Episode 01 - Chapter 18 - Canto on (Hanuman arriving at) Mahendra mountains.

Chapter 18 – Canto on (Hanuman arriving at) Mahendra Mountains - மயேந்திரப் படலம்

 

Trusting  Sampath’s instructions and confident that he would not speak untruth nor misguide them, the vanaras got into a caucus to determine what next, who should do what and so on.

 

பொய் உரைசெய்யான், புள்அரசு'  என்றே புகலுற்றார்,

'கை உறை நெல்லித் தன்மையின் எல்லாம் கரை கண்டாம்;

உய் உரை பெற்றாம்; நல்லவை எல்லாம் உற எண்ணிச்

செய்யுமின் ஒன்றோ, செய்வகை நொய்தின் செய வல்லீர்!

 

“The Lord of Eagles, Sampathi, would not lie; from his instructions, we have clearly understood what lies ahead – like a gooseberry on our palm - 'கை உறை நெல்லி’ – Let us now consider the options offered by him and decide on the better one.” Sampathi offered two options: ONE: Select one of you who is equal to that task, (only one should go) to go across to Lanka, crossing the intervening sea, go in disguise, find Sita, comfort her and return to Rama and Lakshmana and brief them. TWO: (If they were diffident of finding one equal to the task, then) Go to Rama and Lakshamana and inform them that Sampathi had seen Ravana carry Sita across the sea to Lanka and he was absolutely certain that she is imprisoned there.

 

The first option obviously would bring out the best in the vanaras and would please the divine princes no end and also get glory for the vanaras. Therefore, it could be the first option.  Who then was the person competent to accomplish it for them?

 

'கை உறை நெல்லி  = உள்ளங்கை நெல்லிக்கனி = a gooseberry on your palm is a metaphor used widely in Thamish literature – both ancient and modern – to denote a thing or proposition that is beyond any doubt. There is an anecdote attached to this term: there was a young aspirant to become a follower of Aadi Sankara. When Sankara asked him “Who are you?” the young person queried back: “Are you querying about this body or are you asking about this soul?”. When Sankara found this amazing foundation for the Advaita Tatva in the young would-be disciple, he accepted him and named him “Hasthamlaka” – “Hastha” connoting the palm and “amlaka” connoting the gooseberry.

 

(Jambavan, the eldest amongst them (he was supposed to have been around for eons, he was present during Vamanavataara and he was present, after the Ramavataara, during Sri Krishnaavataara as well.

 

Kamban presents Jambavan during Trivikramavataara:

 

வேதம் அனைத்தும் தேர்தர,   எட்டா ஒரு மெய்யன்

பூதலம் முற்றும் ஓர் - அடி வைத்துப் பொலி போழ்து, யான்

மாதிரம் எட்டும் சூழ் பறை வைத்தே வர, மேரு

மோத இளத்தே தாள் உலைவுற்றேன்

 

“The One who even the Vedhas could not expound, the One who is the Truth, when he (as Trivikrama) stretched his one foot to envelop the whole earth, (celebrating that immemorable event,) I went round in all the eight directions, beating my drum; as Mount Meru crashed into me, I was hurt and got my legs enfeebled.” (Jambavan cites that accident as the reason why he did not have the physical strength and confidence to try and cross the sea, etc.)

 

Sri Narayaneeyam records this episode Trivikrama:

 

त्वत्पादाग्रं निजपदगतं पुण्डरीकोद्भवोऽसौ

कुण्डीतोयैरसिचदपुनाद्यज्जलं विश्वलोकान् ।

हर्षोत्कर्षात् सुबहु ननृते खेचरैरुत्सवेऽस्मिन्

भेरीं निघ्नन् भुवनमचरज्जाम्बवान् भक्तिशाली

 

As the tip of Thy feet reached its own realm, the Satyalok, Brahmaa washed the foot with the water from his kamandala. That water, which became Aakaash Ganga, purified all the worlds. The Gandharvaas danced and danced in ecstasy. On this auspicious occasion the great devotee Jaambavaan went around the world beating the drum.

 

The AAadi Kaavya documents this episode thus:

 

त्रिविक्रमे मया तात स शैल वन कानना |

त्रिः सप्त कृत्वः पृथिवी परिक्रान्ता प्रदक्षिणम्

 

trivikrame mayaa taata sa shaila vana kaananaa |

triH sapta kR^itvaH pR^ithivii parikraantaa pradakShiNam

 

“During the Trivikrama avataara, I circumambulated the earth inclusive of its mountains, forests and thickets, twenty-one times, in the pradakshina movement (in celebration).”

