Hanuman Burns Lanka

Dadi: "Guddu, what happens when someone tries to humiliate you, but their plan backfires completely?"

Guddu: "It becomes embarrassing for them instead!"

Dadi: "That's exactly what happened when Ravana tried to humiliate Hanuman - and ended up losing his entire city to flames."

Guddu: "The burning of Lanka! Tell me!"

Dadi: "After finding Sita, Hanuman destroyed Ravana's beautiful Ashoka garden and killed many demons, including Ravana's own son. When they finally captured him and brought him to court, Ravana was furious."

Guddu: "What did Ravana do?"

Dadi: "He wanted to kill Hanuman. But his brother Vibhishana reminded him - killing a messenger is against dharma. It brings bad fortune. So Ravana decided on something else."

Guddu: "What?"

Dadi: ""A monkey's pride is in his tail," someone suggested. "Set his tail on fire. Let him return as a burned, humiliated creature." Ravana loved this idea."

Guddu: "They set Hanuman's tail on fire?"

Dadi: "They wrapped cloth around his tail, soaked it in oil, and lit it ablaze. But here's the miraculous part - as they wrapped more and more cloth, Hanuman's tail kept growing longer and longer!"

Guddu: "*laughs* He was tricking them!"

Dadi: "They used up all their cloth and oil. Some say Sita prayed to Agni, the fire god, to protect Hanuman. Though flames danced on his tail, he felt only coolness."

Guddu: "What did Hanuman do next?"

Dadi: "*leans forward* He smiled. Then he began to grow - larger and larger - until the ropes binding him snapped like thread. He towered above the court. And then he leaped!"

Guddu: "Where did he go?"

Dadi: "Onto the rooftops of Lanka! He ran across the golden city, touching each palace with his burning tail. Building after building caught fire - the treasury, the armory, the demon quarters, even Ravana's own palace!"

Guddu: "The whole city burned?"

Dadi: "The fire spread like the flames at the end of the world. Demons fled in panic. Women and children screamed. The proud demons who had laughed at a "mere monkey" now watched their beautiful city turn to ash."

Guddu: "Did Hanuman burn Vibhishana's house too? He was the nice one!"

Dadi: "*smiles* Sharp thinking, beta! No - Hanuman deliberately spared Vibhishana's residence. Even in his fury, he remembered who was righteous and who was not."

Guddu: "What about Sita? Wasn't she in Lanka too?"

Dadi: "That worried Hanuman! Suddenly he stopped, his heart racing. He shrank his tail, put out the fire, and rushed to the Ashoka grove."

Guddu: "Was she okay?"

Dadi: "Perfectly safe. The fire hadn't touched her. Sita said, "The fire would not have touched me. I am protected by my devotion to Rama, as you are protected by yours.""

Guddu: "And then Hanuman flew back to Rama?"

Dadi: "He jumped into the ocean to fully cool his tail, then leaped across the sea back to Rama. When he reported what happened, Rama asked, "You burned his city?" And Hanuman replied..."

Guddu: "What?"

Dadi: ""He burned my tail. I returned the favor - with interest!""

Guddu: "*laughs* Hanuman is the best!"

Dadi: "The burning of Lanka sent a powerful message: if the servant of Rama could walk into your greatest city, survive your weapons, and leave your capital in flames - what could the master himself do?"

Guddu: "It was a warning to Ravana."

Dadi: "Exactly. Someone once asked Hanuman if he was afraid. He said, "Of what? Of Ravana? He is powerful, but he is not my Lord. Of death? My Lord protects me. Of fire? Fire is my friend. There was nothing in all of Lanka that could touch what I actually am.""

Guddu: "And what is he actually?"

Dadi: ""Rama's servant," Hanuman said. "That identity cannot be burned." Now, brave one, time to sleep."

Guddu: "Goodnight, Dadi! I'll dream of flying over golden cities!"