Rama Meets Hanuman

Rama and Lakshmana soon reached Rishyamukha.
It was a hilly region,
where many vanaras lived.
Sugreeva was their leader.
He had the assistance and friendship of Hanuman
a valiant and highly intelligent vanara.
Hanuman introduced himself to the two brothers
as the Minister of the Vanara king Sugreeva.
He enquired about who Rama and Lakshmana were,
and what they were doing in the forest.
Rama told Hanuman about Ayodhya
his exile and abduction of Sita.
Hanuman took Rama and Lakshmana to Sugreeva.
They told their story to him.
Sugreeva made an offer to Rama,
that if Rama were to help him
to get rid of Vaali.
Then Sugreeva would summon the entire monkey,
and bear clan to help Rama find Sita.
Rama seeing that,
injustice was done to Sugreeva
by Vaali, agreed.
In a fierce duel between Vaali and Sugreeva
Rama shot dead Vaali with his arrow
Sugreeva took over the reins of Kishkintha.
Thus, with the help of the entire vanara clan,
the search for Sita began...
Fierce vanara warriors went North,
south, East and West
The troops that went south were led by the trusted Hanuman.
Searching thoroughly and unable to find Sita,
they finally reached the sea shore.
They wondered where to look for her now...
Jatayu's brother, the aged Sampathy,
also came to hear of the whole story,
through the vanaras.
He felt sad that Jatayu
had been killed by Ravana.
Although, he could not fly,
he still had the sharp sight of a vulture.
He could see into the distance.
And he was the one to see Sita far across the ocean,
all alone and sad in the island of Lanka.
The vanaras felt happy
that atleast they knew where Sita was,
but they wondered,
how they could cross the vast ocean and reach Lanka.
Hanuman prayed to Rama
Soon Hanuman was growing in size
and became so big
that the hills turned into tiny stones
under his feet.
Then, thinking of his mission to find Sita,
Hanuman pressed his foot
hard into the ground
and leaped high into the air
he was soon flying over the ocean.
Finally, he landed
on the glistening shores of Lanka.
Once in Lanka, he set out to find Sita
Hanuman entered the Ashoka garden
Beneath one of the trees
was the most beautiful woman
Hanuman had ever seen
she was Sita.
Sita was surrounded by many she demons.
Hanuma waited for all the demons to sleep,
As he approached Sita.
Sita's heart was filled with gladness
as he presented her with Rama's ring
and told her that he was the messenger of Rama.
Hanuman narrated the entire story
of how Rama met Sugreeva
and their search for Sita.
Sita gave hanuman a jewel that she wore,
which Rama would recognize,
She blessed Hanuman as he prepared to leave.
Suddenly the demons awoke
When Ravana heard about the destruction
caused by a monkey
he sent his son Indrajit
to capture the monkey.
Indrajit was a very skilled warrior,
He used one of his powerful weapons on Hanuman
imprisoned him and dragged him to Ravana's court.
When Hanuman was brought before the king
he was very impressed with the ten headed Ravana.
Hanuman then warned Ravana
about the danger he would be facing
if he did not return Sita to Rama
and asked for forgiveness.
Ravana became wild with rage
He ordered that Hanuman should
be put to death at once.
But, Vibheeshana his younger brother intervened
and pointed out
that it would be improper to kill a messenger.
Then, Ravana ordered Hanuman's tail
to be set on fire
The king's men wrapped
Hanuman's tail in cloth and set fire to it.
With his long tail on fire
Hanuman flew into the sky
He decided to set the city of Lanka ablaze
to punish Ravana.
He flew low over the city,
and set each building, palace and garden on fire
flames shot high into the sky
Then he finally jumped into the ocean
to put off the fire on his tail.
Hanuman reached Kishkintha
and told Rama all about Sita's safety.
Rama was overjoyed,
when he saw the jewel that,
Hanuman had brought back.