Ramayan – Part 9

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As we learned in our previous lesson, Rama met Sugriva and Hanuman. Sugriva then told Rama and

Lakshmana his own story. “My brother is Vali” he told them. “He is King of the Vanaras. Once a mighty

demon, called Maayavi, challenged my brother Vali’s supremacy. Vali accepted the challenge and a fight

broke out between the two. They entered one cave and continued their fight inside. Vali told me to

stay outside the cave, and wait for him for fifteen days. But even after more than fifteen days, Vali did

not return. Then I heard a lot of screaming and howling, and blood started to ooze out of the cave. I

thought my brother Vali had died. So I covered over the entrance to the cave with big stones so that the

demon could not escape and take over our kingdom.”

Sugriva continued “After that, all the ministers asked me to become King of the Vanaras. I did not ask

for this, but they thrust it upon me. A little while later, my brother Vali returned. He was very angry

that I had sealed the cave. When he saw me on the throne, he thought I had tried to kill him. He

became very angry, and wanted to kill me. This is why I had to run away and am living in the forest.

Only four trusted ministers including Hanuman stay with me.”

Rama thought Vali’s anger with Sugriva was justified. They became fast friends. “I will kill Vali!” said

Rama. Sugriva smiled at him. “Vali is very powerful!” said Sugriva. Lakshmana narrated how one arrow

from Rama had shot Maricha so many miles into the air, carrying him to the sea. Sugriva still smiled, but

did not have firm faith yet the Rama could conquer Vali. Even the demon Ravana had been defeated in

battle by Vali. Rama took out an arrow. He shot it, and it pierced not one, but seven trees, all at some

distance from another. Sugriva was now satisfied that Rama had the strength to conquer Vali. Sugriva

promised to lead a grand search for Sita once Vali was conquered and Sugriva became King of the

Vanaras. Sugriva showed Rama the jewels and garment dropped by Sita. This gave Rama and

Lakshmana more hope of finding Sita soon.

On Rama’s advice, Sugriva went to Kishkindha and roared loudly to challenge his brother. A fierce battle

followed. Vali soon gained the upper hand. Rama could see that Sugriva was on the verge of collapse,

and so He killed Vali with a powerful arrow. Before his death, Vali felt shame for his abominable actions

with his brother Sugriva. With hands joined in supplication, Vali said to Rama “I was overly proud, and

ignorant of my own sins. I beg that You give protection to my only son, Angada.” Rama assured Vali

that He would take care of Angada. Vali then asked Sugriva for his forgiveness, and asked to take care of

his son Angada, and his wife Tara, and gave up his life.

Suddenly Sugriva became despondent. Instead of happiness, he felt repulsion when he thought of ruling

the kingdom. He said to Rama, “Life itself seems tasteless, after having killed my elder brother. In order

to atone for my sinful act, I have decided to enter a fire and give up my life. My dear Rama, these other

heroic monkeys will help you search for Your wife Sita.” Rama consoled Sugriva. He then said to Sugriva,

“The tears of sorrow that you have shed are sufficient for the departed soul of your brother. This world

is moving under the direction of eternal time, and everything is destined by time. Now it is time for you

to attend to your responsibilities.” Sugriva gradually became pacified. He fulfilled his duty to cremate his

dead brother’s body, and performed the other rituals necessary for the newly departed souls.

After all the rituals, Hanuman asked Rama to accompany Sugriva to Kishkindha to perform his

coronation. Rama declined, saying, “Due to the nature of My exile, I cannot enter any city. Hanuman, I

suggest that you perform Sugriva’s coronation, and at the same time Angada can be installed as his

successor. The monsoon season is about to begin, and that will not be a good time to search for Sita. All

of you monkey chiefs can remain at Kishkindha for four months, while Lakshmana and I pass our time

staying in a mountain cave. When the autumn season arrives, we can begin an all-out search for the

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kingdom of Ravana.” Sugriva was heartily welcomed by all the citizens of Kishkindha. Hanuman and

Jambavan, the King of the bears performed Sugriva’s coronation in a big way. Sugriva had been living in

the forest for a long time. When he came back to Kishkindha, he quickly forgot all his troubles and

immersed himself in the luxuries of palace life.

