Hindu Religious Studies 59
Hanuman moved around the country looking for Sita. Continuing his
search, he came to a beautiful forest. It was called Asoka forest.
There he discovered a beautiful lady. She was imprisoned in a
garden of Ashoka trees. Her eyes were full of tears. She looked very
sad. She released deep sighs at times. She was guarded by some
demons. Hanuman thought that she was Sita.
How Hanuman would introduce him to Sita? Some of the demons
were sleeping. Some of them were roaming here and there. Hanuman
sat on top of a tree. He started telling the story King Dasharatha and
his elder son Rama. He narrated the exile of Rama, Sita and
Laksmana. Assuming the form of a tiny monkey, Hanuman crept
down the tree. He gave her the ring of Rama and took the one from
her. Hanuman assured Sita that soon Rama, Lakshmana, Sugriva and
his monkey army would rescue her.
Hanuman did not come back at once. He wanted to measure the
strength of the enemies. In his rage, Hanuman destroyed trees of the
forests. He attacked the army. Many soilders of Ravana got killed.
But at last he was captured by the Ravana's soldiers. They set fire in
his tail. With that fire Hanuman burnt Lanka. Then he went back to
Rama. He carried the ring and other materials from Sita that gave her
identity. Rama took preparations along with his brothers, friends and
army to rescue Sita.
The War Event (Yuddha Kanda)
To reach Lanka one has to cross the ocean. Rama decided to bridge
the ocean. Otherwise it was impossible for any one but Hanuman to
cross it. One of the monkey's name was Nal. He made a bridge
across the ocean. Rama, Lakshmana, Sugriva and the army went to
Lanka over the bridge. Both the sides were ready to fight. Ravana's
brother Vibishana and grandmother Malyaban became thoughtful.