Hanuman continued his journey towards Lanka after having addressed the request of Mainaka and subsequently defeating Surasa and Simhika. He then landed in Lanka.
निःसीममात्मबलमित्यनुदर्शयानो
हत्वैव तामपि विधातृवराभिगुप्ताम् |
लम्बे स लम्बशिखरे निपपात लङ्का
प्राकाररूपकगिरावथ सञ्चुकोच || 8 ||
Displaying अनुदर्शयानः his unlimited निःसीम strength आत्मबल, he (Hanuman) destroyed हत्वैव her तामपि (Simhika) who was protected अभिगुप्त by Brahma’s boon विधातृवर. He then landed निपपात onto the ‘Lamba’ mountain लम्बे गिरावथ, that had many sharp peaks लम्बशिखरे, and was like a protective rampart प्राकाररूपक around Lanka लङ्का. He then contracted सञ्चुकोच his own form.
Sri Madhwacharya uses the word ‘aatmabala’ here to describe the inherent strength that Hanuman possessed, that made it possible for him to kill Simhika even though she was protected by Lord Brahma’s boon. Having thus successfully handled multiple challenges during his journey over the ocean, Hanuman arrived at Lanka.
The Lamba mountain acted like a rampart around Lanka. It was very tall and had numerous peaks, thus deriving its name ‘Lamba’. Hanumanta landed on this peak and then reduced his size to that of a normal being.
This Lamba mountain was also known as Trikoota Parvata.
In the Sangraha Ramayana, Sri Narayana Panditacharya describes the landing of Hanuman on to the Trikoota Parvata. He says that the roar of Hanuman while landing caused the animals present on that mountain to run in all ten directions.
आपाततोSभ्यापततो वातपुत्रस्य निस्वनात् |
खगा मृगा दश दिशो वित्रस्ता दुद्रुवुर्द्रुतम् || Sa.Ra. Sun.Kan. 2-32 ||
He further describes the appearance of Hanuman there with poetic brilliance, saying Hanuman did not feel any tiredness after crossing the sea, and was like that luminous fire that does not get dulled even at midnight!
भूत्वा बिडालसमितो निशि तां पुरीं च
प्राप्स्यन् ददर्श निजरूपवतीं स लङ्काम् |
रुद्धोsनयाsश्वथ विजित्य च तां स्वमुष्टि
पिष्टां तयाsनुमत एव विवेश लङ्काम् || 9 ||
Having भूत्वा taken the size समित of a cat बिडाल, he moved ahead wanting to reach प्राप्स्यन् that city तां पुरीं in the night निशि itself. He then saw ददर्श Lankaa लङ्काम्, the abhimanini of that town, in her true form निजरूपवतीं. She stopped रुद्ध him. Hanuman, however, won against her विजित्य after smashing her पिष्टां with his fist स्वमुष्टि. Thereafter, after duly obtaining her तया consent अनुमत एव, he entered विवेश Lanka लङ्काम्.
Lankaa was a devata stree who belonged to the category of assistants of Durga devi (parivaara devata). Since she was a noble soul inherently, Hanuman did not kill her. Not only that, even after having smashed her with his fist, he asked her consent and only then entered Lanka. This was a way of showing that he respected her position of the guardian of the city.
Lanka was a city of Rakshasas. These Rakshasas were all nocturnal creatures and they would be most powerful during night. In order to show them his courage and strength, Hanuman deliberately entered the city at night.
In the Sangraha Ramayana, Sri Narayana Panditacharya explains the reason why Hanuman chose to enter the city after changing himself to the size of a cat. Since Hanuman had to (appear as if he was to) search Sita Mata, he did not want the Rakshasas to spot him before he found her. Hence he constricted himself to a small size.
माममी राक्षसा वीक्ष्य शङ्केरन्नीदृशाकृतिम् |
अणुः पुरीं प्रवेक्ष्यामि ततोSन्वेष्टुं नृपात्मजाम् || Sa.Ra Sun.Kan 2-40 ||
Sri Krishnarpanamastu
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