Hanuman and the Mountain of Healing

Told in English, Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Tamil, Spanish, French, Arabic, Mandarin Chinese.

Come close, my darling, and let me tell you about the most devoted friend you could ever imagine. During a great and terrible war in Lanka, Lakshmana — Rama's beloved younger brother — was struck down in battle and fell unconscious on the ground. Everyone was terrified. Only one thing could save him: a special herb called the Sanjeevani booti, growing far away on a mountain in the Himalayas. And here's the hard part — it had to arrive before the sun rose the next morning, or it would be too late.

So who do you think went to fetch it? Hanuman — the son of the wind god, famous for his incredible strength and his unshakeable love for Rama. He leapt clear across the ocean and flew through the sky faster than any bird you've ever seen. But when he finally reached the mountain, can you guess what happened? He looked and looked, but there were thousands and thousands of different herbs growing there, and he simply could not tell which one was the right Sanjeevani!

Now, what would you have done, my dear? Hanuman didn't panic. Instead, with his mighty strength, he lifted the entire mountain — herbs, rocks, trees and all — onto the palm of his hand, and carried the whole thing all the way back to Lanka! The healers quickly found the Sanjeevani among all those plants, and just as the sun began to rise, Lakshmana opened his eyes. Everyone cheered with relief and joy. And that, my love, is what true devotion looks like — doing the impossible for someone you care about.