Chapter One — Invocation to Hanuman

Homage to Charushila. Homage to Hanuman, rasika of Sita and Rama. Homage to the true Guru. Homage to the lotus feet of the Vaishnavas.

The Śrī Hanumat Saṃhitā, with the Śrī Sītārāma-rahasya-prakāśikā commentary

Jayaty anantādbhuta-saṅgara-priyo mahābalī vīrabalī-mukhāgraṇīḥ,
Pracaṇḍa-mārtaṇḍa-sahasra-kāntiḥ śrī-Rāma-pāda-dvayaikatānaḥ. (1)

Victory to Hanuman: immensely powerful, foremost among heroic champions, radiant as a thousand fierce suns, wholly absorbed in the two lotus feet of Sita and Rama, and lover of infinitely wondrous saṅgara.

The lexicons give eight meanings for saṅgara: (1) a vow, (2) acceptance, (3) a bargain, (4) battle, (5) knowledge, (6) swallowing, (7) adversity or danger, and (8) poison. Hanuman is wondrously dear in every one of these senses.

1. A wondrous vow

In the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Sundara-kāṇḍa 42.26, he declares: dāso ’haṃ Kosalendrasya—“I am the servant of the Lord of Kosala, who makes difficult deeds easy.” The Vinaya-patrikā likewise says:

“The one who has attained Hanuman’s refuge has seen his pledge fulfilled; this line is written upon the leaf.”

To serve the one whom he accepts is service of precisely this kind: whoever Hanuman accepts is accepted by Sita and Rama.