Astha SangrahASTHA SANGRAHhttps://asthasangrah.comThe Legend of the Sanjeevani Mountain
The legend of the Sanjeevani Mountain tells how, to save Lakshman's life after he was struck unconscious by Meghnad's Shakti weapon, Hanuman travelled to the Dronagiri mountain in the Himalayas, and, unable to identify the right herb, lifted the entire mountain and carried it back to Lanka.
Chapter 1 · Meghnad's Shakti Weapon, and Lakshman's Collapse
In the fierce war at Lanka, when Ravana's son Meghnad (Indrajit) realized that ordinary weapons could not defeat Lakshman, he unleashed the unfailing 'Shakti' weapon he had received from Lord Brahma. Struck by this terrible weapon, Lakshman collapsed unconscious to the ground, his breath growing faint.
Seeing his brother in this state, Lord Rama lamented deeply. Vibhishan immediately summoned Sushena, Lanka's renowned physician, who examined Lakshman's pulse and declared that his life could only be saved if the Sanjeevani herb from the Dronagiri mountain in the Himalayas was brought to him before sunrise, otherwise not.
Read the Ram Aarti →Returning from the distant Himalayas before dawn seemed an impossible task, but Lord Rama and the entire monkey army looked to Hanuman, renowned for his strength and devotion. Without a moment's delay, Hanuman assumed his vast form and flew toward the Himalayas at the speed of the wind.
Chapter 2 · Kalanemi's Deception, and the Sanjeevani Mountain
Learning of Hanuman's journey, Ravana grew deeply worried, for he knew that if Lakshman were revived, the tide of the war would turn. He sent a cunning demon named Kalanemi to obstruct Hanuman's path. Kalanemi disguised himself as an ascetic sage and invited Hanuman to his hermitage to rest and eat fruit, hoping to waste his time.
Accepting the sage's hospitality, Hanuman went to bathe in a nearby pond, where a crocodile seized his leg. When Hanuman forcibly pulled it out, it instantly transformed into a celestial apsara, who explained that she had been cursed into that form, and that the sage was in truth the cunning demon Kalanemi, sent by Ravana. Learning this, Hanuman slew Kalanemi, clearing his path, and flew on toward the Himalayas.
Reaching the Dronagiri mountain, Hanuman tried his best to identify the Sanjeevani herb, but in the darkness of night, all the medicinal plants on the mountain glowed alike, making it impossible for him to determine which one was the Sanjeevani. With only a little time left before sunrise, rather than waste any more of it, Hanuman lifted the entire Dronagiri mountain onto his palm and flew back toward Lanka with it.
Just before sunrise, Hanuman arrived at Lanka, mountain and all. The physician Sushena immediately identified the Sanjeevani herb and gave its extract to Lakshman, who at once rose up, fully restored to health. Delighted by this extraordinary feat, Rama embraced Hanuman, and a wave of joy swept through the entire monkey army. It is because of this unique devotion and strength that Hanuman is also called 'Sankatmochan,' the remover of troubles.
Read the Hanuman Chalisa →About The Legend of the Sanjeevani Mountain
This legend is told across two chapters. The first tells of Lakshman's collapse from Meghnad's Shakti weapon and the physician Sushena's advice. The second describes Hanuman's journey to the Himalayas, Kalanemi's deception, and how lifting the Sanjeevani mountain saved Lakshman's life.
This legend is regarded as a symbol of Hanuman's devotion and strength. This page presents both chapters' full text in plain Hindi, with adjustable text size and print support.
About The Valmiki Ramayana (Yuddha Kanda)
The legend of the Sanjeevani Mountain has no single authoritative printed 'katha text', it is a well-known and widely recited legend from the Yuddha Kanda of the Valmiki Ramayana. The wording here has been composed independently, so it is not a word-for-word copy of any single website's or publication's text, though the sequence of events follows the Ramayana's well-established tradition faithfully.
Frequently asked questions
How was Lakshman rendered unconscious?
In battle, Meghnad (Indrajit) used the unfailing 'Shakti' weapon he had received from Lord Brahma, and its impact left Lakshman unconscious on the ground.
What advice did the physician Sushena give?
After examining Lakshman's pulse, Sushena said his life could only be saved if the Sanjeevani herb from the Dronagiri mountain in the Himalayas was brought before sunrise.
How did Kalanemi try to deceive Hanuman?
The cunning demon Kalanemi, sent by Ravana, disguised himself as an ascetic sage and invited Hanuman to rest at his hermitage to waste his time, but the incident at the pond exposed his true identity.
Why did Hanuman bring the entire mountain instead of just the herb?
In the darkness of night, all the medicinal plants on the mountain glowed alike, so Hanuman could not identify the Sanjeevani herb. With little time left before sunrise, rather than waste time, he lifted the entire mountain instead.