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When Hanuman leaped across the ocean, his mission was singular: find Mother Sita. But to do so, he had to journey through the heart of adharma—Ravana’s golden city of Lanka. What he saw there was not just a powerful kingdom but a world of breathtaking opulence, moral decay, and a profound test of his own righteous spirit.
This is the story of Hanuman’s search, a journey that reveals the stark contrast between material splendor and spiritual poverty.
The Golden Cage: A City of Illusions
As Hanuman entered Lanka, he was met with a spectacle of unimaginable wealth. Golden palaces with jeweled domes reflected the sun, and the air hummed with sweet music. But beneath the surface, a darker reality lurked. He saw Ravana’s spies, some fierce, some beautiful, all armed and vigilant. He navigated past demonic armies protecting the inner sanctums, a fortress built on fear.
He moved from one chamber to another. In some, demons lay intoxicated, lost in wine and revelry. In others, he saw them embracing their wives, their senses dulled by indulgence. He witnessed women anointing themselves with sandalwood, some laughing, some consumed by anger, some lost in play with their husbands. It was a world drowning in sensory pleasure, a world that had forgotten its spiritual center.
The Magnificent Illusion: The Pushpak Vimana
As his search continued, Hanuman came upon a magnificent chamber housing the legendary Pushpak Vimana. This celestial chariot, crafted by the divine architect Vishwakarma, was a marvel. It could fly at the pilot’s will, its white palaces adorned with jewels, flowers, and serene lakes.
Hanuman was mesmerized. The Vimana depicted divine snakes, beautiful horses, and even artificial elephants offering water to an idol of a radiant Goddess Lakshmi holding a lotus. Every inch was decorated with precious gems and metals. Overwhelmed by its beauty, Hanuman wondered, “Is this heaven? Or have I reached the abode of Brahma himself?” It was a testament to Ravana’s power, a divine creation captured and held by adharma.
The Heart of Decadence: Ravana’s Inner Chambers
Next, Hanuman entered a sprawling building, a palace of crystal and gold. Here, he saw thousands of beautiful women—the wives of sages, Gandharvas, and celestial beings—all now serving Ravana, captivated by his power. They were resting after a night of dancing and drinking, their bodies strewn in exhausted slumber.
Their hair was disheveled, their ornaments scattered. Some rested their heads on other women, mistaking them for pillows. Others clung to their musical instruments—a veena held like a beloved child, a mridang pressed between limbs. They were all overcome by a sleep induced by intoxication and desire, their hearts enamored with their demon king.
And in the center of it all lay Ravana. He rested on a soft, golden bed, breathing deeply after a night of indulgence. Hanuman saw his two powerful arms and single head, adorned with armlets, a far cry from the ten-headed, twenty-armed form he assumed in battle. His chest was broad, marked with scars from ancient battles with Lord Vishnu’s discus and Indra’s thunderbolt.
Surrounding him were his wives, fanning him, resting at his feet, and lying in his embrace. Among them, Hanuman saw one woman of extraordinary beauty and grace: Mandodari, Ravana’s chief queen. For a fleeting, hopeful moment, Hanuman’s heart leaped. Could this be Sita? He thrashed his tail in joy, ready to believe his search was over.
The Test of Dharma: A Devotee’s Dilemma
But a moment later, profound wisdom dawned on him. He thought:
“Mother Janaki is the epitome of a faithful wife. Separated from Lord Rama, she would neither rest so comfortably, nor eat, nor adorn herself. To drink wine and be with another man is utterly impossible. This cannot be her.”
His joy turned to resolve. His search was not over. But as he moved through the chambers, looking upon these women in various states of undress and intoxication, a doubt entered his mind:
“I have never before cast my eyes upon another’s wife in this manner. By seeing these women in such states, will my own Dharma be corrupted?”
This was Hanuman’s inner battle. But his clarity of purpose gave him the answer:
“My mind is pure. My heart holds no ill will or desire. I am searching for a woman among other women. This is my duty. The intention of the heart is what defines an action, and my heart is stable, focused only on my service to Lord Rama.”
With his spirit reaffirmed, he continued his search.
Experience Hanuman’s Moral and Spiritual Journey on YouTube!
Hanuman’s search through Lanka is a powerful exploration of temptation, duty, and spiritual clarity. To truly grasp the opulence he witnessed and the profound inner dilemma he faced, we have brought this story to life on our YouTube channel, Vibes of Divinity.
Let the visuals and sacred narrative guide you through the golden-but-hollow halls of Ravana’s palace.
[Click here to watch: What Hanuman Saw in Lanka: A Journey Through Ravana’s Palace]
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The Depths of Despair and the Dawn of Hope
After searching every palace, every chamber, and even the “Madhushala” (hall of wine) filled with vessels of meat and drink, Hanuman found no sign of Sita. Despair began to creep in.
“Has that evil Ravana killed her for protecting her honor? Has she given up her life in grief?”
He thought of the vanaras waiting for him, of Lord Rama’s unbearable sorrow if he returned with no news. The weight of failure was immense. He considered ending his own life rather than returning empty-handed. He thought of destroying Lanka himself.
But then, just as his hope was about to fade, his eyes fell upon a grove of trees he had not yet explored. It was the Ashoka Vatika.
A new wave of determination washed over him. Bowing to Lord Rama, Sita, and the gods, he resolved to search one last time. With renewed hope, Kesari Nandan, the son of the Wind God, proceeded towards the one place where a pure soul might find solace in a city of sin.
What does Hanuman’s inner conflict about Dharma teach you about intention and action? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