For four months, Rama and Lakshmana lived within a mountain cave. Due to separation from Sita, Rama

could not find any pleasure in the scenic beauty of the mountain region. Nor would sleep come to visit

Him at night, on account of His continuous sorrow. Rama assumed that by enabling Sugriva to get back

his kingdom, the monkey King would never forget his obligation to help find Sita. And yet, even as the

autumn season came and the skies became clear and blue, Sugriva did not come to meet Rama. Rama

got upset with Sugriva’s irresponsibility, and sent Lakshmana to Kishkindha to warn him. Lakshmana

considered Rama most high. Any insult to Rama was a grave sin. He went to the courtyard of Sugriva in

an angry mood. He began twanging his bow. The bow made a loud sound like thunder. Everyone

became very afraid. The queen Tara came out to pacify him. When he had calmed down, Sugriva with

his counselor Hanuman and others came out.

Lakshmana reminded Sugriva of his duties, and his promise to Rama to find Sita. Also, Lakshmana said,

“I warn you, Sugriva. If you do not start helping Rama immediately, you will meet your brother Vali in

the abode of Yamaraja (death) this very day!”

Hanuman apologized on behalf of Sugriva. “Two weeks ago the King ordered all the monkeys and bears

to assemble here to begin the search. They are arriving even now. Within a short time, Sugriva

assembled all the monkeys and bears, and took them before Lord Rama outside of his cave. Rama

gazed upon the army of monkeys and bears with great satisfaction. Sugriva fell flat upon the ground to

submit himself to Lord Rama. Rama lifted up Sugriva and embraced him without bearing any grudge for

his past negligence.

With permission from Rama, Sugriva divided the Vanaras, or monkeys, and bears into four groups, and

asked them to go to in the four directions all over the world in search of Sita. Hanuman, Angada,

Jambavan, and many other Vanaras were asked to go to South, making Angada their leader. Sugriva

considered Hanuman to be the most capable of finding Sita, and conveyed to Hanuman that he was

counting on Him. Taking off His ring, Rama handed it to Hanuman and said, “When you find Sita, give

her this ring for she will recognize it and be convinced that you are my envoy. My dear Hanuman, I have

full confidence that you will be able to carry out this important mission on my behalf.” Hanuman took

the ring and touched it to his forehead. Then, he bowed to Lord Rama and departed.

As the monkeys searched for Sita, they spread out during the day, combing their allotted areas, and then,

at night, they regrouped in order to rest. Before one month had elapsed, three groups that were sent to

North, East, and West directions returned back, having thoroughly searching their assigned directions.

They came with sad faces as they had not found her.

Hanuman and the party searched throughout the Southern part of India in a vain. They got to the very

end of the South of India but found no sign of Sita, even though they looked high and low. “What shall

we do?” wondered Prince Angada, the son of Vali. Everyone was very discouraged. “Perhaps we should

just stop eating and let ourselves die” suggested one of them. All the Vanaras agreed that there was no

question of returning to Kishkindha without having received any information about Sita.

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At this time, Sampati, a big vulture, who was the elder brother of Jatayu, came out of his cave and

perched on the peak of a mountain, within the sight of all the monkeys. Sampati thought he will get

some good food to eat when the monkeys fall down dead of starvation. While he was waiting for them

to die, he overheard some of the Vanaras talking about how the bird Jatayu had died trying to protect

Sita.

Sampati then came forward and introduced himself to Prince Angada, Hanuman, the bear Jambavan,

and the other monkeys and bears. He said that Jatayu was his younger brother. He requested them to

tell exactly what happened to him. He was sorry to hear of his death. Angada said to Samapati, “If you

are actually Jatayu’s elder brother and our well-wisher, then tell us where Ravana, the king of the

Rakshasas, lives.” Sampati took sympathy on the group and said “I know that this Ravana is the King of

the Rakshasas, and his kingdom, Lanka, is situated on an island, one hundred yojanas (two hundred

miles) from the southern shore. Because I am a descendent of Garuda, my vision extends for more than

one hundred yojanas, and I can see the golden city from here. My dear monkeys, you will be able to find

Sita in Lanka, guarded by Rakshasa women.”

The Vanaras were overjoyed to receive news about Sita, and so they cast aside their vow to fast until

death. When the monkeys came to the shore of the ocean, they once again became dejected. Seeing

the vastness of the water, the monkeys thought themselves incapable of crossing over to Lanka. Prince

Angada thought he might be able to jump that far, but he probably couldn’t jump back. Jambavan said

he once had an almost unlimited jumping capability, but now, he was too old to make the jump.

