|| Sri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Ram ||

 

Chapter -19 - Lanka Kandam

The vicious battle between Rama and Ravana 

The fierce battle between Rama and Ravana created huge havoc in the battlefield, the sky packed with the heads and bodies of the Ravana resembled several Rahu and Kethu, Raghuveera showered arrows on Ravana, Alas! Every time fresh heads and hands appeared in the body of Ravana, like the Jeeva’s persistent desires in worldly matters and bondage. Ravana least worried of his death, he furiously shot arrows and overturned the chariot of Raghava, it was disappeared from the sight for half an hour like the Surya covered in rain clouds. The deities alarmed and shrieked in terror, Prabhu showered arrows on Ravana and sieved off his heads and hands, it blocked the view between sky and Earth. The bodiless heads shrieked “Where is Lakshman? Where is Kapiraja Sugriva? Where is Kosaladheesha Raghuvara?” in this way, these bodiless heads roared in the atmosphere intensified the terror among the Vanaras. There were several bodiless heads screaming for Rama, watching this dreadful sight, Kapis and bears flee from the war zone. Raghuvamshamani shot an arrow and busted them all from the battlefield. The Kalikas in the battlefield collected all those heads of Ravana, gave out the appearance that they were eagerly waiting to take bath in the pool of the blood in the battlefield to worship the Vatavruksha like the battlefield.

 

Dhashakanda could not take the failure; he furiously shoved a powerful spear against Rama, that darted against Vibheeshana, it was noted by Prabhu thought “I have taken the vow to protect people who have taken shelter in me. I should not let Vibheeshana hurt on the battlefield.” Lord Rama pushed away Vibheeshana and stood facing that powerful spear, it pierced the body of Prabhu, and lost consciousness for a while, although it was a part of amusements of Prabhu, the deities devastated. Vibheeshana could not control his anger, watching Prabhu withering in pain; he rushed against Ravana, “Oh! The unfortunate one, Oh! Mooda, you have gained the enmity of deities, Manushya, Nagas, and Munis as well. You have offered your heads reverentially on the fire sacrifice to please Lord Shambhu, that was the reason you have sustained with the one crores of heads on the battlefield. Your death is dancing around your head, Oh! Fool, are you trying to live in peace after keeping enmity against Sri Ramachandra Prabhu?,” Vibheeshana gave a hard punch with his fist on the chest of Ravana, it hurled Ravana and vomited blood from ten mouths, he managed to stand on feet and fought against Vibheeshana, the dual fight continued for some time, Vibheesha fought successfully with the grace of the supreme Lord.

 

Lord Mahadeva speaks “Oh! Uma, there was a time, Vibheeshana was not dared to look at the face of his elder brother, but with the grace of Prabhu, he fought against his brother fearlessly, like Kala.” Hanuman noticed Vibheeshana was extremely tired, he took a huge rock and rushed to Ravana, he crushed the chariot, horses, and charioteer of Ravana, and stamped on the chest of Ravana, even though his entire body quivered, he did not fall on the ground. In the meantime, Vibheehana returned to Lord Rama, in his absence Hanuman took good control of Ravana who gets caught of the tail of Hanuman, was flew with the Ravan high in the sky. These two warriors of equivalent strength started to fight from the sky resembled Mount Anjanadhri and Sumeru fighting each other. The fight between these two continued so long, Hanuman realized it is impossible to defeat the opponent with prowess and intellect, he prayed to Lord Ramachandra. They both fallen down on the Earth and the fight continued, the deities cheered and appreciated the might of them. The Vanaras and bears saw Hanuman getting exhausted, soon they rushed to the war zone to fight against Ravana, but they got struck with the powerful hands of Ravana. There were new sets of Vanaras arrived on the battlefield to fight against Ravana, was got troubled with the illusionary powers of him, Ravana disappeared from their sight, and appeared in numerous forms, another time he assumed the form of all those Vanaras and bears and stood before them, the armies of Vanaras and bears confused watching the numerous forms of Ravana, started to flee from the war zone calling for “Oh! Prabho, Raghurama kindly help us, Oh! Lakshmana, kindly protect us.” The crores of Ravana produced boisterous laugh against those Vanaras caused to flee in different directions.

 

The deities were in extreme trepidations “Oh! Princes of Kosala, we have lost hopes for the victory over the demon, he has assumed crores of Ravana, preparing to defeat all of us. We have to hide us in the caves, Ravana’s might have multiplied.” Thus the deities began to run away, but Lord Bhrama, Lord Shambhu, and illustrious Rishis and Sages who were aware of the prowess of Raghurama stood firm, without any trepidations watching the vicious battle. All the Vanaras and bears mystified and started to flee from the battlefield; soon the extremely valorous Hanuman, Angadha, Nala, and Neela entered the battlefield and severed the heads of numerous Ravana. Kosaladheesha saw the trepidations of deities and Vanaras, smiled to himself and shot powerful arrows on Saranga that destroyed all those illusionary Ravanas, in a few seconds.  Thus, all those illusionary forms of Ravana disappeared from the sight, like the brilliance of Surya removes the darkness. The deities saw the demon Ravana all alone on the battlefield, regained their hopes showered flowers praising the supreme Lord Rama.