The process of writing Ramayanam Starts..9

The process of writing Ramayanam Starts..9

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(continued from the earlier post the link for which is given at the bottom.)

पर्वतारोहणं चापि सागरस्य च लङ्खनम्।

समुद्रवचनाच्चैव मैनाकस्य च दर्शनम्॥ २८

parvatārohaṇaṁ cāpi sāgarasya ca laṅkhanam|

samudravacanāccaiva mainākasya ca darśanam|| 28

The story of Ramayanam upto the point where Anjaneyaswamy climbed to the summit of Mahendra mountain, with his mind set on jumping over the sea to reach the Island of Lanka where Ravana held Devi Sita as captive, has already been covered in the earlier posts..

Standing atop the Mahendra mountain, Lord Hanuman rose to his full and imposing form, held up his arms and concentrating within himself all his Yogic powers, pressed hard on the mountain Mahendra with his feet and propelled himself at great speed into the sky in the southern direction over the sea..

This action of great valour and skill was being watched by all the gods and demigods assembled in the sky..

The Southern Sea, which was ever indebted to the kings of the solar race as it was a king from that lineage, Sagara who created it and it was Bhagiratha another kings of that race who filled it with the waters of Ganga, felt that when Hanuman was soaring over it for the welfare of Rama, a prince of of the solar race, it was its duty to offer hospitality to the emissary and lieutenant of Rama..

Mainaka, the mountain who was the son of Himalaya, was staying submerged in the Southern Seas hiding from the thunderbolt of Indra.. It so happened that mountains had wings at one time, and they flew all over the sky like huge birds, and landed themselves on any piece of earth as and when they liked. Such sudden landing of mountains caused damage to the valleys and towns, and caused heavy loss of lives to men and beasts.. So the Lord of Devas, Indra decided to chop off the wings of all the mountains, and send his weapon thunderbolt or Vajrayudha on this mission.. All the mountains fell down wingless, but Mainaka just flew southwards and took refuge in the sea.. and stayed there hidden from the assault by Indra.. It was the god of wind Vayudeva, who had helped Mainaka to fly such a long distance and land up inside the south sea.. The sea, prodded by its sense of duty towards the Solar Race, asked Mainaka to raise up and station himself high up in the path of flight negotiated by Hanuman, and offer him rest, and hospitality with fruits, water and other comforts.. Mainaka too was eager to pay respects to the son of the Wind god as the wind god had helped him to save his wings earlier..

Accordingly Mainaka rose up and waited in the path through which Hanuman was flying.. The top of the mountain was packed with fruits and other offerings for the valorous emissary of Rama.. The mountain Mainaka appeared in human form and offered welcome and hospitality to Hanuman, and recalled the gratitude that the sea and the mountain owed to the Solar Race, Wind god, Rama and Hanuman..

However, the indomitable Hanuman was focused simple in his mission to reach Lanka as early as possible. He politely refused to descend and receive the hospitality, but just touched the mountain with his arms and feet in the course of his flight and continued to proceed fast in the direction of Lanka..

(This narration covers an important part of Sundarakandam.. where the gods are actually testing the valour of Hanuman.. whether he is the apt lieutenant of Rama.. whether he is bold and resourceful, whether he will be capable of playing the sheet anchor role in Rama’s war with Ravana.)

Just a minor part of Hanumans Journey is covered here..

Hope to continue with the narration the next day… if God permits..