Surasa is one of the three women who encounter Hanuman on his journey to Lanka; the other two are rakshasi Simhika and Lankini, the guardian goddess of Lanka. The heavenly Surasa represents the element akasha (sky), while Simhika and Lankini represent water and earth.
According to the legend, Kashyapa, the daughter of Daksha conceived ten daughters from Krodhavasha namely, Mrigi, Mrigamanda, Hari, Bhadramata, Matangi, Shardduli, Shveta, Surabhi, Surasa and Kadru. Every daughter was born from a different emotion. Surasa was born from her father’s anger and over a period of time, Surasa delivered three nagas – Anala, Ruha and Virudha.
When Hanuman set out in search of Sita mata, the deities employed Surasa, the mother of nagas to test Hanuman. Surasa appeared in the shape of a giant and began to consume Hanuman. Hanuman tried reasoning with Surasa but she opened her mouth wide to swallow him. The wider Surasa opened her mouth the larger Hanuman became. Frustrated, Surasa extended her jaw line to maximum and was surprised when Hanuman reduced himself to the size of a finger. He entered her mouth and came out immediately. Surasa realised this was not an ordinary monkey and blessed him.