Hanuman, the monkey born of Anjana and the wind god Vayu, aided Lord Rama in his search for Sita, and in the battle to rescue her from the evil Ravana. His prodigious strength, his fearless courage, his ingenuity and his steadfast loyalty give us today the image of a perfect devotee, but there was a moment when his devotion was doubted, as this story tells.

When Sita was finally liberated from captivity in Lanka, and when Ravana and his forces were destroyed, Lord Rama returned in triumph with his queen to Ayodhya. Then there were great celebrations, and to show his gratitude to all those who had aided him in the battle, gifts of great beauty and value were distributed to all – including, of course, to Hanuman.

Soon, though, it was noticed that Hanuman paid no attention to the gifts he had received. They lay neglected in a corner, and soon gossip began to spread that Hanuman did not revere Lord Rama.

Then one day some gossipers confronted Hanuman, saying, “How disrespectful to cast aside the gifts our lord has given you. How cold and unfeeling, after all the friendship he has shown you.”

Hanuman’s eyes blazed with fire. “These gifts mean nothing! I have a living treasure that is worth all the world and more – it is life itself to me!”

“What treasure?” they scoffed. “Show it to us!”

“I will!” Hanuman declared. And taking his sword, he sliced his own chest open to reveal his heart. Pulling it forward to show them, they saw that instead of a heart of flesh, it was a heart of gold bearing the images of Rama and Sita.

And then Hanuman collapsed, dying from the tearing open of his chest. But before the last spark left his body, Lord Rama came, healed him, and said, “Beloved Hanuman, now I will grant you immortality.”

“Will we live together for ever, Lord?” asked Hanuman.

“Not I,” said Rama, “but you will live as long as there are humans on the earth, for they will need you as an example.”