How did Hanuman control his mind while searching for Sita Devi in Lanka, surrounded by hundreds of beautiful women?

In the Ramayana, we see in the Sundara Kanda, Hanuman and the Vanaras are on a mission to find Sita Devi. When Hanuman reaches Lanka, he searches everywhere for her. His intense search eventually leads him to the palace of Ravana, where he finds thousands of women scattered around, all beautiful and adorned with brilliant golden ornaments.

As Hanuman gazes upon these women, he feels uneasy. He is troubled by the thought that it may be sinful to look upon the wives of others, especially in such a state, as such behavior is condemned by scripture. Hanumān felt disturbed, but then he thought that even though he has seen thousands of beautiful women, his mind is not disturbed because his mind is fixed on the lotus feet of Rama.

As part and parcel of Krishna (mamaivāṁśo jīva-loke, jīva-bhūtaḥ sanātanaḥ.), we are meant for the highest form of enjoyment with Him. Krishna is the source of our atma. Any part has a natural attraction to the whole. Rivers naturally flow to the ocean. All plants instinctively lean towards the sun, adjusting their angle to maximize exposure to light for optimal growth.

All earthly objects are drawn down to earth by gravity. Similarly we are also attracted to Krishna who is our source but when we are covered in ignorance (Avidya), we mistakenly identify ourselves with the mind & body, rather than recognizing our true spiritual essence. Due to being covered by ignorance, we search for happiness in material objects.

We are searching for love in our temporary relationships which never satisfies us because we are ultimately meant for loving Krishna who is the highest goal of our lives. This is why we are never truly satisfied in material existence. Once we experience a material object, the mind quickly searches for the next greater object, hoping for more enjoyment.

This constant striving reflects our inherent longing for the ultimate — Krishna. For example, we may be living in a small hut, then desire a bigger house in the city. After acquiring an apartment, we long for a semi-detached house, then a bungalow, followed by a mansion, and eventually a palace.

The mind is always seeking the next level of enjoyment because we are meant for the highest enjoyment which comes only with devotional service to Krishna. Until we develop love for Krishna, we will never be fully satisfied. Hanuman, however, had already attained loving devotion to Sri Rama, the ultimate treasure. Having experienced the highest bliss through his connection with the Supreme, his mind was not swayed by the beautiful women in Ravana’s palace.

Hanuman’s mind was fully controlled because he did not identify with material nature; instead, he saw himself as an eternal servant of Rama. He could not be distracted from his goal of finding Sita, as his heart was fully absorbed in devotion to Rama. One who has tasted the beauty of the Supreme Lord Krishna, through advancing in Krishna consciousness, no longer has any desire for fleeting material things.

Hence it is said,

Amṛta-bindu Upaniṣad 2
mana eva manuṣyāṇāṁ
kāraṇaṁ bandha-mokṣayoḥ
bandhāya viṣayāsaṅgo
muktyai nirviṣayaṁ manaḥ

“For man, mind is the cause of bondage and mind is the cause of liberation. Mind absorbed in sense objects is the cause of bondage, and mind detached from the sense objects is the cause of liberation.”

If the mind wrongly identifies with material nature, it experiences the greatest misery. However, when the same mind identifies with the eternal loving relationship with Krishna, the ātmā experiences the greatest bliss. Once the mind attains the highest, which is Krishna, it desires nothing else. Our unending desires persist only as long as we have not yet achieved the ultimate goal and why does the mind not desire anything else once it has attained Krishna? Because there is nothing greater than Krishna, nothing higher than Krishna.

Chandogya Upanishad 7.24.1
yatra nānyat paśyati nānya cchṛṇoti nānyad vijānāti sa bhūmātha

Having seen the Lord, there is nothing else to be seen, for in His presence, all that is to be perceived is already perceived. There is nothing else to be heard, for all that is meant to be heard has already been heard.

There is nothing else to be known, for everything that is to be known is already known. In the experience of the Supreme, all dualities dissolve, and the individual becomes fully absorbed in the ultimate truth.

Rig veda (1.22.20)
Om tad vishnoh paramam padam sada
pashyanti surayo diviva chakshur-atatam

Sada Pashyanti Surayo means the wise and learned devotees always see the supreme abode of Lord Vishnu. How can one gaze upon something eternally without getting bored? This is because what you are seeing is limitless. This is Krishna, the Supreme Absolute Truth.

The experience of beholding Him brings unlimited happiness and bliss, as His divine nature is infinite and ever-fresh. This is why the gopis cursed the creator, Brahma, for creating eyelids that obstruct the vision of Krishna, even for a fraction of a second.