Ahiravana

Here Hanuman rescues Rama and Lakshmana from Ahiravana (also known as Mahiravana), a story that does not appear in the Ramayana, but has become so well-known that it is now part of the "story."  Ahiravana was a demon magician, who kidnapped Rama and Lakshmana--whom he intended to offer as human sacrifices--to help his father Ravana's struggle against Rama's army.  The divine brothers waited passively to be rescued by Hanuman, who is the story's real hero.   This story points to Hanuman's importance in popular piety, as an intercessory deity for the majestic but all-too-distant Rama.

Thanks to Philip Lutgendorf for this information.  For more on the Ahiravana story, see his "Hanuman's Adventures Underground: The Narrative Logic of a Ramayana Interpolation," in Mandakranta Bose's The Ramayana Revisited (Oxford U. Press, 2004).

Burning Lanka

Hanuman searched Lanka for Sita, and finally found her in a grove of Ashoka trees.  He reassured her that Rama would come to rescue her, and then set about testing the city defenses.  He was eventually captured and brought before Ravana, who decided to torture Hanuman by having his tail wrapped in oil-soaked cloth, and set on fire.  Hanuman used his powers to make his tail enormously long (requiring many cloths).  When the cloth was lit he slipped his bonds and jumped through the city, setting it on fire before jumping into the sea to douse the flame.

 Bringing the Sanjivani Herb

This most famous episode in Hanuman's mythology exemplifies both his power and his devotion.  Rama's brother Lakshmana (lying prone at the bottom of the image) had been mortally wounded, and the only thing that could save him was the Sanjivini ("life-giving") plant, which grew only in the Himalayas. Hanuman flew to the Himalayas but was unable to find the plant (or in some other versions, he forgot what it looked like).  Undaunted, he lifted the entire mountain and brought it back to Lanka, where the physicians quickly located the herb, and brought Lakshmana back to health.  As in the Ahiravana story above, here Rama is passive (he spends the whole story lamenting his dying brother), whereas Hanuman is the hero who gets things done.

This shows the moment when Hanuman returns to Lanka, with Rama and his retinue anxiously clustered around Lakshmana.  The two small images at top left and right refer to an incident en route.  As Hanuman was passing over Ayodhya, Rama's brother Bharata saw him and mistook him for a demon.  Bharata shot an arrow that brought Hanuman down to earth, but when he learned Hanuman's errand they embraced in love, and Hanuman went on his way. 

Humbling Ravana

In one of the battles between Rama's army and Ravana's army, Hanuman knocked Ravana to the ground, snatched his crown, and escaped unscathed.  Since (as in many cultures) this crown was one of the symbols of kingship, losing it foreshadowed that Ravana's days in power were numbered.

Rama's Court

This shows the Ramayana's "happily ever after" scene  when Rama has returned to Ayodhya, been restored to his throne, and initiated a period of just and harmonious rule  (Ramrajya, "Rama's reign").  Here Rama and Sita are enthroned under the canopy, surrounded by others.  Hanuman is at Rama's feet, expressing both his closeness and his subordination.  Other figures in the picture include the royal guru, Vashistha (with the long white beard), the god Ganesha (for prosperity and good fortune), the divine bard Narada (holding the musical instrument), Rama's brothers Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatrughna (behind the throne), and the monkey-prince Angada.  After killing Angada's father Bali in battle, Rama protected and took care of Bali's son, showing his merciful nature.