21 May 2015 - QA 16

Gurudev, many incidents or stories narrated in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata seem difficult to believe. For example, did Lord Hanuman really jump across the vast ocean? Are these real stories, a poet’s imagination or just literal metaphors indicating some deeper meaning? How do we understand this?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

See, even today you have people who are sailing around the world. Isn’t it? If people can sail around the world today, do you not think someone could have also done it in those ancient days? All possibilities exist.
It is also said that Lord Hanuman rested on the rocks here and there. So it is possible that he could have jumped the vast length of the ocean. Monkeys are very able in jumping, and you can never tell where it will go or where it will jump next.