Banana leaf i.e. Advaita in duality

When Shri Ram Chandra ji returned to Ayodhya with Sita ji after defeating Ravana’s army, a big feast was organized there to celebrate their return. All the people of Vanar Sena were also invited.

Sugriva ji explained to all those monkeys, look, we are guests here and the people of Ayodhya are our hosts. All of you behave very well here, so that the people of Ayodhya do not consider us monkey caste people to be devoid of manners, keep this in mind.

The monkeys were also ready to maintain the honor of their caste, but a monkey came forward and folded his hands and said to Shri Sugriva, “Lord, we will try to keep our conduct good, but if we stay in Banavashi, there may be some mistake. So that we have a good image in front of the people of Ayodhya, I pray that You make someone our leader, who will not only guide us but also make arrangements for our seating etc., otherwise our image will be tarnished if the monkeys start fighting among themselves for the same thing.”

Now Hanuman ji was considered to be the most knowledgeable among the monkeys and the most beloved of Shri Ram, so this responsibility also fell on him.

On the day of the feast, Shri Hanuman kept arranging everyone’s seating etc., and after making everyone sit properly, when he came near Shri Ram, Shri Ram told him with great love that you too should sit and eat with me.

Now Hanuman got into trouble. It was not in his plan to sit equal to the Lord, he was going to accept food as Prasad only after the death of his Lord. There was neither a place left for him to sit nor a banana leaf, so poor Hanuman was in a dilemma.

Neither should the Lord’s orders be ignored, nor should one eat with them.

God knows the thoughts of the devotee, right? So he came to know that there is no banana leaf, no place for his Hanuman.

By his grace, he increased the space enough for Hanuman ji to sit (He who has created such a big world, created a little more space). But the Lord did not create another banana leaf.

He said, “O my dear Hanuman, like a younger brother or a son, eat with me on my own banana leaf. Since the devotee and the Lord are one, then if one worships even Hanuman, he will attain me only (this is Advaita) i.e. monotheism).”

On this Shri Hanuman ji said, “O Lord, no matter how much you tell me to be your equal, I will never be you, neither can I ever be, nor do I desire to be. (This is duality, i.e. between the soul and Brahma. I am and will always be your servant, my place was and will always be at your feet, so I cannot eat from your plate.When Hanuman ji politely refused to have food with the Lord. Then Shri Ram drew a line in the middle of the banana leaf with the middle finger of his right hand, due to which the leaf remained one and became two.Lord had food in one part and Hanuman served it in the other half. So, as a symbol of both the unity and duality of the soul and the Supreme Soul, the banana leaves even today, despite being one, are two, and despite being two, they are one.

That means Advaita in Dvaita. This is the system of creation which shows the relationship between Brahma and the living being i.e. Advaita in Dvaita. If you understand this then salvation from life is certain.