Hanuman and the Burning of Lanka
The story of Lanka Dahan: how Hanuman found Sita, let himself be captured by Ravana, and set the golden city on fire with his own burning tail.
The Story in Brief
From a tiny messenger to a flame that no one could put out.
Meeting Sita
In Ashoka Vatika, Hanuman gives Shri Ram's ring to Mother Sita.
Ravana's court
Captured by Indrajit, Hanuman is brought before Ravana.
The burning tail
Ravana orders Hanuman's tail to be wrapped in cloth, soaked in oil and set alight.
Lanka in flames
Hanuman leaps from roof to roof, and the golden city burns.
The Full Story of Lanka Dahan
From the Sundara Kanda of the Ramayana.
The leap across the ocean
Sent by Shri Ram to find Sita, Hanuman crossed the sea to Lanka after the vanaras, led by Jambavan, reminded him of his own strength.
Sita in Ashoka Vatika
Searching the golden city at night, Hanuman found Sita under a tree in Ashoka Vatika, guarded by rakshasis. He gave her Ram's ring and received her jewel, the Chudamani, as a token for Ram.
The grove is destroyed
Hanuman wanted to meet Ravana. He uprooted trees in the grove and fought the guards, including Ravana's son Akshayakumara, whom he defeated.
Indrajit's Brahmastra
Indrajit hurled the Brahmastra. Hanuman, who had a boon against it, bowed to the weapon and let himself be bound, in order to be taken before Ravana.
Ravana's court
In the court, Hanuman gave Ram's message and warned Ravana to return Sita. Ravana laughed and ordered him killed. Vibhishana reminded him that a messenger must never be harmed.
The tail is set on fire
Ravana ordered that Hanuman's tail be wrapped with cloth, soaked in oil and lit. The rakshasas wrapped cloth after cloth, and Hanuman's tail grew longer with each, until there was no cloth left in Lanka.
Sita's prayer
Sita prayed to Agni, the fire god, to be gentle with Hanuman. The flame on his tail burned but felt cool to him.
Lanka burns
Hanuman shrank to slip out of his bonds, then leaped from rooftop to rooftop with his flaming tail. The palaces of the golden city caught fire. Tradition says Vibhishana's house was spared.
The fire goes into the sea
Hanuman put out the flame in the ocean. Then he worried: had the fire harmed Sita? He heard that she was safe, bowed to her again, and flew back to Shri Ram with the good news.
The Valmiki Ramayana, Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas and regional Ramayanas tell this story with different details, such as the spared house of Vibhishana and the length of the tail. This page follows the widely told version.
In the Hanuman Chalisa
Tulsidas honors this deed in one couplet.
बिकट रूप धरि लंक जरावा॥Sookshma roop dhari Siyahin dikhaava, bikat roop dhari Lank jaraava.
Meaning: Taking a tiny form, Hanuman showed himself to Sita. Taking a fearsome form, he burned Lanka.
For the full text and verse-by-verse meaning, see our Hanuman Chalisa with meaning pages.
Where Is Lanka Today?
A tradition from Sri Lanka.
In Sri Lanka, the reddish, barren land at Ussangoda, on the south coast, is said by local tradition to be the soil scorched by Hanuman's fire. Other places on the island are also linked with episodes from the Ramayana.
This is a local tradition, and it is shared here as a story, not as a proven fact.
What the Story Teaches
- Strength under control. Hanuman let himself be bound, and chose when to break free.
- Humility and purpose. He faced Ravana as a messenger, and spoke only for Shri Ram.
- Faith protects. The flame did not harm him, because Sita's blessing and Ram's name were with him.
- Do the task fully. He found Sita, delivered the message, and tested the enemy's power before returning.
Common Questions
Short answers about Lanka Dahan.
Why did Hanuman burn Lanka?
Ravana ordered Hanuman's tail set on fire as a punishment. Hanuman used the flame to burn Lanka, which showed Ravana's power was weak against Ram's messenger and proved that Sita was found.
Did the fire harm Hanuman or Sita?
No. By Sita's prayer to Agni, the fire did not hurt Hanuman, and Sita's place in Ashoka Vatika was untouched by the flames.
Why was Vibhishana's house not burned?
Vibhishana, Ravana's brother, had spoken up for Hanuman and was a devotee of Ram. Tradition says Hanuman spared his house.
Which Hanuman Chalisa verse mentions Lanka Dahan?
The chaupai Sookshma roop dhari Siyahi dikhaava, bikat roop dhari Lanka jaraava describes both Hanuman's tiny form before Sita and the fearsome form he took to burn Lanka.
In which Ramayana kanda is Lanka Dahan told?
It is told in the Sundara Kanda of the Valmiki Ramayana, and in the Sundara Kanda of Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas.