The Leap to Lanka

 

 The Untold Devine Stories of Hanuman 

The Leap to Lanka

Sugreev's friendship with Rama made him offer thousands of bears and monkeys to the task of searching for Sita. Sugreev had become king of the monkeys again, after Vali was killed by Rama. He called the vast army of animals to assemble before Rama, and instructed them to go out in all the four directions and bring word of Sita.

"Set out now, and bring news of Mother Sita back to Rama, within a month. Remember, all of you! If you come back after a month from this day, to show your miserable faces, you will have to face a terrible death - I shall kill you myself!" said Sugreev, fiercely. He wanted to make sure that all the monkey and bear warriors should have a clear idea of how urgent their task was. Indeed the task was urgent, and a difficult one too. Rama's eyes were full of the pain of separation from his beloved wife. He often looked sadly into the distance.

Although he would smile at the antics of his monkey friends, and respond most lovingly to their attention, it was obvious that he was missing Sita terribly. Hanuman was yearning to make him happy again.

He was eager to begin the search for Sita, no matter how far it led.

All the monkeys formed themselves into groups with their bear companions, and began leaving for different destinations after bowing to Sugreev and Rama. Hanuman was headed south, with Vali's son Prince Angad, the old and wise bear Jambavant, and monkey warriors Nala, Sushen, Sharabh, Maind and Dwivid. A large band of ordinary monkey and bear soldiers accompanied them.

When it was time to leave, Rama called Hanuman aside. "Of all the friends around me, I know that you are the one most eager to complete this difficult task, he said. "Since I met you in the forest, I have seen your strength, your wisdom, your humility and courage. I am extremely grateful for your great love for me, and feel most confident that you shall be the one to find Sita." Hanuman felt very moved by these words. He was bending to fall at Rama's feet, but Rama held him by the shoulders. He looked deep into Hanuman's eyes and said. "Sita will not know you, never having seen you before. You must earn her trust, so that she knows you have come from me. Take my ring to give to her." He slipped his royal ring from a finger of his right hand, and gave it to Hanuman. "When you see her, tell her how much I miss her and how I can hardly wait to free her from the clutches of the demon who wook her away!" Rama's eyes were filled with pain, but his jaw was firm with determination. Hanuman was determined to do the best for Rama, yet torn by grief at having to go away from him. He touched Rama's feet, and said, "I shall do exactly as you say."

The journey south was long and difficult. At one point, the group of brave monkeys and bears was wandering hungry and parched with thirst, through a thorny, dry, scrub jungle, Here, they were helped by a yogini named Swayamprabha, who presided over a beautiful garden of fruit trees and fresh water brooks. This was reached by entering a dark cave. Hanuman discovered the entrance to this cave, and the group was able to move on, refreshed.

Some days later, they reached land's end. The band of monkeys and bears stood helplessly on a sandy shore, while a vast ocean stretched before them. A strong sun beat down upon their bare heads. Ravana had escaped with Sita. Jatayu had spent the last moments of his life cradled in Rama's arms. Now Sampaati spoke to Hanuman and his companions. From him, they found out that Ravana had taken Sita to his kingdom Lanka, which lay across the sea. "If I had not been old and feeble, I might have tried to stop the demon king" said Sampaati. "It was a sad sight indeed to see Ma Sita crying and calling out to be saved from that 'rakshasa'. Her hair was loose and she was shedding pieces of her jewellery as he flew away with her."

Hanuman and his group were shocked at this mental picture. "If you want to take news of Ma Sita back to her husband, you will have to cross the ocean and enter Lanka," concluded Sampaati, "Ravana keeps her prisoner in a heavily guarded place."

These simple words threw the group from Kishkindha into confusion. "Who will cross the ocean?" the cry went up.

"I can jump ten 'yojanas'," said a soldier named Gaja. (Yojana was an ancient unit to measure distance). "I can jump twenty," said another soldier, Gavaksh. Then each person present came forward with his own ability. "I could jump a hundred yojanas at one time, but do not think I can jump the whole distance. And anyway, I doubt whether I can return after fighting the fearsome soldiers and rakshasas guarding Ravana's palace," said Angad, finally.

