Vanara Sena after Ramayana

Everyone is familiar with the glorious role played by the Vanara Sena, or monkey clan, led by Hanuman, Vali and Sugreeva, in the Ramayana. But not many know what happened to them afterwards. Let’s find out!

An excerpt from the Uttara Kanda of the Ramayana describes the fate of the various Vanaras post-Ramayana…when Rama was told by Yama, the god of death, that his time on Earth was nearing an end, he prepared to depart the Earth by going into the Sarayu river.

When Sugriva heard about this, he put Vali’s son Angada in charge of the Vanara kingdom of Kishkindha, after which, he and a group of Vanaras went to Ayodhya to join Rama in departing the Earth. Then, the Vanaras, accompanied by bears and rakshasas (demons), began to assemble there. Apprised of Rama’s determination of going to heaven, the Vanaras, along with Rishis and Gandharvas, came to see Rama. Hearing the words of the Vanaras, Rama agreed to fulfil their wishes. He tells Hanuman, “It is settled that you shall live forever. As long as my history is spoken in this world, you will also be praised. Being thus addressed by his beloved Master, Hanuman was delighted, and said, “As long as the sacred theme is present in this world, I shall live here, carrying out your command.”

Thereupon, Hanuman tells Jambhavan, Mainda, Dwrivida and other Vanaras: “As long as the Kali Yuga exists, so will you all live.” Thus, while Sugriva and other Vanaras departed the Earth along with Rama, Hanuman, Jambavan, Mainda, Dvivida, and five other Vanaras (including Nila and Nala), are said to be still alive today.

The most famous appearance of a Vanara is Hanuman’s encounter with the Pandavas, in a much-later Yuga. The “Vana Parva” of the Mahabharata describes how Hanuman once blocked the path of Bhima in the Gandhamadana mountains in the Himalayas. Incidentally, both being the sons of Vayu, the wind god, they were also brothers.

Then, there is the story of Arjuna meeting Hanuman at Rameshwaram and challenging him to make a sturdy bridge of arrows. This encounter is said to be responsible for Arjuna putting the flag of Hanuman on his chariot, and also why Arjuna is also known as “Kapidhwaja”.