Sundara Kanda: Hanuman's Leap to Lanka
The fifth and most loved book of the Ramayana: Hanuman crosses the ocean, finds Sita in the Ashoka grove, burns Lanka and returns with her message.
The story
Hanuman climbs Mount Mahendra, grows to an immense size and leaps across the ocean. On the way the mountain Mainaka rises from the sea to offer him rest; he touches it in thanks and flies on, saying he will not stop until Ram's work is done. He outwits Surasa, mother of serpents, and destroys the demoness Simhika who seizes his shadow.
Reaching Lanka at dusk, he shrinks to the size of a cat and searches the golden city through the night: palaces, gardens, even Ravana's own chambers. He does not find Sita and for a moment fears she is dead. Then he sees the Ashoka grove.
Sita sits under a tree, thin and unyielding, guarded by rakshasis. Hanuman watches Ravana come, plead and threaten, and Sita answer him with a blade of grass held between them. When Ravana leaves, Hanuman softly sings the story of Ram from the branches so that she will not be frightened, then gives her Ram's ring. He offers to carry her home on his back. She declines: it is Ram who must come for her. She gives her hair-jewel as a token.
Hanuman then lets himself be seen. He wrecks the grove, kills Ravana's son Aksha, and allows Indrajit to bind him so that he can stand before Ravana and deliver a warning. Ravana orders his tail set on fire. Hanuman breaks free and burns Lanka, sparing the Ashoka grove, and leaps back to tell Ram: "Seen have I Sita."
The turning points
- Refusing rest halfway, however kindly offered.
- Searching a whole city and not giving up at the point of despair.
- Sita's refusal to be rescued by anyone but Ram, on her own terms.
What it teaches
Sundara Kanda is recited in homes across India when a family faces trouble, because it is the book of hope: one faithful person, sent alone into the enemy's stronghold, changes everything. Hanuman has strength, intelligence and speech, and he takes credit for none of them. Asked how he did it, his answer is always Ram. Read Humility and service.
In Ayodhya, Hanuman Garhi is traditionally visited before any other temple. The story continues in the Yuddha Kanda.
Read and listen to this kanda in full
- 1Hanuman's Leap Across the OceanHanuman leaps from Mount Mahendra. He declines Mainaka's offer of rest, outwits Surasa, destroys Simhika and reaches the shore of Lanka at…🔊
- 2Hanuman Searches Lanka by NightSmall as a cat, Hanuman defeats the guardian of Lanka and searches palace after palace by moonlight. He does not find Sita and nearly loses…🔊
- 3Sita in the Ashoka GroveHidden in a tree, Hanuman sees Sita. At dawn Ravana comes to plead and threaten, and Sita answers him from behind a blade of grass. Trijata…🔊
- 4Hanuman Meets Sita: The Ring and the JewelHanuman softly sings Ram's story from the tree, wins Sita's trust and gives her the ring. She refuses to be carried home and sends her hair…🔊
- 5The Burning of LankaHanuman wrecks the grove, slays Aksha, lets Indrajit bind him and warns Ravana in open court. His tail is set alight, and he burns the city…🔊
- 6"I Have Seen Sita": Hanuman ReturnsHanuman leaps back and the vanaras celebrate in Sugriva's honey grove. He gives Ram the jewel and Sita's message, and Ram, with nothing els…🔊
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