Hanuman Devastates Lanka

Hanuman Devastates Lanka

The guards dragged Hanuman out of the throne room. They wrapped his tail with rags and soaked them in oil. Then they set it on fire. So, the guards took Hanuman around the streets of Lanka, ridiculing him in front of people.  People had an amazing time seeing that monkey with its burning tail and everyone made fun of it. Sita also learned of what had happened and sincerely begged the Deva of fire not to burn him, not to make him feel pain.

But clever Hanuman had his plan. Suddenly reducing the size of his body, he freed himself from the ropes and killed the guards who escorted him.  When the crowd saw him free, all fled screaming alarmed. 

 With his tail on fire, Hanuman decided to burn Lanka. Running at full speed, he set fire to all the houses, saving only that of Vibhisana. The sky was lit up by that huge bonfire. And when the Devas and Rishis of heaven saw Lanka burning, they danced and sang with joy. Hanuman was almost drunk with bliss, but immediately a thought struck him.

“What about Sita? How did I not think about her? Sita could also have died in the fire.”

Then, cursing his impulsiveness, he ran to what remained of the Ashoka Gardens. But, before he got there he heard voices from heaven assuring him that Sita was alive, that she was well, and that she was absorbed in the hope of Rama’s return. Hanuman recovered and fled the burning city. He ran to the beach and once again took the prodigious leap.