Hanuman

by Vanamali

He shot a piercing look at her through his crystal green eyes and continued, “I see that you don’t believe me. I anticipated this and have brought your husband’s head to convince you!”

  He ordered the magician to come forward. He arrived promptly with Rama’s head stuck on a pole. This gruesome article was placed before Sita. Ravana took the bow and threw it in front of her and said, “Here is the famous bow of Rama. Surely you recognize it.” Then, leaning forward, he whispered words meant for her ears alone: “Now will you agree to be mine?”

  Sita gave one look at the head and shrieked, “O my beloved Lord! Have you deserted me? The astrologers had predicted a very long life for you. How did you meet this untimely death when you were well versed in the science of warfare? Why don’t you look at me, O prince? Why don’t you answer me?”

  Turning to Ravana, she said, “Kill me with the same weapon with which my husband was killed and lay my body over his on the battlefield. I shall follow him wherever he may be.” So saying, the poor lady fell to weeping and lamenting.

  Just then, one of Ravana’s generals came and demanded his immediate presence at the council hall, for a matter of great importance had to be discussed. As soon as Ravana left, both the magic head and the bow vanished, much to Sita’s astonishment.

  Just then Vibhishana’s wife came and told Sita not to worry since it was a trick of Ravana’s and her husband was alive and preparing to attack Lanka. She revived Sita and told her to listen to the sounds made by the approaching army. Sita was most grateful to her and asked her to go and find out what plans Ravana was making and whether he would release her now that he realized that her husband was already camped outside the city. Vibhishana’s wife returned soon after and appraised Sita of the situation.

  “O Princess of Mithila! Ravana is not prepared to let you go until he dies. He will certainly not release you through fear, so deep-rooted is his infatuation for you. However, fear not, your husband will come soon enough and kill the ten-headed monster and rescue you!”

  In the meantime Rama, accompanied by Lakshmana and the other chieftains, decided to climb to the top of Suvela Mountain in order to have a closer view of the city of Lanka, which had been built on top of Trikuta Mountain. Suddenly he saw Ravana standing on the ramparts clad in all his finery, adorned in scarlet robes, and fanned on both sides by beautiful females, surveying the camp of the vanaras.

  Seeing this, Sugriva could not control himself and suddenly sprang from one peak to the other, landing next to the astonished Ravana.

  “I am Sugriva, the friend and servant of Rama. You shall not be spared by me this day!” With these words, he leaped on him, snatched his crown, and threw it on the ground.

  Ravana was taken by surprise and said, “I will deprive you of your beautiful neck in a moment.” So saying, he caught hold of him and threw him on the ground. Sugriva bounced up like a ball and there was a small skirmish. However, Sugriva realized his mistake and hurriedly jumped back to the Suvela peak. The monkeys cheered their leader, but Rama chided him gently for his brash act and told him never to repeat such a thing again. Had he been killed or caught the results would have been disastrous for them.

  He then told him to send Angada as a messenger of goodwill in order to give Ravana a last chance to save his people. Such an act was in accordance with the laws of a righteous combat. Hanuman said that in his opinion nothing on earth would make Ravana change his mind. However, Rama insisted that on his part there should be no deviation from the path of dharma and he should by all means give the demon a chance to change his mind even at this last minute, if he so wished.

  Angada was longing to have a close look at Ravana and hardly had he got his orders than he leaped to the assembly hall where Ravana was meeting with his ministers.

  In the sunlight he looked like a fiery golden ball when he landed lightly in front of the Demon King.

  “Who are you?” he asked.

  “I am Angada, the son of Vaali and the messenger of Rama, Prince of Ayodhya.” As soon as he heard these words, Ravana rose up and welcomed Angada warmly.

  “My dear child! You are the son of my good friend. You are like a son to me. But I don’t understand why you should be befriending a person who killed your father in an unfair manner. Stay with me and I’ll treat you like my son, Indrajit, and give you all comforts. You are the son of a noble father and should not consort with such riffraff!”

  “O King of rakshasas ! Who are you to give advice to me when you yourself are steeped in sin! I have merely come to give you Rama’s message. He has given you an ultimatum. Either you should return the princess of Videha to him and beg his pardon or else go out of the palace gates and confront him in a battle to the finish. The choice is yours—to live honorably or die dishonorably!”

  Ravana was furious at this message and ordered the messenger, to whom he had proclaimed eternal love a few minutes ago, to be caught and put to death immediately!

  “I will not blow out like a light with these windy words!” he said. He bent down and thrust his snarling face close to Angada. His eyes were aflame and his brows knit into a huge frown. He reached out for Angada, who was quivering with fear, but at the last moment, he merely brushed him with his hands and ordered his guards to catch him.

  Angada caught hold of the four guards who rushed forward to seize him, leaped with them onto the wall of the palace, and threw them down on the ground. He then took a flying leap onto the turret of the palace and broke it in two. He stood there and roared like an infuriated bull and then nimbly landed back in front of Rama and the other monkeys who were highly delighted at his antics. He then gave an account of all that had happened in the court.

  “So Hanuman was right,” thought Rama. “Ravana will neither relinquish Sita nor will he come for an honorable combat until he is forced to do so.”

  Hanuman ordered the monkeys and bears to howl and growl menacingly and challenge the rakshasas to a fight. The thunderous noise made by them filled the air and frightened the residents of Lanka who were used to a life of voluptuous debauchery and were not happy at having been asked to fight. They started raising their voices asking Ravana to give up Sita and allow them to live in peace.

  “Our civilization is doomed,” they said, “unless the king complies with our wishes.”

  Ravana was livid when he heard this. “They are only a pack of monkeys and bears,” he shouted. We will hang their heads as trophies on our walls. Their skins will provide clothing for your wives and their flesh will provide food for your children. Mount your chariots, let loose our dogs, and let us drive off Rama’s rabble!”

  Rama asked Sugriva to choose the generals who were to attack from various gates.

  Very soon the entire space between the walls and the moat was filled with monkeys. In fact they seemed to have formed a solid wall round Lanka. This news was forthwith taken to Ravana who immediately told his forces to stop them from entering the gates. He himself climbed up on the ramparts and was astonished to find the whole grounds outside the gates swarming with monkeys, all eager to fight. The green fields had changed to brown. He suddenly spied Rama seated on Hanuman’s back urging the monkeys to destroy the barricades and invade the town. He had never expected that a puny human being helped by a pack of simians would ever be able to come close to his precious city, and now it looked as if they would soon get inside the gates. At that instant Lakshmana pointed his bow at Lanka, Ravana raised his mace above his head, and the commander of his armies waved his sword. He ordered the gates to be opened and let loose hundreds of wild hunting dogs followed by fierce rakshasas mounted on war chariots. He was sure that his well-trained army would easily rout a pack of unruly monkeys. The big north gate of Lanka opened, and the youngest third of the rakshasa army rushed out.

  The monkeys fell back in fear, but Hanuman led the attack and threw a huge stone at the rakshasa who was in the forefront, knocking him down senseless. Thus emboldened, the monkeys rushed forward, armed with sticks and stones, determined to over
come the army of the night wanderers. The bears frightened away the dogs and startled the horses. The monkeys leaped into the chariots, kicking, punching, and biting the rakshasas who were ill prepared for this type of warfare.

  The monkeys now started filling up the moat with stones and branches so that their troops could cross easily. Then they started scaling the walls in various places. They grabbed trees and logs and stones for weapons and jumped onto the streets of Lanka shouting, “Victory to Rama! Death to the demons!” and so on. Very soon the whole place was alive with a mass of leaping, screaming vanaras bent on destruction.

  The army of the night rangers now tried to stop the monkeys from advancing. All of them were decked in golden armor and carried swords and bows and arrows. They rushed forward with bloodcurdling roars and swooped on the vanaras. They attacked them with flaming brands, javelins, pikes, and axes while the monkeys retaliated with trees and rocks, as well as their nails and teeth!

  The young generals of Ravana’s army now sallied forth, mounted on huge horses, elephants, and chariots. All the horses and elephants had golden trappings, and the heroes were dazzling in gold and silver coats of mail, while the monkeys had nothing but their fur to protect them!

