From the very heart of the Ramayana is a tale about a moment when the fate of a divine prince and his entire army rested on the shoulders of a single hero. It’s about a desperate hour, a race against time, and an act of raw power that would echo for eternity. This is the story of how Hanuman, in a show of ultimate devotion, lifted an entire mountain for his Lord Rama.

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A Desperate Hour

On the battlefield of Lanka, a terrible quiet had fallen. The war had stopped. The air, which was usually filled with the sounds of battle, was now heavy with despair. Prince Lakshmana, Lord Rama’s beloved brother, lay motionless on the ground. He had been struck by a celestial weapon, the Brahmastra, fired by the demon prince, Indrajit. Lakshmana was on the brink of death, and as his life faded, so did the hope of his army. The only cure was a life-restoring herb that grew on a distant mountain in the Himalayas. With the sun about to rise—a deadline that would seal their doom—one hero had to do the impossible to turn the tide of the entire war.

The scene on the battlefield that night was one of pure devastation. According to Valmiki’s Ramayana, this wasn’t just the fall of a single warrior; it was the collapse of the entire vanara army. Countless brave warriors lay scattered across the ground, unconscious and defeated. Even the greatest heroes—King Sugriva, the swift Nila, and the valiant Angada—had been struck down. Lord Rama himself, though not incapacitated, was overcome with grief and helplessness, seeing his brother and his army in such a state.

In all that despair, only two figures still stood: Hanuman, the son of the Wind God, and Vibhishana, the righteous brother of the demon king Ravana. With flaming torches in hand, they moved through the carnage, their hearts aching at the sight of their fallen friends. They were searching for one voice of wisdom they hoped had survived: Jambavan, the ancient and wise king of the bears.

They found him buried under a pile of arrows, his old body broken but his spirit still there. Vibhishana knelt beside him, his voice trembling, “Great hero, are you still alive?”

Jambavan’s voice was just a whisper. He couldn’t see, but he recognized the voice. “Vibhishana,” he rasped. “Tell me… does Hanuman live? Does the son of the Wind God still breathe?”

Vibhishana was shocked. “Noble one, why don’t you ask about Rama or Lakshmana, or your own king, Sugriva? Why do you only ask for Hanuman?”

The old bear gathered his remaining strength, his words suddenly urgent and clear. “If Hanuman is alive, then this army is not destroyed. If Hanuman lives, we have not lost. He alone has the strength to save us all. If Hanuman lives, hope lives.”

Just then, Hanuman himself stepped out of the shadows and respectfully touched the old bear’s feet. At his touch, a surge of life seemed to flow through Jambavan. He looked at the Son of the Wind and, with a new strength, gave him the quest that would change everything.

“O Hanuman,” Jambavan declared. “The lives of the princes and this whole army are in your hands. You must fly to the Himalayas. There, between the peaks of Kailash and Rishabha, you will find a glowing mountain of medicinal herbs, known as Dronagiri. On that peak grows many life-restoring herbs. We need four herbs, each with extraordinary powers. You must bring it here before the sun rises. Do not delay.”

These were the four herbs that Hanuman was asked to bring from Dronagiri in the Himalayas to save Lakshman:

• First, Mrita Sanjivani, the herb capable of restoring the dead to life itself.
• Second, Vishalyakarani, which could extract weapons from the body and heal all wounds inflicted by them.
• Third, Suvarnakarani, which restores the body to its original complexion and vitality.
• And fourth, Sandhani, the great herb capable of joining severed limbs and fractured bones.

The Unimaginable Feat of Hanuman

The weight of Jambavan’s words didn’t crush Hanuman; it ignited him. A divine power surged through his body, and he began to grow to a colossal, mountain-like size. He was the son of the Wind God, and now, he would become as unstoppable as the wind itself. With a roar that shook Lanka, he bent his knees and leaped.

Hanuman shot through the sky like a golden comet, moving faster than thought. He crossed the vast ocean in an instant and soared over the sleeping lands of India. His mind was focused on a single goal: the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas.

Following Jambavan’s directions, he found the sacred range. And there it was: Dronagiri, the mountain of herbs. It was an unbelievable sight, a peak that glowed with a soft, divine light. The very air hummed with healing energy. He landed gently, his heart pounding against the clock.

He started searching for the specific herb Jambavan had described, but he couldn’t find it. In the sea of glowing plants, he couldn’t identify the one he needed. A wave of frustration and righteous anger washed over him. He had crossed a continent to save his Lord, and time was running out. Lakshmana’s life was fading with every passing moment. There was no more time to search.

His eyes blazed with a fearsome light, and his voice boomed across the peaks. “If I cannot find the one, I will take you all!”

In that moment of crisis, Hanuman made a decision born of pure devotion. He planted his feet, his body swelling again to a size that dwarfed the mountain itself. He reached down and gripped the very base of the peak. Digging his fingers deep into the earth, he wrapped his arms around the colossal structure. With a cry that seemed to split the heavens, he pulled. The earth groaned and trembled, and with a monumental effort, Hanuman tore the entire peak of Dronagiri from its foundation and lifted it into the air.

Hanuman Brings the Whole Mountain to Save Lakshman

It was a sight for the ages. A golden hero flying across the sky, holding an entire mountain that glowed with divine light. Even the gods peered down from the heavens, astonished at this incredible display of power and love.

Back in Lanka, the army waited. As the sky began to lighten in the east, their despair grew. But then, a light appeared in the sky—a moving star that grew larger and brighter. It was Hanuman. And he was carrying a mountain.

A gasp swept through the army, followed by a roar of cheers. Hope was reborn. Hanuman landed gently, placing the mountain down as if it were a small stone.

Immediately, the potent, healing scent of the herbs filled the air. That aroma alone was enough. It washed over the battlefield like a life-giving tide. Lakshmana, who was moments from death, stirred and rose, his wounds instantly vanished. Lord Rama embraced him, tears of relief in his eyes. Across the field, the other fallen vanara heroes were revived, their injuries healed and their strength returned. The army that had been defeated was now alive and roaring for victory.

Rama looked at Hanuman, his eyes overflowing with a gratitude that words could never express. He embraced his humble devotee, a gesture that showed all the love and awe in his heart. This single act didn’t just save lives—it turned the certainty of defeat into the promise of victory.

Ever dutiful, Hanuman then lifted the mountain once more, flew back to the Himalayas, and returned the peak to its rightful place before coming back to the battle.

Conclusion

This incredible story from the Ramayana is more than just a tale of brute strength. It’s the ultimate lesson in devotion. When faced with an impossible task and a moment of crisis, Hanuman didn’t despair. He acted with a conviction so powerful it could literally move a mountain. His strength came not just from his body, but from the depth of his love for Rama.

But did you know that pieces of the hill fell down in Lanka, and even to this date, there may be hills with vivid ecosystems in the island nation. In fact, science fiction author Arthur C Clarke had a vivid theory about one of those hills. If you want to know about it, then like this video, subscribe to my channel, and wait for the next episode on Chaturya – The Fourth State.

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