All our kids like Hanuman and enjoy his stories. Here is one story involving Hanuman from Ramayana.
Lord Rama was making Sethu Bandana (Sethu Bridge) across Indian Ocean to reach Lanka and rescue Seethamma. Sugriva along with his army chief Hanuman, Jambavan, Nal, Neel and others helped Lord Rama in his endeavor. Sugriva commanded all his army soldiers and chief to collect stones, rocks and mountains from all directions in order to construct the bridge.
Nal and Neel have got a boon that whatever they throw on sea will float. So they both were throwing all the stones and rocks that others bring on the ocean. Hanuman went to the north near Indraprastham in search of big mountain and found Govardhana Giri (Mountain). Govardhana Giri is a great Baktha and looking into each opportunity to serve for Lord Rama. Govardhana was very happy on seeing Hanuman and when Hanuman pleaded to take him for constructing Sethu Bandana, Govaradhana was immensely felt blessed.But suddenly some soldiers of Sugriva came to Hanuman, informing that Sethu Bandana is completed and it is time for us to march towards Lanka and rescue Seethamma.
On hearing this Govardhana felt very bad and thought that he is not fortunate enough to serve for Lord Rama. However Hanuman, being a Bhaktha could understand the feelings of another Bhaktha and assured him of conveying his Bhakthi to Lord Rama. As soon as he reached Rameswaram and saw Lord Rama, Hanuman described about Govardhana's bhakthi towards Him and how he felt bad for not getting a chance to serve Him. Lord Rama became very happy on hearing this, and gave a boon to Govardhana, that He will grace Govardhana by Uddharanam (lifting) when He takes Krishna avatar.
During Dwapara Yuga, Lord Krishna assured the people from saving Indra's anger and continuous rain in Vrindavanam and thus lifted Govardhana Giri which is located near Vrindavanam. Govardhana Giri felt blessed by His grace and realized that true Bhakthi will always be acknowledged by Lord. Indeed Krishna is named after this incident as Giridhara Gopala, who is the devoted Lord of Meera Bai. All Meera Bai songs refer to Giridhara Gopala and she sings how beautiful Lord Krishna is as a Giridhara Gopala in the below song.
This incident shows how true Bhakthi is valued and how fortunate Govardhana Giri to find place in another true Bhaktha, Meera Bai.
Song: mErE tO giridhara gOpaala (bhajan)
mErE thO giridara gOpala
raagam: behaag
29 dheera shankaraabharaNam janya
Aa: S G3 M1 P N3 D2 N3 S
Av: S N3 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S
taaLam: aadi
Composer: Meera
Language: Hindi
pallavi
mErE to giridhara gOpala dUsaro na kOyi
caraNam
JAkEshira mOra mukuda mErOpati sOyi
Shanka chakra gadA padma kandamAla sOyi
TAta mAta prAta banddhu aApanO na kOyi
ChAnda dayI kulaki kAna kyAkaraika kOyi
Santana sanga baita baita lOkalAja kOyi
ApatO pAda pailakayi janE sab kOyi
Asuvana jala sIncha sIncha prEma pEli poyi
MIrA prabhu lagana lagI hOni hOsa hOyi
Meaning:
My Lord is Giridhar Gopal and none else. He wears the crown decorated with the feathers of a peacock. The conch, the discus, the mace and the lotus flower all suit Him. Now I do not have any relations like father, mother and brother. I am not bothered about what people talk about me while I sit in the company of saints and monks. I am nurturing the Creeper of Love by the waters of my tears. Now Meera is immersed in God, so let whatever might happen.
Listen to this soulful rendering of the song by great singer M.S.Subbulakshmi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26JoBNcsPuw&feature=related
Story Courtesy: www.moralstories.com
Song Lyric Courtesy: www.karnatik.com
Here are Hindusthani Versions of this same Bhajan. It is really interesting to hear different ways to present same Bhajan. Rich variety and diversity of singing styles, Raagas etc in Bharatiya Sangeet and above all a freedom of mind strongly attributing to our culture, allows one to make so many improvisation. May this be a reason we visualise God also in different ways and yet have faith in one Eternal Power.
Mere to Giridhar Gopal Bhajan
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vz5_E3q-UH4 - By Lata Mangeshkar
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Y7JV40qeSE - By Chitra Singh
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDz3wb5nh0g&feature=related - By Vani Jayram and Dinkar Kaikini, Music by Pandit Ravi Shankanr
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