I have assured protection for this King,” she said. “So it is your duty to save his life.”

“If you have given your word, mother, I will definitely protect him,” said Hanuman. “Who is the King’s enemy and why has he sought refuge in you?”

“Lord Rama has been ordered by his guru, Sage Vishwamitra to kill the King,” answered Anjana.

Hanuman was stunned. He did not know for a moment what to do or say. Rama was the Lord whom he worshipped. How could he fight his Lord? But he had to keep his word to his mother. He was in a dilemma.

He asked the King to seek forgiveness from Sage Vishwamitra. But before the King could do so, Rama arrived. Hanuman stood in front of the cowering King.

“Move aside Hanuman,” said Rama. “I have been ordered to kill this King of Kashi for disrespecting my guru, Sage Vishwamitra.”

“No, my Lord,” replied Hanuman. “I cannot, because my mother, Anjana Devi, has given him her word that he will be protected and I have to keep up my mother’s promise.”

Rama was surprised. He did not want to fight Hanuman, but remembering the promise given to his guru, Rama took his bow and aimed an arrow at Hanuman, who stood chanting the Lord’s name. To the surprise of everyone present, the arrow circumambulated Hanuman and went back to Lord Rama’s quiver. Rama sent many more arrows but none could do any harm to Hanuman as he was chanting the Rama Nama.

Sage Vishwamitra arrived to see this strange sight of the Lord fighting a battle with his prime devotee. He was traumatized to think that he had been the cause of this unexpected and futile war. Meanwhile, seeing the Sage in person, the King got up, ran and fell at his feet and begged for forgiveness. Vishwamitra ordered Rama to stop the war, which he happily adhered to.

Everyone wanted to know why Rama’s arrows, including the divine Brahmastra, failed against Hanuman.

Sage Narada gave the answer. “Nothing is more powerful than the name of the Lord, not even the Lord Himself. So when the arrows were aimed at Hanuman, the name of Lord Rama, which was emanating from his mouth, deflected them, thereby not affecting Hanuman at all.”

Such was the devotion and bhakti of Hanuman towards his Lord Rama.