Reading Notes: The Burning of Lanka Part C

Hanuman from the monkey army suffered the burning of his tail by the hands of the rakshasa (maneating beings). Hanuman did this in order to get a better insight of the layout of the capital city Lanka. Sita caught word of the monkey's tail being on fire and lifted him up into prayer, asking for her God to take the pain and fire away from the monkey. When she did so the prayer was answered and Hanuman's tail was put out.
Once Hanuman's tail was no longer ablaze he ran around Lanka catching the city on fire. He burned all the buildings and the riches that lie in those buildings. Pausing and saddened by the thought of Sita dying Hanuman decides to return to the tree where he had left Sita. Once he arrived at the tree he realizes that Sita is not dead but rather alive and well. Here they discussed rescuing Rama and decided to return to their mountain range home.


Notes: this story was taken from The Burning of Lanka. Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists by Sister Nivedita (1914).

Photo information: Hanuman torching the city of Lanka. Wikimedia