Hanumanji Reports to Lord Rama After Returning from Lanka

Hanumanji returned to Kishkindha from Lanka after burning it down, with the news of Seetha Matha. Then they all went to Rishyamookachala where the Lord was — Hanumanji, Jambavan, Sugreeva, Angada, and the entire vanara sena.

As they approached Rishyamookachala, the Lord came out and sat on a rock made of crystal. Lakshmana stood behind him. As we know, Jambavan was the seniormost and commander of the search party. He told the Lord that Hanuman has successfully returned from Lanka. Hanumanji went and kept his head at the Lord’s feet.

Then said, I could see Matha. She is constantly taking your name and keeping herself alive. She is observing very strict penances.

'Where is she, how is she, what did she say about me — tell me everything.'

Hanumanji also became very emotional. He offered pranama facing the south and said,
'Oh mother, hold me together so that I don’t break down myself.'

Down south in the sea, there is an island. It is the Swarnapuri of Rakshasa Raja Ravana. In that, there are three peaks called Trikuta. On top of the middle peak is the capital of Ravana. There, near his palace, there is a garden called Ashoka Vatika. In that garden, there is a shimshupa. Ravana has held Matha captive under that tree. He has put fierce rakshasi guards all around her day and night.

She hasn’t eaten or drunk anything since she went missing. She doesn't sleep. Her clothes have become dirty. Her hair has become matted into a jata. Sometimes she becomes so tired that she just lies down there itself, in the middle of the rakshasis. Once in a while she says,
'My Lord was so fond of me. He used brahmastra on Indra’s son to protect me. Why has he forgotten me now? Why is he not coming to get me now?'

Then Hanumanji took out the chudamani and gave it to the Lord.

Lord Rama remembered,
'This gem came out from the milky ocean while it was being churned. Indra, pleased with the yajna performed by King Janaka, gave it to him. Janaka gave it to his daughter at the time of her marriage with me. Ever since that time, this gem has adorned her parting hair on her forehead. Hanuman, you brought this to me — I will always be indebted to you for this. You ask me for whatever you want, I will give you.'

Hanumanji went on keeping his head at the Lord’s feet and sobbing. The Lord held his shoulders and lifted him.

'You will be the greatest among my devotees ever. You will be the greatest among all devotees every day. Only if you wish, someone will become my devotee and get the benefits of being my devotee. If someone wants to approach me, he cannot do so without going through you.'

The Lord asked,
'How did you cross the ocean? 100 yojanas?'

'I don’t know, Lord. I just took your name and jumped.'

'Tell me about Lanka.'

The middle peak in the island is surrounded on all four sides by a high fort. It has got four gates. There are machines placed all over the fort which can shower deadly arrows and huge burning rocks on anyone who approaches the fort. The walls of the fort are studded with precious gemstones. There are trenches filled with water all around the fort. There are huge sharks, crocodiles, and poisonous sea snakes in those trenches. There are bridges made across these trenches which can be pulled back into the fort anytime.

No ordinary being can approach Ravana’s capital. Not only the peak, even the valley and forest around that is protected by high walls. The ocean around Lanka has very tall and violent waves. There are sharp mountains underwater close to the coast that can pierce the hull of any ship that approaches Lanka. Isn't it obvious that Ravana’s Lanka is not the same as Sri Lanka? They are different.

There are 21,000 soldiers guarding the eastern gate of the fort with all kinds of fierce weapons. There are 1 lakh soldiers guarding the south gate. There are 10 lakh soldiers guarding the west gate. And there are 1 crore soldiers guarding the north gate, which is the closest to the mainland. Inside the fort, there are millions and millions of very strong rakshasa soldiers, along with well-trained horses and elephants.

But Lord, this was before I went there. With your power, I have ransacked most of this. One quarter of the soldiers have been killed. All the walls around the forest have fallen, and their debris have filled most of the trenches. I destroyed all the structures in the capital — there are only pillars and walls left. The wives of rakshasas are very scared now. They will go on demotivating the rakshasa soldiers. As of now, they are all a scared lot.

The evil Ravana has given Matha a time of one month. He will try to harm her after that. Ravana must have already started reconstruction. He is good at motivating his soldiers. We have to move fast, Lord. I have already identified a place in Lanka where we can set up camp before we attack the capital.

We have to start immediately. The roadmap is clear in my mind. I know where all good water and fruits are available.

Saying this, Hanumanji requested the Lord to climb onto his shoulder. Lakshmana sat on Angada’s shoulder. The vanara set proceeded towards Lanka on the same day itself.

Only during this Hanumanji realized one thing. All throughout vanavasa, Lakshmana was on upavasa. He was neither drinking nor eating anything. But it was different in the case of the Lord. Whenever a vanara found some food or tasty fruit, he would pluck it and run towards the Lord to offer it to him — he would oblige and taste it. That was his kindness towards his devotees.

And without break, without taking rest on the way, the vanara sena reached the seashore.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi