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Sarg 2 - Meeting With Surasaa

Now Devtaa desired to test Hanumaan's strength. So they called Naag's mother Surasaa and said to her - "We want to test Hanumaan's strength, power and wisdom. You go and create hurdles for him. You may make your body huge to do it. Then we will see whether he goes onward on his journey, or he will get discouraged.

So Surasaa went and stood on the way to Lankaa opening her huge mouth. She stopped Hanumaan and said - "Today Devtaa have given me good food, so I will eat you. You come into my mouth." Hanumaan said - "Dashrath's son Raam and Lakshman had come to Dandak Van with Seetaa. In the absence of Raam and Lakshman, Raakshas have abducted Seetaa. I am going to Seetaa as Raam's messenger. You live in Raam's kingdom, so you should also help me. Let me finish Raam's work then I will come myself to you and you may eat me."

Surasaa said - "Nobody can go ignoring me. If you want to go, you will have to enter my mouth first." Hanumaan got angry at this and said - "All right, open your mouth." and expanded his body up to 10 Yojan. Surasaa opened her mouth up to 20 Yojan. Hanumaan Jee immediately shrunk his size to a thumb, entered Surasaa's mouth and came out in a moment. He said - "I greet you Ma, I did as you said, now I go to look for Seetaa." Surasaa came to her real form and said - "Hey Vaanar, Your mission will be accomplished."

Hanumaan again started flying towards Lankaa Nagaree. Now there flows a water stream and Vidyaadhar, Indra's elephant Airaavat and other rides lion, elephant, birds, snakes etc live there. There are planets, Nakshatra (constellations), Moon, Sun, stars also. Maharshi, Gandharv, Naag, Kinnar, Yaksh are always crowded there. Brahmaa has made it like a shade over universe. There lives Vishwaavasu named Gandharv Raaj. Hanumaan was going on that path like Garud. He was flying like a mountain with wings.

There lived a Raakshasee (she-demon) named Sinhikaa. She was very mighty and could take any form according to her wish. She thought, 'Today I have got this being after long time. I will eat him to my satisfaction'. So she caught Hanumaan's shadow. As she caught Hanumaan's shadow, Hanumaan felt a grip on his body. His power seemed to him useless. He cast a glance around, he saw a very huge being over the water. He knew it was she whom Sugreev mentioned about.

Hanumaan started expanding his body, so that Raakshasee also had to expand her mouth from Paataal to sky and ran towards Hanumaan. Hanumaan changed himself to a very tiny form and fell in her mouth. He tore the soft parts of her mouth apart with his nails. She immediately fell down in the water. Brahma Jee destined her killing by Hanumaan. Then sky creatures blessed him for the accomplishment for his mission.

He proceeded on his journey. He saw an island, of about 100 Yojan, far with many trees on it. There were sandal trees, other trees, sea shores, mouths of several rivers. Then he saw his huge body which was covering most part of the sky. He thought that 'Raakshas would be surprised to see my huge body', now like a mountain.  So he changed his body to a smaller size, 

Hanumaan who could take many forms, who was knower of the method of searching Seetaa and who trusted his own powers and Siddhi, had crossed the sea and landed in Lankaa on Lamb named peak. There he cast a look at Lankaa - habited on a mountain and took his real form.

He was not tired at all, rather he was feeling light as flowers. So he proceeded towards Lankaa. On the way to Lankaa he saw Neel Van full of tender grass and with several hillocks. Then he saw the gardens of Lankaa. Saral, Karnikaar, palm, Chiraunjee, Jambeer, Kutal, Ketak, Priyangu, Kadamb, Saptchchhad, Kovidaar, Karbeer all kinds of trees were blooming. There was a mort around it. Raavan's Lankaa was secured very well. It was not even approachable to Devtaa and Asur.

Many Raakshas were strolling around the golden Lankaa carrying bows and arrows as guards. here were clean beautiful houses, yellow highways, hundreds of double-storied houses. Their balconies were decorated with golden work. As Indra sees His Amaraavatee Nagaree, Hanumaan saw Lankaa Nagaree. Lankaa was built by Vishwakarmaa and now Raavan owned it. Hanumaan sat there and thought as how to find out about Seetaa in that city.

He finally came to conclusion - "I have to deceive the guards, so it would be better if I enter in the night and my form should also be like that sometimes I should be seen and sometimes not; and then to find Seetaa so that wicked Raavan cannot see me. If I could see Jaanake alone then Raam's mission will not be unsuccessful. Otherwise my crossing of sea may go waste and Raam's mission may be unsuccessful. Here one cannot stay in that form which Raakshas do not know. There is nothing in this Lankaa which Raakshas cannot know. Even air cannot enter Lankaa secretly." So he decided to take a very tiny form and enter Lankaa in the night. He just waited for the nightfall.

When the night fell, he took the form of a strange beautiful cat and entered the Nagaree. He saw gold pillars in balconies and saw many residences of Raakshas which were beautifying Lankaa. He was happy to see this city as well got worried too as how he will find Seetaa Jee. Houses were arranged there in a necklace fashion. In the center he saw Moon which looked like a swan in a pond. 

Vidyaadhar
Who has lots of knowledge

They are the names of trees in Hindi language.

Amaraavatee
Indra's Swarg's capital

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