Hanuman is one of the most popular divinities in India. Hanuman is often portrayed kneeling with joined palms before the Personality of Godhead Ramacandra, Sita (Rama’s consort), and Lakshmana (Rama’s brother).

Hanuman is shown sometimes tearing open his chest to show Rama’s image in his heart, other times soaring through the sky with a Himalayan peak in his hand. He is shown long-haired and occasionally five-headed. His hands are often seen in the gesture (mudra) for removing fear (abhaya) and giving benedictions (varada). Hanuman always wanted to serve his Prabhu Lord Sri Rama.

One day when Sita Matha was entering into Rama’s room, Hanuman also followed her. Then Lord Rama said that he cannot enter into the room. Hanuman said that when Sita Matha can enter into the room, why can’t he enter the room. He is having such an innocent devotional service towards Lord Rama. Just to convince Hanuman. Rama said that Sita is having a sindhur on her forehead, so she can enter the room.

After hearing that, Hanuman came out and thought for a while. Then Hanuman concluded that sindhur is the qualification required to enter into Lord Rama’s bedroom. So he decided to ask more about this sindhur to Sita Matha.

Next day when Sita was in the dressing table, she was trying to keep sindhur, there came Hanuman. Sita Matha treated Hanuman as her son because Sita and Rama did not have children for a long time. Then Hanuman asked Sita about the purpose and value of sindhur. She understood what he wanted and smiled. She said that she learnt from elders that if she keeps sindhur, it will elongate the life span of his prabhu. Sita matha did not mention her prabhu but she said Hanuman’s prabhu. She very well know Hanuman’s pure love towards Rama.

Hanuman now understood the secret of this sindhur. He immediately went to the market in search of sindhur and found one shop. He ran there and asked. The shopkeeper gave him little sindhur in a small box. Hanuman said that it is not enough. He just went into the shop, opened all the sacks of sindhur and poured all over his body. He poured some sindhur on the street and rolled over to cover his whole body, from head to toe with sindhur. Then he came to the palace.

Rama saw Hanuman and enquired what happened. On seeing Hanuman Sita matha started laughing loudly. She understood and told Rama that the previous day she told Hanumanj that the sindhur will increase the lifespan of his prabhu. Hanuman thought if a small amount of sindhur on Sita matha’s forehead can increase the lifespan of Rama, then how much it will increase if he puts all over his body. He thought that Rama can live eternally because of this sindhur applied throughout his body. This is the pure love Hanuman had for Lord Rama.