Hanuman goes looking for Sita

Hanuman goes looking for Sita
Debi Prasad Choudhary
Los Angeles, 01/18/2026

After the monsoons, Hanuman came back with Sugreev to meet Ram and organize the mission to search and rescue Sita. They made groups of monkey and bear shoulders and sent them in all directions. But, Ram had an intuitive feeling that Hanuman will be successful. He called Hanuman and gave his finger ring to show to Sita on locating her to serve the purpose of identification.   

Hanuman went to south with his team that included Angada, son of Bali, to look for Sita. He arrived in the tip of south India where two seas met Indian ocean. The team already had some clue from spys about the abduction of Sita by the king of Lanka Ravan. Finally, the information from the crippled vulture Sampati confirmed the location of Sita in Lanka. Hanuman decided to go alone to locate her.

He and others in his team reached the tip of Indian peninsula. Hanuman jumped towards Lanka. When he was in the middle of the ocean, a sea demon named Surasa- mother of the snakes suddenly appeared and said I am going to eat you. Hanuman politely said, O mother, I am going to locate mother Sita, the wife of Ram. Once I complete the mission, I shall come back to you and you can eat me. Surasa ddi not listen and insisted that she is going to eat right than and there. Hanuman became big in size to prevent her eating him. Surasa opened her mouth twice the size of Hanuman. And, Hanuman increased the size. This increasing the size of Hanuman and mouth of Surasa continued for some time. When the mouth of Surasa became too big, Hanuman became very small and enter her mouth and quickly came out. Hanuman, than, told Surasa, O mother, you have now eaten me, at least symbolically. Now, let me go on my mission. Surasa was glad and told Hanuman that the Gods sent her to test the skill of Hanuman. Now, she is glad to know that Hanuman is very skillful and will complete his mission successfully. Surasa belssed Hanuman and wished him success.

Hanuman proceeded to Lanka and saw that the guardian Goddess Lankani is at the gate not to allow any enemy to enter the fort. Hanuman became very small, the size of a mosquito and tried to enter the fort. Lankani recognized and caught hold of him and told I am not letting you enter Lanka. Hanuman kicked her hard. Lankani bomented blood as a result. Than Lankani said, many years ago Gods told her when a monkey kick her like this the end of the atrocities of Ravan would come to an end. Now is the time and she let Hanuman enter Lanka.

As Hanuman entered Lanka, he saw lavish lifestyle of the residents. People eat, drink and sleep, they enjoy life. There is no higher intellectual or spiritual activity. While wondering, Hanuman came across a clean home with all sambor symbols of holy practicing life style. The home had a small Tulsi Plant. He thought a good man might be living there and wanted to meet the occupant. As he approached the house, a man, named Vibhisan, got up by chanting the holy name of God.  Vibhisan asked Hanuman, I am feeling so elevated by see you and wondering who you are? As Hanuman described the story of Ram, Vibhisan was glad that he met a good person, and described his hard life in Lanka. Hanuman said, Ram is the incarnation of God and very kind to his followers. Even though he is a monkey, Ram loves him and and very kind. 

After few conversations, Vibhisan gave detail of where abouts of Sita. He said, Site lives in the garden called Ashok, surrounded by Ashoka Trees in the middle of Lanka. Hanuman proceeded looking for Ashoka Garden.

After the rainy season was over,
Hanuman came back to Ram with King Sugreev.

Ram and Sugreev planned how to find Sita.
They made many groups of monkeys and bears.
They sent them in all directions to search.

Ram looked at Hanuman with trust and love.
In his heart, Ram felt sure that Hanuman would succeed.

Ram called Hanuman close.
He gave him his finger ring and said,
“When you find Sita, show her this ring.
She will know it is from me.”

Hanuman bowed and held the ring carefully.

Hanuman went south with his team.
With him was Angada, the son of Bali.
They searched far and wide.

Soon, they reached the far end of the land,
where the great ocean stretched wide.

From others, they heard about Lanka
and the king named Ravan.

Then they met an old vulture named Sampati.
Sampati told them that Sita was in Lanka.

Hanuman knew what he must do.
He decided to go alone.

Hanuman stood at the edge of the land.
He took a deep breath and jumped high into the sky.
He flew over the vast ocean.

While flying, a sea mother named Surasa appeared.
She opened her mouth wide and said,
“I will eat you.”

Hanuman spoke politely and said,
“Mother, I am on a mission for Ram.
Please let me go now.
I will come back after my work is done.”

Surasa did not agree.

Hanuman grew bigger.
Surasa opened her mouth wider.

Hanuman grew even bigger.
Surasa opened her mouth even wider.

Then Hanuman suddenly became very small.
He slipped inside her mouth
and quickly came out again.

Hanuman bowed and said,
“Mother, you have eaten me.
Now please let me go.”

Surasa smiled.
She blessed Hanuman and said,
“The gods sent me to test you.
You will succeed.”

Hanuman flew on toward Lanka.

At the gates of Lanka stood a guardian named Lankani.
She tried to stop Hanuman.

Hanuman gently struck her.
Lankani understood at once.

She said,
“Long ago, I was told this would happen.
The end of Ravan’s wrong deeds is near.”

She stepped aside and let Hanuman enter.

Inside Lanka, Hanuman looked around quietly.
He saw people eating, sleeping, and enjoying comforts.

Then Hanuman saw a small, clean house.
A holy plant grew in front of it.

Hanuman felt peace there.
He knew a good person lived inside.

A man named Vibhisan came out,
softly chanting God’s name.

Vibhisan looked at Hanuman with joy and said,
“Who are you?
My heart feels happy seeing you.”

Hanuman told him about Ram.

Vibhisan listened with care and relief.
He spoke about his lonely life in Lanka.

Hanuman said gently,
“Ram is kind and loving.
He cares for all who love him.”

Vibhisan smiled and helped Hanuman.

He said,
“Sita lives in Ashoka Garden,
surrounded by Ashoka trees.”

Hanuman thanked him and moved on.

He began looking for the Ashoka Garden.