Hanuman’s Lost Mountain

When Lakshmana, Prince Rama's brother, was gravely wounded in the battle against the demon king Ravana, it seemed that no one could save his life.

Their only hope was a rare medicinal herb called Sanjeevani, believed to have the power to bring the dying back to life.

Hanuman set out on a long journey to the distant Himalayas to find this miraculous plant.

But when he reached the mountains, he could no longer remember what the herb looked like or even what it was called.

Unwilling to risk bringing back the wrong plant, he decided to carry an entire piece of the mountain instead.

In different depictions and traditions, Hanuman carries the mountain in his hands or balances it on his tail.

As he flew over Sri Lanka, a fragment of the mountain was said to have broken away and fallen onto Ritigala.

The legend offers an explanation for the unusual plants found on the mountain, which differ from the vegetation of the surrounding dry lowlands and were believed to possess extraordinary healing powers.

Even today, the tale of Hanuman's lost piece of the Himalayas remains one of the best-known legends surrounding the mysterious mountain of Ritigala.