Hanumanji though that It will be an incomplete mission if the messenger does not meet with the king and convey the message directly. He decided to attract the attention of the royal guards so that eventually he will be able to see Ravana.

He started creating damage and havoc. Eventually the Rakshasas went to Ravana and told him that a monkey is creating nuisance.

Picture Credit: Dr. K. U.Krisnnakumar and Guruvayoor Devaswom

Ravana sent several of his Rakshasas and his minister’s sons. They were all killed by Hanumanji. He sent his son Akshakumara who was also killed. Ravana finally sent Indrajit, his elder son. Hanumanji and Indrajit fought fiercely. Hanumanji was injured but not subdued. Meghanada used Brahmastra. Hanumanji had great reverence for Lord Brahma, and he accepted it. He fainted and fell unconscious for a moment. Indrajit then tied him down and brought him to Ravana's court.

Picture Credit: J. Martin and Manoj Publications

As Hanuman was blessed by the Devas before, he was unaffected, and he did not feel any pain. Anyone who chants Rama's name will develop devotion and all their bondages will be cut asunder, and they will reach the abode of Lord Vishnu. Since Hanuman’s heart was the abode of Rama, he was not affected. When you are not affected by the bondage of birth and death, why should you be worried about the physical bondage caused by a mere rope?

Adhyatama Ramayana thus conveys the protective power of Bhakti.

Picture Credit: Swami Raghaveshananda and Ramakrishna Mutt

Hanumanji told Ravana and Rakshasas that abducting Sita is a reason for them to get killed. He justified his acts saying he is a fickle minded Vanara and that his body is not affected since he is blessed by Vishnu.

He asked Ravana to realize that Ravana is atman himself. And not separate from Paramatma. He advised Ravana to get rid of the six negatives, lust, rage, delusion, greed, vanity, and rivalry. He advised Ravana not to discriminate between gods, demons, humans, animals, birds, and snakes, etc., because the differences are only in the physical body. Atman is our essence. He urged him to start on the path of self-awareness. He asked him to start with the chant of Rama Nama and surrender to Rama.

Thus, Adhyatma Ramayana uses an important event of Ramayana to convey the message of Advaita and Bhakti.

Picture Credit: Dr. K. U.Krisnnakumar and Guruvayoor Devaswom

Hearing the detailed discourse of Hanuman on Atman and the path of devotion, Ravana was even more furious. All his twenty eyes became red with rage, and he decreed: "Cut this tiny monkey into thousand pieces. I have never seen anyone so impudent. He is not afraid of anyone, and he is not humble either. He must be stupid to blabber like this in front of me. Who is this Rama you are extolling about? Who is this Sugriva? I will kill them, then Janaki and you."

Picture Credit: J. Martin and Manoj Publications

Vibhishana advised Ravana that Hanumanji is only a messenger and he should not be harmed. Moreover, if Hanumanji is killed, Ravana’s message to Rama will also not be delivered. So, he advised Ravana to leave an indelible mark on Hanumanji’s body so that the message is carried back.

The Rakshasas decided to burn the tail of Hanumanji as the tail is a very important body part of vanaras. Hanumanji then wreaked havoc across Lanka with his burning tail. Sita Mata’s Ashoka vana was spared as she was chanting Rama’s name. She told Hanumanji that she does not wish to be carried back by Hanumanji. She would wait for Rama to kill Ravana and then she will go back with him in royal style. It would not add to Rama’s fame, if Sita secretly escaped with Hanumanji.

Picture Credit: Dr. K. U.Krisnnakumar and Guruvayoor Devaswom

Vanaras jumped with joy when they saw Hanumanji returned and learnt about his achievement in Lanka.

As they walked back to Kishkinda, they saw Sugriva’s garden ripe with fruits. They told Angada that they would eat and drink quickly to recover. Dadhimugha was the guard of the garden and he tried stopping the vanaras. He ran to Sugriva and reported what happened. Sugriva realized that if the vanaras are celebrating, they must have good news. He told Dadhimuga not to worry about the garden and to tell the vanaras to come quickly.

Picture Credit: Swami Raghaveshananda and Ramakrishna Mutt

Hanumanji narrated the entire sequence of events at Lanka to Rama. He conveyed Sita Mata’s message that Rama and Lakshmana should reach Lanka and kill the Rakshasas at the soonest. He told Rama that Sita Mata wanted Rama and Lakshmana to reach there as soon as possible and kill the Rakshasas. Hanumanji said now I am seeking your blessings and refuge and asked for next instruction from Rama.

Rama said he would give anything Hanumanji wants but nothing can compensate Hanumanji for what he has done for Rama. Saying this Rama embraced Hanumanji lovingly.

Lord Siva narrated to Parvati that such a fortune of being embraced by Lord Rama does not come to everyone. Parvati waited to hear the rest of Ramakatha.

Perhaps Rama embracing Hanumanji reiterates Adhyatma Ramayana’s core message that Atman is Paramatma.

Picture Credit: Swami Raghaveshananda and Ramakrishna Mutt