Hanumanji Gets Dronagiri To Lanka

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Hanumanji Gets Dronagiri To Lanka

Hanumanji rushed toward Dronagiri in the Himalayas from the battlefield in Lanka. He had to get those five herbs from Dronagiri before sunrise—the herbs that Lanka's vaidya, Sushena, wanted to revive Lakshmana.

As Hanumanji was traveling through the sky, he felt very thirsty. As soon as he crossed the sea, he started looking for water. After some time, he could smell the fragrance coming from a yajna kunda.

Hanumanji looked down; it was a Muni's ashrama. Then water must definitely be there. Hanumanji descended.

There was a Muni there.

The Muni said, 'Oh Pavana-putra! I know you are coming from the battlefield in Lanka. Don’t worry; Sri Rama is going to win this battle. I know everything—past, present, and future. Sri Rama will win, and Lakshmana has regained consciousness. He is normal now. Sit down; let me update you about what all happened in the battlefield after you left.'

'But, Oh! Sage, I am very thirsty. Let me have some water first.'

The Muni gave his kamandalu and said, 'Here, take it. You can drink from this.'

Hanumanji felt a little suspicious. Someone's jalapatra, such as kamandalu or pancha patra, is for exclusive personal use. You should not share it with someone. What is this Muni doing? Isn’t he aware of this?

The Muni also realized he had made a blunder.

Hanumanji said, 'I am very thirsty. This much water will not satisfy my thirst.'

'Ok, ok, this path here goes to the lake. Go there, drink as much water as you want, take a bath, and come back. I will give you mantra deeksha. Sushena forgot to tell you—without deeksha of special mantras, the herbs that he wanted will not be visible to you.'

As Hanumanji got into the lake, a crocodile caught his left leg. With his right leg, Hanumanji kicked at it really hard. The crocodile died, and from its body, an apsara came out.

She offered pranama to Hanumanji.

She said, 'I am Dhanyamalini. You have relieved me from the curse of Rishi Angira. Once, when he was at the lake, I playfully pulled at his leg. He cursed me to become a crocodile, then out of kindness said that Pavana-putra would come and relieve you from the curse. I am so grateful to you. But mind you, Hanumanji, there is no ashrama here. That is not a Muni. He is the mayavi Rakshasa, Kalanemi—from Lanka. He is trying to delay you.'

When Hanumanji came back, the mayavi was pretending to be making arrangements for the mantra deeksha.

Hanumanji said, 'Let me give guru dakshina first. Please accept this.'

Then he caught him with his tail and smashed him on the ground. Ravana had specifically sent Kalanemi to cause obstacles and delay Hanumanji. Lakshmana not reviving was very important for Ravana because, with Lakshmana alive, Meghanada’s life was always in danger.

Hanumanji reached the Himalayas soon and spotted Dronagiri. But he was not sure which part of the herbs to pick up—root, leaves, or flowers. He didn’t waste time; he picked up the entire Dronagiri and proceeded back.

On the way back, Hanumanji got a little lost and was flying above Ayodhya. Bharata, who was at Nandigram, thought it must be some mayavi Rakshasa trying to attack Ayodhya. He took out an arrow with a flat tip and hit Hanumanji in the chest. Hanumanji fell down unconscious.

Vayudeva stopped Dronagiri in the sky itself.

Soon Bharata realized whom he had shot down and said, 'If my devotion toward my elder brother is genuine, let Hanuman regain consciousness.'

Hanumanji got up. Bharata took him to the palace. There, Hanumanji met everyone and, after offering pranamas to all, took off for Lanka again.

There he kept Dronagiri down. Sushena climbed up the mountain and came down with all the herbs he needed. With them, he revived Lakshmana.

Lord Rama embraced Hanumanji and said, 'Today you have not only saved Lakshmana’s life, but the lives of all of us—mine, Seetha's, and all of those in Ayodhya. I am so grateful to you.'

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi