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 After a long search in various places, Hanuman located the Asoka grove where Mythili was imprisoned. Long search it was, in the sense that he had to enter the house of almost all super-heroes of Lanka. He had explored even the private chamber of Ravana and for a moment mistook Mandodari, who was sleeping by his side, to be Sita. If it is remembered that the entire events of Sundara Kanda took place within a short period of 24 hours, the speed with which the operation was carried out could be understood.
To understand the enormity of the task that faced Hanuman, we have first to understand the situation in which Sita was spending her days.The mental agony that she was passing through was immense. Ten months had already elapsed since she was taken as captive. Still there was no sign of hope. Separation and isolation was one thing. Absence of information was another. Absence of information is the greatest tormentor.
Just imagine a situation. A husband or wife normally returns home from the work spot usually at say 7.00 p.m. On an unusual day, the clock crosses 9.00 p.m. There is no information from the spouse as yet. The mind starts spinning weird reasons. One more hour passes without any information. Let us assume that we are not in a position to get any information. We are restless, as we are unable to guess the reason for the delay. Try to recall such a moment and the state of mind that we would be in. We become restless and distressed. We walk to the doorstep at least a hundred times. Fear engulfs our minds. Stress starts mounting. We thirst for a word of hope from someone. What we need is just a line of a message about the safety or otherwise of the endeared, which we are not in a position to get.
Sita was in such a situation for ten months. Ten long months. Did Jatayu live to inform Rama about the person who took her by force? She did not know. Even if he had informed, did Rama know that she is in Lanka? She never knew. If he knew, how would he reach Lanka? No clue. Another important question was looming large in her mind. Would he be in a frame of mind to come to her rescue? There is a reason for this doubt.
 When the incident of the golden deer took place, she had applied undue pressure on Lakshmana to force him to leave her side and go in search of Rama as she had heard Maricha shouting ‘Hey Sita! Hey Lakshmana!’ mimicking the voice of Rama. She wanted Lakshmana to go to the spot at once to the aid of Rama. Lakshmana refused to do so, saying nothing would have happened to Sri Rama, and that he was capable of handling any situation. She could not take it. She wanted him to leave at once in search of Rama. Therefore, she put him in a fix. She accused him of lewd desires that he was nurturing for her. She had even used the harshest of words – though she knew for certain that Lakshmana was not guilty of such a thing – that he had designs over her in the absence of Rama. This of course, is Valmiki’s Ramayana. Kamban’s version of the story differs here too. Kamban shows her lighting a fire and threatening to fall in the fire, if he does not go thus making it impossible for Lakshmana to remain by her side.
The questions that anguished Sita were more and numerous. Let us see them in whole, for that alone could give a clear picture of her state of mind when she decided to commit suicide and the delicate situation in which Hanuman was placed.
Hari Krishnan
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