A question regarding 'Yojana' in Valmiki Ramayana

[V Subrahmanian]

Namaste

We have this verse in the Ramayana:

https://www.valmiki.iitk.ac.in/content?language=dv&field_kanda_tid=4&field_sarga_value=67&field_sloka_value=1

तं दृष्ट्वा जृम्भमाणं ते क्रमितुं शतयोजनम्।
वीर्येणापूर्यमाणं च सहसा वानरोत्तमम्।।4.67.1।।

सहसा शोकमुत्सृज्य प्रहर्षेण समन्विताः।
विनेदुस्तुष्टुवुश्चापि हनूमन्तं महाबलम्।।4.67.2।।

'In order to cross a hundred yojanas, Hanuman, the best of monkeys expanded his might and strength. Seeing him, a warrior of great strength, all the monkeys, filled with enthusiasm at once gave up grief and collected together.They rejoiced and propitiated him screaming aloud.''

The question is:  A Yojana is variously given the value: 

Variations on length

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada gives the equivalent length of a yojana as about 13 km (8 mi) throughout his translations of the Bhagavata Purana. Some other traditional Indian scholars give measurements between 6.4 km and 8 km (4–5 miles) or thereabouts.

Yojana - Wikipedia

The distance from where Hanuman leaped to Lanka, that is, Rama setu according to Valmiki is 100 yojana, then its value is between 1300 km or 700 km. But it is actually 48-60km as per present day calculations from the Southern tip of Tamil Nadu.  

Is there any explanation for the huge difference between the present distance and the one in the Ramayana?  Or is there any mistake in the understanding of the VR verse? 

Thanks and regards

subrahmanian.v   

[Raghavendra]

Svasti,

Couple of points for consideration,

>The given context is: Hanuman displays his immeasurable might and proceeds to Mahendra Parvata. (The Rāmāyana website provides this context as a prelude to the two quoted verses.) 

>The present-day Southern tip in Tamilnādu is not given in the current context.

>The flight route is from Mahendra Parvata in Kerala to Trikūta Parvata in Lanka. The distance in terms of air miles between these two points is to be determined.

>The present-day Lanka came to be known as Lanka in 1973; before that, it was always known as Simhala Dvīpa.

>Is the Lanka of Rāmāyana closer to the equator? If yes, the air mile calculation changes.

Thank you & Best regards,

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[Rajaram Krishnamurthy]

I beg to differ, It is Kerala; if you say old parasurama kerala may be; since the TN Mahendra giri alone can get the yojana distance tally. Odisha Mahendragiri is also possible  then Lankavi as described in Ramayana should be on the sea close to anga desam. And later mass could have moved south. But if taken as present Keralaa it is wrong. K Rajaram  IRS 22 7 23

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[Raghavendra]

Yes, you make a correct observation about the Sri Parushurama region, thank you. 

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