All this while, Hanuman was sitting quietly, looking across the ocean, with his mind full of sad thoughts. Why was he unable to help Rama? Why was he so unworthy of the trust that Rama had placed in him? When he thought of how Rama had spoken to him when he was leaving, saying, "You shall be the one to find Sita.." he felt absolutely terrible. This was the effect of the childhood curse of the rishis on Hanuman. Blessed with the strength and qualities of every single god, he was unable to remember his own strength!

Besides, his love for Rama was so great, that he could barely spare a thought for himself.

When he sat on the shore, he was only remembering Rama's agony, Rama's separation from Sita, Rama's trust in him... He could hardly even remember his own name at that moment!

Jambavant came ambling up to Hanuman, and sat down beside him. "And what are you thinking about, most brave and gifted Anjaneya?" he asked. "Are you thinking about how you can leap across to Lanka? Or what you are going to do to the rakshasas who challenge you? You have tried to swallow the sun in your childhood! Can you ever fail to carry out the toughest tasks in the universe?"

Jambavant patted his young friend's shoulder. "You were born to serve Sri Rama with all the power and courage that you possess. Why hesitate now?" The old bear could see that Hanuman looked dejected. He was doing his best to remind Hanuman of his own strength.

And what a transformation he brought about!

Under the spell of his voice, and encouraged by ] ambavant's hand on his shoulder,

Hanuman's whole body seemed to expand! A surge of superhuman strength ran through him. He stood up. and looked tall and magnificent, with his broad chest and golden hair glinting in the light of the sun. He looked at the ocean, and it suddenly seemed a most simple task for him to leap across its blue depths.

Hanuman opened his mouth wide to reveal big, fearsome teeth and roared with sheer abandon! The huge sound echoed back from all four sides, and the ground vibrated with its force. All the soldiers from Kishkindha huddled together for a few seconds in fright. Then they realised it was their friend's battle cry, and set up a loud cheer.

Hanuman turned to Jambavant. "Thank you for reminding me what I can do. Shall I destroy every last rakshasa in Lanka, and bring back Sita?" Hanuman's eyes were large and brown, and extremely fierce. It looked as if no power in the universe could now stand in his way.

Jambavant smiled and said, "Destroying Ravana and punishing him for what he has done is Rama's right. He shall bring Sita home. Your job is only to complete the task set for you by Rama. Take news of Sita back home to him, and let him do the rest." Hanuman took a deep breath. "You are indeed kind to remind me of my duty as well as my strength, he said. "And now, with your blessings, I shall be on my way." So saying, he leapt up to the top mountain named Mahendra Parvat. of a nearby

When Hanuman landed on the mountain, huge chunks of it began to break away from the peak and scatter in the surrounding area. For a few minutes, the band of monkeys and bears looked up in awe to see the mighty figure of their friend outlined against the sky. Hanuman closed his eyes and thought of his parents, Anjana and Kesari, Vayu the Wind God who ever protected him, and his guru Surya. Then, with all his heart and mind he remembered Rama, and his parting words to himself.

Finally, he spoke to his friends. "Do not worry. I feel completely capable of jumping to Lanka and returning with news of Ma Sita. Not only has God been kind enough to give me great strength, he has blessed me by appearing as my Lord Rama, and trusting me with this task! Knowing this is enough to give me the courage to leap over a thousand oceans! Please wait for me at this place, till I return. I shall try to come back as soon as I possibly can."dd

As he spoke these words Hanuman appeared brilliant that it seemed as if he was aflame, and sparks were emanating from him. There was no trace of the poor-spirited sadness that he had shown a short while before. His friends had no hesitation in imagining that his leap to Lanka would be a success. Ramdoot - the messenger of Rama- would never disappoint his Lord.

Turning towards Lanka, Hanuman raised his right hand skyward. Then Rama's name came to his lips, and he lifted off the ground with great speed. What were the tests and trials he would have to face before reaching Lanka?

