Vanara Gita 52: Jyotimukha seeks to offer services to great saints as this yields complete results.

When Lord Narasimha asked Prahlada to seek any boon he chose only holy satsang with noble souls in lieu of wealth and other perishable comforts.

Vanara Jyotirmukha in his hymn states that merit from the good deeds of all his various past births, has culminated in this chance to serve holy saints and true devotees in this birth. Here, it is essential to understand that Jyotirmukha does not declare that the meritorious deeds of the various past births, have resulted in a chance to see God. Instead, he states that these meritorious deeds of the past births have enabled him with the chance to associate with holy saints who are true devotees of the Lord.

To be blessed with an association of holy persons and saints (satsang) is not easy. True devotees of the Lord, who live with feelings of complete Self-surrender, are absolutely unconcerned about wasteful friendships in the society. They turn a deaf ear to what is being said to them by the society. Sadguru is the focal point of their attention; He is their goal and they eternally contemplate upon Him. Nothing apart from this even faintly touches them. Hence they do not care for what is being said by others. Theirs is true devotion! For this reason, obtaining their friendship is almost impossible.

Great saints of Maharashtra have declared that discussions about great devotees have a cooling effect on the body! Jyotirmukha seeks that the dust from the holy feet of such devotees should cause his well being. The dust from their holy feet soothes, cools and calms the body far more effectively than even the application of sandal paste!

Jyotirmukha prays that he seeks to forever remain in the company of supreme devotees, adhere to their way of life and offer obeisance to their holy feet and serve them eternally. Offering services to the great saints yields complete results and fulfillment. Just being in the presence of ardent devotees automatically bestows completeness to life. Therefore Jyotirmukha very cleverly seeks it.

Lord Hanuman is the wish fulfilling Pārijāta (night flowering jasmine) plant to ardent devotees. Pārijāta is a divine plant born at the time of the ocean-churning. It belongs to heaven. As its seeds scattered on earth, Pārijāta plants began to appear on earth and in turn it led to a surge in the plant life on earth. By comparing Hanuman to this divine Pārijāta, the fact that the God cannot be visualized unless and until the required churning (spiritual pursuits) is complete, is being driven home.

Pārijāta is a plant that has fallen on this earth many eons back based on the intention of the Supreme Lord. After lying in the soil for many eons, it has gradually mixed with water and other elements and is now, after so many eons, within our reach. Likewise unless and until the divine name of the Lord are chanted for many eons, God cannot be obtained. For this he is compared to Parijata plant.

Anjaneya mathi pāṭalānanam kāncanādri kamanīya vigraham

Pārijāta taru moola nivāsinam bhāvayāmi bhava māna nandanam.

This hymn states that Lord Hanuman’s form is as vast as the Mountain Kāncanadri and that he resides in the Pārijāta plant.

The sight of the Pārijāta plant should instantly remind us of Lord Hanuman.