The Ramcharitmanas 2

by Tulsidas

  lila: Literally ‘play, sport, pastime’. In Hindu belief, all creation is the Lord’s lila, his sport or pastime.

  Madhav: Krishna (Vishnu) in his role as presiding deity of Prayag.

  Magh: The tenth month of the Hindu calendar, corresponding to January–February.

  Mahishasur: Literally, ‘the buffalo demon’, an Asur killed by the goddess Parvati in her form as Durga. Through intense austerities, he received a boon from Brahma and asked to be made immortal. Brahma refused the boon of immortality, but granted him the boon that no man would be able to kill him. The gods were powerless against him and were soundly defeated by him in battle. Then the goddess Parvati, who was Shiv’s Shakti, the feminine manifestation of Shiv’s cosmic energy, took on one of her fierce forms and killed him.

  Mai: A Daitya, the architect of the Asurs, as Vishvakarma was of the gods. He was the father of the demon Mayavi, and of Mandodari, Ravan’s wife.

  Maina: The wife of Himalaya, and the mother of Parvati.

  Mainak: A winged mountain.

  Makar: Makar (equivalent to Capricorn) is the tenth sign of the zodiac, and is represented by a water-animal with the body and tail of a fish, and the forelegs, neck and head of an antelope.

  Malaya, mountain range: One of the seven mountain ranges mentioned in the Puranas; they are supposedly the southernmost mountains of the Western Ghats in peninsular India. The mountains were famous for their sandal trees, which yielded the finest sandalwood in the world.

  Manas; Manas lake; Mansarovar: A freshwater lake in modern Tibet, at the foot of Mt Kailash, the abode of Shiv. The lake is sacred to Hindus, Buddhists and Jains, and an important place of pilgrimage for them.

  Mandakini: A sacred river that flowed by the hill of Chitrakut, where Ram and Sita spent part of their forest exile. It is also called Payasvini, ‘water-giving’. It is said that the river was brought down from heaven to Chitrakut by Anasuya, the wife of the sage Atri, in order to alleviate a drought.

  Mandar: The sacred mountain with which the ocean is said to have been churned by the gods and Asurs for the recovery of amrit and thirteen other precious things lost during the great flood.

  Mandavi: Sita’s cousin, the eldest daughter of Janak’s younger brother Kushadhvaj (Kushaketu); she was married to Bharat.

  Mandodari: The daughter of the Daitya Mai, she was Ravan’s favourite wife, and the mother of Meghnad.

  Manthara: Queen Kaikeyi’s hunch-backed bondswoman, who roused the queen’s jealousy and set her against Ram, which led to him being banished to the forest for fourteen years.

  Manu: From the root man, ‘to think’; this name belongs to fourteen mythological progenitors of mankind and rulers of the earth, each of whom rules for the period called a Manwantara (Manu-antara: the life or period of a Manu). There are fourteen Manwantaras in any kalpa. The gods, the seven great sages (Saptarishis) and Indra change from one Manwantara to another. The first of these Manus was Svayambhuva, who sprang from Swayambhu, the self-existent.

  Mar: The passion of love; personified, it is another name for Kamdev, the god of love.

  Marich; Marichi: A Rakshasa, son of Taraka; he was also one of Ravan’s ministers, and helped him to kidnap Sita from the forest hermitage.

  Maruts: Marut The storm gods. They are armed with thunderbolts and ride on the whirlwind and direct the storm. Many origins are assigned to them – they are the sons of Rudra, the sons or brothers of Indra, sons of the ocean, sons of the earth. Their number varies—according to one source they are twenty-nine in number, according to another, three times sixty; in the Ramcharitmanas, Tulsi says they are forty-nine in number. In the singular, Marut is also the god of the wind, and the presiding deity of the north-west quarter.

  Matali: Indra’s charioteer.

  maya; Maya: Illusion, deception; the unreality of worldly things; in Hindu belief, a deception dependent on the power of the Supreme Being, through which mankind believes in the existence of the world which is in fact mere illusion without reality. Personified, Maya is a woman, the consort of the Supreme Being, and the immediate operative cause of the creation. It also means magical or supernatural power, such as that possessed by the Rakshasa, Ravan.

  Meghnad: Literally, ‘the rumbling or thundering of clouds’; he was Ravan’s eldest son by his chief queen, Mandodari. When Ravan attacked Indra’s forces, Meghnad accompanied him and fought most valiantly. He used the power of invisibility given to him by Shiv to capture, tie up and carry off Indra to Lanka where he kept him a prisoner. The gods, led by Brahma, went to Lanka to secure Indra’s release, and Brahma gave Meghnad the title of ‘Indrajit’, ‘conqueror of Indra’. He is also called Arindam, ‘the destroyer of enemies’.

  Mekal: A part of the Vindhya mountain range, in which rise the headwaters and several tributaries of the Narmada river.

  Meru: A fabulous mountain in the centre of the earth, upon which is situated Swarga, Indra’s heaven, containing the cities of the gods. It is also known as Sumeru.

  Mithila: The capital city of Videha, the kingdom of King Janak; also known as Janakpur, or Janak’s city, Tirhut, and Terahuti.

  moksha: Ultimate freedom from birth and rebirth. There are four kinds of moksha possible: (i) living in the same world as the Supreme Being; (ii) living in close proximity to the Supreme Being; (iii) attaining a form similar to that of the Supreme Being; and (iv) complete union with the Supreme Being.

  mridang: A double drum, broader in the middle than at the ends.

  muni: A sage, a holy man who has attained almost divine status through penance and meditation. The term is also used as a title for the seven great Rishis and for other wise and learned men.

  Naga: A semi-divine being belonging to the serpent race, with a human face, the tale of a snake and the expanded neck of the cobra. The Nagas are said to have sprung from Kadru, one of the wives of the sage Kashyap, for the purpose of populating the underworld, Patal, where they rule in great splendour.

  Nahush: The son of Pururavas, and the father of Yayati; he came into conflict with the Brahmans. His story is told, with variations, in the Mahabharata and the Puranas. Nahush was a good and righteous king, and, through prayer and penance and sacred study, he acquired the sovereignty of the three worlds. Once, when Indra had temporarily gone into hiding (for having killed the demon Vritra, who was a Brahman), leaving his throne vacant, Nahush was chosen to reign in his stead. He ruled over the heavens wisely and well for many years, but as time went by, he became arrogant and haughty. One day, he caught sight of Shachi, Indra’s beautiful consort, and wanted her for himself. Shachi, known for her love and fidelity to Indra, was angered and distressed by his advances, and complained to the sage Brihaspati and sought his protection. The gods remonstrated with Nahush, but blinded by desire, he refused to listen to them, and insisted upon having Shachi as his consort. Brihaspati then advised Shachi to lay down a condition—that she would accept Nahush as her husband if he would come to her in a palanquin carried by sages. Nahush, who had lost all sense of propriety and was guided only by his stubborn desire to possess Shachi, agreed at once. He somehow convinced the rishis to carry him to Shachi on his shoulders. The sages were not very strong men, and walked slowly with frequent stops. The king grew impatient, and kicked the sage Agastya, who was one of the sages carrying him. The sage cried out in anger, ‘Fall, you serpent!’ and Nahush fell from his palanquin and turned into a huge python. Horrified, he begged Agastya to forgive him; relenting, Agastya put a limit on the curse, saying that he would regain his human form when he had learnt how to be a good king. According to one version of the story, he was released from his curse by the eldest Pandava, Yudhishthira, who lectured him on the qualities of a good king. Nahush, understanding these at last, was released from his serpent form and ascended to heaven.

  Nar and Narayan: Two ancient sages; twin sons of Dharma (Brahma’s son) and his wife Ahimsa (daughter of Daksh). The brothers are considered by some to be the fourth avatar of Vishnu.

  Narad: A De
varshi, or divine sage or saint akin to a demigod, to whom some of the hymns of the Rig-Veda are ascribed. Various sources have different accounts of his life. He is regarded as one of the four sons of Brahma, and one of the ten principal and original Munis or Rishis. He is also the inventor of the vina or lute and lord of the celestial musicians, the Gandharvas. He was also one of the great writers on law, the author of the Naradiya Dharmashastra. Later, he is connected to the legend of Krishna. He is also regarded as somewhat of a mischief-maker, causing frequent quarrels among the gods by bearing tales.

  Narmada: A sacred river, said to rise from the Mekal hills, and because of which the river is also known as ‘Mekal’s daughter’.

  Nimi: Son of Ikshvaku, and the founder of the dynasty of Mithila. According to the Vishnu Purana, he was cursed by the sage Vasishtha to lose his corporeal form, and in response, he pronounced the same curse upon the sage. Both then abandoned their bodily forms. Though Vasishtha took birth again, Nimi’s corpse was embalmed and preserved in death as he had been in life. The gods offered to restore him back to life, but Nimi refused, saying that the separation of the soul from the body was so painful that he did not want to have to experience it again. The gods respected his wishes, and instead, placed him in the eyes of every living creature, because of which their eyelids are always blinking. (A blink of the eye is called ‘nimish’.)

  nine poetic sentiments (navras): The nine poetic sentiments or moods are: erotic, humorous, compassionate, astonishing, frightening, peaceful, disgusting, wrathful and heroic.

  nirgun: Devoid of all qualities or properties, without attributes; the Supreme Being, who has no attributes of any kind.

  Nishad: A forest tribe who lived along the banks of the Ganga; their main occupation was hunting and fishing.

  Ocean of Milk: In Hindu cosmology, one of the seven seas surrounding directional space.

  ocean, churning of: One of the most well-known stories in Indian mythology; from this was produced, amongst other things, amrit, the nectar of immortality, and Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and beauty. Once, Indra displeased the sage Durvasa, who in his anger, cursed Indra that he and all the gods would lose their strength, energy and good fortune. Weakened by the sage’s curse, the gods were defeated in battle by the Asurs, who now gained control over the universe. In despair, the gods appealed to Vishnu. Vishnu directed them to churn the ocean and thus to obtain from it the nectar of immortality—this, if consumed, would restore to them their strength and power. The gods, rendered powerless by Durvasa’s curse, were unable to accomplish this task on their own, and on Vishnu’s advice, enlisted the Asurs to help them, agreeing to divide with them whatever was retrieved from the ocean. Vishnu assured the gods that he would make sure that the nectar of immortality would remain with the gods. The ocean was then churned, with Mount Mandar as the churning stick, and Sheshnag, the celestial serpent as the rope wound round it. The Asurs held the head of the serpent, and the gods the tail, and as they pulled back and forth on the serpent, Mount Mandar began to sink into the waters. So Vishnu took on the form of a kurma or tortoise (his second avatar), and slipping into the waters, supported Mount Mandar on his back. From the churning of the ocean were produced many precious objects, Lakshmi, precious gems, the horse Uchhaishravas, and a deadly poison (which Shiv swallowed and held in his throat). At last, there arose from the waters Dhanvantari (who became the physician of the gods), bearing in his hands the pot of amrit. The Asurs demanded their share of it, but Vishnu’s steed, Garud, grabbed the pot and flew away with it. Then Vishnu took on the form of the beautiful enchantress, Mohini, and distributed the amrit amongst the gods, who drank it and regained their strength. Only one of the Asurs, called Rahu, managed to drink some of the amrit, and though his head was cut off by Vishnu as punishment, he had already attained immortality and was thus placed amongst the stars. (See Rahu, and Vishnu—second avatar).

  paan: Betel leaves prepared with areca nuts, etc., used as a mouth-freshener after a meal and served to honoured guests.

  pakar: The Indian fig tree, also called gular in Hindi.

  Panchavati: A place in the Dandak forest, near the River Godavari, where Ram lived for a long period during his exile. It was here that Lakshman cut off Supanakha’s nose (nasika). Hence, it is often identified with the modern city of Nasik.

  Parashuram: ‘Ram with the axe’, the sixth avatar of Vishnu. He was born in the Tretayug, as the son of the Brahman, Jamadagni, to deliver the world from the tyranny of the Kshatriyas. His weapon is the axe. The Mahabharata relates that, at the command of his father, he cut off his mother’s head. She had so infuriated her husband by her thoughts that he had asked each of his sons in turn to kill her. They had all refused, except Parashuram. His obedience pleased his father so much that he told him to ask a boon. Parashuram asked that his mother be restored to life, and that he himself become invincible in combat and enjoy a long life. When his father was pitilessly slain by the sons of Sahasrabahu (Kartavirya), king of the Haihayas, Parashuram vowed to wipe out the whole Kshatriya race. It is said that he cleared the earth of Kshatriyas twenty-one times. (See also ‘Sahasrabahu’.) As foremost amongst the descendants of Bhrigu, he is also called Bhrigupati, Bhrigunath and Bhrigunayak, ‘lord of the Bhrigus’; and Bhrigubar, ‘the best of the Bhrigus’. He is also known as Parashudhar, ‘he who holds an axe’.

  Parvati: ‘Of the mountains’. She is the daughter of Himvat (the Himalaya mountains personified), and his wife Maina. She is the consort of Shiv, the reincarnation of his first wife Sati. She is also Shiv’s cosmic energy or Shakti. She is worshipped in different forms and is known by different names. Her forms and names invoked by Tulsidas include Ambika, ‘the compassionate’; Aparna, ‘deprived of leaves’; Bhavani, consort of Bhav (Shiv); Gauri, ‘the brilliant goddess’; Girija or Shailaja, ‘born of the mountain’, and Girinandini, ‘daughter of the mountain’. She is also Shakti Shiv’s cosmic energy; Shivaa, consort of Shiv; and Uma, ‘light’ or ‘splendour’. In her fierce, demon-slaying form she is called Kalika, or Durga. As the supreme goddess, she is called Jagadamba or Jagadambika, ‘mother of the world’.

  Patal: One of the seven subterranean regions, and the abode of the Nagas; hell.

  pathin: A large freshwater fish native to India; it is also known as the pahina or parhina fish.

  Payasvini: ‘Water-giving’; another name for the River Mandakini.

  persuasion, methods of: There are four methods of persuasion: (i) sama (argument, calm words to win someone over to one’s own point of view); (ii) dana (inducement in the form of money or gifts); (iii) danda (punishment, corporal chastisement); (iv) bheda (by causing dissension).

  pipal: The holy fig-tree, Ficus reliogiosa.

  Prahlad: The son of the Daitya king Kanakakasipu, and an ardent devotee of Vishnu. Kanakakasipu grew so powerful that he declared that his subjects must worship him, and him alone. Prahlad refused, and continued to steadfastly worship Vishnu, despite all the punishment that his father heaped upon him. In his fourth avatar, as Narsingh or Narkeshari (half-man, half-lion), Vishnu killed Kanakakasipu, and made Prahlad king of the Daityas as a reward for his devotion. Prahlad was also given a status equal to Indra for his life, and finally united with Vishnu upon death.

  Prajapati: ‘lord of created beings’, the ten mind-born sons of Brahma, from whom all mankind has descended.

  Prayag: The modern city of Allahabad, the confluence of the rivers Ganga, Jamuna and the subterranean Sarasvati, and one of the most important places of pilgrimage for Hindus. Krishna, as Madhav, is its presiding deity. Prayag is also supposed to be the site of a banyan tree famous in legend to be imperishable.

  Prithuraj: In the Vedas and the Puranas, he is the first consecrated king. He taught men agriculture and to cultivate the earth, and it is from him that the earth derives her name of Prithivi. It is said that he prayed for hearing as sharp as though he had ten thousand ears so that he could hear all of the glory of God.

  Priyavrat: A son of Svayambhuv
a Manu and Satarupa. He was dissatisfied that only half the earth was illuminated by the sun at any one point, and so followed the sun seven times around the earth in his own flaming chariot. The ruts made by the wheels of his chariot became the seven oceans; and so the seven continents were formed.

  Pulastya: One of the Prajapatis or mind-born sons of Brahma, and one of the great Rishis. He was the medium through which the Vishnu Purana was communicated to man. He was the father of Visravas, who, through three handmaidens, became the father of Ravaṇ and Kumbhakaran, of Vibhishan, and of Supnakha; all the Rakshasas are supposed to have sprung from him.

  Purana: Literally, ‘old’, hence an ancient legend or tale. The Puranas are sacred works comprising the whole body of modern Hindu theology and mythology. The Puranas come much later than the epics, and must be distinguished from them. While the epics tell the stories of heroes as mortal men, the Puranas tell of the deeds of gods. There are eighteen acknowledged Puranas. The Vayu Purana is regarded as the oldest, and dates back to the sixth century CE; other Puranas are considered to be as recent as the thirteenth or even the sixteenth century.

  Pushpak: A self-flying magical chariot, so large that it contains within it a palace or a city. Brahma gave it as a gift to Kuber, but it was carried away by Ravan, who then used it as his chief mode of conveyance. After Ravan had been defeated and killed by Ram, the latter used the Pushpak to carry himself and Sita back to Ayodhya. He then returned it to Kuber.

  Raghu: A prince of the solar dynasty. In Kalidasa’s poem Raghuvansa, on the ancestry and life of Ram, Raghu is said to be the son of Dilip and the great grandfather of Ram; it is from him that Ram gets the patronymic Raghav, and the title Raghupati, or chief of the dynasty of Raghu.