Hanuman Crosses the Ocean

This is the story of the bravest mission anyone had ever attempted — a mission filled with roaring oceans, fire, and one extraordinary warrior monkey.

Lord Rama's beloved wife Sita had been kidnapped by the evil demon king Ravana and hidden in his magnificent kingdom of Lanka, on an island across a vast and thundering ocean. Rama was heartbroken. He searched every corner of the earth, and finally his monkey army reached the southern seashore and peered across the endless, storm-tossed water.

Lanka was there — somewhere beyond the horizon. But no one could cross that ocean.

Among Rama's friends was the great Hanuman — son of Vayu, the Wind God. Hanuman had enormous strength, the ability to fly, the wisdom of a scholar, and a love for Lord Rama that filled his entire being. Yet Hanuman himself sometimes forgot how powerful he was.

Old Jambavan, the wise bear general, looked steadily at Hanuman and said, "Hanuman! Do you not know yourself? When you were just a baby, you leaped toward the sun itself, thinking it was a mango! You have the strength of a hundred mountains and the speed of the wind. Only YOU can cross this ocean. Only YOU can find Mother Sita."

Hanuman sat quietly for a moment. He closed his eyes and thought of Lord Rama — his face, his gentle eyes, his trust. Warmth flooded through Hanuman's entire body. He felt his own power stir awake inside him.

He climbed to the top of the tallest mountain on the shore, planted his feet wide, took a deep breath — and LEAPED.

He shot across the sky higher than the clouds, faster than a comet. The ocean roared below him. Storms howled. Sea creatures tried to stop him. A mountain rose from the water offering to let him rest — but Hanuman paused only a moment, thanked the mountain, and flew on.

He reached Lanka — a golden city more beautiful and terrible than anything he had imagined. Shrinking himself to the size of a cat, he slipped through the high walls and searched silently through the night.

At last, in a garden of ancient trees, he found her — Sita, sitting under an Ashoka tree, surrounded by demon guards, but completely calm and dignified. Hanuman dropped down beside her and placed Rama's ring in her palm.

Sita's eyes filled with tears. "Tell Rama I am alive," she whispered. "Tell him I am waiting."

On his way out, Hanuman allowed the demon soldiers to capture him — because he wanted to deliver a direct message to Ravana. Ravana was furious. He commanded his soldiers to wrap Hanuman's tail in cloth and set it on fire as punishment.

But Hanuman's tail was no ordinary tail. No matter how much cloth they piled on, it kept growing longer! And when the flames were lit — Hanuman let them burn for a moment, smiled, and snapped his chains.

Hop — hop — hop — he leaped from palace to palace across Lanka's golden rooftops, his blazing tail setting fire after fire, until Ravana's mighty Lanka glowed orange against the dark sky. Then Hanuman doused his tail in the ocean, and with one mighty leap, crossed back.

He landed before Lord Rama and folded his hands. "Mata Sita is alive, Lord. She is waiting for you."

Rama's eyes filled with grateful tears. He embraced Hanuman tightly. "I can never repay this debt, Hanuman."

Hanuman simply smiled. "Your grace is my reward, Lord. I need nothing else."