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the first impression
g k kaushik

There is a saying that the first impression is the best impression. As per Ramayana, monkey king Sugreeva was hiding in the Rishyamuka mountain ranges fearing his brother Vali. Vali could not enter the Rishyamuka mountain ranges because of a curse. When Sugreeva saw two human beings approaching Rishyamuka mountain with bow and arrow, he feared that they might have been sent by Vali and chose to send Lord Anjaneya to find out the fact. Lord Anjaneya took the form of a student and observed Lord Rama and Lakshmana before presenting himself before them.

It is interesting to note how poet Kamban describes the first impression Anjaneya got about Lord Rama and Lakshmana. He says "They are actually comparable to the three chiefs of devas i.e., Brahma, Vishnu, Siva, but they are only two. Who could be compared to the two in this world ?, and what is it that they are in search of at this place?" Anjaneya had put them in esteem in his thoughts. With these pure and high thoughts Anjaneya presented himself before Lord Rama and introduced himself as Hanuman, the son of wind God Vayu and Anjana Devi, and a sevak of Lord Sugreeva who is the son of Lord Surya.

It is even more interesting to know Kamban describing the first impression Lord Rama got about Anjaneya. "There could be nobody better than him. Virtue , Character and learning lead to piousness and Gnana, which I see embodied in him. ". He takes Lakshmana aside and tells "He is learned and great in elocution and a treasurer of language. Is he Brahma or Siva?"

What a great meeting this could be, one getting great impression about the other and placing the other as great as Brahma ! Sugreeva had a different impression about Lord Rama on his first sight, because of his mental status at that time. If the vision is clear and thinking is clear we tend to estimate the other truly and our evaluation is bound to be accurate, true, and pure. Thus the impression formed by these two scholars on their first meeting had proved to be a great boon to one another.

In the end it is said that Anjaneya Swami is present wherever Lord Rama's name is pronounced. He is not only worshipper of Lord Rama, but also of shahayogi of worshipper of Lord Rama. While Anjaneya Swami is Rama-Dasa, Lord Rama went a step further to sing the virtues of this Rama-Dasa in praise in Hanumath-Sahasranamam. Probably this is the first verse by the master in praise of his Dasa.

In reciting these verses daily we are sure to bring the best virtues into our life and best values from people we meet.