1180. All Hugs are NOT the Same....!

Meghanada was the eldest son born to Ravana and Mandodari. When he was born his birth cry sounded like thunder and hence he was named “Meghanada” (Sound of Thunder). He was an expert in magical warfare, sorcery and tantra. At the war between Shri Rama and Ravana, he joined the battle when all his brothers had been killed. When he was confronted by Shri Rama and Lakshmana, he fought fiercely and seized them both using Nagapasha (a trap of a million snakes). Both the brothers fell on the ground breathless. Nagapasha was untangled by Garuda. Learning that both Shri Rama and Lakshmana had been rescued by Garuda and were still alive, he used the Vasavi Sakthi, the magical dart of Indra against Lakshmana. Lakshmana fell unconscious, poised to die precisely at the Sunrise. His life was saved by Hanuma, who brought the whole mountain of Dronagiri which had the magical herb Sanjivani from the Himalayas to Lanka overnight. This act of Hanuma made Shri Rama emotional, He hugged Hanuma.

After the Mahabharata war Sri Krishna takes the Pandava brothers to Dhritarashtra. Dhritarashtra is eager to meet them and is especially interested to meet Bhimasena. Bhimasena had as been responsible for the death of all his sons. “Come to me” said the Blind King. When Bhimasena went to receive his blessings by touching his feet, the Blind King stretched out his arms and said, “I wish to hug you, Bhimasena”.

Sri Krishna knew how desirous Dhritarashtra was to hug Bhimasena and had already had an iron statue made for this occasion. He brought the statue in front of Dhritarashtra. The Blind King pressed the statue so hard that it crushed. Dhritarashtra thought he had killed Bhimasena and realised his mistake and tears rolled down his eyes. Sri Krishna said, “I very well knew how enraged you were and this is the reason I had arranged for an iron statue of Bhimasena to be made. You will not get back Duryodhana by killing Bhimasena. You had earlier said that sons of Pandu were your sons too and you also know the atrocities hatched by your sons against them. Your sons planned to kill the five brothers on many occasions but were saved; now why do you want to be a sinner by killing Bhimasena?

All Hugs are NOT the Same.....!

Hugging is actually to display the emotional feel of bonding we have with the other person. But hug can be used as a tool to conceal hatred and fake the non-existent bond also. The intention behind a hug is more important than the act itself. When the intention is clear in the way of action there is no need for a hug. The person who is hugging and the person who is receiving the hug already are aware of the existing bond, then this ritual of hugging will become an outwardly display for others to know about the bond.