Doubt on the Hanuman Chalisa

[KSJaishankar]

Dear All:

This may not be the best place to ask for a clarification on this subject, but couldn't think of another place where there is a possibility of getting even a similar level of response

In the Hanuman Chalisa, Goswami Tulsidas says of Hanuman - Raghupati Keenhi Bahut Barhayi, Tum Mama Priya, Bharatha Sama Bhai.

Why "Bharatha sama bhai"? Why isn't the comparison with Lakshmana? Prosodically, it can still be made to fit ... "tum mama priya, Lakhan sama bhai"... so convenience of composition is not the reason.

Is it that Rama places Bharatha above Lakshmana, so the Hanuman is exalted to the highest possible level in Rama's mind? In which case, why does Lakshmana lose out? Or is it that Lakshmana occupies a pedestal that is unattainable for anyone else?

Any insights / discussions would be welcome.

[Radhika-Rajnarayan]

Probably because Lakshmana may be considered by Rama as part of himself and not different, as in, not as a separate entity such as a 'brother'.

[Rajani]

I agree with Radhika. Lakshmana is described as Raama's "bahischarah praaNah" ( his own life, but residing outside his body) and maybe that is why he did not praise him. In other instances too such as when Vibhishana came to join Raama, he(Raama) praised the devotion of Bharata, right in the presence of Lakshmana.

[cienu]

Renunciation has at all times been accorded a very high prominence in Bharatiya Samskriti. As Bharata sacrificed his right to rule Ayodhya inspite of having received it on a platter (thanks to Kaikeyi's cunning) , he is granted a greater status by Rama amongst his brothers.

[KSJaishankar]

I tend to agree with the placement of Lakshamana at a unique level. The description of Lakshmana as not separate from Rama is also very apt (and poetic!).

Sri Cienu ... while Bharatha's renunciation is great, Lakshmana also demonstrates the same level of renunciation, though differently. He renounces his wife and parents to serve Rama, so that would still make them equal, IMHO.

[rshankar]

lakhan was everything to rAma - no doubts there. In Sri Mythili Sharan Gupt's 'pancavaTi prasang', the first verse describes the three of them leaving for their vanvAs - the poet says that
'accepting his honored father's wishes,
rejecting his home, wealth, and the kingdom,
rAm, with the jewel of womanhood
sItA walking behind him left for the forest
and behind her came lakshman - rAm asked him 'whither thou?'
pat came the response - 'where, you, my everything, go'

So, while lakshmaN's sacrifice is paramount, he spent the duration of the vanvAs with his 'sarvasva' ('everything' is such a mundane translation), and is not thought to be as profound as bharat's. That may have driven gOsvAmiji's use of bharat as the upmA to compare hanumAn's devotion in the hanumAn cAlIsA.

rAma does count each of his brothers, because he tells guha that 'unnODu aivar AnOm' etc....

[hariniraghavan]

What cienu says is more appropriate.
Harini.