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Before entering Lanka, Hanuman fell Lankini, the demoness of Lanka, with a single decisive blow using his left fist. Lankini then recollects a boon that Brahma had given her earlier. What boon (वरदानम्) from earlier times is she talking about?

O lord of Vanaras! In earlier times I had been given a boon by Lord Brahma. Hear from me about this matter.

Let this be known by you - whenever a Vanara conquers you with his might, then a fear will come for Rakshasas.

O gentle one! With your appearance now, that time has come for me. Ordinance of Brahma is the truth and is immutable.

[Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kanda, Chapter 3, Verse 46-48]

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  • The boon or ordinance of Brahma is that when a Vanara defeats Lankini, then the Rakshasas have something to fear. But I'm not sure if there's a story of Lankini's origins (I don't know if every city has a personification like that) or how she got that ordinance from Brahma.
    – Keshav Srinivasan ♦
    Commented Apr 5, 2016 at 20:59
  • She says 'varadaanam' (a gift of boon) - so it sounded to me like a boon with an exception. And the exception could be that Lanka's doomsday would begin with a Vanara conquering Lankini.
    – Say No To Censorship
    Commented Apr 5, 2016 at 21:08
  • Yeah, it could be a boon that Lanka would be safe until a Vanara comes and defeats Lankini.
    – Keshav Srinivasan ♦
    Commented Apr 5, 2016 at 21:23
  • BTW, in that sloka, not sure how 'हरीश्वर' (harrishvaraa) translates to 'lord of Vanaras'...
    – Say No To Censorship
    Commented Apr 5, 2016 at 21:42
  • 2
    Hari means monkey and Ishwara means lord. Hari has multiple meanings, including monkey and a name of Vishnu. That's the basis of the famous story where Narada wants to marry a princess, but the princess only wants to marry Vishnu. So Narada asks Vishnu to make him look like "Hari", but Vishnu makes Narada look like a monkey instead! So then Narada curses Vishnu that he will be separated from the woman he lives and will have to utilize the help of monkeys in getting her back. (I'm not sure if this story has a scriptural basis.)
    – Keshav Srinivasan ♦
    Commented Apr 5, 2016 at 21:56

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Information given in Wikipedia

Brahma's curse

Lankini was once the guardian of the abode of Brahma. As she guarded the home of the creator, Brahma, she became arrogant and egoistic about her position. She treated others in the palace with contempt due to which she was cursed by Brahma to guard the city of Rakshasas forever. Lankini realized her mistake and begged for forgiveness. However, it was not possible for Brahma to take back the curse, and instead gave her a boon she will be freed of the curse only when a monkey will defeat her in combat and thus bring to end the age of Rakshasas.

Information given in Ramcharitramanas

masaka samāna rūpa kapi dharī. laṃkahi calēu sumiri naraharī

Hanuman assumed a form as small as a gnat and, invoking the Lord in human semblance (Bhagavan Sri Rama), headed towards Lanka

nāma laṃkinī ēka nisicarī. sō kaha calēsi mōhi niṃdarī

(At the gateway of Lanka) lived a demoness, Lankini by name. "Where should you be going heedless of me?" she said. [5-3-1]

jānēhi nahīṃ maramu saṭha mōrā. mōra ahāra jahāom lagi cōrā

"Fool, have you not been able to know who I am? Every thief hereabout is my food."

muṭhikā ēka mahā kapi hanī. rudhira bamata dharanīṃ ḍhanamanī

The great monkey dealt her such a blow with his fist that she toppled down vomiting blood. [5-3-2]

puni saṃbhāri uṭhi sō laṃkā. jōri pāni kara binaya saṃsakā

Then, recovering herself, Lanka (Lankini), stood up, and joining her palms in dismay, humbly addressed him,

jaba rāvanahi brahma bara dīnhā. calata biraṃci kahā mōhi cīnhā

When Brahma granted Ravana the boon he had asked for, the Creator furnished me with the following clue (to the extermination of the demon race) while departing [5-3-3]

bikala hōsi taiṃ kapi kēṃ mārē. taba jānēsu nisicara saṃghārē

When you get discomfited by a blow from a monkey, know that all is over with the demon race

tāta mōra ati punya bahūtā. dēkhēuom nayana rāma kara dūtā

I must have earned very great merit, dear Hanuman, that I have been blessed with the sight of Sri Rama's own messenger

Translation

"When Brahma granted Ravana the boon he had asked for, the Creator furnished me with the following clue (to the extermination of the demon race) while departing:-'When you get discomfited by a blow from a monkey, know that all is over with the demon race.' I must have earned very great merit, dear Hanuman, that I have been blessed with the sight of Sri Rama's own messenger

In accordance with the boon given by Lord Brahma,Lankini thus got freed from her curse after getting the blessed sight of Sri Rama's messenger in monkey(vanara) form, viz Hanuman

Information given in Valmiki Ramayana

It is also possible to understand the boon given to Lankini by Lord Brahma, from Book V : Sundara Kanda - Book Of Beauty, Sarga 3.

The statements made by Lankini to Hanuman are compiled as under:-

"O long armed one! O best among Vanaras! Get propitiated and protect me. O gentle one! Those with great strength and courage always stand firm on tradition.O Vanara! I am myself the city of Lanka. O strong one! O courageous one! I am defeated by your strength. O lord of Vanaras! In earlier times I had been given a boon by Lord Brahma. Hear from me about this matter. Let this be known by you - whenever a Vanara conquers you with his might, then a fear will come for Rakshasas. O gentle one! With your appearance now, that time has come for me. Ordinance of Brahma is the truth and is immutable. The destruction has come for Ravana the evil minded king and to all Rakshasas due to Seetha."

The implicit meaning of the abovementioned compilation is that- since Lankini became a Rakshas due to a curse(and is not originally a Rakshas), Lankini would not get killed when it is time for all other Rakshashas to get destroyed ,and would get freed from her curse and become her original self again.

References:-(1) Wikipedia

(2)Ramcharitramanas, 143 - Description of Lanka; Hanuman strikes Lankini and enters Lanka

Reference links:-(1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lankini

(2) http://www.ramcharitmanas.org/content-5-138-2100.html

(3)http://www.valmikiramayan.net/utf8/sundara/sarga3/sundara_3_frame.htm

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  • I was expecting an answer from Puranas or Uttara-kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, not Ramcharitmanas which is a later work.
    – Say No To Censorship
    Commented May 31, 2018 at 15:35

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