 

Jambavan comes up again in Sri Krishnavataara: engaged Krishna in a wrestling bout. Krishna of course overpowered him and realizing who Krishna was, Jambavan paid obeisance to him and gave the hands of his daughter Jambavati to him. )

 

Let us see how Jambavan builds up his case for nominating Hanuman as the fittest entity to venture into this seemingly impossible, perilous and imponderable venture – of crossing the sea, getting into Lanka, inveigling into the fortress and looking for and finding Sita, identify himself to her, convince her that he is indeed Rama’s emissary, comfort her that her deliverance is close by and then return – all unscathed – and brief Rama. (This exhaustive peroration by Jambavan spans eleven verses. And, with no offence meant for this great poet, your narrator could not find any stand-out, spectacular, spell-binding, breath-taking poesy in this particular lot. Therefore, in order to spare the readership a tiringly long browsing, he has presented the points made in those verses in bullet points, with para-phrased quotes from the verses where considered appropriate.)

 

HANUMAN, CONTEXTUALLY THE RIGHT CHOICE:

 

•        Hanuman was the one who brought Sugreeva and Rama together;

•        He was unequalled by his unique trait of relentlessly and tirelessly applying himself to the task he undertakes and completing it; (மாருதி ஒப்பர் வேறு இலை')

 

HANUMAN HAD THE BEST PHYSIQUE, PROWESS AND INTELLECTUAL AND MENTAL MIGHT crowned with CHINRANJEEVATHVA (BOON OF NO DEATH): force, faculty, flair, and fortitude

 

•        Even the creator Brahma may see his end;** but Hanuman was deathless; மேலை விரிஞ்சன் வீயினும் வீயா மிகை நாளிர்

•        He was the most learned – his learnings being most comprehensive and incisive; நுண்ணிது உணர்ந்தீர்

•        His rage and power of destruction were overwhelmed those of Yama, the God of Death;

•        His adherence to his commitment was absolute;

•        When it came to a battle confrontation, he was more devastating than Lord Siva.

•        He was indestructible – by the most ferocious fire, by raging wind nor by all-consuming  watery deluge.

•        The most potent, divinely endowed weapons could not harm him;

•        In one sweeping vault, he could leap beyond this universe.

•        He was endowed with analytical brilliance that enabled him to separate the good from the bad in any proposition and present a conclusion.

•        He could, in his own discretion, decide on his tasking;

•        He had the prowess to subjugate the Rakshasas;

•        He had the reconnoitering skills to enter and return from Lanka (after accomplishing his task, unharmed, unscathed).

•        If assailed by those powerful rakshasa forces, he had the supremacy to meet and overwhelm any opposition;

 

**Brahma, a member of the Hindu Trinity (as distinct from Brahmam the Unity), is portrayed severally in the different Puranas and Mahabharata. We shall not get into the different portrayals and their authenticity here. Suffice to say, all of them attribute a finite life-time for this godhead, though that (mahakalpa) is nearly beyond count.

 

HANUMAN’S ASCETIC BOONS AND ABILITIES TO CONVERT HIS FORM ANY WHICH WAY:

 

•        He had the (ascetic) skills to convert himself into an immeasurably huge form – larger than the Meru mountain. 'மேரு கிரிக்கும் மீது உற நிற்கும் பெரு மெய்யீர்; **

•        He also had the (ascetic) skills to convert himself into an atomic form, that would pass through the microscopic gap between falling raindrops. மாரி துளிக்கும் தாரை இடுக்கும், வர வல்லீர்;**

•        He had the brawn to lift this earth all by himself;

•        He also had the ability to soar and touch that very sun.

 

(** In the proverbial ASHTA MAHA SIDDHIS, the first ones are – aNimaa (smaller than the atom) and Mahimaa (humongous). (The other Siddhis are: Gharimaa(assuming a very heavy form);  Laghuma (assuming a very light form), Prapti (the ability to acquire anything anywhere), Prakaamya (the ability to secure and possess anything that is desired/dreamed), Isitva (the power to gain lordship over the whole creation); Vasitva (the ability to have anything under one’s absolute command/control (hypnotically?). These powers and abilities are supposed to be obtained through well laid-out, severely disciplined and prolonged ascetics.

 

(C.W.Leadbeater, an associate of Dr.Annie Besant, is believed to have secured, through disciplined ascetics, the astral and occult power of “Anima” and taking a form smaller than the atom, got into an atom and figured out accurately, its molecular arrangement and returned and assumed his normal form. (Ref. “Occult Chemistry” by A.Besant and C.W.Leadbeater.) This man has written copiously on the subject of occult and astral clairvoyance.)

 

HANUMAN WAS A SUPERB STRATEGIST AS WELL:

 

•        He had the strategic brilliance in scheming the vanquishing of the invincible Vaali; (Kamban asserts here that there was no infringement or infraction of the code of combat in the killing of Vaali - அறத்து ஆறு அழியாமை மறிந்து – though he was found to be equivocal while presenting the episode of Vaali being killed by Rama. )

 

•        Should the situation so demanded, he could keep a low profile too - அடங்கவும் வல்லீர்' காலம்அது அன்றேல்; but when pushed into combat, he was a roused lion.( 'கொக்கொக்க கூம்பும் பருவத்து மற்றதன், குத்தொக்க சீர்த்த விடத்து' 'ஊக்கமுடையான் ஒடுக்கம் பொருதகர், தாக்கற்குப் பேருந் தகைத்து' இல் .. (The ram steppeth back before it delivers the stunning blow: such is the apparent inaction of the man of energized intent… We have seen rams’ butt-combat: they draw back before delivering the seemingly fatal head butt; even in the beasts, we see focus, force and ferocity strategically composed. ..KuraL)

•        He thought through every task before him thoroughly and incisively and then took it up; once he took up a task, he would accomplish it resolutely, regardless of whatever hindrances or obstacles cropped up before him. (எண்ணித் துணிக கருமம் துணிந்தபின் எண்ணுவம் என்பது இழுக்கு;.. KuraL)

•        He had the physical prowess, steely mind and ascetic energies to accomplish anything forthwith which he set his mind on. வேண்டிய போதே வேண்டுவ

எய்தும் வினை வல்லீர்

 

HANUMAN’S ATTRIBUTES OF VALOUR, INVINCIBILITY AND LEARNING:

 

•        Even when targeted by the fearsome Vajrayudha of Indra, he would be unharmed, would not lose even a strand of hair.

•        If it came to a combat, even the three worlds would not match his prowess;

•        He had learnt all the spiritual and divine texts, walking in front of the chariot of Surya (the Sun God) facing Surya (walking backwards?) and learning as he taught him.**

 

** Hanuman desired to learn the holy texts (ஆரிய நூலும் = sacred texts in Sanskrit) from Surya. Surya posed a problem to him – he had to be on the move all the time providing light and sustenance to all life and could not sit in a place to offer the lessons. Hanuman therefore learnt walking (backwards, obviously) facing Surya, as Surya, astride his chariot and on the move, taught him.

 

HANUMAN’S VIRTUOSITY:

 

•        He always stood steadfastly by righteousness and just.

•        He stood by Truth;

•        He grew up never even once in thoughts considering cohabiting women. (நைஷ்டிக பிரம்மச்சாரி – one, who is absolutely celibate even when he had to be in the midst of women and their irresistible attractions; Sri Krishna leads this list; Hanuman is a prominent member.)

•        He mastered all the Vedhas;

•        He was endowed with a longevity that transcended the yuga pralayas (Hanuman is believed to have been blessed with the boon “death when he wishes” இச்சா மரணம்.

•        He is widely regarded as the creator, the Brahma himself.

 

HANUMAN’S CONTEXTUAL QUALIFICATION FOR THE TASK:

 

•        Hanuman is endowed with limitless love and genuflection for Rama and Lakshmana;

•        Because of that bond, he regarded “Rama Kaarya” as his prime duty and has understood with clarity what he needed to do.

•        He thus regarded searching for and finding Sita was his own, singular duty.

•        He had the credible ability to accomplish that task without mess or blunder.

•        He had his mind fixed firmly on the single purpose of doing only good deeds, because only these had durable value and merit.

 

After the exhaustively enumerative motivational peroration, Jambavan bade Hanuman to go ahead and set forth the task of leaving for Lanka, find Sita and return to Rama with the news of finding her:

 

'ஏகுமின்; ஏகி, எம் உயிர் நல்கி, இசை கொள்ளீர்;

ஓகை கொணர்ந்து உம் மன்னையும் இன்னல் குறைவு இல்லாச்

சாகரம் முற்றும் தாவிடும் நீர், இக் கடல் தாவும்

வேகம் அமைந்தீர்!' என்று விரிஞ்சன் மகன் விட்டான்.

 

Jambavan, concluding, bade Hanuman thus:

 

“Go! You are endowed with the power and ability for crossing this huge intervening sea! Go and spare us our dear lives and fetch all of us redemptive reputation and honour! Bring the good news of finding Sita in order that Rama could ford the limitless sea of grief (which he is now immersed in, with Sita’s separation – allegorically tied to Hanuman’s crossing the sea).”

