A Scene from Sundarakanda of Valmiki Ramayana- Hanuman's Visit to Lanka

Introduction to Sundarakanda and Hanuman

Sundara Kanda is the 5th part/section of the great Indian epic, Valmiki Ramayana, composed by the great sage Valmiki in the original Sanskrit language. Ramayana is the story of Rama and Sita, describing their birth, childhood, marriage, their 14-year exile to the forest, the kidnapping of Sita to Lanka by Ravana, the war between Rama and Ravana, Sita's union with Rama, and their return to Ayodhya, culminating in Rama's coronation as the Emperor.

This particular section of Sundara Kanda narrates the story after the kidnapping of Sita by a demon king, Ravana, starting from Hanuman's flight over the ocean to Lanka till he meets Sita and delivers Rama's message and gets her message back again to Rama, including his meeting with Ravana and the burning of Lanka. Sundara Kanda has 68 sub-sections, and each one of them is known as a 'sarga'. Each sarga is made up of hundreds of slokas or verses.

The first sarga (sub-section) of Sundara Kanda narrates the beautiful scene of the monkey lord Hanuman crossing the vast ocean until Lanka becomes visible to him. This sub-section comprises 210 verses. I was fascinated by the vivid description of this journey and wanted to share it with you here in English for your enjoyment. The entire section of Sundara Kanda (with all its 68 chapters) is named "Sundara Kanda" because it is the most beautiful part of the whole Ramayana. 'Sundar' means beautiful, and 'Kanda' means part or section. Another belief holds that Hanuman's original name was "Sundara," and his parents often called him 'Sundara.' As Sundara Kanda narrates Hanuman's heroism in crossing the ocean, this episode is named after his name.

Hanuman Prepares for His Giant Leap 

Hanuman was reminded of his powers by Jambavan, and he regained confidence in his innate abilities. He decided to begin his search for Sita by taking the sky route. He stood on the tall mountain Mahendragiri, stretching his neck and raising his head. The great Hanuman glowed like 'an elephant in a lake' as the green lawns of the hill looked like large stretches of still water. He paid his respects to the Sun God, the Lord of Heaven 'Indra', the Wind God, and Lord Brahma. Thereafter, he saluted his father, the Wind God, once again, and decided to head south over the ocean, growing his body further.

He pressed his feet and hands heavily against the mountaintop before leaping. His strength was so powerful that the whole mountain shook under his pressure. The trees also moved violently, shedding all their flowers. Covered in flowers, the whole mountain shone like a flowered mountain. Water began emerging from the mountain, forming lakes like an excited elephant in a rut releasing the rut juice. Mineral rocks in the mountain also burst under the heavy pressure, emitting streaks of gold, silver, and other mineral colors in all directions. The whole mountain glowed like burning flames.

The caves resounded with the shrieks of creatures running out frightened due to the heavy jolt. The hidden snakes began biting the rocks furiously, turning them black with the effect of their poison, whereby they split into thousands of pieces. The frightening sounds filled the whole atmosphere, causing panic among the ascetics and vidyadharas (semi-gods), prompting them to flee from that place, leaving their belongings behind, in the fear that some demons were destroying the mountain. The vidyadhara women wearing garlands, necklaces, bracelets, bangles, and anklets gathered in the corner of the sky with surprise and excitement to know what was going on. Just then, they heard the sages, wanderers, and enlightened souls speaking among themselves about Hanuman getting determined to trace Sita by crossing the ocean in his giant form. Just then, they noticed Hanuman standing there on the mountaintop in his giant form, ready to take his grand leap.

Hanuman Takes His Path in the Sky 

Hanuman shook his body, shouting loudly, and flew into the air, jolting his long tail. Many trees were uprooted by the violent jerk and sound. He increased his speed, jolting the tail repeatedly. He seemed like Garuda, the king of birds, carrying a great serpent. He narrowed his body, shrinking his neck and shoulders, to maintain a steady speed. He compared his speed with that of an arrow released from Rama's bow and his flight with that of Garuda. The uprooted trees also flew along with him for some moments, folding back their branches just like relatives would follow their beloved ones, due to the force of his speed. After following for some time, they fell, losing the force. Some other lightweight trees flew for some more time with him, like soldiers following their king. The flowers from the trees showered down due to the forceful winds, like a rain of flowers. Hanuman's body glittered like a mountain shining with fireflies, due to the colorful flowers, buds, and leaves sticking to his body. Hanuman shone like a cloud filled with lightning, due to the colorful, shining flowers. The sea below also glittered like the sky glittering with stars. Hanuman was flying with his arms stretched forward, and the arms looked like five-headed snakes coming out of a mountain peak. While on the surface of the ocean, he seemed to be drinking the whole waters of the ocean, and while above in the sky, he seemed to swallow the whole sky. His eyes, glowing with lightning, resembled two fireballs, and he himself resembled a mountain with fires. Both eyes were shining like the sun and moon. Whenever he lifted his tail, it appeared like the flag of Indra. Whenever he circled his tail, Hanuman, with his glowing white teeth, looked like the sun encircled in a ring. 

