||Sri Ram Jeyram Jai Jai Ram||

Chapter – 6 – Sundara Kandam

Hanuman burned down the city of Lanka and returns to Rama

Hanuman advised Dhashanan about Bhakti, Virakthi, and Viveka, in a most pleasing manner, even though the haughty Dhashanan ignored all those, laughed boisterously, and spoke “ I have seen a great preceptor in this Vanara, Oh! Wicked Vanara, your death is nearing you that are the reason you have taken courage to advise Dhashanan.” Hanuman got annoyed and replied, “I could understand that you have lost all your senses.” Ravana could not control his anger listening to Hanuman, he ordered his men to kill the Vanara, soon the haughty demons approached Hanuman was intervened by Vibheeshana. He prayed with folded hands to Ravana “Oh! Prabho, killing an emissary is against Neethishasthra, therefore impose some stern punishment on him.” Ravana agreed to his brother’s advice, he laughed out boisterously and said “We will disfigure the Vanara and send him back to Rama. I know well, that these Vanaras take pride in their tail, so set fire on his tail, firstly tie his long tail with the clothes dipped in oil, and set fire. He will go back without tail and bring back his Prabhu whose splendor was described all along. Then I will get an opportunity to see his Master as well.”

 

 

Hanuman thought “Devi Sharadha/Vagdevi is promising to me.” soon the haughty demons assembled and tide several pieces of clothes dipped in the oil, Alas!  Finally, there was no ghee, or clothe remained in the city, they collected all those in huge quantity and tide on the tail of Hanuman, simultaneously his tail has grown too far, the demons assembled in large numbers to witness that mysterious act. They mocked and insulted Hanuman; they have brought drums and various musical instruments set fire on his tail and brought him through the main pathways to the palace. The blazing fire removed all those attachments to the demons, Hanuman set out free from their clutches, and he leaped all over the beautiful fortress vehemently and set fire on the magnificent city except the house of Vibheeshana. The female demons were terrified, it was like the Mahapralaya has arrived, the Marthuganas multiplied the intensity of the fire, and Hanuman assumed a massive form, rose to the skywards, and produced deafening voice. Shortly he set fire on those beautiful fortresses, jumping all the way to one fortress to another, in a moment the entire city engulfed in fire, the people were horrified, the precious gems and stunning materials burst in the fire, there were loud cries of people all over Lanka and they wept “It is not an ordinary Vanara, it is a deity, Ravana insulted a noble soul, we are suffering for it, the whole city has burned down.” In a moment the city of Lanka burned into ashes, except the fortress of Vibheeshana.

 

Lord Mahadeva speaks “Oh! Devi Parvathi, Hanuman remained unharmed by the fire, because he is the emissary of the Lord who has created the fire. He set fire from one end of Lanka to another end, in this way the entire city was burned down and he jumped to the ocean and put off the fire from the tail, took rest for a while, and assumed a tiny form and stood before Devi Sita with folded hands and spoke “Oh! Mother, kindly gives me anything as a symbol to produce before Prabhu, so that he can recognize you” she took out the Choodamani from the hair, and gave it Hanuman and spoke “Oh! Son, kindly convey my salutations to him, my Lord is flawless and ocean of mercy, tell him to protect me from the miseries, Oh! Son, remind him of the legend of Jayantha who assumed the form of a crow, and remind him of the prowess of Ramabana. If my Prabhu did not arrive here in a month, he cannot see me alive. You are leaving me here, how did I keep myself alive? I was happy in your presence listening to the glories of Rama. I have to continue to live those dreadful days and nights once again.” Hanuman pacified Devi Janaki, and repeatedly prostrated before her and bade farewell to her. Thus Hanuman returned to meet Lord Rama.