Significance of Lord Hanuman's trip of Lanka to mythology and humans of today

As majority of us have re-visited the famous epic Ramayana in last few months during the lockdown, the content of the blog can be much easily comprehended. As I wondered many a times, during watching it, that what was the relevance of Lord Hanuman's trip to Lanka when he did not bring Goddess Sita along with him. The blog tries to cover the different personalities related to this trip of Lord Hanuman in a chronological manner that proved crucial in Lanka War. It also captures what today's humans can learn from these mythological stories and personalities to lead ethical and good life in seemingly growing unethical and restless modern era.   

The first personality that Lord Hanuman found on his way to Lanka was Sea Mountain Mainak. He had offered the top of the mountain to Hanuman for resting and recouping his energy for the remaining trip. In reply, Hanuman respectfully refused and said that unless the goal of the trip (passing on the message of Lord Rama to Goddess Sita) gets accomplished, he can't rest. 

Such spirit among humans (especially for students) can plan a crucial role in similar numerous missions of our lives. Even the same message can be said to be present in the famous "Hare-Tortoise story". The tortoise didn't take rest and walked till his goal of reaching the finishing line of the race wasn't crossed. On the other hand, the hare decided to rest (because it was way ahead than tortoise) and fell asleep eventually leading to his loss in the race. Similarly, many of us (hare) feel we are superior and our victory in life races is guaranteed till the moment a seemingly inferior being emerges victorious due to the latter's perseverance, motivation, self-belief and mental acuity. 


Secondly, Lord Hanuman encountered Sursa (actually she was the Goddess of Serpents). She was sent by the Gods for testing the wisdom of Hanuman. Hanuman actually passed the test when he upheld the concept of Dharma propounded by Sursa. Her conception of Dharma meant that any creature/human being that comes in her jurisdiction when she is hungry for food needs to appease her hunger. On the other hand, Hanuman said that his Dharma was to reach Lanka and get the task of Lord Ram accomplished. Hanuman realizing that Sursa's concept of Dharma is not incorrect, accepted becoming the food of Sursa, once his Dharma is accomplished (Conveying the message of Rama to Sita and confirming the same to Rama). 

But he used the caveat (option) that Sursa had mentioned that if he manages to escape from her, her Dharma would still be upheld. This is what Hanuman Jee achieved by varying his size and being agile (valour and wisdom) to escape from her mouth. Thus, Sursa while appreciating Hanuman's wisdom and understanding, mentioned the four golden qualities required for success. These include courage, valour, understanding and wisdom. Even in today's world, these four can be said to be crucial for one's short-term and long term success and well-being. In our daily lives, we encounter several challenges and tests and if we internalise these golden qualities (virtues), our success might be really enhanced (if not guaranteed).  

Third and most important person (hence covered more than anyone else in the blog) whom Lord Hanuman met was Vibhishana, the younger brother of Ravana and Kumbhkarana. All the three brothers had received different boons by Lord Brahma. Vibhishana had the boon of getting darshan (holy sight) of Lord Ram. Vibhishana was patiently yet restlessly waiting for this day to arrive. But the real confidence and clarity of this boon becoming truth very soon was provided through Hanuman's visit to his palace. 

When Hanuman explained the nature of love Lord Ram showers on his servants (bhakts) and also explained his reason of coming to Lanka, he has sure that very soon he would receive the holy sight of his Lord (Vishnu/Ram). It signifies that our dreams/boons (unknown) might not arrive when we expect them (due to hard work/labour/astrologers' predictions). But they are certainly achieved in due course of time (destiny's plans and timelines). One who "Keeps Calm and Stay Motivated" tastes the sweet success of dreams turning into reality.  

Later during their interaction, we can witness another strong and important concept of Dharma. Vibhishana's mother, Kaikesi, advised him to go and aid Shri Rama in assembling an army to conquer Ravana for recovering Sita. This might not have been an easy decision of the mother who was aware that this would lead to the death of his own son. What happened after Vibhishana arrived in Ram's camp is known to all. He divulged the secrets of Ravana, his son Meghnad and other invaluable details needed for Rama to emerge victorious in the great battle against Ravana. Because of this, however, Vibhishana is also known as a traitor (Ghar ka bhedi, Lanka dhaye translated as one who knows the secrets of home i.e. Vibhishana can lead to disastrous theft and damage of the house i.e. Ravana's Lanka). But actually should we call him a traitor, bad brother or an ethical and dharma bound being?


