Orientation
For generations, the Indian masses have heard tales of Ramayan(and other epics) from their elders, saints, preachers, books and so on. Our generation is fortunate to have access to painstakingly done research and fathomless information, and a lot of it is available easily. The times have also changed a lot, hence, it is essential for a rational Indian to periodically read the epics like a work of history, rather than simply listening and accepting those as folktales.
Hanuman is known to have at least the following talents(many more are documented but my focus is on the listed ones):
1. Extreme physical prowess.
2. Unrivalled combat skills.
3. Accomplished career diplomat.
4. Statesmanship.
5. Profound knowledge of the Ved(Hindi: वेद), Shastras(Hindi: शास्त्र), grammar.
6. Astute communicator.
Sadly, the Indian society has reduced Hanuman to a celibate, muscular ‘God’ rather than a versatile person who can serve as an ideal of many skills that are crucial in the practical world. This series of posts will focus on Hanuman and his endeavours from the viewpoint of a history buff
Context
- More than a month had elapsed since Sugreev(Hindi: सुग्रीव) dispatched the search parties in all directions, to locate Sita(Hindi: सीता).
- Failure to locate Sita meant bad news for everyone – Sugreev would execute the failed Vanaras(Hindi: वानर), conflicts would erupt between Sugreev and Ram(Hindi: राम), internal turbulence would destroy Sugreev’s kingdom.
- Hanuman’s legendary feat to reach Lanka came just in nick of time!
- During his ‘Mission Lanka’, Hanuman demonstrated his vast skillset, and virtues. Even scratching surface of his feats during this mission needs several posts.
- Till this point, the epic, as well as the folklore highlight ‘Finding Sita’s whereabouts’ as Hanuman’s primary/sole mission. While this is one fact, the overall scope of the Hanuman’s Lanka mission was much wider.
Situation
- Hanuman’s overnight search for Sita was fruitless, and he experienced a range of emotions(from desolation to resolution).
- At the dawn, Hanuman chucked despair. He decided to check out(for Sita) Ashok vatika.
- Hanuman was aware that alike Ram, Sita also enjoyed visiting lush green woods, and saunter in Nature. He hoped that at least for assuaging her anguish, Sita would visit Ashok Vatika.
- While combing the Vatika, Hanuman spotted a marble-white ‘चैत्यप्रासाद’ which had at least 1000 pillars. Soon, he spotted a beautiful, charming, attractive but desolate, exhausted, sulking, emaciated woman who was wearing a soiled clothes, was devoid of any ornaments, and was surrounded/guarded by राक्षशिणीs(female rakshasas).
- I request the readers to put themselves in Hanuman’s shoes:
- He had never seen Sita, so there was no chance he could identify her by a mere sighting. What if she wasn’t Sita?
- He couldn’t simply pop up – it might have alerted the राक्षशिणीs, thereby, leading to his capture.
- Even if he had approached stealthily, what if Sita would have panicked, and cried out for help?
- To summarize, Hanuman exercised caution before initiating a conversation.
How Hanuman established Sita’s identity?
Hanuman considered the following parameters to validate identity of the solitary woman he spotted in Ashok Vatika:
Physical Features, and Personality Traits
- Hanuman believed that Sita had a glorious character, and would resist Ravan‘s lecherous advances. So given that woman’s appearance, he had hunch that she could be Sita.
- Ram had praised Sita’s beauty and comeliness. Hanuman could correlate, in spite of the woman’s shabby, & sorry state.
Ornaments
- There were two sets of ornaments:
- The ones Sita had dropped while being kidnapped by Ravan. Sugreev and his associates had collected them.
- The ones that woman was wearing.
- Hanuman assumed that the ornament set 1. corresponded to the missing ones on that woman’s body.
- Ram had described in detail the ornaments set 2., and Hanuman had memorized the same. He could identify those on that woman’s body in spite of the shine lost to dirt, and rough handling:
- A specific pair of कुण्डल(classic Indian earrings)
- A कर्णफूल(a type of ornament larger than an earring) having a design that resembled sharp teeth of a dog.
- The design of bangles, bracelets, and other ornaments on the hands.
Clothing
Sita had tore a piece of cloth/robe that she was wearing when Ravan kidnapped her. She then wrapped some ornaments, and dropped them.
Hanuman had seen that cloth, and the colour of the clothes that the woman was wearing matched with the former(in spite of being much unclean).
State of mind
As inconsolable as Ram was, the woman was in a worse state. Hanuman had been observing her for the entire day, and he noticed following about the woman:
- Emaciated, and exhausted.
- Sobbing frequently.
- Surrounded by Rakshashis, and terrified.
Conclusion
Hanuman, based on the parameters described above, deduced that the woman in Ashok Vatika was Sita. While locating Sita was one of his primary objectives, how did he converse with Sita? Well, I will post that soon.
Life is about being kinetic 