the song of rama 1 excerpt from the song of rama, as retold by tim

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The Song of Rama 1 Excerpt from The Song of Rama, as retold by Tim Thompson. There is a glossary of characters and terms at the end of the excerpt. The story so far… The rakshasa king Ravana has won boons of weapons and freedom from death from other rakshasas and gods and celestial beings. He has used this power to subjugate the universe and rule it as a tyrant. But he neglected to ask for protection from animals and men, whom he considered food. Exploiting this oversight, the Great God Vishnu agrees to be born on earth as Dasaratha’s four sons and kill the evil emperor and restore harmony to the universe. For the heroic acts of saving his life twice over, Dasaratha gave his youngest wife the promise of two wishes that she could use at any time. Scandalously, she asked that her own son be made king and that the eldest, Rama, be sent to the forest to live as an exile for fourteen years. Prince Rama honors his father’s word and submits to the exile in the forest. His wife Sita, and his brother Laxmana accompany him. At the beginning of the fourteenth year, the Demon king Ravana lures the brothers away from their forest home and steals Sita, killing the old vulture Jatayu in the process. While searching for his wife, Rama meets Hanuman and installs Sugriva as the king of the monkeys. To repay his friend, Sugriva organizes massive search parties to scour the four directions for the stolen queen. Three of them come back with no news of Sita. Book Four KISHKINDHA KANDA The Kingdom of the Vanaras The southern search party led by the Vanara prince Angada and advised by Jambavan, king of the bears, has failed to find Sita. Worse, still, they have overstepped the time limit imposed by their king, Sugriva to complete their mission and come back to him. While preparing to fast to death upon the southern shore rather than die by the king’s hand, the monkeys lament their fate and recount all of the happenings that have led them to this miserable situation. As they praise the efforts of the old vulture, Jatayu, who gave his life trying to prevent Ravana from abducting Sita, Jatayu’s decrepit older brother Sampati overhears their conversation. He tells the monkeys that Ravana carried Sita to his island home of Lanka, one hundred yojanas across the sea. After giving them this information, Sampati’s ruined wings miraculously regrow their feathers and he flies away to attend to his duties as king of the birds now that his brother is dead. However, the monkeys are at a loss as to how to cross the immense sea. Chapter 20 Hanuman’s History

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Page 1: The Song of Rama 1 Excerpt from The Song of Rama, as retold by Tim

The Song of Rama 1

Excerpt from The Song of Rama, as retold by Tim Thompson. There is a glossary of characters and terms at the end of the excerpt. The story so far… The rakshasa king Ravana has won boons of weapons and freedom from death from other rakshasas and gods and celestial beings. He has used this power to subjugate the universe and rule it as a tyrant. But he neglected to ask for protection from animals and men, whom he considered food. Exploiting this oversight, the Great God Vishnu agrees to be born on earth as Dasaratha’s four sons and kill the evil emperor and restore harmony to the universe. For the heroic acts of saving his life twice over, Dasaratha gave his youngest wife the promise of two wishes that she could use at any time. Scandalously, she asked that her own son be made king and that the eldest, Rama, be sent to the forest to live as an exile for fourteen years. Prince Rama honors his father’s word and submits to the exile in the forest. His wife Sita, and his brother Laxmana accompany him. At the beginning of the fourteenth year, the Demon king Ravana lures the brothers away from their forest home and steals Sita, killing the old vulture Jatayu in the process. While searching for his wife, Rama meets Hanuman and installs Sugriva as the king of the monkeys. To repay his friend, Sugriva organizes massive search parties to scour the four directions for the stolen queen. Three of them come back with no news of Sita. Book Four KISHKINDHA KANDA The Kingdom of the Vanaras The southern search party led by the Vanara prince Angada and advised by Jambavan, king of the bears, has failed to find Sita. Worse, still, they have overstepped the time limit imposed by their king, Sugriva to complete their mission and come back to him. While preparing to fast to death upon the southern shore rather than die by the king’s hand, the monkeys lament their fate and recount all of the happenings that have led them to this miserable situation. As they praise the efforts of the old vulture, Jatayu, who gave his life trying to prevent Ravana from abducting Sita, Jatayu’s decrepit older brother Sampati overhears their conversation. He tells the monkeys that Ravana carried Sita to his island home of Lanka, one hundred yojanas across the sea. After giving them this information, Sampati’s ruined wings miraculously regrow their feathers and he flies away to attend to his duties as king of the birds now that his brother is dead. However, the monkeys are at a loss as to how to cross the immense sea. Chapter 20 Hanuman’s History

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“Now what?” “Now what ‘what’?” “We know where she is but how do we get there?” “We should have asked for a lift.” “Not me, I’m scared of heights and did you see those claws?” “How could I miss them? They’re bigger than me!” “I can jump ten yojanas!” “I can jump twenty!” “I see your twenty and raise you ten!” “I see your thirty and raise you twenty!” “Well, that’s great. Can you do it twice?” “Sure, no problem. Just have to rest a bit.” “Can you float? Because that’s only halfway. And there is no island between there and here.” “I can jump sixty yojanas!” “I can jump seventy.” “I can jump seventy, too!” “Now we are getting somewhere.” Jambavan rumbles. “Who else can jump this ocean?” “I can leap eighty with a running start.” “During the first age of the world,” Jambavan offers, “Lord Narayana stepped over the heavens as Trivikrama in his Vamana incarnation. Before he returned and set his foot on Bali’s head I had already circumambulated him three times in pradakshana. But that was so very long ago and I am so very old now. However I am certain that I can jump ninety yojanas for my lord Rama.” Angada steps forward and says, “I can jump the one hundred yojanas. But I’m not sure that I will have the strength to jump back.” “Thank you, brave prince.” Jambavan says. “ I know that you can make the jump, and you certainly have more than enough strength to come back to us. But you are our prince and our leader and you are too valuable to risk loosing. This is a task for one of your army. We need you healthy and here to guide us.” Surrounded by hundreds of curious monkeys, Jambavan lumbers over to the shady fig tree and challenges Hanuman. “You, Hanuman! Why do you sit all by yourself over there with a simpleton’s expression and say nothing about how you can help your prince and your king? Do you not care that we shall all likely loose our lives if we cannot complete our mission?” “Yes, yes, Jambavan. I do care. I was just singing to Rama in my mind and enjoying the idea of his greatness being displayed to the world throughout history when he kills that sinful Ravana and destroys the home of the rakshasa race.” “Well, then now is the time to stop singing and start doing. How far can you leap for the glory of our lord, Rama?” “I don’t know. As far as he needs me to I suppose. I didn’t want to take part in that discussion because I don’t think it proper to boast of oneself.

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“I was thinking that if another vanara stepped forward and volunteered to leap to Lanka then I would have to accompany him, since I am the bearer of Rama’s ring. And if no one braves the leap or the confrontation with Ravana and his henchmen, then I will have to go alone. Either way, I am going.” The great bear addresses Hanuman and his booming voice includes the entire army. “Hanuman, you are as powerful as your father the Wind. The son of Kashyapa and Vinata is the superbly mighty Garuda, the best of birds. I have seen Garuda transporting Vishnu and I say that for strength of limbs and speed in flying through the air you are his superior. “You do not consider all of this because of one simple fact: The rishis cursed you to forget your powers until you were reminded of them to serve the great souls. As a young monkey you were prone to misuse your abilities by playing pranks on the holy men of the forest. As you were young and did not deserve harsh treatment for your mischief, they created a humility in you by making you forget your greatness. This kept you out of trouble until you could complete your studies with the Sun God. “Your mother’s earthly name is Anjana. But in her previous life she was an Apsarasa in Indra’s court by name Punjikasthala, daughter of Varuna. She was in love with a Gandharva by name Rhadveka. But Rhadveka displeased Indra and was cursed to take a mortal birth. He chose to be born as a Vanara and is now called Kesari. Punjikasthala was very unhappy in heaven without him. “She didn’t want to wait the time it would take him to return, and of course he needed a wife on earth and of course that wife must be her. She petitioned Indra and organized a grand dance performance for his amusement. He was so pleased he offered her a boon: a hero for a son that would be famous past the end of time. “Yes. I know what you’re thinking: It must have been some performance. I wish I was there, too.” When the giggling dies down, Jambavan continues. “Because of her love for Kesari, she agreed to be born on earth as a Vanara woman so that she could be the mother of a mighty hero, fully expecting Kesari to be the father. But though their love was complete, they had no offspring. “In the month of Chaitra, in the bloom of her youth, Anjana was walking the hills of Kishkindha in a sorrowful mood and praying to the gods to give her her promised son. Vayu loves blowing over those hills and he loved your mother while she was still in heaven. Prana surrounded Anjana and lifted her off the ground. She was frightened at first but your father spoke soothing words into her ear: ‘Great lady, your prayers have been answered. I am Vayu and today you shall certainly have a son by me. I have been watching you this whole time and waiting for your invitation. Take my love and make me complete. My son is destined to be as great as me and will equal me in strength and valor. Our offspring is essential for the unfolding of the karma of the worlds.’ “But Anjana protested this plan. ‘How dare you touch me?’ she said. ‘I am a chaste and married woman. I cannot allow a man other than my husband to touch me. And what of the shame of gestation? I will have to suffer months of ridicule and ostracism before the patrimony is proven.’ “’No fear, noble lady,’ said your father, the life giving prana of us all. ‘I am no man and you will feel my embrace only as this gentle wind that supports you and caresses you and presses your silks against your beautiful body. You will endure no shame. The sons of the gods are born in a day. Brahma has ordered these happenings and there are many

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monkey ladies who will be giving sons to us gods. I have the unique and enviable pleasure of fathering mine with the most beautiful Vanari ever to be born. We shall call him “Sundara”, the beautiful gift.’ “The all pervading Vayu set that woman down and in a moment you were born, fully formed. Your mother left you there to break the news to Kesari as you were sleeping soundly and looked like you could fend for yourself.

“As this newborn infant, not yet one day old, you opened your eyes and saw the sun hanging in the sky, plump and orange. You licked your sharp little teeth and thought that Surya was a mango. You jumped into the sky hungrily after it but that day was the day that Rahu was entitled to swallow the sun as his food. This was the first of many days that you would cause trouble. You monkey friends are now entitled to decipher the implications of these acts of your comrade. Sundara pushed his foot into Rahu’s eye and kept traveling upwards. Rahu sped to Indra to complain. Indra mounted his elephant, Airavata, and gathered his vajras to deal with this interloper. Sundara saw the great white shape of Airavata approaching and decided that he was the more tasty looking fruit and changed his course after him. Indra struck Sundara’s jaw with his thunderbolt and killed him. The child Sundara fell to earth and his father Vayu picked up his lifeless body and took it into a cave, stroking his dead son upon his lap. “Vayu said, ‘I created you for life’s beauty and for the good of the whole world. Now all creation shall pay the appropriate price for your untimely removal.’ And with that, Vayu withdrew the emanations of his powers from the three worlds. All mortal creatures and gods and celestials started to suffocate.

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“The Devas rushed to Indra and berated him. ‘By indulging this Rahu you have only doomed us all! Can’t you solve any problem without throwing your lightning at it?’ “Brahma appeared to them and said, ‘Indra, and all of you, go to Vayu and ask his forgiveness. I will sort this out but you must humble yourselves before the implacable and indispensable Prana.’ The Devas appeared around the weeping Vayu, still stroking his son’s fur and beautiful limbs. “Brahma said, ‘Vayu, I give your son’s life back. Withdraw your displeasure from my creation. Give us back your gifts. I grant that he will be indestructible by all missiles and weapons. These Devas have also come to offer gifts to Sundara.’ As you stirred with renewed life, Vayu was mollified and his smile allowed us all to blink and breathe again. “Indra stepped forward and said, ‘You shall now be called “Hanuman” because you accepted my Vajra upon your jaw. I heal you of this broken bone and I grant you the choicest boon of being able to call your own death to you when you are ready.’ Other gods stepped forward and gave you gifts of divine ornaments and clothes and great intellect and wisdom and fighting prowess and increased willpower. Each of those Devas granted you immunity from their shaktis. At that moment you became practically invincible. The sun god promised to be your guru and to instruct you in the Vedas when you were ready. Airavata even came to you and stroked you with his trunk. “Brahma then addressed the assembled Devas with these words: ‘You gods should now all beget children and manifest yourselves in the monkey and bear races for the good of us all. There is a war coming with the Rakshasa king Ravana and your sons shall play central roles in his destruction.’ All the gods then disappeared and you were left alone again. When you doubted all that had happened and walked out of the cave you found one more gift from Indra: a pyramid of mangoes waiting for you at the entrance.” Hanuman brightens. “Yes! I remember all this now. Thank you, Jambavan. When I approached Surya for instruction he said he couldn’t stop his duties during the day to instruct me and that his nights were spent under the western ocean where I couldn’t go. I insisted that he was the only suitable guru for me as he sees all and knows all. So I volunteered to fly backwards before his path to receive instruction from him as long as he was in the sky. He was pleased with my solution and I spent many happy days over many

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happy years absorbing his teaching. When he said I had learned all he had to teach me of the Vedas and Sanskrit and yoga and the Shastras and the sciences I asked him what fee he required of me. “He said to me, that glorious god of the sky, ‘I have everything I need. In fact, I do not even possess any wants. My life is complete and you have pleased me greatly with your devotion. I have a Vanara son by name Sugriva. Befriend him. His older half brother is the son of Indra and this Vali is exceedingly strong yet coarse. Their father and foster mother favors Indra’s son and looks the other way at Vali’s misbehavior. But I see all and it pains me to see my noble son oppressed by an uncouth lout. Sugriva will need a wise and steadfast friend in this life. Be that friend, Hanuman.’ “Of course I agreed and I have grown to know and love Sugriva like a brother before he was my king. I am sure that as long as we come back successful he will not mention the time limit. Now that we have the intelligence from Sampati of Ravana’s whereabouts we must succeed. I will go to Lanka and find Sita. I will do the needful with pleasure. I will scoop up the entire island and present it complete before my Rama. I am ready. Now all I need is a place that can offer me support as I push off for my leap.” Book Five SUNDARA KANDAM The Book Beautiful

1 The Leap

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Drawing by Tim Thompson, after Shirley Triest. The monkeys set to cheering as Hanuman begins growing in size and climbs the cliffs of the mountain Mahendra. Once at the peak, Hanuman increases his size even further and he stamps his feet and makes sure of his footing. His weight crushes the stones and

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collapses the caves where wild animals dwell. Poisonous snakes struggle out of their holes and bite rocks in their anguish, creating sparks from their venom and fangs. Now the size of a mountain himself, Hanuman salutes the four directions, his father Vayu and Rama. He hunches his shoulders, bristling the fur of his back and twitches his tail, felling whole trees with its touch. He places his hands upon the rocks, contracts his waist and folds his legs under him. He stretches out his neck and lets out a roar like a thunderclap. He scans the horizon and concentrates his vital energy inside his heart. He tells his comrades, “I shall fly like a swift arrow from the bow of Rama. If I fail to find Sita on Lanka then I will search the realm of the Devas. If she is not there either then I will return to Lanka, bind Ravana hand and foot and throw him at the feet of Rama. In every circumstance I shall succeed. I shall scoop the whole of Lanka out of the sea with my bare hands if I need to and present it to my lord.” Then Hanuman becomes quiet and meditates upon Garuda, excluding all other thoughts from his mind. Suddenly he uncoils and launches himself into the sky. The force of his departure creates a vacuum that sucks up the forest around his feet. Bewildered birds twirl and flap helplessly trying to find their way out of the windstorm. Entire trees are uprooted and follow him for a distance like relatives following a loved one at the beginning of his journey. Flowers and shrubs swirl around in the mighty updraft and Hanuman resembles the moon surrounded by the lesser lights. On the shore with hands pressed together in prayer for their general’s success, the thousands of monkeys all stand on one foot in Vrikshasana, tree pose, determined to wait like that until he returns. . 2 Mt. Mainaka As Hanuman travels some distance while increasing his great speed, the god of the oceans, Varuna, muses thusly: “This Hanuman is an emissary of Rama, scion of the Ikshvaku race. Those ancient kings and sons of Sagara dug my seabed and are responsible for my existence on this earth. It is only proper that I should aid Rama or his agent.” Sagara then goes to the submerged mountain Mainaka and tells him to offer Hanuman a place to rest and some delectable refreshments. Mainaka obeys and rises out of the water, shining brilliant and golden in the sun, blocking Hanuman’s path. Hanuman for his part is in no mood for obstructions and pushes the flying mountain out of his way with the impact of his chest. The mountain recedes like a rain cloud driven along by a storm. Mainaka is greatly impressed and delighted with the power of that monkey leader. Assuming the form of a man, Mainaka stands on his own peak with folded hands. The living mountain stays the fierce Vanara with these sweet words. “Noble Hanuman, I am Mainaka and I am here to offer you rest and refreshment on your journey. I owe a great debt of gratitude to your father the wind and the ocean below us and thus will be very pleased if you accept these choice morsels from the forests of my hillsides. I am also

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called ‘Hiranyanabha’ on account of my golden peak.” Hanuman arrests his flight at this mention of his father, hovers in the air, and asks how Mainaka came to be living under the ocean. “Long ago all mountains had wings and we flew where we wished and visited with each other the world over. But some of us landed indiscriminately and crushed whole colonies of rishis. Their prayers of complaint reached Indra and he used his Vajras to cut off our wings and settle us permanently. As I was the last one, your father, Vayu, used his power under my wings to speed me away from Indra. As we flew over this ocean Varuna offered me sanctuary and I have been hiding under his waves ever since. Now Sagara would like to do you a favor because you are the emissary of Rama since it was his ancestors who dug the ocean floors out of the earth with their bare hands. Long ago they searched for the sacrificial horse of Sagara and they created the depths of the ocean in their zeal. As I am thus indebted to both your father and my protector, I ask you again to please accept my hospitality.” Hanuman folds his hands and thanks Mainaka for his kind intentions. “Thank you very much, noble soul. I regret that I cannot spend another moment with your pleasing personage. I must be on my way and fulfill my duties to my king and to our master, Rama. Namaste.” And with that, Hanuman respectfully pats the top of the mountain with his right hand as a token of accepting Mainaka’s kindness and speeds away towards Lanka. Indra flies down from heaven immediately upon the Vanara’s departure and says, “No fear, Mainaka. You may keep your wings for this kind service to Hanuman. I will forget the enmity between us. You may live without fear of my Vajra because you offered to help this person who is essential to the effort to destroy Ravana. Go in peace, golden one.” 3 Surasa and Simhika The Devas gather in council and decide to test Hanuman. “Maybe he does not have the strength or the wisdom to succeed. If he fails then our plans will be thwarted as well. Let’s have Surasa, the splendid mother of serpents, challenge him.” She descends from heaven and assumes an appropriately monstrous form: red eyes and receding rows of fangs, with an immense coiling body like a mountain of twisting, impatient death. The dreadful serpent Surasa blocks Hanuman’s way with her immense maw. “Halt! You shall become my food! I have a boon from Brahma himself that none may pass me without entering my mouth.” Hanuman pauses in the air before the great beast, folds his hands in Namaste, and explains patiently, “Good mother, my name is Hanuman and I am on an urgent mission for my master, Rama. I must go to Lanka to find his wife Sita and report back to him. When I am finished with this mission I will certainly come back to you and enter your mouth. For now, my time is not my own.”

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“Foolish monkey! I’m hungry NOW! You shall not escape me!” His anger stirred, Hanuman declares, “Prepare yourself then, you are much too small to swallow me.” And with that he increases his size by a yojana. Surasa then also increases her size by a yojana. Exasperated by this delay, Hanuman increases his size by ten more yojanas and Surasa follows suit. Then, quick as a flash, Hanuman shrinks his body to the size of a thumb and flies into and out of Surasa’s mouth with lightning speed. Resuming his former size, the noble monkey hovers in the air on the other side of Surasa with his hands pressed together. “Thank you, mother. Namaste. Now I have entered your mouth and proved Brahma’s boon true. Please grant me leave.” “Success to you, you clever monkey. You may pass with my blessing.” Hanuman bows to her and speeds on his way wondering if he just saw a dragon smile. As Hanuman flies through the air he notices his speed decreasing. He looks down and sees that his shadow is distorted unnaturally upon the waves. It is actually some distance beneath the water! “This must be the work of that shadow catching monster Simhika that Sugriva warned me about. Now is the time to deal with this monster directly.” Under the waves Simhika is momentarily happy. Here is her prey flying willingly at her mouth as if it has no more wish to live. Simhika rises out of the waves to meet Hanuman and to swallow the immense monkey but Hanuman increases his speed and plunges himself deep into her throat, rips her heart out with his diamond hard nails and leaves her bleeding carcass for the sharks to consume. The sea creatures happily feast on this ancient terror to themselves and their ancestors. Hanuman does not pause or celebrate but simply cleans himself of her blood while skimming low upon the waves before regaining his former height. Traveling many yojanas in mere moments, Hanuman sees the mountains of Lanka and reasons to himself: ”If I can see them then they can see me. Perhaps they will send out a war party and conceal Sita to a special dungeon if I engage them too soon. I should reduce my size and avoid detection until I am sure of the success of my mission.” Hanuman then continues his flight but reduces his size to that of a small monkey, no bigger than a cat. He lands on the Lamba peak of Trikuta Mountain with his left foot first, conceals himself in the forest, and waits for the coming of darkness. “I must be careful and thorough, so now I will meditate and prepare myself for the search of this island under the cover of night. If I cannot find Sita I will uproot Ravana’s palace and carry him back to Rama and let him do with him as he thinks best.” 4 Lankini Hanuman faces west and sits in lotus, slows his breath, and gradually enters Samadhi. Just after sunset he awakens himself and proceeds towards the city. As he marvels at the immense gate and towering walls, a huge and fearsome Rakshasi accosts him.

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“Who are you, monkey? If in fact that is what you are, which I doubt. Do not lie! I am Lankini, the guardian spirit of this island and you are not welcome here!” The little Hanuman smiles and answers politely, “Greetings, mistress. I am indeed only a small monkey as you can plainly see. I am here to see the fabulous sights of famous Lanka. I do not intend to stay long, just enjoy a short visit and continue on my sight-seeing tour of the world’s wonders, of which I’ve heard your island city is foremost.” “Liar! Now I will have your head!” Lankini swings her fearsome sword across Hanuman’s neck but it breaks in two. “I will not kill a woman if I can help it, but you have vexed my patience!” Hanuman jumps up and slaps Lankini with his open paw across her face, sending her sprawling from the impact. Raising herself up from the dust, she wipes at her bloody mouth and says, “Brahma’s words must always come true. I have lived on this island for ages and have never been defeated. Brahma told me that I would know that the end of Lanka was imminent when a monkey had bested me. I am helpless before you, as is this island fortress. I leave now. Your success is assured.” Hanuman circles around to the northern wall and easily leaps over its height. As he descends, he extends his left foot and says to himself, “One should always enter the territory of an enemy in an unusual way and by stepping with the left foot first to declare one’s hostility. Death to Ravana the thief! Jaya, Sugriva! Jaya, Rama!” This first piece of etiquette observed, Hanuman begins his search of Lanka by jumping between the rooftops and peering into every window. He is very methodical and covers the large city blocks very quickly. Everywhere he looks he sees Rakshasas and their women engaged in drunken revelries or passed out with wine flasks strewn about them.

5 The Search by Night Only one mansion earns Hanuman’s esteem. As he passes by Vibishana’s dwelling… Hanuman finds Sita at dawn, burns Lanka and leaps back to his friends waiting on the southern shore of Bharatavarsha. They report Sita’s location to Rama and Sugriva mobilizes his huge army of tens of millions of monkeys and bears to invade. The vanara Nala builds a bridge to bring them across the ocean. But after a few days of fighting and defeating Ravana himself, Rama, Laxmana and the entire animal army are conquered by the conqueror of Indra. All is lost. Book Six YUDDHA KANDA

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The Book of War Chapter 34 Sanjivani

Vibishana examines the battlefield and deduces the weapon and the reason for this stunning defeat. Sugriva, Angada, and Neela are pulling arrows out of each other’s bodies, but are at a loss at what to do next. Jambavan is lost among the dead, and the sons of Dasaratha are lying lifeless and mutilated. More monkeys have died this night than in all of the previous battles combined.

The highly intelligent Vibishana consoles Sugriva and his generals with his insights. “Do not despair, son of Surya, those brothers are not dead. The sons of Dasaratha have decided to enter into Samadhi to honor the Brahmastra that was used against them. They have abandoned normal consciousness and their free will to save the monkeys and bears from further devastation. They have chosen to succumb to the irresistible weapon that Brahma gave to Indrajit. Do not believe them dead, but consider that their spirits are in Brahma Loka. This is not the time for sorrow. This is the time for action!”

Because Brahma granted Hanuman immunity from his weapon, the son of the Wind touched his forehead to the earth to honor the Creator, but never lost consciousness and was not harmed during Indrajit’s assault. Vibishana hands Hanuman a torch and says, “Come with me and examine the army. We must find out the extent of our losses and restore confidence to the living. We must find Jambavan!”

The two warriors scour the bloody land of Lanka, waving their torches over the piles of bodies and offering a few words of encouragement to the living. But most of their time is spent slogging through pools of blood, urine and feces. The broken remains of flaming weapons shine their gruesome light upon the dismembered tails, arms, feet, claws, and fingers of millions of dead animals. Mountainous monkeys lay twenty to a heap, their skulls fractured and their brains pooling together in a slick grey sludge that the blood-soaked soil of Lanka cannot absorb.

Besides Sugriva, Angada, and Neela, Vibishana and Hanuman are pleased to find alive the warriors Sharabha, Gandhamandana, Gavaksha, Sushena, Vegadarshina, Mainda, Nala, Jyotimukha, and Dvivida. They continue to wade through the ghastly tides of leaked lives and broken bodies until they find their man.

Jambavan is pinned with his back against a pile of soldiers whom he tried to shield from Indrajit’s arrows, many of which penetrated him and killed the soldiers behind him anyway. The old and weary bear looks like a flame about to be extinguished.

Vibishana exclaims, “O honorable one! You live! You have born the brunt of those hundreds of arrows and yet you still live!”

Jambavan answers in a rumble just above a hoarse whisper. “Vibishana, righteous rakshasa of great strength, I recognize you from the sound of your voice. Because of the virulence of these poisoned weapons, I cannot see you with my own eyes.

“But tell me quickly, Vibishana, does Hanuman, son of Anjana and Vayu, still live? Is the best of monkeys nearby?”

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Vibishana’s eyes widen incredulously and he takes offense at the question. “Why do you not ask first about the sons of Dasaratha? Have you more affection for Pavanputra than for Sugriva, Angada, or even your master, Rama?”

Jambavan coughs up some blood. “Listen to me, Vibishana. If the brave Hanuman is alive, then even if our entire army is dead, you can consider them unhurt. But if Hanuman has given up his life, then we are all lost, even though we live. My dear child, if Maruti, who equals the wind and the fire in prowess survives, then there is hope for us all.”

Hanuman quickly steps forward and humbly clasps the old bear’s feet. “Here I am, Jambavan. What will you have me do?”

“Come, foremost of monkeys, save the lives of your brethren. Now is the appropriate time for you to display your copious prowess. I do not see another person who is capable of doing what must be done next. Save the reekshas and vanaras. Bring life back to Rama and Laxmana. Heal them from their many wounds!

“Fly above the arc of the world and past the abode of Himalaya, foremost of mountains. Between that mountain and Shiva’s home, Mt. Kalisha, you will find the most excellent Mt. Rishabha. This mountain glows with the prana of the healing herbs that grow upon its slopes. Bring these herbs back with you: Mitra Sanjivani, which is capable of bringing the dead back to life; Vishalyakarani, which is capable of extracting weapons and healing every wound created by any weapon; Suvarnakarani, which restores a body to its former vigor; and Sandhani, the great herb that heals fractured bones and can even rejoin severed limbs.

“Bring back all of those herbs to us quickly, son of the Wind. Save the lives of our army. Restore the hopes of our victory!”

Hanuman leaps to his feet and begins to grow. The words of Jambavan fill the vanara with new power, as the wind whips the ocean’s waves to greater heights. With one stride Hanuman is atop the summit of Trikuta Mountain. Stomping his feet and flexing his shoulders, he quickly grows to the size of a second mountain. His immense weight crushes and sinks Mt. Trikuta deeper into the seabed, causing earthquakes that topple tall buildings in the City, and makes other torch-lit towers sway and reel like dancers. There is a great panic in Lanka as the principle gates crumble and new fires spring up all over the city of Lanka.

Hanuman adjusts the grip of his toes and destroys the peaks of the mountain. He swishes his tail and knocks down entire forests. He shines with a glow that is hard for the eye to endure. When he opens his mouth and roars, he exposes the submarine fire that fills his throat. When they hear his roars, the rakshasas in the City freeze where they are or huddle together reflexively, terrified of this new monster.

Determined to perform any action necessary to save Rama, Hanuman salutes the Ocean and Prana, his father, in his mind. Quicker than thought, he crouches down, flattens his ears, and springs into the sky with such velocity that he uproots trees and rocks the island of Lanka with a devastating earthquake. Ordinary monkeys, too, are pulled into the sky by the great updraft created by Maurti’s powerful thighs and arms. They tumble and spin in the air along with uprooted trees and mystified wild animals before falling into the ocean far from shore.

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Like the Discus released from Vishnu’s fingertip, Hanuman increases his speed as he flies higher over the earth. Immune from fatigue, Hanuman ascends to the orbit of the sun, and the sound of his passing reverberates throughout the world.

Suddenly, Hanuman sees the majestic Himalaya and remembers the words of Jambavan. From his great height he spies the mountainous abode of Shiva and Parvati adorned with the ashrams of divine sages. He sees the dwelling of Kubera, the Treasure Lord, ruler of the Yakshas, and the sacred place where Brahma’s fifth head fell to the earth.

He passes over the home of Agni and over the navel of the world, the entrance to Patala, the underworld kingdom of Bali. Finally he sees the glow that he was looking for. He circles the golden mountain in amazement, for although it looks like it is on fire, it does not burn with any heat or smoke. But as soon as he sets foot upon Mt. Rishabha to collect the precious herbs, every cool flame disappears. Those mystic plants know that someone is searching for them and will tear them out of the earth. They withdraw their leaves into the ground like the ocean’s eels hide themselves by retreating into their homes amid the cracks and caves of coral and rock.

Hanuman’s eyes blaze red with fury. He screams out a deafening roar and says to the recalcitrant mountain, “O, prince of mountains, are you quite sure that you will not show any compassion to my master, Rama? The ruler of the earth lies dying next to his brother far away from here and you do less than nothing to help? Ungrateful plants and rocks! Fie upon your cowardice! I should shatter you to pieces with this fist!”

But instead of lashing out in anger, Hanuman takes two steps back and grows twice more in size. He digs his sharp nails and powerful fingers under the support of the entire mountain and wrenches it free—elephants, forests, waterfalls, and all. The celestials shower him with divine rain and sing his praises, but Hanuman merely crouches and springs into the sky with the speed of Garuda.

Holding the mountain in the palm of one hand, Hanuman quickly regains the pathway of the sun. To the amazed Devas, the mountainous vanara looks like Vishnu wielding his flaming Discus of a thousand edges. Because of Hanuman’s great speed, Mt. Rishabha ignites from the friction of descending through the atmosphere towards Lanka. At first the monkey army thinks that they are about to be struck by twin comets until they smell the pleasing herbs and hear Hanuman’s roar.

The animal army roars in happiness and Hanuman replies in kind. But the citizens of Lanka whine, cry, and scream in terror at this unpleasant cacophony.

Then a miracle occurs. Hanuman sets down the mountain upon the battlefield, and the smoke from the burnt herbs wafts over the land like a sparkling fog. When Rama and Laxmana inhale that magnificent fragrance, they emerge from their swoons completely healed of all of their wounds. And all of those millions of monkeys that were killed and dismembered come back to life. Their individual body parts somehow reunite with their original owners, and the animal warriors regain their lives and their vitality as if they had just woken from a deep sleep.

This universal resurrection would have benefited the rakshasas as well, but from the beginning of the war, Ravana has ordered his army to hide its losses by throwing every dead or mortally wounded rakshasa soldier into the sea. Because of the miraculous powers of the herbs, the animal army is back to its original size, but the rakshasa army is severely depleted by comparison.

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Hanuman embraces Vibishana, pays his respects to his king and the leading monkeys, and quickly prepares to leave. He steps back onto the plain, regains his mountainous form, picks up Mt. Rishabha, and carries it to the top of Mt. Trikuta. Once again he salutes the Ocean and the Wind, bunches up his thighs, and springs into the sky, depressing Mt. Trikuta even further. He swiftly and joyfully replaces the mountain of healing herbs to its home amid the Himalayas and flies back to Rama’s side, his heart soaring with happiness and his mind confident of victory.

35 Another Conflagration Atop Mt. Suvela, Sugriva gives Hanuman his next mission. “Now that Kumbhakarna and his four sons are dead, Ravana can no longer defend his city properly. Take a few hundred thousand monkeys and set fire to Lanka right now while the demons sleep. Let each lion-like monkey carry two torches each. Burn the houses of Ravana!” Like a cloud of flashing lightning streaking across the sky, those dexterous vanaras swiftly invade Lanka and scatter the overwhelmed guards along the walls. The happy monkeys throw their torches into open windows, shoving them under the eaves and doors of Lanka’s mansions, gateways, and stables. The conflagration quickly grows large and fierce enough to consume thousands of mountainous mansions. Tens of thousands of rakshasas and their animals die within minutes of the invasion. The streets flow with molten gold and the detritus of corpses, diamonds, and loose jewels. Groggy with drink because of excessive premature celebrations, the rakshasas and their wives cry out, “Alas! Woe is me! This is the end of the world! Pralaya has come!” Rama and Laxmana string and pluck their bows. The noise from their weapons is so great that it overcomes the sounds of the vanaras’ roaring and the rakshasas’ screaming. The sound of Rama’s twanging bowstring wakes Ravana from his dead sleep and he leaps to his balcony to watch his city burn again before his horrified eyes. Rama releases his arrows against the city gates and tall flaming towers, reducing them to rubble with a few well-placed shafts. This awesome display of power disturbs the minds of the demon generals who were busy mobilizing their army in defense. That a mere human could destroy their beloved city with his arrows provokes feelings of helplessness that they have never felt before. “Is this man an avatar of Vishnu or of Rudra, the Destroyer?” they ask each other with reluctant awe. Sugriva commands his monkey chiefs, “All of you go, now, to the nearest gate and begin this war again. Even if one of you is surrounded by the enemy, he should not stop fighting. Kill every rakshasa that you find. And any vanara who stops fighting or tries to desert should be killed on the spot for disobeying my royal command!” Ravana also commands his generals to engage the monkeys immediately. The demon army pours out of Lanka with weapons bristling and golden ornaments shining like a second sky full of stars descending upon the earth. Between the shine of the moon and the stars, the flames of Lanka, the torches of the monkeys and the splendor of the rakshasa’s steel and jewels, the night sky glows a fluorescent pink and orange. The ocean

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reflects the angry red of the burning city while the sea creatures poke their heads above the waves in anticipation of another easy feast. The rakshasas march out of their city flying flags and banners, wielding axes, swords and javelins, maces, pikes and mighty bows. Their full army comprised of infantry, cavalry, chariots and elephant mounted warriors announce their progression with the jingle of thousands of tiny bells that adorn their chariots and mounts and the clash of steel swords they strike upon their shields in a steady, threatening rhythm. The demon warriors enter the battlefield adorned with exquisite jewelry and smelling fragrantly of sandal paste, garlands and wine. They are happy to fight in the night when they feel strongest. The monkeys growl and hiss at the appearance of the demon army that billows out onto the plain of Lanka like a black thundercloud flashing with lightning. The monkeys and bears observe the smug countenances of the rakshasas and it drives them mad with anger. Howling and screaming, the two sides close ranks in moments, leaping and running full speed into their enemy’s weapons. The rakshasa archers send deadly volleys of arrows with barbed heads onto the animal army, while the foot and mounted soldiers hack and slash at close range. The monkeys and bears fire back by hurling huge rocks and spinning, full-grown trees in a relentless hailstorm upon the advancing demons. Claws and teeth and brute strength serve the vanaras and reekshas well in personal combat. The berserking animals kill their adversaries even while impaled upon the sword or spear that is ending their own lives. “Aha! Now I have you close enough to see you die!” “And here is a gift for you!” “Ha! You killed me yesterday! But tonight I kill you!” The fighting is so intense that all rules of engagement are ignored. Demons hack at monkeys that have their backs turned and are fighting with another. Giant bears with javelins in their bellies lean over their killers and bite the heads off of unwitting horsemen. The rakshasas sever the heads of the monkeys with sharp arrows only to have their own heads crushed by another monkey using his brother’s skull as a weapon. Because of the great numbers and the intense press of close fighting, many weapons are ineffectual. Armor is torn open by claws. Strong limbs about to hurl boulders are sliced off with quick axe strokes. The charge of the chariots is absorbed by the leaping mob of monkeys that rip apart the horses, charioteers and soldiers with indiscriminate glee. Animals and demons die in tens and sevens, hundreds and thousands. Proud standards are abandoned and trampled upon. If one warrior slips to the ground, then ten enemies surround him and finish him off. Wounded rakshasas skulk along the city streets of Lanka with their ears and faces torn off, missing limbs, stumbling about stupidly with their heads bashed in from stones and fists. But they will not be thrown into the sea. They will fight tomorrow. Buy the book “The Song of Rama” by Tim Thompson to read and see more!

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Watch this website to be alerted when it is available for purchase. www.monkeyyoga.com Glossary Agni—the god of fire. Airavata—Indra’s mount. A great white magic elephant with four tusks. Aja—son of Raghu and the father of Dasaratha, the grandfather of Rama. Angada—the vanara prince, son of Vali and Lady Tara, nephew of Sugriva. Anjana—Hanuman’s mother, wife of Kesari. The reincarnated apsarasa, Punjikasthala, daughter of Varuna. Apsara—Apsarasa—heavenly nymph. Ashram—forest retreat of sages and rishis. Astra—a celestial weapon that is invoked with a special mantra. Asura—race of demons antagonistic to the Devas, the gods. Ayodhya—the capital city of Rama’s kingdom. Bali—the Asura lord of the Underworld, Patala. Bharata—son of Dasaratha and Kaikeyi, half brother of Rama and Laxmana and Shatrughna. Bharatavarsha—“Land of the Great Kings” the name of ancient India. Brahma—the Creator God of the Hindu Trinity. Brahma Loka—the heavenly world of Brahma. Brahmastra—the irresistibly great weapon of Brahma. Chaitra—a springtime month. Dasaratha—“Ten Chariots”. The father of Rama and Laxmana.

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Devas—the shining ones. Led by Indra, these are the gods of the ocean, the sun, the wind, wealth, fire, etc. Gandharva—a race of heavenly warriors and musicians. Garuda—the magnificent mount of Vishnu. He is half man, half eagle. The son of Kashyapa and Vinata. The Uncle of Sampati and Jatayu. Garuda is famous for his speed, loyalty, wisdom and strength. Guru—“Dark/Light”. A teacher who eliminates the darkness of ignorance with the illumination of wisdom. Hanuman—“Broken Jaw”. Son of Anjana and Vayu, the Wind God. Hanuman leapt into Lanka and brought back word of Sita, among other heroic acts. Also called Maruti, son of the wind god and Pavanputra—son of Prana. His birth name was Sundara. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanuman Indra—the storm god, chief of the Devas. Indrajit—“The conqueror of Indra” the name of Ravana’s sorcerer son. Jambavan—king of the bear people, the Reekshas. Janaka—the father of Sita. He ruled the country of Videha from his capital city, Mithila. Janaki—“Daughter of Janaka” another name of Sita’s. Jatayu—younger brother of Sampati. Killed by Ravana. Jatayu was a friend of Rama’s father, and gave his life in defense of Sita. Jaya—“Victory” Kaikeyi—“Daughter of Kekeya” the youngest of Dasaratha’s wives and the mother of Bharata. Kalisha—Mount Kalisha, the home of Shiva in modern day Tibet. Kanda, Kandam—Book or knot, the roots of a tree. Kali Yuga—the fourth and final age of the world, our present time, the age of discord. It started in the year 3102 BC and has a length of 432,000 years. The events described in the Ramayana occurred in the Treta Yuga, the second age of the world. Kausalya—first wife of Dasaratha and the mother of Rama.

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Kesari—husband of Anjana, Hanuman’s stepfather. Rhadveka in his previous life in heaven as a Gandharva. Kishkindha—the forest home of the race of Vanaras. Kubera—the God of Wealth and Treasure, Lord of the Yakshas. The older half brother of Ravana. Ravana defeated Kubera and won the fabulous island of Lanka for his own home. Kumbhakarna—“Ears like water jugs” The giant brother of Ravana. Lamba—a mountain peak on the island of Lanka. Lanka—the name of the island and the magnificent city home of the race of rakshasas, identified with the island Ceylon, Sri Lanka. Lankini—the female demon warrior protector of the island of Lanka. Laxmana—often called Soumitri because he is the son of Dasaratha and Soumitra. The twin brother of Shatrughna, half brother of Rama and Bharata. Loka—a world or a realm in another dimension. Mainaka—Mount Mainaka, also called Hiranyanabha, “Golden Peak”. The last of the winged mountains. He rose from the sea and offered Hanuman rest and refreshment at the beginning of the vanara’s leap to Lanka. Mantra—a sacred set of words or sounds that can be used to facilitate meditation or sorcery. Maruti—“Son of the Wind”. A name of Hanuman’s. Maya—the Asura architect who built the city of Lanka. Nala—the Vanara son of Vishvakarman. This great monkey warrior designed and built the bridge to carry Sugriva’s army across the ocean to Lanka. Namaste. “The light of life within me salutes the light of life that lives in you” A traditional greeting of respect usually said with the palms pressed together at the level of the chest or raised above the head. Narayana—another name of Vishnu. Neela—the commander of the Vanara army. The son of Agni. Parvati—“Daughter of the Mountain” the wife of Shiva.

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Patala—the underworld ruled by the Asura Bali. Pavanputra—“Son of Prana”. Another name for Hanuman. Pradakshana—respectful circumambulation. Pralaya—the deluge and fire that will destroy the three worlds at the end of the universe. Prana—the life giving energy within all living beings. Another name of Vayu, the Wind God. Punjikasthala—the apsarasa daughter of Varuna. The previous incarnation of Anjana, Hanuman’s mother. Raghava—“Descendent of Raghu”. A name of Rama and Laxmana, descendents of the king Raghu, ruler of Ayodhya. Rahu—the bodiless demon that periodically eats the sun and the moon, causing eclipses. Rakshasa—a race of demons. Rakshasi—female rakshasa. Rama—the son of Kausalya and Dasaratha. Often called Kausaleyaya, “Son of Kausalya”, Dasarathi, “Son of Dasaratha” or Raghava, “Descendent of Raghu”. Raghu was Rama’s great-grandfather. The rightful ruler of the world, husband to Sita and brother to Laxmana, Shatrughna and Bharata. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rama Ramayana—“The journey of Rama” The epic poem composed by the sage Valmiki. Ravana—the demon king of Lanka. Reeksha—the race of bear people ruled by Jambavan. Rhadveka—the name of Kesari’s previous incarnation. Rishabha—Mount Rishabha. The mountain of healing herbs in the Himalayas that Hanuman fetched to save the lives of Rama, Laxmana and the entire animal army. Rishi—a holy man. Rudra—the name of Shiva as the Destroyer of Worlds. Sagara—the Ocean. Also the name of the ancestors of Rama who dug the ocean beds.

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Samadhi—complete absorption into meditative bliss. Sampati—older brother of Jatayu. This old vulture provided crucial information as to the location of Ravana and Sita. Samudra—the Ocean God. Also called Varuna and Sagara. Sanjivani—Mitra Sanjivani, the herb that brings the dead back to life. Senapati—the commanding general of an army. Prahastha for the Rakshasas and Neela for the Vanaras. Shakti—mystical weapon of the gods. Shiva—the Destroyer God of the Hindu Trinity. Simhika—the shadow catching monster that Hanuman killed on his first leap into Lanka. Sita—daughter of Janaka and the wife of Rama. Also called Janaki, Vaidehi and Maithili. Soumitri—“Son of Sumitra” a name of Laxmana. Sumitra—the middle wife of Dasaratha and the mother of the twins Laxmana and Shatrughna. Sundara—“Beautiful Gift” the birth name of the monkey hero Hanuman, son of the wind god. The name of the fifth book of the Ramayana, recounting about 24 hours of Hanuman’s most important adventures and accomplishments. Sugriva—“Beautiful Neck” the king of the Vanaras and the son of the sun god, Surya. Surasa—the divine mother of serpents sent to test Hanuman on his flight to Lanka. Surya—the Sun God, Sugriva’s father and Hanuman’s guru. Tara—“Star”. Mother of Angada. Treta Yuga—the second of the four ages of the world. The era of the Ramayana. Trikuta—“Three peaks” The triple peaked mountain that the city of Lanka was built upon. Trivikrama—“Three steps” The immense form of Vishnu that strode across the heavens and won the universe back from the Asura Bali.

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Vali—the son of Indra and the older brother of Sugriva. Father of Angada. Rama killed him and made Sugriva king of Kishkindha in his place. Valmiki—a great sage and the author of the Ramayana. Vamana—the dwarf child that transformed himself into Trivikrama and won the universe from the Asura Bali. Vanara—a race of magic monkeys that live in the forest kingdom of Kishkindha ruled by Sugriva. Vanari—female vanara. Vajra—the lightning weapon of Indra. Varuna—god of the ocean. Also called Samudra and Sagara, because Rama’s ancestors, the Sagaras, dug the ocean beds with their bare fingernails. Vayu—the god of the wind. Also called Prana, god of the breath. Vibishana—the righteous rakshasa, brother of Ravana. Vishnu—the Sustainer God of the Hindu Trinity. Also called Narayana. His emblems are the lotus, discus, mace or sword and conch. Vrikshasana—Pose of the Tree. A standing yoga position where one leg is bent at the knee and the sole of that foot is pressed into the inner thigh of the standing leg. The hands are either pressed together at the chest in Namaste or held above the head. Yaksha—a celestial race of beings similar to elves that are ruled by Kubera, the Treasure Lord. Yoga—“Union”. The science and art of uniting the body, mind and spirit with the creative force of the universe. Yojana—a measure of distance equal to about 8 or 9 miles. Buy the book “The Song of Rama” by Tim Thompson to read and see more! Watch this website to be alerted when it is available for purchase. www.monkeyyoga.com