Reading Notes: Ramayana C
Hanuman's Leap
- Rama's friends think they have discovered where Sita is, but need someone to cross the ocean to be certain
- The ocean is vast and full of rakshasi, so it is a perilous journey
- Hanuman is the only monkey who can survive the journey, but needs encouragement
- The bear king Jambavan tells Hanuman about his parentage, birth, and childhood to assure him that he can make the trip
- In this story, it is revealed that Hanuman cannot be killed because of a boon granted by Brahma to Hanuman's father, the wind god Vayu
- With a little more encouragement from Jambavan, Hanuman takes off and soars across the sea and over mountains, not even stopping for a rest
- His loyalty and friendship to Rama gave him the determination and strength to make the journey
- Hanuman almost gets eaten by a rakshasi, but by adjusting his size at the right time he was able to defeat her and escape
- He had grown to a great size on his leap, but when he neared Lanka, Hanuman shrank back to a normal size for a less conspicuous landing
Source. Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists by Sister Nivedita (1914)
Hanuman's Leap
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