Hanuman meeting Devi Sita at Ashoka Vana

(Valmiki Ramayana - Sundara Kanda - 14 to 40)

• Meditation:

► I meditate on Bhakta Hanuman meeting Devi Sita at Ashoka Vana.

• Puranic Events:

1. Hanuman searching the Ashoka Vana: Hanuman then entered the Ashoka Vana and became impressed by its beauty. It was decorated with various trees laden with fruits and flowers. It was decorated with ponds inlaid with gems and visited by various birds. Hanuman thought that Devi Sita must be coming to these ponds which must be dear to her.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Sundara Kanda - 14)

2. Hanuman seeing Devi Sita: Hanuman searched the Ashoka Vana and saw Devi Sita. She was emaciated for not taking food and full of grief. Her eyes were full of tears and she was helplessly looking here and there, surrounded by demonesses. From her beauty and grace (although covered with dust), Hanuman recognised her to be Devi Sita and became sad seeing her pitiable condition, but became happy at finding her at last. Hanuman saw Ravana entering the Ashoka garden followed by his wives during the early dawn. Ravana tried to entice Devi Sita with offers of jewellery, wealth. comfort and power. Devi Sita told Ravana (holding a straw between them) to become friend of Rama and return her, and warned that he will be slain otherwise and Lanka will be destroyed. Ravana gave two months time to Devi Sita, either to surrender or get killed. He ordered the demonesses to bring her under his control by any means. Getting orders from Ravana the demonesses started frightening and persuaded Devi Sita to marry Ravana. Devi Sita stuck to her devotion to husband and cited examples of devotion of Sachi to Indra, Arundhati to Vasishtha, Rohini to Chandra, Lopamudra to Agastya, Sukanya to Chyavana, Savitri to Satyavana, Srimati to Kapila, Madayanti to Saudasa, Keshini to Sagara and Damayanti to Nala. The demonesses displayed further anger and threatened to eat her that very moment. Devi Sita wailed and decided to give up her life and also warned the demonesses that the city of Lanka will get destroyed.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Sundara Kanda - 15 to 26)

3. Trijata telling her dream: When the demonesses of Ravana kept on harassing Devi Sita, Trijata stopped them and told about her dream. She saw Rama and Sita wearing white clothes and garlands ascending the sky in a palanquin of swans. On the other hand she saw Ravana in red clothes with a confused mind sinking inside the ground. She saw indications of the destruction of Lanka and the demons except Vibhisana. Trijata told the demonesses that Sita is not an ordinary woman, so she should not be tortured but entreated.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Sundara Kanda - 27)

4. Devi Sita seeing good omens while trying to end her life: Devi Sita recollected the time limit and two months given by Ravana and thought of herself as a prisoner sentenced to death. In grief she tried to end her life by hanging with the braid of her own hair. Then some good omens appeared before her. Her left eye quivered. Her left shoulder and left thigh also quivered. Devi Sita became joyful.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Sundara Kanda - 28 to 29)

5. Hanuman pondering about his course of action: Hanuman pondered about his course of action. He thought that he should console Devi Sita, else she will give up her life. But while trying to console her the demonesses may see him and creating a great commotion will try to kill him. Also, after seeing him, Devi Sita may get frightened and start screaming, thinking him to be Ravana in guise. Thinking about various options, Hanuman decided that he will eulogise Rama which will not create any fear in Devi Sita.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Sundara Kanda - 30)

6. Hanuman narrating the story of Rama: Hanuman, sitting on a Shimshapa tree, narrated the story of Rama. He eulogised Rama. He mentioned how Devi Sita was abducted by Ravana. He mentioned how Rama met Sugreeva and started searching for Devi Sita in all directions. Devi Sita heard the words of Hanuman and became filled with joy. She spotted Hanuman on the Shimshapa tree.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Sundara Kanda - 31)

7. Hanuman meeting Devi Sita: Seeing Hanuman perched on the Shimshapa tree, Devi Sita became surprised. She prayed to Lord Brihaspati and others that the words of Hanuman become true. Hanuman came down and humbly asked her whether she was Devi Sita. Devi Sita told her story to Hanuman. Hanuman revealed himself as a messenger of Sri Rama. However Devi Sita started suspecting Hanuman as Ravana in disguise. Hanuman dispelled her suspicion by narrating the glories of Sri Rama and the entire story of how he met Rama. Hanuman, further showed the ring of Rama to Devi Sita and told her that Rama will soon come here with a huge army of vanaras.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Sundara Kanda - 32 to 36)

8. Hanuman proposing to take Devi Sita, Devi Sita declining: Hanuman proposed to Devi Sita to carry her on his back to Rama at that very moment. Devi Sita declined citing various reasons. Firstly, the demons will follow Hanuman and engage him in a battle in the sky. She will then fall down from his back and taken away by the demons who will hide her in a very secret place. Secondly, she cannot touch any other man apart from Rama, wilfully. Devi Sita instead asked Hanuman to bring Rama to Lanka within two months, the time alloted by Ravana.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Sundara Kanda - 37)

9. Hanuman asking for a token of remembrance: Hanuman then asked Devi Sita to give him a token of remembrance. Devi Sita told him the secret story of a crow, the son of Indra, who pecked her in the forest. Rama, out of fury created a Brahma Astra out of a blade of grass and discharged it towards the crow. The crow flew around the three worlds but could not get shelter. Finally he took refuge of Sri Rama. Rama saved his life but the Brahma Astra destroyed his right eye. Devi Sita further gave Hanuman her Chudamani (head-jewel) as a token of remembrance. Devi Sita expressed her doubt about how Rama and Lakshmana will cross the ocean and come to Lanka. Hanuman consoled her citing that the army of Sugreeva has many valiant vanaras who will accomplish the task. As another token of remembrance Devi Sita also told the secret story that once when a Tilaka mark was effaced from her forehead, Rama created another mark on her cheek. Hanuman left Devi Sita and went towards the northern direction.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Sundara Kanda - 38 to 40)

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