Episode 1 - Anjaneya’s flight across the ocean

Having been persuaded by other Vanaras in his team, the great Anjaneya was about to start on his flight from the Mahendra Mountain, across the ocean, from the north to the south, to reach Lanka in search of Sita. Before doing so, he turned east and saluted Lord Indra, the king of the Devas (gods), the Wind God (his father), Lord Brahma, the Creator and others. Then he turned southward and assumed an extraordinarily huge form like a mountain.

As he was starting his flight, Anjaneya declared to his mates: “I will go to Lanka, the kingdom of Ravana, like an arrow shot by Rama, with the speed of the wind. If I don’t find Sita there, I will proceed to Heaven with the same speed. If I don’t find her even in Heaven, I shall get back to Lanka. By all means, I shall accomplish my task and return with Sita. If not, I will uproot the city of Lanka along with Ravana and return with them.”

As Hanuman (Anjaneya) started to fly, he pounded the mountain with such force that all the living beings on the mountain were disturbed and hurt and came out of their abodes. The momentum generated by his flight was so great that some of the trees on the mountain were uprooted and they followed him just as kith and kin would follow their relatives leaving them, for some distance, to bid them farewell.

Anjaneya flew high up into the sky, sometimes hidden behind the clouds and sometimes coming out of them and he shone like the moon. As he was flying across the sea, the Sea God spotted him and knowing his noble mission, wanted to assist him, bearing in mind that Rama’s ancestor by name Sagara, had helped his growth in the past. Therefore, he called up Mainaka, the mountain residing in him and requested him to rise up and invite Anjaneya to rest on him and receive his hospitality. He pointed out the Dharma that if a duty was not performed by anyone as prescribed, holy men would be offended. Mainaka, responding to the Sea God, stood in human form, on his own mountain peak and welcoming Anjaneya, on his way, said: “O Anjaneya! The sea has been developed by the ancestors of Rama. You are going on Rama’s mission. The Sea God wants to provide hospitality to you through me as a mark of gratitude. This is an ancient Dharma. Therefore, stay on me (on the mountain) for a while, accept my offering and proceed.”

“There is a special reason for me in welcoming you. When you are worshipped, your father, the Wind God is also worshipped. In Kruta Yuga, O Anjaneya, the mountains had wings and they were moving here and there and the Devas (gods), the Rishis and human beings were all terrified. To remove their fears, Lord Indra cut off the wings of the mountains. When Indra was nearing me to cut off my wings, I felt helpless and motionless and your father, the Wind God, moved me swiftly into the sea and protected me. Therefore, be pleased to accept our hospitality and make the Sea God and myself happy.”

Anjaneya was quite pleased and replied, “Mainaka, I feel happy and your hospitality is deemed to have been extended. Time is running out. I have taken a vow in the presence of my companions that I shall not tarry on the way.” So saying and smiling and touching the mountain with his hand in acknowledgement, Anjaneya proceeded on his journey.

Lord Indra, who was observing the whole event from above, told Mainaka, the Mountain, “O Mainaka! I am very pleased indeed with you. Move wherever you like without fear, hereafter.”

Anjaneya was continuing his flight uninterrupted. The Devas wanted to test his strength. So they approached the Nagamata (mother of the Serpent race) called Surasa, residing in the ocean and pleaded with her, “O Surasa! We desire to know the strength and valour of Anjaneya. Therefore, you assume the form of a huge Rakshasi (demoness) and test him. Let us see whether he will conquer you by some means or the other or come to grief, unable to face you.”

Surasa agreed with the request of the Devas and came in the way of Anjaneya in a terrible Rakshasi form and warned him, “O Vanara! You are ordained to be my food by the Devas. Therefore, enter my mouth and I will eat you up.” Anjaneya respectfully answered Nagamata thus, “O Nagamata! I am going in search of Sita, King Rama’s Consort. You are dwelling in his kingdom and ought to help him. I promise that after finding Sita and contacting Rama, I will return here to become food for you.”

Surasa, not convinced, said to Anjaneya: “No one can leave this place, having come here, without entering my mouth. This is a boon given to me by Lord Brahma.” So saying, Surasa widened her mouth. Anjaneya grew angry and asked Surasa: “Alright! Let your mouth be as wide as you wish so as to accommodate me.” Thereupon, Surasa began to open her mouth wider and wider even as Anjaneya was becoming bigger and bigger and all of a sudden, Anjaneya reduced himself to the size of a thumb, swiftly entered the wide mouth of Surasa and came out unhurt. He then thanked the Nagamata, who on her part, blessed Anjaneya and wished him success in his mission.

As Anjaneya’s flight continued, a Rakshasi named Simhika saw him and began to pull him down towards her by her mere contact with his shadow and was intent on swallowing him up. She assumed a great form and a huge mouth opened up to receive Anjaneya. Anjaneya quickly realized the danger and cleverly reduced himself to a small size, entered the mouth of the Rakshasi and destroyed the vital parts of her body with his nails killing her instantly. The Devas (gods) above commended Anjaneya thus: “O Hanuman! You have a sharp mind, judgment, courage and competence and whoever has these four traits like you, does not despair.”

