The great epic of the Ramayana tells of how Sita Devi was stolen away by the wicked Ravanna and of how Lord Rama battled to rescue her. Rama’s fiercest warrior and most faithful devotee in the fight was Hanuman, who once even carried an entire mountain through the air, but in the beginning he was nothing special – only an ordinary monkey.

When Sita disappeared, Rama sought for her everywhere, aided by the army of the monkeys, and at last a bird disclosed that he had seen Ravanna carrying Sita across the sea to Lanka. Led by this clue, the army came to the seashore, and saw the island on the horizon – too far for any of them to jump or swim. So there they stood, uncertain, puzzling over how to go in aid of Sita.

Among the soldiers of the army was Hanuman. He was the spiritual child of Vayu, the god of the wind. When very young the gods had showered many blessings and supernatural gifts on him so that even as a child he was immensely strong, able to fly and immune to fire and water and even to the powerful vajra weapon. However, he was a very mischievous child and proud of his strength, always playing tricks on people, until one day a trick made a sage furious, and the sage cursed Hanuman that he would forget his strength until someday as an adult he should be reminded of it and praised for his abilities. Therefore, Hanuman now stood with the other monkey soldiers at the edge of the sea, and did not put himself forward.

But helping the army was Jambavan, the king of the bears, and he knew about Hanuman and his sleeping power. So now he came and stood before him and said, “Hanuman! Do you remember who you are? Have you forgotten your great strength? Think! Who are you, really?”

And Hanuman stared at Jambavan, and a memory began to dawn inside him, like a light rising in the morning. “Yes, I am Hanuman,” he said, “…and… I am strong! I remember! Yes! I am strong, and I can fly!”

And suddenly he grew in size, until he was immense, and then with a silent prayer in his heart to Lord Rama, he leaped high into the air.

“Yes, I can fly! I will go to Lanka to find Sita Devi!”

And thus Hanuman taught the lesson to all devotees, that to serve, we must remember who we truly are.