The Pramadā Vana was a pleasure garden in Laṅkā. It is a different place from the Aśoka Vaṭikā. Hanumān destroyed it as his first open act of defiance, after he had finished his search. He had met Sītā and learned where she was. Then he decided to test the strength of Laṅkā’s army before he left. Destroying the Pramadā Vana was the act that drew Laṅkā’s armies into battle with him.

The destruction of this garden started a chain of battles: eighty thousand kiṅkaras, Jambumāli, the seven sons of the ministers, five generals and Aksha Kumāra. In the end Indrajit caught Hanumān with the Brahmāstra.

The decision to destroy

Hanumān had made a long, careful and secret search of Laṅkā, and he had met Sītā. He stopped to think about what still remained to be done before he went back. He had found Sītā, and that was the main purpose. But two more aims came before him. The first was to learn all he could about Laṅkā’s military strength. The second was to show Rāvaṇa and the rākshasas that they were not beyond harm, and that the reach of Rāma’s alliance extended even to this island fortress. Destroying the Pramadā Vana would serve both aims. It would draw the army out and let him judge it in battle.

The source for this section is the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Sundara Kāṇḍa, chapter 40.

The destruction

Hanumān climbed into the trees of the Pramadā Vana and began to break them. He pulled up trees and hurled them. He smashed fountains and pavilions. He crushed the buildings of the garden. The noise of the destruction carried through Laṅkā and brought the first fighters. Eighty thousand kiṅkaras, the personal guards of Rāvaṇa, came and attacked. Hanumān killed them all.

The source for this section is the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Sundara Kāṇḍa, chapter 41.

The chain of battles

The fall of the eighty thousand kiṅkaras brought Jambumāli, the son of Prahasta. Jambumāli was killed. Next came the seven sons of the ministers, with their combined forces, and they were killed. Five generals came with their armies, and they were killed. Each time a greater force came, and each was destroyed. At last Aksha Kumāra, a beloved prince of Rāvaṇa, was sent. He fought brilliantly and was killed. Then Rāvaṇa had no choice but to send Indrajit.

The source for this section is the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Sundara Kāṇḍa, chapters 41–47.

Meaning of the destruction

The destruction of the Pramadā Vana is the turning point from the secret part of Hanumān’s mission to the open part. The secret part was over: the stealthy crossing by night, the search of Laṅkā and the meeting with Sītā. The open part made Hanumān’s presence and purpose known to all of Laṅkā. It set the stage for all that followed: his capture, his speech to Rāvaṇa, the burning of Laṅkā and his return. In the Pramadā Vana Hanumān showed by his deeds that Laṅkā’s days were numbered.

Sources

Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Sundara Kāṇḍa, chapters 40–47