From the Editor's Desk

All of Hanuman ji’s divine qualities and character strengths have been beautifully described by saints in various scriptures, mantras, devotional hymns, and commentaries. As material souls, we can learn innumerable life lessons from Hanuman ji. His character strengths and virtuous qualities are definitely inspiring to devotees of all ages as they aspire to be profitable servants of God.



Learning these life lessons is the focus of this issue of Samarpan where we review the tatvagyan or Vedic knowledge taught by Swami Mukundananda, and draw inspiration from his teachings by presenting tools for the application of the divine knowledge. 

Vedic Wisdom and Application

Challenge of the Month: Life Lessons from Hanuman ji

Reflection Questions:

• How did Hanuman ji Acquire Divine Qualities?
• What Life Lessons Can We Learn from Hanuman ji?
• How can we Apply these Life Lessons to Enhance Spiritual Growth?

Whenever people think of Hanuman ji, they visualize a personality who is totally selfless in his devotion to Lord Ram. He displays superhuman physical strength, is courageous beyond words, and uses his sharp intellect to outwit his opponents. However, he is also very humble, simple-hearted, steadfast, and a proud servant of Lord Ram.

Many saints have described Hanuman ji as a divine personality whose life and leelas exemplify what it means to be a true and profitable servant of God. Many scriptures that teach the tatvagyan on attachment to the divine realm alone, mention Hanuman ji’s mindset toward all living beings. In his commentary on the Bhagavad Gita,

Swamiji says: Enlightened Saints see the world as the energy of God, and utilize whatever comes their way in the service of God. They also see all human beings as parts of God and harbor a divine attitude toward everyone. Click here to read more.

How did Hanuman ji Acquire Divine Qualities?

One morning, when little Hanuman ji was very hungry and could not find his mother, or anything to eat, he stepped out of his house in a state of mild distress. He noticed the beautiful, red-colored sun rising gloriously in the morning sky. Thinking it to be a delicious fruit, Hanuman ji tried to grab it repeatedly. The celestial god Indra, experiencing concern about Devlok, hurled his Vajra (the name of Indra's weapon) at Hanuman ji, striking him on the jaw and knocking him unconscious. When Vayu devata (i.e., celestial god) noticed this unwarranted attack on his son, he withdrew all the air from the earth, making life excruciatingly painful for all living creatures. All the celestial gods begged Vayudev for forgiveness. When Lord Shiv came and resuscitated him, in an expression of regret, Indra gave Hanuman ji a boon that his body would be stronger than his own Vajra. Similarly, other devatas also conferred boons where Hanuman ji became invincible from harm caused by fire, water, air, or any element of nature, as well as all kinds of weapons. He was also endowed with the ability to change his form at will, travel anywhere at any time, enjoy good health, and above all, become immortal. This is why Hanuman ji is referred to as chiranjeevi. Click here to read more.

What Life Lessons Can We Learn from Hanuman? 

All of Hanuman ji’s divine qualities and character strengths have been beautifully described by saints in various scriptures, mantras, devotional hymns, and commentaries. While Rishi Valmiki wrote the original Ramayan in Sanskrit, the epic was popularized through the Hindi version, "Ramcharitmanas" written by Goswami Tulsidas. These scriptures illustrate the virtues and unique characteristics of Hanuman ji’s unparalleled execution of sevas for Lord Ram. Additionally, Tulsidas ji’s Hanuman Chalisa also expounds on his divine qualities and virtues. Click here to read more.

How can we Apply these Life Lessons to Enhance Spiritual Growth? 

Hanuman ji possesses innumerable divine qualities and character strengths. He is a divine personality endowed with infinite virtues. Yet, as material souls, we can learn lessons on ways to deal with obstacles in life in a calm manner through repeated and deliberate practice to overcome challenges successfully. We can apply the life lessons from Hanuman ji life and leelas to figure out where and how we can grow from within. 

Here are some points for reflection and self-assessment. Click here to read more.

Tools for Your Personal Growth

In the previous section, we learned how to apply lessons from Hanuman ji’s life to deal with various obstacles with discernment. One way to use life lessons is to figure out where and how we can grow from within, especially when faced with complex challenges. 

We have provided a tool for the application of the knowledge to help figure out where each of us needs to grow. A downloadable tracking sheet is available for you to use in the website. 

Gems of Wisdom from Swamiji

Here is a YouTube video where Swamiji has described the sweet leelas, virtuous qualities, and life lessons from Hanuman ji.

Love to Hear from You!

• How did you apply the Vedic Wisdom? 
• What challenges did you experience in the process? Please visit our webpage and share.

Hold Your Breath - Upcoming Event

We are very excited to share about the most dynamite upcoming event with Swamiji as he starts his 2023 US tour. Everyone is looking forward to all these programs in their respective cities! 

Life Transformation Programs (LTP)

Life Transformational programs with Swamiji are the highlight of his US tour. Spanning twelve cities from coast-to-coast between April and August 2023, the LTP is a much-awaited event. In this week-long program, Swamiji conducts yoga, pranayam, and meditation sessions daily, delivers divine lectures on a specific topic or theme, and also leads devotional kirtans.

The topic of his divine lectures this year is Golden Rules for Living Your Best Life. In this series of talks, Swamiji will expound on topics related to his most recently published book by the same name.

Additionally, morning walks with Swamiji present an excellent opportunity to seek answers to complex concepts and clarify doubts. Participants also have the option to connect with Swamiji during breakfast and dinner. This is one of the most inspirational of all events with a schedule convenient to most working professionals. 



Check the dates for the LTP in your city and register for the free program. Seva opportunities are also available for interested participants. 

Voices from the Global Community

JKYog’s e-Journal Samarpan inspires the community by introducing you to members who have been impacted by the scriptural knowledge taught and disseminated by Swamiji. Two devotees, Ajay Pandey, and Meenu Nanda, describe how Hanuman ji’s character strengths have been instrumental in enhancing their own spiritual practice. Click here to read.

We invite you to share your inspirations and success stories with us at [email protected].

JKYog Transforming Communities

Here, we share the amazing activities and news about programs conducted by various JKYog centers in the U.S. 

The Radha Krishna Temple of Bay Area was inaugurated in July 2022 with the Pran Pratishta of Shree Radha-Krishna and Jagadguru Kripalu ji Maharaj. Under Swamiji’s mentorship, the Temple launched many programs and festivals to bring the community together to make a difference in the lives of people.

Within a month after the inauguration, the Radha Krishna Temple of Bay Area organized a four-day Janmashtami celebration which included cultural programs and a Mela in which several vendors participated. Devotees enthusiastically participated in the event and experienced the divine bliss of the appearance of Bal Gopal. More than 1200 people attended the event. Click here to read more.

Glimpses of Past Events

Want a glimpse of some of our events? This month we are sharing beautiful glimpses of the Holika Dahan, Phoolon ki Holi, and Ram Navami. Click here to watch more glimpses.