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Besides getting Ram’s army across to Lanka, Hanuman is also credited with saving Lakshman’s life.

  Indrajit strikes Lakshman

  Ravana’s eldest son Indrajit was also called Meghnad because when he was born his cry sounded like thundering clouds. He grew up well versed in serpent lore known as Naga-shastra and even married a serpent princess called Sulochana. He challenged and defeated Indra himself in a duel and so came to be known as Indrajit. After a long fight, he was able to strike Lakshman with a serpent arrow. With a triumphant laugh, he withdrew while Lakshman lay dying on the battlefield. Ram watched in horror as the poison spread through his brother’s limbs. ‘I have failed in my duty as elder brother. I have failed to protect my younger brother,’ wailed Ram as he gathered Lakshman’s limp body in his arms. Watching Ram suffer so, Vibhishana said there was a way to rescue Lakshman. There was an antidote to the poison spreading through Lakshman’s limbs. It was a herb called sanjivani located in a mountain far away in the north. If given before sunrise, Lakshman could be saved. ‘I shall fetch it,’ said Hanuman and leapt northwards at lightning speed. On reaching the mountain, Hanuman realized he could not identify the herb described by Vibhishana. So he picked up the entire mountain and carried it back to the battlefield. Vibhishana scoured the mountain, found the herb, prepared the potion which Ram poured into Lakshman’s mouth. The antidote worked and Lakshman woke up as if from a deep slumber just before sunrise, eager to resume his battle with Indrajit.

  According to one Ram-katha, Ravana forced Surya to rise earlier than usual in order to thwart Hanuman’s efforts to bring the magic herb before sunrise. Realizing this, Hanuman simply grabbed the sun god and trapped him under his armpit. Such was his strength.

  Later Hanuman disrupts Indrajit’s ritual making it possible for Lakshman to defeat Indrajit.

  Death of Indrajit

  Indrajit had obtained from Brahma a boon—that he would die only at the hands of a man who had not slept for fourteen years. When he learnt that Lakshman was such a man, he became nervous. His anxiety increased when Lakshman survived despite being shot by the deadly serpent arrow. So Indrajit decided to perform an occult ritual that would render him invincible. When Vibhishana learnt of Indrajit’s plans, he directed Hanuman and the other monkeys to the secret chambers where he knew the ritual would be performed. Led by Hanuman, the monkeys disrupted the yagna. Indrajit could do nothing but watch helplessly and curse his treacherous uncle. The following day, Indrajit entered the battlefield, a little disappointed and angry and extremely nervous. He came face to face with Lakshman and a great battle ensued. Missiles were hurled and struck down by either side. At long last, Lakshman was able to release a powerful arrow that escaped being struck down; it severed Indrajit’s neck with such force that it carried the head straight into Ravana’s palace.

  Hanuman’s story clearly delights everyone who reads the Ramayana. He is Ram’s knight. With him around, everyone feels safe and secure. But underneath his great adventures is a philosophy that transforms this swashbuckling monkey into a much-venerated deity.

  After the defeat of Ravana, Hanuman leaves the monkeys and follows Ram to Ayodhya. There, in the land of Manavas, he displays his absolute devotion to Ram.

  Hanuman’s heart

  During Ram’s coronation, a pearl necklace was given to Hanuman. The people of Ayodhya saw Hanuman examining each pearl carefully and then throwing it away. ‘Don’t you know the value of a pearl, you stupid monkey,’ said the people of Ayodhya. ‘A pearl has no value,’ said Hanuman, ‘if it does not have Ram’s name or image on it. ‘By that logic, even your body has no value because it does not have Ram’s name or image on it,’ said the people. ‘Who says so?’ asked Hanuman. With his bare nails he tore open his chest. Within, on his heart, the people of Ayodhya were amazed to find the image of Ram and Sita.

  Hanuman’s appeal comes from the fact that he is not the beneficiary of any of his adventures. All his life is dedicated to others—first Sugriva, then Ram. He is a celibate ascetic. This celibacy generates tapa which manifests as his strength and his intellect. His ascetic nature is reinforced by folk narratives that insist that he is an aspect of Shiva, the supreme hermit.

  Birth of Hanuman

  Once Vishnu took the form of Mohini, an enchantress. So beautiful was Mohini that even Shiva, the ascetic, was enchanted by her. Unable to control his senses, Shiva shed semen that was collected by Vayu, the wind god. He poured it into the ear of Anjana, the wife of Kesari, a monkey. This made Anjana pregnant and she gave birth to Hanuman.

  Not only is Hanuman a powerful monkey who burnt Lanka, he is also a poet, a grammarian and a scholar. Despite all these qualities he is content sitting at Ram’s feet as his servant. It is said that Hanuman is present every time the Ramayana is narrated. That is why even today, during the narration of the Ramayana, an empty seat is kept in his honour.

  In art, monkeys are a symbol of the mind, since both are innately restless and curious. When a problem appears to the mind as an insurmountable mountain, the monkey-like mind can, through devotion and discipline, transform into Hanuman and fly with the mountain-like problem in hand.

  7

  Ravana’s Enemy

  He who does not desire the wife or wealth of others

  He who is not jealous of others’ fame or prosperity

  He who always is interested in doing good to others

  I seek the protection

  Of that lotus-eyed boon of the Raghu clan

  —From the prayer of Jatayu in Adhyatma Ramayana

  Descent of man

  With ten heads and twenty arms, riding a flying chariot, Ravana makes an impressive opponent. He is the lord of the Rakshasas, ruler of the golden city of Lanka, located on the island of Trikuta in the middle of the southern sea.

  While his mother was Kaikesi, a Rakshasa woman, his father was a Brahman. Not any ordinary Brahman—a Rishi named Vishrava, son of Pulastya, who was one of the seven primal sages, just like Vasishtha, created by Brahma himself to be the guardian of Vedic lore.

  In the varna hierarchy, Ravana, a Brahman, holds a higher rank than Ram, who is a Kshatriya. That is why it is said that after killing Ravana, Ram went to Rishikesh and performed a penance to rid himself of Brahma-hatya-paap, the crime of killing a learned soul. The story goes that before Ravana died, Ram even accepted him as a teacher.

  Ravana, the teacher

  As a mortally wounded Ravana lay on the ground moaning and groaning, Ram told Lakshman to go to him and gather as much knowledge as he could for Ravana, though a Rakshasa, was also a Rishi’s son, and a great scholar. Lakshman went to Ravana and standing next to his head said, ‘Ravana! Struck by Ram’s arrow you will surely die. But before you go, share your knowledge so that it will outlive you.’ Ravana did not reply, he simply turned his face away. Lakshman went to his brother and informed him that Ravana was not being cooperative. ‘Where did you stand while addressing him?’ asked Ram. ‘Near his head. Why?’ asked Lakshman. ‘If you want him to teach you, the least you can do is behave like a student.’ So Ram walked up to Ravana and sat near his feet. ‘Noble king of the Rakshasas, for the crime you committed against me you have been punished. I have no ill feelings towards you at this moment. Only great regard for your wisdom. I, seated at your feet as a student, humbly request you to share your knowledge with me.’ Ravana smiled and looked at Lakshman who lowered his eyes in shame. ‘Ram, you are truly a worthy opponent and the noblest being on earth, able to detach yourself from your emotions. I salute you. I have little time before I die. But I shall teach you what I consider the most important lesson of my life. Remember, it is the nature of the ignorant mind to be drawn towards things that will cause harm and to avoid things that are good. We must remember that what tempts us will in all probability be the cause of our downfall. What we shy away from, what we procrastinate about, probably is what will help us evolve.’ So saying, Ravana breathed his last. And Ram bowed his head to his teacher.

  Ravana is revered as a gre