Hanuman Finds Sita Story: Week #4

Authors Note: This is a story of how Hanuman found Sita and led to Rama to her. This story is not my own I am simply rewriting it in my own way.

Jambavan was the leader of the bears who were allied with the monkeys. He cleverly convinced Haruman to go to Lanka by praising him as quoted below. Rama was beginning to become impatient to find Sita and so it was imperative Hanuman used his powers to go find her.

"His birth and origin, how the wind-god had begotten him and his mother Anjana had borne him in the mountains, and when he was still a child he had thought the sun to be a fruit growing in the sky, and sprang easily three thousand leagues toward it; how Indra had cast a bolt at him, breaking his jaw; how the wind-god in anger began to destroy the heavens and earth, till Brahma pacified him and granted him the boon that his son should be invulnerable, and Indra gave him the boon of choosing his own death."

Hanuman was impressed and as he crossed the sea a rakhshasas tried to eat him but he escaped her and killed her in the process. He dressed up and shapeshifted as woman and went to Ravana's kingdom. He saw Ravana sleeping with his wives and thought one of them was Sita but remembered she wouldn't be so dressed up as a prisoner and comfortable with another man. Hanuman searched for Sita all over but he didn't find her in other chambers of the kingdom either so he figured she might be dead and sat dejectedly next to a wall. Soon enough, he saw the Ashoka Grove tree guarded by rakhshasas is where Hanuman found Sita

"Fierce she-demons surrounded her, and some were of fearsome shape; they had dogs' heads and pigs' heads and the faces of horses and buffaloes; some were of great bulk and others were dwarfish; some had but one eye and others had three eyes; the ears of some hung touching the ground; others that were hairy were the most horrible to behold.  I really liked the way Sita was described through poetry:

"Fasts and vigils paled her beauty, tears bedimmed her tender grace,                                                 Anguish dwelt within her bosom, sorrow darkened on her face,"

Hanuman was extremely sad looking at Sita. He saw Ravana come and persuade her with comfort and wealth in vain. Sita rejected him once again. He told her she had a 2 month limit after which she would be tortured and killed. The female devils try to scare her and Sita trembled and hid into the tree. Hanuman approached her for help and she thought he was Ravana testing her so Hanuman showed her Rama's ring. Sita was full of joy for the first time months. Hanuman offers to carry her away but she refused due to her modesty and devotion to Rama. Sita gave a token for Rama and a message about her two month limit as well. Hanuman got mad at the situation and Ravana. Losing control he started destroying the tree and everything/everyone around including killing the devils. He was shot arrows at, bound to be blinded with weapons, and brought to Ravana. Decietfully, he asks for punishment as one bond breaks another bond before Ravana. Hanuman told the truth about who he was and why he came. Ravana decided to set his tail on fire out of anger.

When Sita heard what was happening she prayed for fire to cool and it did. Hanuman took the opportunity to break his bonds and run. He ran to and back on fire burning the palace, and killing many devil later regretting it thinking Sita might have died. One Hanuman checks that she is fine and he goes back with good news to Rama and the monkeys.

Hanuman arrived with the news of Sita and the city destruction. Rama smiled for the first time in months. They marched together to go get Sita! The prince went to get his princess and they lived happily ever after. :)

Hanuman and Sita

Image Source: https://www.quora.com/What-did-Sita-Mata-give-Hanuman-in-Ashok-Vatika

Bibliography:

Laura, Gibbs. Reading Part A: King Dasharatha. Ramayana Online: Public Domain Edition

http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/search/label/PDE%20Ramayana