Fortunately, Jambavan knew Hanuman’ strength. He reminded Hanuman that he had great power. He

just didn’t remember it. Jambavan praised Hanuman, and said that Hanuman alone capable of

accomplishing the mission. Everyone looked at Hanuman. Hanuman became very encouraged while

listening to these words of glorification. Due to a curse, Hanuman never remembered his strength

unless he was reminded of it. Then, to the great joy of all the monkeys present there, he began to

expand himself into a gigantic form. He grew and grew and grew and grew. Can you imagine it? As he

grew, the ground started to break around him. Trees fell down. The mountain trembled! All the

animals started to run away and the birds flew away. He became as large as a hill! Hanuman, filled with

strength, said, “I can fly 1000 yojanas in no time. I can uproot the entire city of Lanka and carry it a great

distance, if I so desire.” All the monkeys felt thrilled to see the real prowess and glory of Hanuman.

Then Hanuman opted to jump from the peak of Mount Mahendra, since it is only capable of sustaining

the immense pressure that he will have exert upon it. After saying this, within a moment he arrived at

the mighty Mahendra Hill. After climbing the peak, he expanded his body to gigantic proportions and

grabbed onto the mountain with his hands and feet. He pressed his feet deep down into the Earth.

There was such a rumbling and pressure that all the snakes had to come out of their holes! All the lions

and tigers came out of their caves. The birds all flew out from the trees. All the flowers and fruits began

to fly off the trees. Then he pressed off and the whole hill shook! As Hanuman soared through the air,

all classes of beings applauded him.

Flying across the ocean at supersonic speed, he had various adventures. While he was flying a big sea

serpent, like a dragon came out of the water. She had a huge mouth. She said to him – “Please enter

my mouth, I am very hungry.” Hanuman was very polite. He said “May I please come back after I have

finished my mission for Sri Ram? After I am finished, then you can eat me.” The monster said “No, I

need to eat you right now because I am hungry!” Hanuman made himself 100 times bigger, 10 miles

across, so she could not get him in her mouth. So she made her mouth bigger so she could swallow him.

So Hanuman made himself 50 miles wide! She made her mouth even bigger! Then he made himself 100

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miles wide. She increased the size of her mouth even bigger! Then Hanuman had a thought. He made

himself as small as a little bird, and flew right through the mouth and out the other side, before she

knew what he was doing!

The serpent was actually Surasa, wife of Rishi Kashyapa and Mother of Indra, King of the Gods. “Very

good Hanuman!” she said. “The gods sent me here to test you and see how clever you are. We have

high hopes for what you and Sri Ram will accomplish here.” So Hanuman flew on, and eventually landed

on Lanka, where he had even more adventures which we’ll learn about next week.

Questions:

• What did Vali asked Rama before he died?

• What did Vali ask his brother Sugriva?

• Why did Lakshmana get angry with Sugriva?

• What is a Vanara?

• Who is Angada?

• Who did he travel with to look for Sita, and in which direction?

• Why does Hanuman forget his strength?

• What hill did he jump to Lanka from?

• How far was Lanka from the southern tip of India?

• Who tried to stop Hanuman while he flew?

Achyutashtakam Achyutam Keshavam Rama Narayanam

Krishna Damodaram Vasudevam Hari

Shri Dharam Madhavam Gopika Vallabham

Janaki Nayakam Ramachandram Bhaje (1)

Achyutam Keshavam Satyabha Madhavam

Madhavam Shri Dharam Radhika Radhitam

Indira Mandiram Chetasa Sundaram

Devakinandanam Nandajam Sandadhe (2)

Vishnave Jishnave Sankhine Chakrine

Rukmini raagine Janaki janaye

Vallavi vallabha yarchita yatmane

Kamsavi dhvansine Vansine Te Namah (3)

Krishna Govinda He Rama Narayana

Shripate Vasudev aachyuta Shrinidhe

Achyutananda He Madhavaa dhokshajam

Dvarakanayaka Draupadi rakshaka (4)

Meaning: O Krishna! O Govinda! O Raam! O Narayan! O Shripati! O Vasudeva, Who attained the

Lakshmi! O Achyuta, Who is immeasurable! O Madhava! O Adhokshaja! O Leader of Dwarika! O the

protector of Draupadi!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFpVxy6jNPM

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Jumble Words – All words are from this lesson

I T F N A

D A W R

G P S N A

M D R F E O

B R A G

A F E M L

R E C S U

N O N Y A

U O D R E V

S S I T N I

E E I D V C E

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Coloring Exercise