Anger must be eschewed at all costs

CHENNAI, SEPT. 14. One of the virtues, human beings, especially those who are wedded to righteousness, should cultivate is forfeiting anger at all costs. Though it is easy to sermonise on the desirability of cultivating such virtues, in real life situations this may amount to exercising great restraint because one may even without any reason be offended by others. But when a person consciously makes effort to check his temper it is possible over a period of time to master the emotion. This is rewarding because a person in a fit of temper may do acts which he is likely to regret in his saner moments.

The incident of Hanuman burning Lanka as an act of retribution when his tail was set on fire as punishment by Ravana after he was caught red-handed for destroying the trees in the Ashoka grove describes the import of practising this virtue. After locating Sita he took leave of Her to convey the good news of Her safety to Rama but being an astute envoy he decided to assess at firsthand the enemy's might. To draw attention to himself for gaining entry into Ravana's palace he started uprooting the trees in the Ashoka grove. The matter was immediately reported to Ravana and Hanuman killed the ogres who were despatched. When he made short work of them, finally Indrajit was sent. Though he was capable of fighting with him, Hanuman submitted to the Brahmastra he deployed to be taken to the presence of Ravana.

In his Harikatha, Kalyanapuram Sri R. Aravamudan said Hanuman related with candour the purpose of his mission and went to the extent of advising Ravana to return Sita to Rama or be prepared for the worst. Naturally this infuriated him and Ravana ordered the monkey to be put to death. Vibhishana interceded and advised Ravana that virtuous rulers would not stoop to unrighteous acts like killing a messenger even though his anger was justified as the monkey had devastated his garden and killed many of his subjects. He heeded his advice that a suitable punishment like setting fire to his tail should be meted out to Hanuman.

At Sita's behest, the fire did not burn Hanuman and intuiting rightly that it was due to Rama's and Sita's grace that he was spared, anger spurred him to retaliate and he set fire with his burning tail to all the mansions and houses in Lanka. It was only when he saw the blazing city that Hanuman had second thoughts about his action. With self-contempt he reproached himself for giving vent to anger without consideration for Sita's safety.

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Section  : Miscellaneous
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