Šri Rãma's strength and valor are boundless and He is known to stand ever ready to remove the difficulties of all His devotees. Yet, He was unable to find the whereabouts of Mother Sita and was wandering in the forest in despair looking for Her. It was in those circumstances that Šri Rãma happened to meet Hanumãn, the emissary sent by the exiled vanara king Sugriva. Šri Rãma was very impressed with the humility with which Hanumãn approached Him and the eloquent way in which Hanumãn communicated. Šri Rãma immediately knew that from that point onward, Hanumãn was destined to play an important role in his unfolding saga. Indeed it was due to Hanumãn's exploits in Lanka that he was able to locate the whereabouts of Mother Sita and console the grieving Šri Rãma.

Likewise, Mother Sita was completely overcome by the grief of separation from Šri Rãma and gave up all hopes of seeing Him again. Unable to bear Her sorrow any longer, She decided to put an end to Her life and it was at that critical juncture that Hanumãn gave solace and hope to Her. Removing the sorrow of Mother Sita was the greatest of all the heroic deeds of Hanumãn. Later, although it outwardly appeared that Hanumãn used the fire set to his tail by Ravana's men in order to burn Lanka, actually it was the fire of the uncontrollable sorrow burning inside Mother Sita's heart that really gutted Lanka.

Hanumãn was able to achieve these deeds due to the power of Rama Nama only. Simply chanting the name of Rama he flew over the ocean and located the whereabouts of Mother Sita. Again, when Mother Sita was about to give up Her life, it was by relating the story of Šri Rãma that Hanumãn gained her confidence and consoled Her.

For these reasons, both Šri Rãma and Mother Sita felt very grateful to Hanumãn and wanted to reward him in a fitting manner. On the occasion of Šri Rãma's coronation, He was giving away presents to every one and He gave a pearl necklace to Mother Sita. However, She wanted to give it away to some one else in the Rama Parivãr and asked Šri Rãma who should be given the necklace. Šri Rãma asked her to give it to the one who has a full measure of prowess, intellect and humility. Immediately, Mother Sita gave the pearl necklace to Hanumãn, thereby showing their gratefulness to him.

From the moment Hanumãn first enters the stage in Rãmãyana, he begins to play an increasingly dynamic role and the most holy Sundara Khãnda is entirely devoted to narrate the exploits of Hanumãn in Lanka and his heroic deeds. All through this, however, Hanumãn displayed remarkable humility because in his view whatever he did was only due to the Grace of Šri Rãma and the blessings of Mother Sita.

On the occasion of Hanumãn Jayanti, may we all pray to him and receive his blessings.