    

(Jambavan could have just briefly informed Hanuman that the group thought that he was the best candidate for the task and laced it with some motivational content. Why did Jambavan have to enumerate so exhaustively the strengths, virtues and abilities of Hanuman? Did not Hanuman know all this? HANUMAN DID NOT. Thereby hangs a tale:

Hanuman was a hyperactive, precocious and mischievous child and would cause endless troubles for the ascetics and sages. For the reason that he was just a child and on top of it he was Vaayu Putra, the sages could not persuade themselves to curse him harshly for his mischiefs, but curse they did: he shall not remember his strengths but shall remember them only when someone else informs him. )

 

(One more anecdote about Hanuman and how he got his name would be in order: As a hyperactive child endowed with divine energies (Vaayu was his father – Anjana was the mother), he was attracted by the crimson sun in the horizon and thought that was a ripe fruit he wanted to pluck and have for himself. He soared towards the Sun. Indra, not taking that threatened intrusion into his domain kindly, used his Vajraayudha to stop Hanuman on his tracks. The weapon hit Hanuman on his cheek bone and broke it. The name Hanumaan was derived from that incident. Sage Valmiki would record this thus:

 

तदा शैलाग्र शिखरे वामो हनुर् अभज्यत |

ततो हि नाम धेयम् ते हनुमान् इति कीर्तितम्

 

‘Then, your left cheekbone, was broken and you fell down on a mountaintop; from thereupon your name is averred as Hanumaan’ (Hanu – cheekbone; maan – broken).( Hanu in Sanskrit also means wisdom; Hanuman is repository of wisdom.)

 

(Vaayu, infuriated at what Indra had done to his child, wanted to teach the whole universe a lesson. He withdrew himself and made the whole creation gasp for breath. Brahma interceded and pacified him and also accorded Chiranjeevathva to Hanuman. Indra, on his part wanting to make good, granted a boon to the child that he shall not be harmed by any astra – weapon- however divine or potent.)

 

சாம்பன் இயம்ப, தாழ் வதனத் தாமரை நாப்பண்

ஆம்பல் விரிந்தாலன்ன சிரிப்பன், அறிவாளன்,

கூம்பலொடும் சேர் கைக் கமலத்தன், குலம் எல்லாம்

ஏம்பல் வர, தன் சிந்தை தெரிப்பான், இவை சொன்னான்:   *

 

(Thus informed and invigorated by Jambavan), Hanuman, smiling, with his lotus like face lowered, with a smile that resembled a pink water lily in the middle of a lotus, with his palms folded in obeisance, with his vanara kins rejoicing, said the following:

 

(Hanuman lowered his head in modesty, as he heard Jambavan list his virtues, attributes and prowess, but he was visibly pleased.)

 

' இலங்கையை இடந்து வேரோடு இவ் வயின் தருக'' என்றாலும்,

''விலங்கினர் தம்மை எல்லாம் வேரொடும் விளிய நூறி,

பொலங் குழை மயிலைக் கொண்டு போது'' எனப் புகன்றிட்டாலும்,

கலங்கலீர்! உரைத்த மாற்றம் முடிக்குவல் கடிது; காண்டிர்!  

 

“If your command is for me to uproot the whole of Lanka and deliver it to you, if your command, on the other hand, is for me to vanquish all the contesting Rakshasas and bring the golden peacock-like Sita, please do not despair! I shall carry out your command, you shall see pretty soon.!”

    

'ஓசனை ஒன்று நூறும் உள் அடி உள்ளது ஆக,

ஈசன் மண் அளந்தது ஏய்ப்ப, இருங்கடல் இனிது தாவி,

வாசவன் முதலோர் வந்து மலையினும், இலங்கை வாழும்

நீசரை எல்லாம் நூறி நினைத்தது முடிப்பல்; பின்னும்,

 

“I shall cross the one hundred yojana distance (one yojana, to remind ourselves, is 9+miles), across the sea in front, with just one step of mine, like Maha Vishnu covered this earth with his one step, I shall accomplish the task (you are assigning me), decimating all the Rakshasas, even if Indra and his forces come to their aid.”

 

‘நும் அருளும், எம் கோன் ஏவலும், இரண்டு பாலும் கற்றைவார் சிறைகள் ஆகக்

 கலுழனின் கடப்பல் காண்டிர். ‘

 

“With your good wishes on the one hand and the exalted command of Sugreeva on the other, serving as two wings, I shall cross this sea like the Lord of Eagles, Garuda himself.”

