Preface

Loka-prāṇānila-prāṇaṃ sarva-sādhaka-sādhakam,
Praṇamāmi Hanumantaṃ sādhu-bādhaka-bādhakam.

I bow to Hanuman, the beloved son who is as dear as life itself to Vayu, the life-breath of all worlds; who grants accomplishment to every practitioner; and who obstructs those wicked persons who obstruct the devotees of Rama.

The present Śrī Hanumat Saṃhitā is an ancient sacred work. It is dearer than life to worshippers of Sita and Rama who are exclusively devoted to the King of rasa. It is a dialogue between the sage Agastya and Sri Hanuman, connoisseur of every rasa of Sita and Rama. Chapters One through Five describe many rāsas in the numerous forests along the Sarayu. Chapter Six explains the five truths (artha-pañcaka) and the five devotional rasas.

There is no known limit from which the antiquity of the Hanumat Saṃhitā may be dated. Its antiquity is nevertheless attested by the oral testimony of the saints of Ayodhya.

Sri Ramprasad Das Ji Maharaj, exclusively devoted to the King of rasa and friend of the poor, spread the bindī-tilaka throughout India and abroad. In his instructional religious register, published since Vikrama year 1987, he names the Śrī Hanumat Saṃhitā:

Hanumat Saṃhitā caiva tathā Śiva Saṃhitā,
Agastya Saṃhitā caiva granthā iṣṭa-viśeṣataḥ. (66)

“The Hanumat Saṃhitā, the Śiva Saṃhitā, and the Agastya Saṃhitā are texts especially dear to the chosen Lord.”

Sri Yugalananya Sharan Ji Maharaj, founder of Lakshman Kila, adapted the Hanumat Saṃhitā as a work titled Yugala-vinoda-vilāsa, written in dohā and caupāī metres, supplied with melodies, and meant to be sung. In that work he wrote: