I could have done anything but somehow just updating this space on the epic every Sunday for the last 4 weeks and nothing else. This will be the fifth week. In a way, intentionally or unintentionally or as a habit, I am trying to propagate the best principles of living or the ‘ism’ of Ramayana into the roots and veins of altogether different world around us. We can see the seeds for a great future harvest buried deep in the soil with this effort, a change in the rules of the game as we are navigating the fifth or the most beautiful ‘Sundara Kanda’. I have been persistent in the efforts through thick and thin in flipping over to fifth Kanda which leaves us with just two more Kandas out of a total seven. I have already published 72 posts on this epic in the most challenging 20 months of toil to bring a conscientious awareness for a structural, enduring and durable change around us. The main takeaway is the need to aspire for and inculcate the virtuous living of a Rama in the bottom while heralding a Rama Rajya or a kingdom of Rama at the top. We can nudge the people in that direction, countries to sail their boats for that destination presided over by governments heralding His kingdom, by simply swaying to those favorable winds manifested by the cumulative and collective small efforts from all of us.
For what – there is no tool better than this to create a better world around us. While Rama was ruling the kingdom, there were no widows to lament, nor was there any danger from wild animals, nor any fear born of diseases. The world was bereft of thieves and robberies. No one felt worthless nor did old people perform obsequies concerning youngsters. Every creature felt pleased. Everyone was intent on virtue. Turning their eyes towards Rama alone, creatures did not kill one another. While Rama was ruling the kingdom, people survived for thousands of years, with thousands of their progeny, all free of illness and grief. While Rama ruled the kingdom, the talks of the people centered round Rama, Rama and Rama. The world became Rama's world. The trees there were bearing flowers and fruits regularly, without any injury by pests and insects. The clouds were raining in time and the wind was delightful to the touch. Brahmins (the priest-class), Kshatriyas (the warrior-class), Vaishyas (the class of merchants and agriculturists), Shudras (the servant-class) were performing their own duties, satisfied with their own work and bereft of any greed. While Rama was ruling, the people were intent on virtue and lived without telling lies. All the people were endowed with excellent characteristics. All were engaged in virtue. Simply, there is no grief or sorrow or anything lacking when people are aligned to this virtuous premise. Let us collectively aspire for a Rama to rule over us.
With this reminder, let us continue learning the fifth Kanda. We had seen Hanuman playing dual role in last post – appeasing Sita and tormenting Rakshasas. A master of words, a warrior on the battlefield, a possessor of immense strength, a gifted vanara who can scale to immense size, an intelligent tactician dealing with enemy alone – Hanuman’s every ability will be exhibited in all glory in this beautiful book centered on him. We had already seen him bringing down Ashoka grove courageously to infuriate and initiate a battle, kill hundreds of kinkaras and burnt a temple sacred to demons while waiting for Jambumali, son of Prahasta. He can use his huge form, fly high into the sky and use powerful objects to decimate the enemy before they can even approach him, which can be seen in the following chapters as the Rakshasa strongmen battles with a powerful, unpredictive and unknown gifted messenger of Rama.
In chapter 44, Ravana sends Jambumali, son of Prahasta, to capture Hanuman. Jambumali attacks Hanuman with his numerous arrows. Hanuman hurls a big club towards Jambumali and the latter succumbs to it.
Summoned by Ravana, Jambumali, son of Prahasta arrived, robed and garlanded in red, wearing beautiful ear-rings and an inviolable armor which no weapon could pierce. Large eyed, long fanged, broad shouldered, immense of form and noisy as thunder, he came swaggering, booming and ordering Hanuman to stay. His stride pounded the earth and he radiated a glow like the Sun. Hanuman watched gleefully delighted at the opportunity of another fight as his enemy came charging towards him. When Jambumali shot arrows at Hanuman, some struck Hanuman in his face, rendering his already red face even more flushed. Wounded and bleeding he picked up the iron club, which had earlier claimed the lives of a thousand rakshasas at the Ashoka garden and hurled it at his opponent. When that deadly weapon hit its target, neither Jambumali's head, shoulders, legs, bow nor chariot were in their places. Missing limbs were never found, ornaments were shattered beyond recognition, and nothing was left of either his chariot or of the donkeys that had drawn it. Ravana, furious at having lost not only his soldiers but also Jambumali, ordered the sons of his ministers to subdue Hanuman.
In chapter 45, the seven sons of Prahasta surrounded by a great army rush in speedy chariots upon Hanuman, who is standing on the arch gate way. They discharge a shower of arrows on Hanuman. Then, Hanuman crushes all the enemies, using his palms, feet, fists, nails, chest and thighs only as his weapons. After killing those demons, Hanuman climbs up the arch doorway and takes up his position there again.
Commanded by their king, seven of the most invincible warriors, impetuous youth brilliant as the flames of a fire and the bane of their enemies sallied forth to meet their one-man army. Brilliant as the flames of a fire they went happily, jostling and challenging each other to be the first to attack Hanuman. But the mothers, friends and kin of the little army, remembering the recent fate of other stalwarts watched sorrowfully. Hanuman sitting atop the tower gate saw the chariots of the rakshasas. Glittering, glowing and rumbling like rain laden clouds raced the chariots, while the bejeweled combatants chafing for war and victory thundered headlong towards Hanuman. The volley of arrows that they rained made him seem like a mountain veiled by rain but escaping every one of those arrows Hanuman leapt into the sky. The young rakshasa warriors soared after him while Hanuman loomed large as the Himalayas on the aerial battlefield. He evaded their efforts to hurt him, with a turn, a twist or a leap, seeming to rather frolic with the foe, than fight with them. Suddenly he vented a mighty roar at the sound of which some fell stunned white some fell dead. Hanuman with his bare hands sent his enemies to death. He used his legs to crush, his nails to tear and his fists to pound until they breathed no more and until death claimed them. Those who survived the massacre fled in every direction. Elephants trumpeted their distress and horses fell to the ground. Chariots with their wheels, flag staffs and umbrellas lay shattered, strewn as far as the eye could see, Cries of pain and fear filled the air even as rivers of blood flowed unchecked. But Hanuman, the mighty messenger of Rama was back on the gate tower eagerly waiting to battle with more power intoxicated rakshasas.
In chapter 46, Ravana sends Virupaksha, Yupaksha, Durdhara, Praghasa and Bhasakarna the five foremost army-generals so as to capture Hanuma. Ravana explains his guess, saying to those five generals that Hanuman may not be an ordinary monkey, but an evil spirit created by Indra the Lord of celestials and asks them to exert a great effort to capture him. Hanuman first kills Durdhara who initially attacks him. He then kills Virupaksha and Yupaksha, by attacking them with a sala tree. Hanuma later kills Praghasa and Bhasakarna, by hurling the top of a mountain on them. After destroying the remaining army together with horses, elephants and chariots, he again returns to the arch doorway of the Ashoka groove.
When Ravana heard that the most valorous of Lanka had perished in the hands of Hanuman, fear, an unfamiliar emotion so alien to him gripped the king of rakshasas. Not wanting anyone to know that he was afraid, he even tried to cover up the bodily manifestations of that fear. He called for the chiefs of his armies, Virupaksha, Yupaksha Durdhara, Praghasa and Bhasakarna, deputing them to punish the wayward vanara. He even wondered if the monster could have been created by Indra to destroy the rakshasas, "Perhaps this is their way of vengeance. Hearing of the vanara is to believe that he is no ordinary woodland monkey. His actions belie his breed. I have seen many valiant vanaras like Vali and Sugriva, but none were as magnetic, as glowingly handsome or so incredibly intelligent. Nor did they possess such indomitable strength and such inexhaustible energy, which is frightening. This creature is nothing but an embodiment of the greatest power, in the form of a vanara." Since in war, victory was not a certainty, Ravana warned his warriors to be alert and spare no efforts to safeguard themselves. Bowing to their king the chiefs of armies raced away to meet their lone enemy. Durdhara shot the first few arrows at the effulgence before him. Hanuman growing his body to unseen and unheard of proportions jumped onto Durdhara's chariot, the impact of which left the chariot, its horses and its master broken and lifeless. Bounding out of their chariots Virupaksha and Yupaksha tried to hit out at Hanuman, but their short-lived attack ended in disaster as they were also struck down. Praghasa and Bhasakarna faced the same fate. The blood-soaked battlefield rendered pathless with the bodies of dead demons, animals and skeletons of shattered chariots seemed to extend to the very ends of the earth. Wiping out the best among Ravana's war heroes, Hanuman was back on top of the tower gate, glowering and as fearful as Yama at the time of the destruction of the world.
In chapter 47, Ravana sends Aksha, his own son, to fight against Hanuman. Aksha, along with his army elephants and horses, approach Hanuma and incites him to battle by discharging three sharp arrows. As Aksha discharges his arrows, Hanuma bounces quickly to the sky and smashes Aksha, his chariot and the horses with blows. After killing Aksha, Hanuma returns again to the same arch doorway.
Ravana's messengers once again came back with more news of death and devastation. It was then that his gaze fell on his son Aksha, who was craving and was ready for war. The prince knew what that look in his father's eyes meant and commanded by those eyes alone he sprang up with his gold inlaid bow. Blessed by the brahmins and blazing like the sacrificial fire fed by oblations Aksha set out on his massive golden chariot. Filled with arms and pealing with bells the chariot was drawn by eight of the most magnificent horses, which were so fleet footed that they seemed to hardly touch the ground. As Aksha raced headlong the sound of that noisy army reached the sky and filled the earth.
The chariot came to a halt in front of Hanuman and Aksha beheld the majesty and greatness in that giant form. It evoked in him a respect mingled with awe. Large eyes opened wide in wonder as he beheld his enemy, and the power that he radiated. Concluding that vanquishing Hanuman would be no easy task, Aksha wasted no time, but chose three of his most deadly arrows and shot them at Hanuman. In the combat that ensued, the sheer show of strength between the two warring forms caused fear among the celestials, and the earth rumbled. The sun shone subdued, the winds stilled, the sky thundered and the troubled oceans roared their reply. Hanuman though hurt by Aksha's arrows and in pain was happy for having met his match. Growing his body to greater dimensions he flew into the skies like a wind-blown cloud as he fought Aksha. Young and arrogant, the rakshasa prince surged towards his enemy like an elephant surging over a grass covered well. Though Hanuman admired Aksha's competence and courage and loathe to slaying him, yet he planned his final move thinking, "This prince has skills and valour to frighten the very devatas and asuras. If I do not kill him now, his strength, which is so invincible, will only increase with time. Killing him then will be that much more difficult. A spreading fire is best put out without delay." Hanuman having decided upon his strategy struck dead all the eight horses that drew the chariot, with his open palm. Even as they fell to earth Aksha the warrior whose skills had no match, who could guard his horses his chariot and his charioteer even while he fought eleven thousand archers, started moving upwards in the sky. Going after him, Hanuman caught Aksha by his feet, whirled him around a thousand times and threw him forcefully to the ground. Broken and bleeding Aksha breathed no more and even as the sages and celestials watched in stunned silence, Hanuman walked back to the gates of the Asoka garden, where he stood like Yama, striking terror in all those who beheld him.
This concludes chapters 44, 45, 46 and 47 of Sundara Kanda which are the four best chapters showing the battle skills of Hanuman. This is a grandeur tale of a single, mighty, one-man vanara killing hoardes of Rakshasas. The battle is beautifully depicted in this kanda, in which Hanuman slays Jambumali, Prahasta's seven sons, five army generals and Ravana’s own son Aksha. One after the other killing, Ravana’s state grows from rage to fury to fear to sorrow as he sends his most prized possession, his elder son Indrajit. The tale in which Indrajit eventually capture Hanuman, his presence in the king's courtroom and Hanuman’s dialogue with Ravana can be seen in subsequent chapters.
No comments:
Post a Comment