There's a detail from history that stays with you once you hear it: Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj kept a small Pothi Sahib tucked into his kamarkasa, close to his body, at all times. A book. That book was the Hanuman Natak, composed by Bhagat Kavi Hirdaya Ram Bhalla Ji in 1623, during the reign of Jahangir.
The story of how it came to be written carries its own weight. Bhagat Kavi Hirdaya Ram Ji was a devotee of Sri Hanuman Ji, and he was imprisoned by a jealous rival, held within white painted walls under harsh conditions, with a small window through which direct sun rays would illuminate the cell, causing strain to Bhagat Ji's eyes. It is said that this type of imprisonment would generally cause the inmate to lose his sanity.
It is believed that Sri Hanuman Ji appeared to him there, shielded his eyes, and dictated this epic to him with his own words.
Historical accounts differ slightly on the finer points, but the most widely accepted legend holds something remarkable: this was the same Ramayan that Sri Hanuman Ji had first inscribed upon the stones of a mountain, long before, and then cast into the ocean himself, so that his own composition would not overshadow the Ramayan of Kavi Valmik Ji. He gave up his own work as a humble offering to Sri Ram Chandar Ji. Centuries later, that hidden composition found its way back into the world through Bhagat Kavi Hirdaya Ram Ji's hand.
Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj was once invited by Bahadur Shah, who showed him his personal library. As Maharaj looked through the books, he came upon this very Pothi Sahib, the Hanuman Natak. He took it with him, read it closely, and praised Bhagat Kavi Hirdaya Ram Bhalla Ji for the way he had woven Bir Ras, Shingar Ras, and Bhakti Ras together in this telling of the Ramayan.
As Maharaj studied the pothi, he found that some pages, some pieces of the story, were missing. So, he did something only a Guru would think to do: he opened a competition, inviting poets to complete the missing verses in a way faithful to the original, and rewarded the poet who succeeded with great generosity. From then on, the combined works of the poets was read aloud in the Guru's own Diwan, every morning and every evening.
As an offering of prem and shardha to Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj, Bhagat Kavi Himanshu Bedi Ji and Nanak Nivaas have added further legends from history into this text, carrying forward the same spirit of devotion that shaped the original.
Bringing the Hanuman Natak to print has taken the dedication of many sewadars over these years, and we invite you to become part of that sewa by contributing your daswand. No amount is too small. Every cent goes directly toward proofreading, publication, and printing, so this Pothi Sahib can finally reach the Sangat it was always meant for.