To answer this, Ramayana’s characterization of good and bad is not simple and crystal clear perhaps like today where we find more shades of grey (even much more than 50 shades) than white or black. What Vibhishana did was upholding his Dharma. The epic stresses that neither Vibhishana nor Kumbhakarna strayed from the path of Dharma and that there is no single way out of a moral dilemma. In other words, Kumbhakarna adhered to the Dharma of loyalty to his kin when his advice failed, while Vibhishana chose to oppose his kin and upheld the Dharma of truth and goodness. Ravana's act of abducting Sita was adharma towards his subjects (praja). Hence he should not be defended, even if it requires joining hands with enemy (Exploring Vibhishana's Dharma). When Vibhishana attained the position of the King of Lanka, he turned his subjects from the path of evil to the path of Dharma(righteousness).

Another message that was conveyed in this conversation between Hanuman-Vibhishana was that Lord (God) does not distinguish between his followers based on birth or circumstances in life. Vibhishana was from rakhasa (demon) brood, still he was loved by Lord Ram like his brother. Unfortunately humans and society have not imbibed or followed this explicit message from mythology and thus several social evils like untouchability, denying entry of certain social groups in temples etc. 

Also Vibhishana advised Ravana not to kill Hanuman as per religious and political principle of dealing with envoys (doot). This principle exists on paper and policy (Vienna Convention on Consular Relations 1963). But sometimes cases like Kulbhushan Jadhav (retired Indian navy officer on duty) make us understand that they are not adhered to (military court gave him death sentence). The repercussions are similar to what happened in Ravana's era. Because Ravana decided to burn the tail of Hanuman, the whole city of Lanka was torched by him. Similarly, the situation with Pakistan can become really complicated (SAARC cancellation etc.) if it decides against ICJ's (Vibhishana) judgement (advice) of free and fair trial of Kulbhushan.


Forth character whom we can't miss in this regard is Goddess Sita. If Hanuman had not reached Lanka when he did but a month later, Sita might have taken her life (as she said to Ravana when the latter tried to force her break all ties with her husband Ram and instead accept Ravana as her husband). The message of Ram (in the form of his ring) reassured, strengthened and rejuvenated her belief on Ram. Hanuman could not have better made her understand the situation and pain Ram has been going through for years.

Further, Hanuman briefed her the plan of Ram with the army consisting of Sugriv, Jamwant, Angad etc. In fact, it is this Ram's army who gathered this belief of crossing the ocean because of Hanuman's trip. Accordingly using the support of Neel and Nal, the army build the bridge over the ocean to reach Lanka and fight the victorious war against Ravan. A seemingly weak army of monkeys and humans defeated the mighty army of Ravana (this was doubted even by Sita when Hanuman briefed about the composition of army). The clear and loud message of this, that stands relevant even till date, is that if the intention and belief are strong, even the weakest (or so-called backward community) can emerge victorious in this world where we fight different battles everyday.  

Finally, I want to highlight an aspect that is little known and connected to this Hanuman trip to Lanka. It is about the son of Lord Hanuman. Though he was ascetic, he had a son named Makardhwaja. He was born to a mighty fish of the same name when Hanuman after burning the entire Lanka with his tail had dipped in the sea to cool off his body. It is said that his sweat was swallowed by the fish and thus Makardhwaja was conceived.

To conclude, Hanuman's trip to Lanka can be said to be the rejuvenating element in Ram's search for Sita. The messages of each other being healthy and good were conveyed through rings and jewellery respectively through Hanuman. In fact Hanuman had offered to carry Sita back to Ram but Sita wanted her husband Ram to avenge her insult (abduction) by killing Ravan. This is why Lanka war was bound to happen (in fact the day Brahma gave the boon to Ravana and moreover when the latter abducted Sita). Mythology may be questioned or challenged by rational thinkers and historians for their veracity and correctness. But the lessons and teachings of their stories (epics) can not be disputed and in fact their relevance and significance in today's lives of humans is much more than anytime else in the past.