Hanuman flew towards Lanka feeling wonderful to be flying again. He felt grateful for the breeze that blew against him, and for the speed and strength that he had found anew.

Below him, a large island raised itself out of the waters of the ocean, as if inviting Hanuman to take rest on its forested slopes, It was the mountain Mainaak, commanded by the gods to provide the first test for Hanuman in his mission.

"Relax and take a few deep breaths on my shoulder, O Pavankumar!" said Mainaak, calling Hanuman by one of the names given to him by the gods, He raised his peak even higher, as if to touch Hanuman as he passed. But Hanuman was very conscious of the importance of his task. He was not going to waste valuable time in resting on an island, however inviting it looked. Detection "Many thanks, dear friend, for your kind offer," said Hanuman. "I will take advantage of your hospitality some other time. Now I have to reach Lanka with all possible speed." Hanuman hurried ahead, touching the tip of the mountain affectionately as he passed. Mainaak retreated, satisfied that Ramdoot had passed his first test while doing his duty.

The next test was much more demanding. A giant, monstrous sea creature with huge, open jaws and flaming yellow eyes the size of small islands, lay in wait for him in the water. This was Surasa, a she-demon who had been sent to test Hanuman's determination and cleverness, while performing his task.

"O brave Hanuman," she called, "The gods have sent you here today to be a tasty meal for me. I am extremely hungry. Come and satisfy my hunger by letting me swallow you!"

From high above her, Hanuman folded his hands and said, "O mighty Surasa Ma! I am going with all speed to complete Rama's job. I cannot delay even a moment, nor can I die before I have done what I should! Please forgive me. When I have met Ma Sita, and gone back to give this news to Rama, I shall return and enter your mouth myself. Today, I just have to go."

Surasa was secretly pleased, but she outwardly insisted, "Try and escape me if you can - you are just the meal need!" Saying this, she opened her jaws sixteen yojanas wide, and the ocean turned black with the sight of her immense mouth. But Hanuman was equal to this.

He increased his own size to a huge, thirty two yojana wide giant monkey. How could such a large creature fit into Surasa's jaws? Every time Surasa opened her jaws wider, Hanuman grew larger! Finally she opened her mouth to cover a distance of a hundred yojanas, and Hanuman made himself the size of a small fly or gnat. Quickly, he flew into her mouth, and before she could close it, he had flown out again.

Now he resumed his normal shape and flew up and said, "I have already entered your mouth, and satisfied the gods, if they wanted me to be a morsel for you. Now, dear Surasa Ma, please let me go and complete my task!"

Pleased with his intelligence and his devotion to Rama, Surasa said, "O Hanuman! It was my fortune to have been able to meet you in your mission. Go and complete your task with all my blessings!"

Thus blessed, Hanuman continued towards Lanka. He could now see it as a green and scenic island in front of him. He did not want to approach it in the daytime, and waited till night had fallen. Then he approached the heavily guarded gates of Lanka, deciding to adopt his small insect form, so that he could escape detection. But Lankini, the guardian goddess of Lanka, spotted him and called out, "Who is this, trying to enter the city, in this tiny form? Show yourself, if you value your life!"

Hanuman hesitated. He did not want to have a big fight with Lankini because the noise this would make would alert all the other rakshasas guarding Lanka, He also did not want to hit her very hard, because she was a woman. But answering her challenge was necessary, l

If he did not, she would raise an alarm, and alert others. Hanuman would not be able to search for Sita. So he resumed his normal shape, and gave a soft, left- handed hit to Lankini's jaw.

Lankini reeled under this mild hit. For some moments, she saw only stars, and heard bells ring in her ears. When she recovered and sat up, she looked up with awe at Hanuman. "So you are the monkey that the gods had told me about! You are the messenger of Rama whose wife Ravana has captured! I was told that Lanka's demons would meet their end soon after you had crossed this gate, and laid me low with a single blow! Well, what was predicted has happened, and I can only now wish you well. Go forward, brave messenger! Do what you have to do." What more did Ramdoot need to move ahead with his task? He bowed to Lankini, and entered the golden kingdom of