Adhyatma Ramayana - Day 20 Kishkindha Kandham

 Adhyatma Ramayana - Day 20    Kishkindha Kandham

Hanuman Talks to Sita Devi

Despairing, Sita lamented her fate, believing Rama had forgotten her. From the tree, Hanuman softly narrated Rama’s story: his exile, her abduction, and his alliance with Sugriva. Descending, he prostrated before her, but Sita, wary of deception, hesitated. Hanuman reassured her, identifying himself as Vayu’s son and Rama’s servant. Presenting Rama’s ring, he recounted their pact with Sugriva and his ocean-crossing mission. Overjoyed, Sita kissed the ring, her hope renewed. She entrusted Hanuman with her Choodaratna and a private memory of Rama protecting her from a crow (Indra’s son Jayantha) at Chitrakuta, affirming his authenticity.

Sita urged Hanuman to convey her plight to Rama, predicting his swift arrival to slay Ravana. Hanuman assured her that Rama would cross the ocean with the Vanara army, destroy Lanka, and take her to Ayodhya. When Sita doubted the Vanaras’ strength, Hanuman swelled to a colossal size, declaring their might. Pleased, Sita blessed him, urging a safe return. Hanuman circled her thrice in reverence, departing with her Choodaratna and message, ready to bring Rama to her rescue.

Hanuman Destroys the Gardens in Lanka

After meeting Sita Devi in Lanka, Hanuman, perched on a tree branch, contemplated his next steps as Rama’s royal messenger. He reasoned that a true envoy must do more than deliver a message; he should make a significant impact. To gain an audience with Ravana, the Rakshasa king, Hanuman decided to draw attention by wreaking havoc. With calculated intent, he began destroying the lush gardens of Lanka, tearing down tree branches and scattering meticulously arranged flower beds, sparing only the Simsapa tree sanctified by Sita’s presence. Fruit trees fell as if struck by a storm, and startled birds filled the sky, creating chaos. The Rakshasa women guarding Sita awoke to the commotion, alarmed by the monkey’s bizarre form and sounds. They questioned Sita about this mysterious creature who had spoken with her at night, expressing fear at his magical prowess, which seemed to surpass their own.

Guards rushed to Ravana, reporting that a monkey was demolishing gardens, structures, and sculptures, even killing some security personnel. Outraged, Ravana ordered a hundred thousand warriors to capture the intruder. Hanuman’s terrifying roars caused some Rakshasas to faint, while others’ arrows were deftly deflected by his bare hands. When ordinary soldiers failed, Ravana sent five elite fighters, but Hanuman swiftly dispatched them to Yama, the god of death. Enraged, Ravana then deployed his ministers’ sons and a special combat team, but Hanuman, wielding an iron pillar, killed them instantly. Stunned by these losses, Ravana summoned his son Akshakumara, who vowed to capture the monkey. As Akshakumara approached, Hanuman, atop a flag tower, was struck by arrows but retaliated, killing him with a single blow to the head. Ravana, grief-stricken, turned to his elder son, Indrajit (Meghanada), urging him to slay the monkey responsible for his brother’s death. Indrajit, confident, promised to crush Hanuman using Brahma’s arrow.

Indrajit confronted Hanuman, and the two exchanged fierce volleys of arrows, mutually admiring each other’s strength. Hanuman destroyed Indrajit’s chariot and charioteer, but when Indrajit unleashed Brahma’s arrow, Hanuman, out of reverence for Lord Brahma, allowed it to strike him. He briefly fainted and was bound, but his divine blessings from the Devas and his devotion to Rama rendered the ropes ineffective. Pretending to be subdued, Hanuman let the Rakshasas take him to Ravana’s court. There, Ravana demanded answers through his minister Prahasta, who asked why Hanuman had caused such destruction. Hanuman, meditating on Rama, boldly declared himself as Rama’s messenger, sent to find Sita, whom Ravana had abducted. He justified the garden destruction as a monkey’s natural behavior and his killings as self-defense, asserting that no one could harm him due to Vishnu’s blessings. Hanuman then offered Ravana profound advice, urging him to abandon lust, rage, and delusion, recognize the Atman, and chant Rama’s name to attain liberation. He warned that desiring another’s wife was a grave sin, but Ravana, instead of heeding, grew furious, ordering Hanuman’s death.

The Killing of Rakshasas

Hanuman’s rampage in Lanka showcased his formidable power. His initial destruction of the gardens provoked Ravana’s forces, leading to a series of confrontations. Ordinary Rakshasa warriors were no match for him, fainting at his roars or failing to land their arrows. The elite fighters sent by Ravana met swift ends, as did the ministers’ sons, struck down by Hanuman’s iron pillar. Akshakumara’s attempt to subdue him ended in his death, intensifying Ravana’s desperation.