Mainaka–Hanumān Maitri

On his flight across the ocean toward Laṅkā, Hanumān met the golden mountain Mainaka, who rose out of the sea. Mainaka was a son of the mountain king Himavat and a friend of Vāyu, Hanumān’s father. He had lived hidden under the ocean since the time Indra cut off the wings of the mountains. Mainaka saw that Hanumān was on Rāma’s work, so he rose from the water and offered Hanumān rest and fruit on his peak. Hanumān touched the peak in friendship, but would not stop until Sītā was found.

Mainaka’s past

Long ago the mountains of the world had strong wings and flew wherever they liked. They often landed on the earth with terrible force and did great harm. Indra saw the suffering they caused. He took his vajra (thunderbolt) and in one campaign cut off the wings of thousands of mountains.

Mainaka, son of Himavat and brother of the Himālaya ranges, was saved at that moment by Vāyu, the deva of the wind. Vāyu hid him deep in the ocean before Indra could reach him. So Mainaka lived on whole, with his golden peak and his old friendship with Vāyu, under the waters. (Sundara Kāṇḍa, Chapter 58)

The mountain rises

Hanumān was in mid-flight over the Lavaṇa Sāgara (the salt ocean). Samudra, the deva of the ocean, saw that this vānara was the son of Vāyu and was on the work of Śrī Rāma. Samudra urged Mainaka to rise from the sea and offer Hanumān a place to rest. Mainaka gladly agreed.

From the deep a great golden peak broke through the water, blazing like the rising sun. It was covered with trees and waterfalls, and jewels were set in its cliffs. It rose into the path of Hanumān’s flight like a second sun in the sky. (Sundara Kāṇḍa, Chapter 2)

The offer and Hanumān’s answer

Mainaka took a human form and greeted Hanumān warmly. He spoke of his bond with Vāyu and told how the deva of the wind had hidden him in the ocean. He said this made Hanumān as dear to him as a son. He asked Hanumān to land, eat the fruits of his trees, rest his body, and go on refreshed. It was only right, he said, that those who have been shown kindness should help the children of their benefactors.

Hanumān heard these words with thanks and deep respect. He explained that he had made a vow not to stop or rest until his work was done. Sītā had not yet been found. Every moment of delay was a moment of needless pain for Śrī Rāma and Sītā. He could not in good conscience sit and eat while the wife of his master was still held captive.

As a sign of love and thanks, Hanumān reached out and laid his hand on Mainaka’s peak. The touch was both a greeting and a farewell. Then he turned and flew north across the sky again. (Sundara Kāṇḍa, Chapter 2)

Sources

• Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Sundara Kāṇḍa, Chapter 2
• Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Sundara Kāṇḍa, Chapter 58 (Hanumān’s own telling afterward)