 

ஈண்டு இனிது உறைமின், யானே எறி கடல் இலங்கை எய்தி,

மீண்டு இவண் வருதல்காறும்; விடை தம்மின், விரைவின்' என்னா

ஆண்டு அவர் உவந்து வாழ்த்த, அலர் மழை அமரர் தூவ,

சேண் தொடர் சிமயத் தெய்வ மயேந்திரத்து உம்பர்ச் சென்றான்.

 

“You all stay here in comfort. I shall reach the sea-clad Lanka and return. Please bid me good bye till then.” With the entire vanara crowd wishing him well, with the Devas showering flowers on him, Hanuman proceeded to climb the divine, multi-peaked Mahendra Parvatham, towards its peak.”

 

பொரு அரு வேலை தாவும் புந்தியான், புவனம் தாய

பெரு வடிவு உயர்ந்த மாயோன் மேக்கு உறப் பெயர்ந்த தாள்போல்

உரு அறி வடிவின் உம்பர் ஓங்கினன்; உவமையாலும்

திருவடி என்னும் தன்மை யாவர்க்கும் தெரிய நின்றான்.

 

“With an incomparable mental resolve to cross the sea, Hanuman grew in his form reaching the skies as it were, like Maha Vishnu as Trivikrama of yore did, as the whole world, in total awe, stood in witness.” Kamban alludes here to the functional name Hanuman had acquired later, as (சிறிய) திருவடி by virtue of his becoming the junior carrier (vahana) of Sri Maha Vishnu; Garuda, the senior one is termed பெரிய திருவடி.

 

பார்நிழல் பரப்பும் பொன் தேர் வெயில் கதிர்ப் பரிதி மைந்தன்தடங்கடல் தாவா முன்னம், நீர் நிழல் உவரி தாவி இலங்கை மேல் செல்ல நின்றான்.

 

As the Sun, riding his golden chariot, was preparing to descend into the seas, Hanuman stood there, in alert preparedness for vaulting across the sea that stood between him and Lanka.

 

KAMBAN PRESENTS HANUMAN STANDING ATOP THE MAHENDRA PARVATHAM:

 

மின் நெடுங் கொண்டல் தாளின் வீக்கிய கழலின் ஆர்ப்ப,

தன் நெடுந் தோற்றம் வானோர் கட்புலத்து எல்லை தாவ,

வல் நெடுஞ் சிகர கோடி மயேந்திரம், அண்டம் தாங்கும்

பொன் நெடுந் தூணின் பாத சிலை என, பொலிந்து நின்றான்.

 

“The clouds drifting across the peaks of the mountain resembled the warrior anklets of Hanuman; his huge form rising through the skies, was beyond the vision limits of the Devas; he stood there as the glowing huge pillar that bore the whole universe (அண்டம் தாங்கும்) – and the Mahendra Parvatham resembled as the base of that pillar.”

    

WE HAVE TRAVERSED THROUGH “KISHKINTA KHANDAM” WITH THIS DISCUSSION. THE MATCHLESS CHAPTER OF THE EPIC,THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN AS IT WERE -  “SUNDARA KHANDAM” BECKONS! WITH THE DIVINE GRACES OF SRI RAMA, WE COULD TOUCH THAT HEADY EXPERIENCE, WITH THE SRI RAMA NAVAMI CELEBRATIONS IN OUR MIDST.

 

Kishkinta Khandam is dominated by the interminably debated “Slaying of Vaali”. We have had our fill with that episode. But there are several other glowing nuggets as well in this exceptional chapter. We recall some of them below:

 

Canto on Hanuman - அனுமப் படலம்

 

The peerless Hanuman, the One who had no one else to compare with, because of his great attributes, mulling over all his mental analysis, looking at the two of them intently, found that his mind was melting to a jelly because of an immense flow of (inexplicable) affection and love for these two; as if he had been separated from these lovable divine beings in the distant past and he is fortunate to have them materialize right in front of him now.

 

Canto on Seeking Friendship - நட்புக் கோட் படலம்

 

ஆதிவேறு உள குழுவை எல்லாம்,  மானுடம் வென்றது’ அன்றே

 

ஆயமால் நாகர் தாழ் ஆழியானே அலால்,

காயமான் ஆயினான் யாவனே? காவலா!

நீ அம் மான் நேர்தியால்; நேர் இல் மாரீசன் ஆம்

மாய மான் ஆயினான் மா யமான் ஆயினான்.

 

Canto on the Arrival of the Monsoon – கார்காலப் படலம்

 

He choreographs for us, in his peerless, captivating poesy, the whole monsoon orchestra - the lightning, thunder-claps, lashing of the rains, the whistling of the winds and the muted, stilled, awe-struck reception from the flora and fauna, producing for us a breath-taking drama of Mother Nature, the alchemy wrought by it as it were.

 

 

*****