Hanuman asked Surya, “O Surya, great Sun-God and great teacher, please accept me as your student, and impart your eternal knowledge to me, so that I may gain spiritually in my daily life.”

“Yes, I can,” replied Surya, “but it can be possible only if you follow me all through the sky, for I cannot halt my chariot. I have to keep moving across the skies continuously.” “Of course,” Hanuman said. “I shall do so.”

Hanuman travelled backwards through the skies so he could face Surya and absorb the lessons! In this way, Hanuman enabled Surya to perform his duty. He learnt all the scriptures within 60 hours! And we kids find it difficult to master even twenty pages in one hour!

Hanuman, as was the custom, asked Surya what he could give him as “guru-dakshina” (tuition fees). To this, Surya replied, “The way you have accomplished your studies is fees in itself.”

Hanuman disagreed and still pressed Surya to state a guru-dakshina. Surya said, “What you can do is assist my son, Sugriva. He lives in Kishkinta. You can serve him by being his minister and accomplice.”

Hanuman accepted and kept his word. He went to live in Kishkinta.