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Sunday, October 25, 2015

Ramayana in Mahabharata - Rama crosses the ocean

In continuation, from Vana Parva (sub Parva - Draupadi Harana Parva) - sectons 277 to 281.

Rama does not search for Sita along with Lakshmana, but is informed of the same by Jatayu.
Hanuman crossing the ocean has just a small mention.
Sita is aware of all that is happening in Rama's camp.
Burning of Lanka is just a mention.


While Ravana was carrying away Sita, elsewhere Rama, disturbed hurried towards his hut, only to see Lakshmana approaching him, Lakshama told Rama that when he had refused to leave her, Sita had rebuked and insulted him. Ashamed, he had then left her alone.
Rma and Lakshmana then hurried towards the hut to see if Sita was safe. Seeing Jatayu, dying, Rama mistook him initially for a Rakshasha and drew his bow. Then realizing who this was, they asked Jatayu for forgiveness and wated to know about Sita.
Pointing his head southwards, Jatayu told Rama that Ravana had abducted Sita and taken her in tht direction. So saying, Jatayu passed away.

 Rama and Lakshmana started their journey southwards. On the way, they came across a huge headless Rakshasha. It had a pair of large eyes on his breast, and the opening of his mouth was on his belly. Seizing Lakshmana by one hand, it tried to push him towards his belly where its mouth was. Seeing this, Rama cut off the hand that was holding Lakshmana. Dropping to the ground, Lakshama cut off the other hand of the monster. Then both brothers attacked the monster till it lay dead. Suddenly, from the belly of the monster appeared a gandharva. The Gandharva told Rama to go and meet Sugriva near the Rishyamukha mountain.  Sugriva would be able to help Rama find and rescue Sita.

Seeing Rama approach, Sugriva sent his counsellor Hanuman to find out who these two were. Hanuman, on learning who they were, took them to Sugriva. Rama told Sugriva about his woe. Surgriva showed some jewels that Rma identified as that of Sita. Having made friends with Sugriva, Rama killed Vali. Sugriva became the king of Kishkindhya and agreed to help Raama rescue Sita once the monsoon was over.

Meanwhile Ravana had reached Lanka, in a forest full of Ashoka trees, he kept Sita. Many Rakshasha women were kept there to guard Sita. Of these, one was called Trijata who consoled Sita and told her she had heard of Rama's friendship with Sugriva and would soon come and rescue her. Sita spent her days in hope. Many times Ravana approached her, asking for her hand, but Sita used to rebuke him and send him away.

Meanwhile with the monsoon ending, Rama wanted to know what Sugriva had done so far. Sugriva said monkeys had been dispatched in all directions with instruction to return within a month with news. Soon all monkeys except the ones who had gone South, returned with no news.

After two months, Hanuman, who with son of Vali, Angada, had gone southwards, returned.  Hanuman told Rama he had seen Sita.  In their southward journey, they had come across a long cave. At the end of the cave, a female ascetic, Prabhavati, showed them the way to the ocean. On the banks of the ocean, they had met Sampati, brother of Jatayu. Sampati told them Ravana resided in Lanka, on the other side of the ocean.
When others in the troupe were against crossing the ocean, Hanumana jumped across and reached Lanka and met Sita. Sita said she knew all about him, as Trijata had told her about Rama and his search operation. Sita then gave Hanumana a jewel to take to Rama as her sign. Hanuman told Rama that on his way back, he had been  seized by Ravana's soldiers, and then had set fire to the city of Lanka.

Rama then consulted Sugriva, and then with all other monkeys and bears on their side, Rama and Lakshama set forth towards the office. Reaching the ocean, they setup camp on its shore. Rama then began praying to the Ocean. Appearing before Rama, the Ocean told him to use the services of Nala, in the army, who was a skilled architect, to build a bridge. Ocean agreed to keep the bridge afloat and held together.

While the bridge was being built, Vibhishana, brother of Ravana, along with four of his counsellors, came o Rama and asked for refuge. Rama promised him the kingdom of Lanka. Soon the bridge was built and Rama crossed over to the other side with his army. He then sent Angada, as his messenger to Ravana.


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