Hanuman met many obstacles on the way but so great was his strength and so deep his devotion to the task ahead that nothing could stop his progress. One of the obstacles encountered by Hanuman was the monstrous form of Surasa. She, in fact, was the naga maiden. The gods, to test the abilities of Hanuman, asked her to …
Every International Yoga Day, I write about yoga. And a whole year passes so fast… Here is what I wrote last year, with a few amendments. The core remains the same – Yog is a way of life, and not an exercise. Asanas form 4 padas in the Yoga Sutras, the rest came much later. …
All the vanaras helped in the search for Sita. One of the groups which went south learnt from Sampathi, the brother of Jatayu, that Sita was a prisoner of the rakshasas in the island of Lanka. It was decided that one of the vanaras should leap across the sea to Lanka and make a thorough search for Sita. Jambavan, the oldest of the …
Vali was a very powerful warrior and possessed many boons against defeat and failure. Sugriva doubted if Rama, was a match for Vali. Rama showed his prowess by performing wondrous feats. Sugriva was not satisfied. He pointed out a sal tree and asked Rama if he could pierce it through with an arrow: Rama let off an arrow from …
Near Pampa, the princes met a wise monkey called Hanuman who was the minister to Sugriva. Hanuman immediately took a liking for the princes and became a faithful friend of Rama. Hanuman swore that he would do his best to help Rama in the recovery of Sita. He then spoke of Sugriva and how he came to be driven out of …
Meanwhile in Dandakarnya Rama, returning exhausted from the deer-hunt, met Lakshmana on the way. Rama rebuked his brother for having left Sita alone in the cottage and feared that she might have come to grief already. Lakshmana explained that he did not want to leave the cottage, but Sita forced him to go out in search of Rama. What Rama …
Ravana spoke of his great prowess and wealth and asked Sita to go with him to Lanka. He made many promises and said Rama was unworthy of her. When all his words failed to move Sita, Ravana threw off his disguise, seized Sita by the hair and dragged her to his chariot. Jatayu, the eagle, was the only help at hand …
Maricha, another rakshasa, would take the form of a beautiful golden deer and go to Panchavati. He would stray near Rama’s cottage. On seeing the enchanting deer, Sita was certain to ask the princes to get it alive for her. The deer would disappear into the forest luring the princes away. At this moment, Ravana would appear at the cottage and carry …
Thoroughly disgraced and bleeding all over, Surpanakha hastened to Janasthana where her brother, Khara, was the chieftain. Khara was enraged at the wrong done to his sister. Accompanied by his fourteen generals, each commanding a thousand rakshasas, Khara rushed to Panchavati. But Rama met them single-handed. The rakshasas fell like skittles. One after the other the fourteen generals were killed. Undaunted, Khara continued the …
On their way to Panchavati the princes saw a huge bird, which they mistook for a rakshasa in disguise. But Io! the bird spoke in a soft voice full of affection and regard. The bird was none other than Jatayu, a nephew of Garuda, the vahana (mount) of Lord Vishnu. Jatayu said that he was a friend of Dasaratha. He offered to do his best …
