Vanaras Transported to Lanka’s Shore

The last search group to leave Kishkindha was the one that was going towards south.

This group included Hanumanji, Angada, Jambava, Nala, Neela, Sushena, Sharabha, Dvida, and Mainda.

As they were leaving after offering pranama at the Lord’s feet, Sugreeva told Hanumanji:

'O Pavana Putra, you can move about freely on land, antariksha, akasha, and water. Nobody can stop you. You can enter Swarga and Pathala whenever you want. You also know about the worlds of Asuras, Gandharwas, Nagas. You also know about all places – oceans, forests, mountains.

You are very intelligent. You are faster than Garuda. You know diplomacy very well. There is no one equal to you in courage and valour in the whole world. You follow traditions. You never violate dharma.

I have nothing to tell you. You will yourself have to think about how to find out where Seeta Mata is. For you, there is no compulsion that you go towards south only. You can go wherever you want, whichever direction you want. You can do whatever you feel like.

But, remember this is Lord’s work, and I am pinning all my hope on you alone.'

At this point of time, the Lord gestured to him, to come nearby, and gave him His ring, and said,

'Show this to Seetha when you find her, this will establish your credibility.'

Seetha Devi has never seen Hanumanji before. How will she know that he is genuine? What if Ravana has sent him? How will she trust?

The Lord also gave him a message which he should convey to Seetha Mata.

Hanumanji firmly tied the ring with his hair and kept it hidden. It won’t fall even when he is jumping around.

As they came out of Kishkindha, Angada said – 'Jambavan is the senior most among us. He will be our commander. We will obey his orders.'

Jambavan gave his first order –

'It is obvious that Ravana has abducted Seetha Mata. He is a powerful enemy. We will have to fight mighty rakshasa. In a battle it is essential that we should know the enemy’s strength and our own strength. So, whenever we meet rakshasas on the way, we will engage in fight with them to test their strength as well as our strength.

But make sure that we don’t end up in big battles from which we cannot withdraw. Fighting is not our goal now. We have to locate Seetha Mata.

If any such possibility is there then get back to me, Angada or Hanuman before you start a fight.'

This was a common command for all the vanaras in the group. You can fight on your own or call for help when needed.

It is because of this that when the Lord later took Vanara Sena towards Lanka through the same area, there was not a rakshasa they met on the way.

These areas are full of rakshasas. Make groups of ten each. Nobody should move alone, and these groups should also be within calling distance of each other.

We all have to assemble together before darkness sets in.

Be very careful whenever you come across an ashrama of rishis and munis. They are not to be disturbed in any way, nor fruits plucked from there without permission. Even if you have to talk to them, make sure that they are not disturbed in any way.

Later in the evening, Jambavan changed the strategy –

'Split into groups of five, and we should sweep down from the east coast to the west coast. The stretch of land is wider as we start and will keep on narrowing down as we go down.

But at no point of time should one group be farther than calling distance from another.'

As they proceeded down, they killed each and every rakshasa they found on the way. There were only two ashramas – one of Agastya and one of Parashurama. Other than that, the rakshasas had killed all the rishis and munis in those areas.

So this is not just about abduction of Seetha Mata.

See, rakshasas had killed a lot of rishis and munis who work towards the welfare of the whole universe. They are the most selfless people.

And you know what – rakshasas killed and ate them. Just like any other animal.

This is the evil that the Lord took avatara to eliminate.

As they kept their search on, one day they all reached a place which was completely parched.

After taking rest during night, in the morning they realized that there was no water anywhere. There were no trees with fruits. The leaves also had dried up.

Without water, everybody started getting tired. Enthusiasm and energy were gone.

Hanumanji climbed to the top of a tree. He could see greenery far away, someplace. He also spotted some water birds flying around.

Definitely, there should be water there.

They all proceeded towards that place.

When they reached there, there was no water body. But, the birds were going through a cave-like passage and came back with their feathers wet.

That means there must be water on the other side of that passage.

They all took that passage, and when they reached the other side, there was a beautiful lake.

On the shore of that lake, they saw a parnashala and a tapaswini.

They drank water from the lake, refreshed themselves. There were fruit-bearing trees. They ate fruits.

Jambavan asked the tapaswini who she was.

She said her name was Swayamprabha. That place belonged to her friend Hema, daughter of Vishwakarma.

It was given to Vishwakarma by Lord Shiva. When Hema went to Brahmaloka, she gifted that place to Swayamprabha.

Nobody is aware of this place. Even Devas, Daityas, Rakshasas – nobody knew that such a place existed.

She asked them – 'Aren’t you all messengers of Lord Rama?'

They were surprised – how did she know?

She said – 'Sage Narada blessed me with upadesha of Rama nama and told me to keep on chanting till the Lord took avatara.

Then he said, one day his messengers, the vanaras, will come here, and they will guide you to the Lord.

Who else other than the messengers of the Lord can reach this place?'

She asked them where the Lord was. They said He is in Rishya Mookachala.

Then she closed her eyes for some time and said –

'I know who you are looking for, but even I am not able to find her, because she is kept in a place surrounded by the magical power of rakshasas. Even I am not able to penetrate that barrier.

But, I can do one thing. I will transport you all to a place close to where she is.

Now, all of you close your eyes.'

They all closed their eyes.

After some time, they realized that they had reached a seashore, with hills all around.

When they got back to Kishkindha, they learned that Swayamprabha had come to Rishya Mookachala and took blessings of the Lord.

So wasn’t all this pre-planned?

Otherwise, how would Sage Narada have told her that the vanaras would come and guide you to the Lord?

Aren’t all these incidents connected to each other and pre-planned?

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi