Sita: An Illustrated Retelling of the Ramayana Read online

  Indrajit noticed how Ram always fought with one eye on Lakshman, making sure that he was safe. He realized Lakshman was Ram’s weak spot; if Lakshman could be brought down, then Ram would be too demotivated to continue the war. So he focused all his energies on Lakshman – shooting a volley of arrows in his direction. Lakshman deflected all the arrows Indrajit directed at him. But one managed to get through, and hit him right next to his heart.

  It felt like a sharp scorpion sting. As he fell, he felt as if a python had grabbed him and was squeezing the life out of him. Fire seemed to course through his blood. The pain was excruciating. He screamed and that scream brought the battle to a halt. Indrajit tried to grab the fallen body and drag it into the city, but Hanuman rushed to the spot, pushed Indrajit away and took custody of Lakshman’s limp body.

  Ram rushed to the spot as the rakshasas withdrew, singing songs of triumph, pleased that Indrajit had finally turned the war in their favour. Ram was inconsolable in his grief. ‘I failed to protect Sita. I failed to protect Lakshman. What will I tell his mother when I return to Ayodhya? Will I return to Ayodhya alone? Must I even return so to Ayodhya?’

  Dashratha’s relationship with Ram needs to be contrasted with Ravana’s relationship with Indrajit. Dashratha is a protective father while Ravana is an exploitative father. Dashratha is forced by royal rules to send his son to exile while Ravana’s rage and lust prevent him from letting Sita go, thus compelling Indrajit to fight Ram.

  Ram may be God but he displays human emotions like grief when Sita is abducted and Lakshman is hurt. Some scholars call it leela, or playacting. Everyone agrees it is a unique feature of Hindu tradition where God is also subject to all human experiences and emotions.

  Hanuman to the Rescue

  As the venom spread through Lakshman’s veins, the old bear Jambuvan said that the only thing that could save him was a herb called Sanjivani found on the hill of herbs, Gandhamadan, far to the north of the Vindhyas on the slopes of the Himalayas. ‘It has to reach here before sunrise. If anyone can do it, it is Hanuman.’

  Hanuman immediately leapt into the air and made his way north.

  Ravana saw this from his tower, and dispatched the rakshasa Kalanemi, time-traveller and shape-shifter, to thwart Hanuman’s mission.

  Hanuman reached Gandhamadan very quickly and was greeted by a sage who said he would point out the magical herb provided Hanuman took a bath in the lake. The plant was sacred and was not to be touched by unwashed hands!

  But in the waters was a great crocodile ready to eat Hanuman. As Hanuman battled the crocodile, the crocodile spoke in a woman’s voice, ‘I am an apsara cursed to live as a crocodile until a monkey overpowers me. If you do succeed in overpowering me and liberating me, know this: the sage you met at the foot of the mountain is no sage; he is Kalanemi sent by Ravana to destroy you.’

  Hanuman managed to overpower the crocodile. He then crushed Kalanemi underfoot and went in search of the magical herb. Time was running out; the sun would soon rise and it would all be over.

  To make matters worse, Ravana, who controlled the celestial bodies in the sky, compelled Surya to rise before time, despite his protests. When Hanuman realized this, he caught the sun and trapped him in his underarm.

  Hanuman then scoured the mountain for the herb. In the moonlight it was difficult to distinguish one plant from another. So he decided to carry the entire mountain to Lanka and let Jambuvan find the herb. The devas watched in amazement as Hanuman increased his size and then proceeded to uproot the entire mountain, balance it in the palm of one hand and leap up into the sky making his way southwards, the sun trapped in his armpit.

  The most popular image of Hanuman in temples is of him carrying the mountain in one hand and crushing Kalanemi under his foot.

  The mountain of herbs is identified as the Valley of Flowers near Badri in Uttarakhand on the slopes of the Himalayas. It is sometimes called Gandhamadan, and at other times Dronagiri.

  Hanuman, though a great warrior, is not viewed as a god in the Valmiki Ramayana. This transformation starts around the eighth century CE, with naga-babas (naked ascetics) identifying him with Shiva, and later with him being seen as the perfect bhakta of Ram by scholars and sages such as Ramanuja of Tamil Nadu (twelfth century), Madhwa of Karnataka (thirteenth century), Ramanand (fourteenth century) whose influence was great in North India, and Ramdas (seventeenth century) who was popular in Maharashtra.

  In the Gangetic plains are akharas, local gymnasiums, where men hope to be like Hanuman, strong and celibate warriors who serves Ram unconditionally. Here they spend their free time bodybuilding.

  Hanuman is the patron god of physical training across India.

  Hanuman Encounters Bharata

  To go south, Hanuman had to cross Ayodhya and the strange sight of a flying hill frightened the residents of the city. What was even more intriguing was that the monkey carrying the hill kept chanting the name of Ram.

  Bharata, caretaker of the Kosala kingdom, immediately mounted his bow and, also chanting the name of Ram, shot at the beast carrying the hill. The arrow struck Hanuman and he fell down near Nandigram where Bharata had taken residence. ‘Who are you,’ asked Bharata, ‘and why are you chanting the name of my brother Ram?’

  Hanuman fell at Bharata’s feet. ‘Are you the brother of Ram who gave up the kingdom that his mother had secured for him through guile? Blessed am I to meet you.’ Bharata was surprised that the monkey knew so much about him. Hanuman then introduced himself and told him the situation Ram was in. Bharata had had no news of Ram ever since they parted ways at Chitrakut. He felt miserable for his brother and for Sita and for Lakshman and thanked Hanuman for coming to the aid of his brother.

  ‘Sugriva owes my brother a favour. But you, why do you help Ram?’ asked Bharata.

  ‘He inspires me to be a better man,’ said Hanuman. Bharata smiled on hearing this from a monkey. ‘But soon it will be time for the sun to rise. I am afraid by interrupting my journey you have delayed me and I may not be able to make it in time to give the life-saving herb to Lakshman.’

  ‘Don’t say that,’ said Bharata. ‘Climb on my arrow and I will ensure it carries you to Lanka in time.’ Trusting Bharata’s abilities completely, Hanuman, mountain in hand, sun in armpit, jumped on Bharata’s arrow that he shot southwards. Charged with the power of hymns and the name of Ram, it managed to transport Hanuman to Lanka in no time.

  Jambuvan found the magical herb on the mountain and it was given to Lakshman early enough to counter the effects of Indrajit’s poisonous dart. His breathing became normal, his eyes cleared, energy flowed through his limbs and he jumped up ready to do combat.

  ‘I think it is time for you to let the sun go,’ said Ram to Hanuman in a voice full of gratitude. Hanuman had quite forgotten about the sun. He raised his arm and Surya made his way to the sky. In the glory of the morning light, Ravana saw the monkeys march towards Lanka once more, chanting the name of Ram, led by an invigorated and determined Lakshman.

  The story of Bharata’s intervention comes from regional retellings of the Ramayana written after the tenth century.

  The story reveals the tension between establishing the greatness of Hanuman, the monkey-servant, and the greatness of Bharata, the royal brother. Hanuman flies carrying the mountain while Bharata’s arrow carries Hanuman carrying the mountain. Bharata is seen almost as a twin of Ram.

  In the Valmiki Ramayana, Hanuman brings the mountain of herbs to Lanka twice.

  In Rameswaram is a hill identified as the remains of the mountain brought to the south by Hanuman.

  Sulochana

  Indrajit was furious that Lakshman had been revived. Then a piece of information reached him that turned his rage into fear. He learned that Lakshman had not slept for over twelve years and through that period had been a celibate ascetic. It had been foretold that Indrajit would die only at the hands of such a man.

  A nervous Indrajit withdrew to a cave and began worshipping Kali. If anyone could save h