|| Sri Ram Jayram Jaya Jaya Ram ||

 

Chapter – 3 – Lanka Kandam

 

The powerful Ramabana crumples the crown and umbrella of Ravana/ and ear ornaments of Devi Mandodhari

 

Ravana could not control his anger against Prahastha, shriek out “Oh! Dull-minded, who taught you this idea? Oh! Puthra, you have false notions, you are creeper on the powerful tree.” Prahastha and Ravana had arguments for quite some time, finally, he returned to his fortress saying that “The medicine won’t work to a person who is destined to die. Hence, my promising words will not work for your welfare.” It was in the evening hours; he took great pride in his powerful twenty arms and returned to the palace. There was a beautiful open terrace in the palace where music and dance programs were conducted, Ravana seated on a marvelous throne in the entertainment hall, Kinnaras sang in praise of him, the celestial Apsaras beautifully danced to the tunes of various musical instruments. Ravana took great pleasure as hundreds of Indra, even though he was under the threat of enemy; it did not bother him at all.

 

Rama with the huge armies of Vanaras and bears settled in the Mount Suvela. Lakshman constructed a beautiful hermitage on a lush green raised land, seats were decorated with the leaves and flowers covered with the skin of deer. Prabhu seated on that beautiful raised seat, he kept the bow and arrows on his left and right and kept his head on the lap of Sugreeva. Vibheeshana whispered something on the ears of Prabhu.  The highly fortunate Angadha and Hanuman were massaging the feet of Prabhu. Lakshman was all prepared with his bow and arrow.  Whoever contemplates upon this divine form of Rama, are fortunate ones. Prabhu looked at the moon and spoke “Look at the moon, he is magnificent as Mrigaraja. He is powerful and lustrous as a lion pierces the forehead of untamed elephant-like darkness, and majestically explores through the woods. Look at that sparkling stars resembles scattered pearls adorn the beautiful woman like a night on the sky. Oh! Brother, what did you think of the dark part of the Chandra?” Sugriva speaks “Oh ! Raghurama, it is just a mirror image of Earth on it” another one said “It is the stain that caused by Rahu”  and another one said, “It is because Lord Bhrama took the lustrous portion of Chandra to add up the beauty of Devi Rathi.” Prabhu spoke, “Listen, poison is the companion of Chandra, that’s why he stored it in his heart; he tortures the lovers who are separated from their beloved companions.” Hanuman spoke “Oh! Prabhu, Chandra is your sincere servant, he is installed your image in his heart, it shows darkness in him.” The Supreme Lord who is Sarvajja laughed at the words of Hanuman. Rama spoke “Oh! Vibheeshana, look at the southern part of the sky, the clouds are heavy, and lightning and thunder have begun, there will be heavy downpour and wind”. Vibheeshana replied “Oh! Prabho, Oh! Kripalu, listen there are no rain clouds or lightning. There is an open terrace on the top of the palace of Lanka, there will be regular dances and music conducted to take pleasure in it for Ravana.  He is seated on the grand terrace and taking pleasure in the music and dance, and the umbrella on top of his head gives out the appearance of dark clouds, it is the ear ornaments of Devi Mandodhari gives out the appearance of lightning, Oh! Devaraja, it is the sound of musical instruments resembles the thunder.” Prabhu smiled at the stately pleasure of Ravana, stretched an arrow aiming those object, with the single shot of arrow, it crumbled the umbrella, the crown of Ravana, and the ear ornaments of Devi Mandodhari before that assembly, it created huge chaos in the assembly. But none of them realized that it was Ramabana, after finishing the task the Ramabana returned to its shell.

 

There was no earthquake or hurricane, there was no Astra or Shatra, the people assembled were devastated, felt it as a bad omen. Ravana watched the guests are scared, he laughed out and spoke: “ It is nothing to worry about, do not get panic, all of you go back to your homes and sleep well.” They all returned to their homes, Devi Mandodhari could not keep herself calm, the moment her ear ornament crumpled in the assembly, she could not control her heartbeat, her eyes filled with tears with folded hands she spoke “Oh! Prananatha, kindly listen to me, kindly leave your enmity with Rama, and do not miscalculate him as an ordinary human. Kindly, believe me, he is supreme Lord assumed the form of Raghukulathilaka, the Veda eulogizes his body parts contributes the Universe, his feet represents Patal Loka, his head is the abode of Bhrama, all his Indiriyas/sense organs represents the abode of deities, the movement of his eyebrows represents Kala, his eyes are Surya and Chandra respectively, his hair represents the clouds, Ashwini Kumaras are his nostrils, the blink of his eyes constitutes day and night, his ears represents ten directions. The wind represents his breath, his speech represents Veda, the upper lip represents Lobha, his sharp teeth represent Yama, Maya is his smile, his hands represents ten directions, his face represents Agni, tongue represent Varuna, his movements represents Shrishti – Sthithi and Laya, the hairs on stomach represent the eighteen types of plants in general, his bone represents mountain, veins represent rivers, his stomach represents the ocean, and anus is Badavagni.  Shortly, his entire limb constitutes the Universe. Lord Shiva represents Ahamkara, Lord Bhrama represents wisdom, Chandra represents mind, and Lord Vishnu is intellect. He is Lord of living and non-living things incarnated as Rama. Oh! Prananatha, kindly listen to my words, kindly leave your enmity to that supreme Lord and take shelter at his lotus feet, so that it would protect me from the ill fortune of widowhood.”

 

Ravana laughed boisterously “ The influence of Moha and Maya is so powerful, women are the storehouse of Maya, Bhaya, Aviveka, Ashuchi, Nirdhaya, Sahasa, Asathyam, Chapala, like eight impurities. You have described the Vishwaroopa of my enemy, Oh! Priye, all those forms are under my control, I have heard everything from you, and I also understood my mastery over it. Oh! Mriganayani, you are highly confidential, if it was heard properly it would provide happiness, and free the individual from fear and trepidations.” Mandodhari understood the nearness of his death caused hallucination to him.