Preface — Hanuman, Guardian of the Five Vessels
The Rāmacaritamānasa is a vessel of faith and trust for the world. In the ideal creation envisioned in the Mānasa, five principal vessels embody the five vital breaths:
- Sri Sita and Rama
- Sri Lakshmana
- Sri Bharata
- Sri Shatrughna
- All the hosts of monkeys
Sri Hanuman alone is the guardian who preserves the life of all these vessels and delivers them from danger. The singers of all three worlds could not finish praising him even through birth after birth.
1. Sri Sita and Rama
In reality the two are one, though upon the field of divine play they appear as two. When Rama burned in the fire of separation after Janaki had been taken to Lanka and was preparing to cast himself into the fire beneath an ashoka tree, Hanuman placed Rama’s signet ring before her, conveyed the Lord’s message, and quieted the fire of separation.
“Hearing the Lord’s message, Vaidehi became absorbed in love; body and mind forgot the distress of separation.
Tell me, Hanuman—how can a man stranded in an ocean save himself?”
In the same way, when Rama was distraught in the fire of separation from Janaki, Hanuman returned from Lanka and delivered her message. The Lord became indebted to him:
“What return can I make for what you have done? My mind cannot even face you.
Son, I have reflected deeply: I can never repay my debt to you.”
2. Sri Lakshmana
When Lakshmana was struck down in Lanka, Hanuman brought the life-restoring herb and protected his life. When Ahiravana, in the underworld, was preparing to sacrifice both brothers to the goddess, Hanuman overcame Ahiravana and rescued them.