Swami Vedanta Desikan says, Hanumat samena guruna, meaning, Hanuman is the yardstick against whom all other gurus are measured. Why does Hanuman enjoy such an exalted status? There are many reasons for Hanuman being hailed as incomparable, but it is enough if we study two aspects, said Damal S. Ramakrishnan.

First, Hanuman is a life saver. He saved the life of Sugriva (from Vali), without whom Rama could not have successfully embarked upon his search mission of Sita. Hanuman saved the life of Sita in a poignant manner. Kamban paints this graphically in his inimitable poetic style in his Ramayanam.

He says Sita decided that death alone was the dharmic way for her after Ravana’s continued pressure on her. Hanuman, watching her from a tree branch, quickly utters Rama’s name and declares himself as a messenger, thereby saving her life.

He helped revive Lakshmana twice in the war in Lanka, once when Indrajit’s arrow rendered him unconscious and again when Ravana aimed his arrow at Lakshmana. Rama was inconsolable until Lakshmana regained consciousness. Bharata’s life too was saved by Hanuman. When Rama did not appear at the end of 14 years, Bharata prepared to sacrifice himself, terming it the only dharmic way, as he had promised Rama he would not live a day longer if he did not return to regain the kingdom. Hanuman arrived and succinctly said, ‘Jai Sita Ram.’ It was enough to make Bharata pause.

Second, Hanuman acquires the status of a guru sent by Rama to search and locate Sita, as mentioned in the Sundara Kanda of the Ramayana. Where was Sita? She was in Lanka, an island, held captive in Ashok Van, after being abducted by the ten-headed Ravana. In a deeper sense, the island signifies the ocean of worldly existence (material world) that all of us are caught in, with our indriyas being the captors. Regardless of the harsh situation, Sita never stopped praying to Rama to come and get her. Whenever a jivatma surrenders to the Paramatma (Perumal), He will send someone to save that atma from the ocean of repeated rebirths. Since he was the guru to both Sita and Rama, Hanuman is in effect Maheswara, the one who imparts gnana and lifts one from worldly pursuits.