The Temple of Hanuman-Excerpt

The boy said, “I do not ask you to turn your back upon Islam, for it is the religion of God. I ask only that you look with clear vision, with a dilated heart, upon the way of Rama, King of Ayodhya, and you will see within his life and his works signs of God made living. God reveals Himself to all peoples through many prophets and teachings; tawhid requires that you acknowledge not only the unity of God but also the unity of His messengers.

“O lord, fear and desire, attachment and short-sightedness and illusion prevent men from obtaining what is best for them. Look through the lens of perception, with the eye of detachment, and see to those distant shores before you hastily deny that such shores exist. The world is far greater than our feeble minds perceive. Acknowledge that greatness while you are alive, though your denial will have no effect on its existence. Look, brave king of nations, and you will see clearly and perceive the beauty of God’s design and the operation of His will and the work He performs among all men, not just among your own tribe.

“Dasaratha, king of Ayodhya, fathered four sons who were loved by the people. They were the noblest sons ever given to a father. But the king loved nothing in the world more than Rama, his oldest boy. Even in his youth, Rama was handsome, wise, and strong, more even than his noble brothers. Rama possessed every virtue, loved and obeyed his father, and was a wise exponent of dharma. Rama was just and merciful and performed every duty and fulfilled every obligation. Rama knew no other path and was unacquainted with fault or failure, but was quick to forgive the faults of others. He sought no pleasure except to honor and serve his family, his teachers and elders, and tirelessly looked after the welfare of the people of Ayodhya.

“In looks, Rama was a vision to every eye. His hair was the color of the raven’s wing, his eyes bright and lotus-shaped, his face shining, lighting up the eyes of others as the sun and moon light the sky. He was so handsome that, upon seeing him, the people of Ayodhya neglected their precious idols. They said, ‘Rama is, in every way, more worthy of veneration than any work of art, than any worldly masterpiece. We will pray to Mahavishnu through remembrance of Rama, for he is truly the face of God on Earth.’

“In warfare he had no equal. His skill with the bow was unrivalled and he could ride horses and elephants with ease and grace. Had the gods and demons banded together to overcome him, they would have failed, for Rama was the strength of God on Earth.

“But Rama was most loved by his father. Dasaratha could not imagine the world without Rama and was overcome sometimes with fear that Rama might leave Ayodhya. Kausalya, the king’s wisest wife and the mother of Rama, consoled her husband saying, ‘Rama will never leave you unless you ask him to go. He is completely devoted to you and would do whatever you command, no matter how difficult and painful.’ Dasaratha replied, ‘I will never let him go.’

“One day, while Rama was still a young man, Viswamithra came to Ayodhya and sought an audience with the king. When Dasaratha heard the name of that venerable sage, his heart filled with joy. Viswamithra was no common ascetic. Once he had been a mighty king, possessed of great wealth and power. But because he sought inexhaustible wealth and irresistible power, he threw off the mantle of kingship and the yoke of worldly possessions and became an ascetic, performing fearful austerities to gain the favor of the gods. He gave up the couch of repose for the cold ground and a stone pillow. He traded his beautiful consorts and their sweet caresses for scraps of bark that scratched his flesh. He swapped an army for the strength only of his own arms and legs. He said, ‘I have given up all things that many men spend lifetimes to acquire. But what they seek leads only to suffering and blindness. What I have gained is far more precious than all the treasures of every king and all the conquests of every army. I have communed with Mahavishnu, the One God absolute from Whom all things have sprung and to Whom all things revert and upon Whom every god and demon is utterly reliant. God has shown me why I was born among mortal men and what duty I must perform. I am in God’s service. This is my single desire: to conform to His dharma, for there is no other dharma but His.’

“With his ministers and courtiers in attendance, Dasaratha greeted Viswamithra in his audience chamber. The king pressed his palms together in greeting and offered the sage water to refresh himself. Viswamithra thanked the king but turned away the water with his hand. He said, ‘Noble king, I do not come on my own account, but because God has sent me. I prefer my austerities and my solitude. I have come to ask a favor of you.’

“Dasaratha said, ‘I am honored by your presence and am blessed among men to have spoken with you. You are famous among the wise and I will personally fulfill your request, whatever it is. Who could refuse the request of one so holy and so pure?’

“Viswamithra said, ‘I have purified myself to make a sacrifice in the wilderness. However, before I can complete this sacrifice, I must perform certain rites upon the altar. Yet two demons have obstructed these rites by their presence. I am, of course, sufficiently strong to cast out these demons, but cannot do so in my state of ritual purity, for violence is unclean.’

“The king said, ‘I understand you completely. I will lead my army to the place where you are performing this sacrifice. We will destroy these demons for you and you may complete your sacrifice.’

“Viswamithra said, ‘No, you do not need to trouble yourself to assist me, nor do I wish to keep your army from their duties here in Ayodhya. I need only the assistance of one.’

“Dasaratha said, ‘Then I shall come myself and will defend your sacrifice personally. I am old, but will risk my life to assist you.’

“Viswamithra said, “No, I cannot keep you from your duties here as king.”

“Dasaratha said, ‘Then who shall I send?” But the king’s face blanched. He suddenly knew what the sage desired. When the name of Rama fell from Viswamithra’s lips, Dasaratha lost consciousness. After his ministers revived the king, Dasaratha pleaded with the sage. “No, O brahmin. Take me instead. Rama is still so young and I cannot bear that any harm should come to him.’

“Viswamithra became angry at this refusal. He said, ‘You have given your word!’

“Dasaratha said, ‘Rama is too young and inexperienced. He cannot face these demons. Take me in his place and I will put these demons to flight.’

“Viswamithra stood up from his seat beside the king and said, ‘Enough. I had expected the promise of Dasaratha to be worth something. Since it is not, and since I have failed in my mission, I will leave you and your family in peace.’

“The king, recognizing his duty, stood up and said, 'Master of dharma, I will fulfill my oath and will entrust Rama into your care. I ask only that his devoted brother, Lakshmana, accompany him.'

“Viswamithra smiled and agreed to this, saying, ‘Your love for Rama is honorable. No harm will come to him and he will return to you. You’re wise to follow dharma, for His way is irresistible. It is better to swim with the current, than flail and drown, for in either case the river has its way. But one day you shall be parted from Rama again and he will not return to this city while you live. Beware your attachment. See that separation from him as the illusion that it is. Break the wheel of samsara and you will be reunited with Rama forever.’

“O emperor, see in Viswamithra’s austerities and his sacrifice of all things to follow the way of God a clear path for you. You need not give up crown and throne, but you must give up your most precious notions if you are to see through the illusion. See in the fulfillment of Dasaratha’s promise the straight way and a road to true understanding. You have caught a scent of salt air, but this is not the same as a view of the ocean.

“O king of the world, surrender the thing you most cherish and abandon fear. Give up your narrow view of Islam; it is the view of a student. You have overcome many enemies and obstacles and have mastered the world. Your strength of will is famous and your name will be remembered. Now you must choose how it will be remembered, with pride among your descendents or with regret. Master yourself and you will see the truth of Rama’s station through the true prism of Islam. If your pride prevents you, then you will persist in error and your works will be to no good end and you will be a prisoner in the wheel, a victim of samsara.”

Aurangzeb said, “Your pretty stories are wasted on me, child. I have no more to do with samsara than I do with dharma. What did Muhammad, peace be upon him, ever say of these things? He said nothing; therefore they have no meaning to me.”