  Since they did not have chariots, Rama rode into battle on Hanuman’s shoulders and Lakshmana on Angada’s. Soon the battlefield was covered with dust. Blood of the vanaras, bears, and rakshasas flowed in streams on the ground. The air was filled with the din of drums, bugles, and war cries. Banners were torn, chariots were smashed, and weapons cast here and there. Bones were broken, flesh was torn and eyes gouged out as the monkeys clawed and scratched and jumped on the backs of rakshasas.

  Ravana stood on the highest tower in Lanka and surveyed the devastating scene. His troops were being driven back into the citadel and he feared that the ancient prophecy made by Nandi would come true and he would have to face defeat at the hands of the monkeys. Hanuman saw Ravana, took a flying leap, and landed on his head. He then danced on all his heads and kicked his ten crowns to the ground. The monkeys roared their approval while the rakshasas hung their heads in shame. Before Ravana could catch him, he had leaped back into the fray.

  The first day’s battle went on into the night, which was the time when the night rangers were most powerful. The darkness was lit up by the brilliance of the gold-tipped arrows that were shooting across the sky. The night prowlers were jubilant at the advent of night.

  Ravana said, “Let the young warriors take rest. Arm the veterans.”

  Demon soldiers knelt before fires praying for victory. They strung their bows, donned their armor, and put garlands over them blessed by the priests with mantras for safety. Ravana gave his general Prahasta a few drops of soma juice and blessed him. Little flames started to come out of Prahasta’s eyes. He bowed before Ravana and said, “I’ll drive away the monkeys and isolate Rama and feast on his flesh.”

  He bowed to Ravana and got his blessings and mounted his chariot, which had wheels of gold that shone like twin suns. Sixty-four horned serpents drew the chariot, which bristled with swords and harpoons. His flag had a snake of emeralds and a lion of topaz sewn onto blood red silk. Prahasta flexed his muscles and rolled his bloodshot eyes. The north gate opened, and he led out the veterans, the grand army of the rakshasas. The soldiers followed with bells tied on their arms and legs. They charged at the animals that fled in terror. Nala alone faced Prahasta’s chariot. He dodged thousands of arrows that were flung at him and threw a boulder that overturned the chariot. The demon broke free from his chariot and lunged at Nala with his mace. He dodged the blow and pulled out one of the wheels of the chariot, striking Prahasta on the heart. The mace fell from his hand and Prahasta fell down dead. The time was midnight. The rakshasas tore their hair in shame and returned leaderless to Lanka.

  The monkeys and bears carried their dead and laid them in the forest. Many of the demons had died, but since Ravana did not want anyone to know how many had fallen, he ordered that their bodies should be thrown into the sea.

  Ravana immediately ordered his son, Indrajit, as well as his foremost generals to go out and tackle the simian army. They challenged Lakshmana and the others to duels. Indrajit fought with Angada, Lakshmana with Virupaksha, and Hanuman with Jambumali. They were two of the most trusted generals of Ravana’s army.

  Angada was determined to come to grips with Indrajit, the son of Ravana. He was a master magician and prince of illusions. He was Ravana’s golden boy who could take on any form at will. It was said that only Mandodari, his mother, knew his actual form. Angada wounded Indrajit and killed his charioteer and horses. Rama and the others applauded Angada for his feat, for they all knew the might of Indrajit. In the meantime, the wily son of Ravana leaped into the air and disappeared into the clouds. From this vantage point he sent the deadly naga pasha, or noose of the serpents, by which he bound the two brothers. The serpent ropes coiled round the necks of the brothers, choking them until they became unconscious. Enmeshed by these magic cords, lacerated all over their bodies with Indrajit’s deadly arrows, Rama and Lakshmana lay on the ground drenched in blood, with hardly a sign of life except for an occasional feeble twitch. There was panic in the vanara army. They fell into a mood of dreadful despondency when they saw their heroes in this pitiable state. They jumped to the sky searching in vain for a glimpse of Indrajit, but he remained invisible. All they could hear was his mocking laughter. Only Vibhishana could see him, and he was also helpless against the snake arrows. Indrajit was jubilant, for he was sure he had killed the brothers. Having created havoc in the rest of the army, he returned to his father and gave him the happy news of the death of the Kosala brothers.

