Hanuman Ji Readying to Leap Across the Sea to Lanka

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Generally this metal sculpture appears to be an ordinary statue representing the monkey god Hanuman as paying homage to his Master Rama. As in most of the Rama-durbar renditions Hanuman’s figures are represented as standing close-by, or as seated on floor around his feet, in both cases, with folded hands, it has become a common perception that his images with folded hands represent him as paying homage to Rama. Undoubtedly, with his hands folded, eyes closed, head bowed and face immersed in deep meditation, this statue also represents Hanuman as commemorating Ram; however, as emphasizes the posturing of his legs: the right, turned outwards, and the left backwards, and the determination on his face, the image illustrates a particular occasion when he is commemorating his Master for giving him strength for accomplishing an end, not a homage-paying Hanuman in general. Taking a position as takes a runner participating in a racing competition Hanuman appears to be invoking his Lord to become his strength before he leaped to reach his goal.

In every likeliness, the statue represents a Hanuman readying to leap across the sea to Lanka for collecting Sita’s whereabouts and as invoking his Master for helping him accomplish the ordeal. After they knew from Sampati, elder brother of the great bird Jatayu, that Sita, abducted by Ravana, was in his captivity at Ashoka-vatika in Lanka, they wondered as to who could go across the sea to Lanka and collect information in regard to her. Each of them assessed his competence only to conclude that none could do it. Suddenly, it struck to Jambavan’s mind, the minister of Sugriva, that Hanuman was possessed of the power to cross a four ‘yojana’ distance in a single leap : much more than Lanka’s distance, though under a curse he did not remember it and needed to be reminded for reviving it. When Jambavan reminded, Hanuman’s body burst with gold’s lustre and great youth and he declared to leap across, bring back mother Sita’s whereabouts and, if obstructed, destroy anything or any person however powerful. Before he proceeded, he sat down at the sea-shore meditating on his Master invoking his help in accomplishing the job.