Why Do People Worship Hanuman as God, When He Himself Worshipped Rama Like a Devotee?

O Learned and Devoted Servants of God,

[This question is part of a Mahā Satsaṅga (grand spiritual discussion) between Swami, Shri Parikshit, Smt. Bindiya and Dr. J S. R. Prasad.]

Swami replied:- Hanuman is monistic incarnation of Lord Shiva and Rama is the monistic incarnation of God Vishnu. The Veda says that God Shiva and God Vishnu are one and the same one God (Shivashcha Naaraayanah). Both are incarnations of God. But we have to consider Rama as God and Hanuman as His devoted servant. This doesn’t mean that Vishnu is God and Shiva is His devoted servant! Inspite of all this background, Shiva is born as servant of God in order to preach the ideal service to God whereas Vishnu is born as Rama or God to receive the service of the devotee. The conclusion is that the same God is born as God and devotee in double role. In view of the role, Hanuman remains as devotee whereas Rama remains as God. People are worshiping Hanuman as God in view of the original angle that Hanuman is also the direct incarnation of God. Even in the angle that Hanuman is a devotee of God, Hanuman shall be worshipped as dualistic incarnation of God, which means that the devotee reached the climax of devotion so that God becomes the servant of the devotee fulfilling every desire of the devotee. Rama is the monistic incarnation of God in which God perfectly merges with the devotees through total monism. Rama is equal to God in monistic incarnation. Hanuman is greater than God (since God became the servant of the devotee) in dualistic incarnation. Both are called incarnations of God and the dualistic incarnation like Balarama is kept in par with the monistic incarnation, Rama. Hence, in any angle Hanuman is to be worshipped as God only. If you serve monistic incarnation, the advantage is that you are directly serving God. In serving the dualistic incarnation, the advantage is that you are pleasing God more. When you offer the sweet to a father, he is pleased. But, he is pleased more if you offer the sweet to his beloved son!

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