Looking Sad

“According to your particularly poor condition, your divine beauty and your clothes showing austerity, surely you must be Rama’s queen.” (Hanuman, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 33.13)

yathā hi tava vaidainyam rūpam cāpyatimānuṣam ||
tapasā cānvito veṣastvaṃ rāmamahiṣī dhruvam |

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If someone we know has suddenly become sad, we can guess to the cause. This is because we know what is important to them. We know the things in life that they value. Their sadness must be related to a loss of something important. Perhaps they no longer have the association of someone dear. Perhaps they failed in something in which they really wanted success. A long time ago a servant penetrating an enemy territory knew he had found the person he was sent to locate. He came to this conclusion from the sadness described by her condition. Amazingly, he had not met her before, but he knew what was most important to her. In fact, it is the thing most important to every living entity, from the ant all the way up to the creator himself.

Dog is man’s best friend. Since it can’t speak, it can’t offend you. It can’t criticize you for what you’re wearing. It doesn’t bring up that one time many years back when you forgot its birthday. It is basically happy to see you all the time. It doesn’t mind how much or how little you want to play. It will be there for you.

The dog’s loyalty means that its passing brings tremendous sadness, especially in children. They may have heard of death, but the dog leaving them will likely be their first experience with this harsh reality of life. After coming home from a hard day at the office, the father can tell that something bad has happened based on the sadness of the child. If the child is sad for a prolonged period of time, that is an even greater indication that someone close to them has left.

Hanuman was searching for someone he knew would be sad. He knew this person’s husband. That husband was great in all respects. His character was amazing. He did not utter negative words. He did not bring anyone down. Ill-will and negative sentiments are due to anger, and anger comes from unmet desires. Hanuman’s new friend seemed to not have any desires. He did everything for others. He left home voluntarily to save the good name of His father. He looked after His younger brother. He was with His wife previously, but that wife got stolen away in secret. Now that wife had to be found.

Hanuman knew that the wife would be in a poor condition. Here he says as much when directly addressing her. This woman seems to be the only one in the land of Lanka who has these signs. There are many women living there, but they are in the false bliss of intoxication. They are under the protection of their husband as well. Their husband is the fiend who took the missing woman away, without fighting for her.

The woman Hanuman found is Sita Devi and her husband is Shri Rama. Though they are central characters to the ancient Vedic text known as the Ramayana, they are timeless. They are as alive today as they were when Hanuman interacted with them. They live in the spiritual realm of Vaikuntha, and they are known through other names and forms. Lakshmi-Narayana and Radha-Krishna are the same Sita-Rama.

Sita’s sadness shows how the people devoted to the Supreme Lord feel when separated from Him. Think of missing the best person you have ever met. Think of being without the person who gives you the most happiness. This poor condition caused by separation is the first sign of the person on the highest platform of spiritual understanding. They always feel this sadness, and they alleviate their distress by constantly chanting the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

Sita constantly said the name of Rama, and this brought Hanuman to her. Hanuman’s words about Rama were as good as Rama being there. This means that the cure for the sadness of the enlightened person is constantly hearing about God. In fact, the sadness continues for everyone, regardless of whether they know Rama or not. They may only know Him through His external energy that is the material nature. They may only vaguely understand Him, and so they look for ways to alleviate their sorrow that is actually rooted in separation from Him.

Hanuman relieves the distress of those who miss Rama, and this contributes to his endless glories. Only he could find Sita because only he knew the mind of someone who loves Rama. The saints of the Vedic tradition understand our true nature, and therefore it is no wonder that they try to reacquaint as many as possible with their original best friend, who also happens to be the supreme controller of all worlds.

In Closing:

When beloved no longer to see,

Sad is that person to be.

 

Realized quickly by someone known,

Understands their feeling alone.

 

Sita in Lanka only queen with sadness,

Others suffering from intoxication’s madness.

 

This sign of devotee Hanuman detecting,

Wise Shri Rama that warrior selecting.