Extra Reading: Ramayana Notes Part C

 Ramayana Notes Part C - Hanuman's Leap

Characters:

Angada (M) "King of Vanara" helped Rama find his wife Sita 

Vali (M) "The Monkey King" killed by Rama

Jambavan (M) "The King of Bears" immortal to all but his father Brahma

Hanuman (M) "God of Strength, Knowledge, and Bhakti Lord of Victory" Supreme destroyer of evil and protector of devotees

Vayu (M) "The God of Wind and Breath" spiritual father of Hanuman and Bhima

Anjana (F) "female spirit of the clouds and waters (apsara)" the mother of Hanuman

Indra (M) "King of the Gods; Ruler of Heaven; God of Thunder, Rains, and River flows"  king of the highest heaven called Saudharmakalpa

Brahma (M) "The God of Creation; The Creator of the Universe, Vedas, and People; Prajapati 'The Lord of the People'; Supreme Being" Wise among the Devas; Parabrahman 

Sita (F) "daughter of the earth goddess" dedicated, self-sacrificial, and courageous

Ravana (M) "King of Lanka" antagonist; a symbol of evil

Garuda (M) "King of Birds and a kite-like creature" protector with the power to go swiftly anywhere

Rakshasa "man-eaters" supernatural being in Hindu mythology

Places:

Mahendra Mountains "ancient mountain" visited by Arjuna as part of his pilgrimage 

Mount Mainaka "rose up from the sea and provided a resting place to Hanuman" situated between India and Sir Lanka

Lanka "situated on a plateau between three mountain peaks known as the Trikuta Mountains," the city of Lanka is said to be burnt down by Hanuman

Plot:

 The leader of the bears, Jambavan tells the story of Hanuman's birth from his father Vayu and his mother Anjana to support him as he makes the big jump. Hanuman's birth portrays the amazing powers that he was blessed with. Hanuman prayed to the sun and his father before making the leap and wished to discover Sita or bring Ravana to captivity. He gathered his body and mind. As Hanuman was the son of Vayu, Mainaka Mountain rose up and gave a resting spot to him to show his gratitude to Vayu. As he makes the crossing, Hanuman encounters a fierce rakshasi who tries to devour him, but he did not allow this to happen, and in turn, killed her and arrived at the shore of Lanka with the energy that he focused on before making his leap. 

Important Phrases:

Bhima granted him the boon that his son should be invulnerable

Prove thy prowess now and bound across the ocean

Swelling with pride and might

Hanuman stood with head uplifted like a bull

He grew great and stood like a fire

Hanuman sprang up so that the very trees were dragged upward by his impetus and fell back again behind him

Author's Note: To have a better understanding of Hanuman for my first Storybook story, I decided to do more reading about him in the Ramayana. through this, I have confirmed that Hanuman is a great start to the elements of yoga due to his embodiment of pure devotion and humility seen throughout these two stories. In Hanuman's Leap, I learned that Hanuman valued centering himself before making big decisions. He gathered the energy of his heart and mind before attempting to leap across the ocean to reach the shore of Lanka. Hanuman used his powers to ground himself in his abilities to grow and shrink at his will and successfully maneuvers around the rakshasa's evil plan to show his loyalty to Rama and Sita. 

Bibliography: Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists by Sister Nivedita (1914).

Image Information: Hanuman Battles a Sea-Demon. Source.