As he was approaching the city of Lanka on the other shore of the ocean, Hanuman thought that a huge form such as his and his speed would attract the attention of the Rakshasas and therefore, he assumed a small form to enter and move unnoticed in the land of the enemy.

Sreemadramayana - An Introduction

It is believed that Lord Vishnu, the protector of the creation, was born as Rama in Tretayuga, opting to be the first among the four sons of Dasaratha, the King of Ayodhya, by his queen Kausalya. The Avatar was as a result of the prayers of the Devas (gods) and the Rishis for the purpose of killing a Demon King called Ravana and his followers and to reduce the earth's burden.

Valmiki, prompted by Lord Brahma, wrote the story of Rama,the greatest of the Ikshvaku kings in Sanskrit. This is considered to be an Epic and the first Kavya (poetic presentation) by anyone including Valmiki who is considered to be the Adi Kavi (the first poet). This is a sacred text to the Hindus and most of the Indians throughout India and elsewhere. There are 7 cantos (Kandas) in the Epic with 24,000 slokas (poems) in all.

1.Bala Kanda
2.Ayodhya Kanda
3.Aranya Kanda
4.Kishkindha Kanda
5.Sundara Kanda
6.Yuddha Kanda
7.Uttara Kanda

This Blog features an abridged version of the Sundara Kanda. This contains mainly the exploits of Anjaneya in Lanka, his discovery of Sita, kidnapped and held prisoner in Lanka by the Rakshasa King Ravana. In this Kanda, Anjaneya establishes contact with Sita and communicates Rama's message to her and carries her message back to Rama, becoming a link between the forlorn couple. He meets Ravana, and gives him advice in vain. He also gives a taste of his strength and valour to the Rakshasas and demonstrates what to expect from Rama and Sugriva in a full-fledged war with Ravana.

After the abduction of Sita by Ravana, it is Anjaneya who crosses the ocean, locates Sita and establishes himself as a two-way communication channel. In sheer strength of character, purity, wisdom, physical strength, spirit of adventure, dedication to a cause, selflessness and self-sacrifice, it looks impossible to find an equal to Anjaneya in any literature. Anjaneya is the son of Kesari and Anjana born out of the grace of the Wind God. He is, therefore regarded as Vayuputra (son of the Wind). Anajaneya's only purpose in life is to serve Rama and his cause. It is said he is a Chiranjivi (one who is deathless). He has the ability to assume any form and size, can access any place and can speak human language though he was born as a monkey. The monkeys in this epic have these traits in general and they are considered to be descendants of the gods (Devas).

The story of the Ramayana and particularly Anjaneya's story is ennobling. Those who learn the Sanskrit language have some chance of enjoying Valmiki's great poetry and through it the beauty of Sanskrit. Needless to say that one's own degree of enjoyment depends upon one's ability of comprehension and in this context, commentaries by competent scholars are a great aid and have to be looked into along with the text.

Lastly, it will not be out of place to quote Jawaharlal Nehru on the Sanskrit language and the Ramayana.

"If I was asked what is the greatest treasure which India possesses and what is her finest heritage, I would answer unhesitatingly that it is the Sanskrit language and literature and all that it contains. This is a magnificent inheritance and so long as this endures and influences the life of our people, so long will the basic genius of India continue. If our race forgot the Buddha, the Upanishads and the great epics (Ramayana and Mahabharata) India would cease to be India."

Extract taken from

'SAMSKRIT-The voice of India's soul and wisdom published by the National Council of Educational Research and Training, India."

Reference: Sundara Kanda Translation and Commentary by Dr. Pullela Sreerama Chandrudu garu
Ex Head of Sanskrit Department, Osmania University

About Me

I am Gorty Venkata Surya Subrahmanyam, a citizen of India residing in the city of Hyderabad in the State of Andhra Pradesh. I am son of late Sri. G. Narasimham and Smt. Bapanamma, Srivatsasa Gotram. I am a retired Deputy Transport Commissioner of the Government of Andhra Pradesh. I have a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy and a Master's degree in Sanskrit.

My favourite pastime is to undertake free translation of some of the great works in Sanskrit in a condensed form into English. As a start, I have translated the Sundara Kanda of the Epic Ramayana in an abridged form. The translation has been divided into several parts with an appropriate title. Each week one part of the translation will be published through this Blog. I hope and trust that the readers will enjoy the episodes.

Lastly, I feel it is my duty to point out that it is not easy to translate a great Sanskrit work of a great poet like Valmiki into another language. I have studied the original Ramayana and the Telugu translation by a highly respected and great Sanskrit scholar, Dr. Pullela Sriramachandrudu garu. This background has helped me in my free translation of the work into English. Dr. Srirama Chandrudu garu has authored more than a hundred books, some original ones, and some translations and commentaries. All of his translations and commentaries greatly illuminate the originals. I recommend that all those who know Telugu read his translation and commentary of the entire Ramayana to gain a proper comprehension of the work and benefit from it.

This first post is an introduction to the Ramayana.