  The monkeys crowded round the fallen princes and gave vent to their grief. They felt that the fact that the very first day of war went so badly was a bad sign for them. However, Vibhishana approached them and told them not to grieve, for he did not think that they were dead. He told them to protect the princes for he was sure they were only unconscious. Jambavan told them that Rama was Vishnu incarnate and could certainly never be killed by anyone.

  You took a colossal form and killed the demons.

  Thus you fulfilled the mission of Sri Rama.

  SRI HANUMAN CHALISA BY TULSIDAS

  Aum Sri Hanumathe Namaha!

  Aum Ravana-maradanaaya Namaha!

  20

  Vatamaja

  The War Continues

  Na mukhe netrayovapi

  Lalade cha bruvosthata,

  Anyeshwapi cha gaatreshu,

  Dosha samvitita kwachit.

  I can see no fault of expression anywhere on his face or even his eyes,

  Forehead, eyebrows, or in any one of his limbs.

  VALMIKI RAMAYANA

  Ravana was elated at the thought of the death of Rama and immediately ordered that Sita be taken in an aerial car and shown this scene so that she would believe. “Tell Sita to forget her husband and come to me since she has no other recourse open to her but to accept my love and become my wife!”

  Sita could not believe what the rakshasis told her, so they forced her to enter the aerial car and took her to the battlefield. She wept at seeing the devastation on the battlefield and the scores of monkeys who lay dead. In the midst of this sea of corpses of the dead and dying monkeys she saw her beloved husband and his brother lying on a bed of arrows, their bodies bleeding and inert. She could no longer see clearly due to the tears that were flowing in torrents from her eyes.

  She started to moan and curse her fate. “How is it that my Rama, who killed all the rakshasas at Janasthana single-handed, was unable to counteract the deadly arrows of the evil-minded son of Ravana? Our guru Vasishta prophesized that Rama would perform many ashwamedha yagas (horse sacrifices) and win great fame as a king. He also said that I would never be a widow and would be the mother of heroic sons. How is it that all these sayings have proved false? Of what use are the lotus marks on my feet, which proclaim that I will be a queen. I have all the twelve auspicious
signs of a noble woman on me. My body is symmetrical, my teeth even, my navel set deep in my stomach. My breasts are full and skin and hair soft. My complexion is pearly and soles touch the ground when I walk yet this calamity has overtaken me!”

  One of the rakshasis who was kinder than the rest and had befriended her before now comforted her with these words, “My lady, please do not weep. Your Lord is certainly not dead. In fact, neither of them is dead. See how the vanaras are guarding their bodies. They appear to be waiting for them to recover. There is a glow about their faces that would not have been there if they were dead. Take this opportunity to have a good look at the face of your beloved from whom you have been parted for such a long time. Forget your sorrow and take heart!”

  Sita was thrilled to hear this. She observed the two of them carefully and confirmed what the kindly rakshasi had said. She raised her palms and saluted Rama and then returned.

  “Only the divine eagle, Garuda, can break these ropes and release the brothers,” said Jambavan.

  Hanuman had been standing quietly all the while, for he was convinced that Rama and Lakshmana were not dead. He sat down facing the east and started chanting the Garuda mantra. Garuda was Lord Vishnu’s eagle vehicle and the avowed enemy of snakes. Hardly had he finished chanting when a tempestuous wind arose in the sky and whipped the waves and made them rise to the sky. Trees were snapped like sticks and flung far off to the sea and animals ran hither and thither. Suddenly they saw Garuda, the king of birds, who resembled a blazing fire, cleaving his way through the storm-tossed sky. The storm had been caused by his enormous wings. Seeing him, all the snakes that had bound Rama and Lakshmana released their deadly hold on them and slithered off in terror. Both of them now stirred and sat up as if from a deep sleep. Garuda came close to them and stroked their faces lovingly with his wings and instantly their wounds vanished and luster returned to their faces. Their splendor and majesty were redoubled. Garuda embraced them warmly and Rama said, “When you touched me with your wings I felt as if my father was caressing me. Because of you we have been saved from this deadly snake noose. Pray tell me who you are.”