Due to the force of his flight, the waves from the ocean rose as high as they seemed to touch the sky. His gigantic shadow in the waters seemed as if white clouds were following him. The air passing through his armpits sounded like the fearful sound produced by the thunderclouds.

An Encounter With Mainaka Mountain

The Ocean God thought he should help Hanuman by giving him some rest, as Hanuman might have been very tired. So he asked the mountain Mainaka, hidden in the ocean, to rise and provide shelter to Hanuman for a while. Mount Mainaka was indebted to the Wind God, Hanuman's father, so he gladly accepted the request and began rising from the water like the sun emerging from clouds. He rose high in the ocean so that all his peaks were visible. The whole sky began to glitter with his golden light. (Mt. Mainaka is believed to be a mountain with rich treasures of gold.) Seeing the mountain, Hanuman thought it was an obstacle in his path. So he touched the mountain with his chest at great speed. The impact was so strong that the mountain's peaks shattered all around, deafeningly. Mt. Mainaka was pleased with Hanuman's speed and strength. He immediately took human form, paid his respects to Hanuman, beseeching him to rest on his back for a while as per the ocean god's instructions, and then proceed with his work thereafter. Hanuman was happy with his hospitality. But he did not want to rest until his job was fully accomplished. So he touched Mainaka gently and told him that the hospitality had already been shown through his gentle words, and that was sufficient for him.

Hanuman flew again into the sky after thanking Mainaka. All the angels watching this scene praised Hanuman's devotion and determination, and were happy with the hospitality shown by Mt.Mainaka.

Surasa, The Mother of Snakes, Obstructs Hanuman's Path

The Devas (angels) were happy with Hanuman but wanted to test him further. They asked the Mother of Snakes, Surasa, to take a fearsome, demon-like form and obstruct Hanuman for a time to see whether he could defeat her with his strength, courage, and wisdom. Accordingly, Surasa took a fearsome, ugly shape and stood in Hanuman's path, telling him he could not escape her without entering her mouth, as she had been blessed by the Devas. Hanuman promised to enter her mouth after completing his task and asked her to let him go for now. But Surasa refused and stood before him with her mouth wide open. Growing angry, Hanuman expanded his form, and Surasa likewise enlarged her form and her mouth. Hanuman kept expanding, but Surasa did not tire. She kept widening her mouth. Realizing she would not let him go, Hanuman suddenly entered her mouth in a tiny form and quickly came out. He told her he had fulfilled her desire and asked her to let him go. Surasa was stunned by his cleverness and speed. She was very pleased and blessed him for success in his mission. The angels also greatly appreciated his cleverness and courage.

Hanuman Encounters Another Female Demon, Simhika

After obtaining the blessings of Surasa, Hanuman again climbed up into the sky, taking his original path. He was flying like a king of birds, Garuda, in the path tread by birds, clouds, and the pouring rains. It was the path of great musicians like tumbura and other vidyadharas singing their musical notes; the abode of great pious souls like sages, Gandharvas, nagas, and yakshas. It is the place where the sun, moon, and stars always glow, and the abode of Indra's diamond weapon and white elephant. Hanuman was traveling like a huge mountain with long wings.

Suddenly, Hanuman experienced some hindrance in his speed. A demoness named Simhika caught his shadow and began dragging it towards her. She was pleased to have some great food after a very long time. She was dragging his shadow further and further, and Hanuman could not understand why he was losing speed. He looked around and then looked down. There he witnessed a very giant and strange creature rise from the ocean. Quickly, he recollected Sugriva telling him about an animal's presence in the salty ocean named Simhika. He became confident that it must be Simhika approaching him with her mouth wide open. He quickly enlarged his body. Simhika also began enlarging her mouth. She ran behind him with her wide-open mouth, and Hanuman was smart enough to notice her internal organs. He quickly narrowed his body and decreased his size drastically, and fell into her mouth with great speed. Before she was able to close her mouth, Hanuman caught hold of her internal organs and tore them off with his sharp nails, and quickly emerged from her mouth with equal speed. Simhika fell dead with her torn heart into the waters of the ocean. The angels, sages, and others watching all this praised Hanuman for his cleverness, skill, and courage and blessed him for success in his mission.

Hanuman Reaches Lanka

After the death of Simhika, Hanuman had almost cleared all his obstacles on his flight to Lanka. He regained his full speed and completed the remaining 100 yojanas of the sea journey. (One yojana may be anywhere from 3 to 8 km, as scholars dispute the exact measure.) He could now see the other side of the ocean. Gradually, everything became visible to him. He looked around and saw the mountain named Malaya, the forests, the bay, and the rivers flowing into the ocean, which seemed like wives going to meet their husbands. He considered it an auspicious sign, welcomed by married women. Hanuman slowed his speed and reduced his body to its normal size to avoid drawing attention and to hide from view. He reached the peak of the Malaya mountain and descended from it. He sat on the mountain, looked around at the beautiful trees, and frightened the birds and animals. The City of Lanka was visible to him, with its glowing lights resembling Amaravati, the capital city of Indra. 

Thus, Hanuman, the great monkey king, accomplished the very difficult task of crossing the ocean to reach Lanka, which was otherwise unachievable for anyone else.