What is the treasure of the Vaisnavas? The following story of Sri Hanumana, the hero of Valmiki's RAMAYANA, explains very nicely what the devotee of the Supreme Lord holds dear. I retell this story, asking Sri Hanuman to ensure that I tell it nicely in his service.
As Lord Ramachandra was preparing to end His Pastimes on this plane, preparing for the entire Kingdom of Sri Ayodhya dhama to go back to the realm of Vaikunthaloka, with His ministers present, He presented His Kingdom Ring to Sri Hanumanadeva as a memento. Upon receivcing this gift, Sri Hanuman, acting like a monkey, bit into the gem, tore it out of its setting, threw it on the ground, and within seconds, had it completely pulverized. Totally shocked, His ministers admonished him for being so foolish as well as ungrateful.
Sri Hanumana said, "How can I possibly receive such a worthless item, there was no inscription of my Lord on the ring."
The brahmanas in attendance tried to teach, "You foolish monkey, you preserve your body with food and rest, and you will do so until the end of time, when Lord Ramachandra's pastimes are no longer remembered amongst men, and His inscription is only available within your mind."
At that urging, Sri Hanumana, with his nails capable of singlehandedly scratching out the existance of the three worlds, tore his chest apart for all to see. The ministers were amazed to see that on each and every bone, each bodily organ, every tendon and fiber of his being was inscripted the Names "RAMA, RAMA, RAMA". Sri Ramachandra, smiling only in the way He does to His beloved Sri Hanuman, rubbed his chest, completely closing the wound. The prema-bhakti yoga, the rasa between The Lord and His unalloyed servant ever increased, He took permission to end His Pastimes on Earth.
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