Ramayan for Life Skills : Hanuman Crosses the Ocean

Bidding goodbye to all the vanars, Hanuman flew up. The vanars, all their eyes focused on him, with mixed feelings and prayers, stood with folded hands.
Hanuman had to overcome a few obstacles amidst his flight. As he was on his flight, the Devas decided to test his strength. They persuaded Surasa, mother of the serpents to block his way and test him. She accordingly posed before him and pretended to swallow him. Hanuman requested to leave him since he was a very noble errand and was in haste. But she did not free him. She opened her mouth widely. Hanuman grew into the size of a mountain. Surasa widened her mouth bigger than that. Hanuman took the shape of an atom like creature and entering her mouth came out through her ear.
Hanuman continued his flight. On the way, again persuaded by the Devas, Mainaka, the son of mount Himalaya hiding under the ocean, came up and told Hanuman: “Hero among the Kapis, take a short rest. Drink some pure water and eat different fruits and remove your fatigue before you proceed further.” Hanuman touched the mountain as if to thank for his hospitality and said: “Thank you Mainaka. I shall not rest anywhere nor eat or drink until I finish Sri Ram’s mission.”So saying Hanuman proceeded in haste.He soon reached Lanka. Hanuman thought of many ways to penetrate into the city. He transformed himself into a very tiny creature and approached the north gate.
As Hanuman walked towards the gate many Rakshasas challenged him but he defeated every one . Finally he met an apsara. She said: “ You are welcome to Lanka. I am Lankalakshmi, standing guard here on the errand of Lord Brahma. He had told me that you would come here in search of Sita one day and will give me a thrash receiving which I shall be liberated and can go back to swarg (Heaven). May all good befall in your mission! I am sure that with the setting of your foot, the ruin of Ravan and his clan has started. I wish all the very best to you.” And soon Lankalakshmi shot up towards the sky as a flame of fire. Hanuman went inside the city of Lanka through the northern gate. He wandered a lot here and there and finally, led by his father Vayu, reached Ravan’s garden and saw the Simsipa tree under which Sita was sitting chanting Sri Ram’s name. She was surrounded by many Rakshasa ladies appointed by Ravan.
Hanuman stood with out-pouring devotion and folded hands before her. He was very careful not to be observed by others. If he appear before Sita straight away, he thought, she would not trust him or his story. Therefore he decided to wait for some time and see the developments. Hanuman with his unnoticeably tiny body perched on the top branch of the tree under which Sita sat.
As he was sitting silently for some time; he could observe a procession coming towards. In front of the procession was a hefty figure with ten crowned heads and twenty strong hands that were decorated with gold bangles. As the procession came nearer, Hanuman became curious and shrank further. The procession reached in front of the Simsipa tree and halted. Seeing Ravan in his strange attire , Sita got frightened.
Ravan moved forward and addressed Sita. He said “Sita, you queen unparallel of beauty. Why do you torment yourself sitting in isolation and thinking impractical things? I shall honour you as the chief among my wives. You should know that I am the mightiest person on the whole worlds. All the gods including Indra are afraid of me. The Sun, Moon, Vayu, Agni, Varun and others do not move without my permit. Come, don’t waste time. Don’t waste your youth. What is the purpose of thinking about Ram now. He must have abandoned you by now even from his heart and thought. He is not going to reach here anyway.”
Sita, without raising her face, sternly warned him:“O Ravan, your tenure on this earth has come to an end. Get away at once. Your nearness abhors me.
KK Shanmukhan ( To be concluded )