|| Sri Ram Jeyram Jay Jay Ram ||

 

Chapter – 6 – Kishkindha Kandam

Armies of Vanara's leaving in search of Devi Sita / The army of Vanaras led by Angada, Hanuman, and Jambavan meets Devi Swayamprabha.

Sugriva terrified to meet Lakshmana who called out for Sugriva for a fight; he appealed Hauman “Oh! Kapeeshwara, kindly takes intelligent Tara with you to meet Lakshman at the palace gate, pacify him and bring him reverentially inside the palace.” Hanuman proceeded with Tara to meet Lakshman, she prostrated before Lakshman and eulogized the splendor of Prabhu, she respectfully invited Lakshman to the palace, washed his feet, offered him raised seat. Soon, Vanararaja/Sugriva prostrated before him, Lakshman took his hands and embraced him and Sugriva spoke “Oh! Natha, there is nothing in this world treacherous than the interest in worldly matters and bondage, it could persuade and spoil the hearts of even the illustrious Rishis and Sages in seconds.” Lakshmana pleased with the confession of Sugriva and pacified him. Sugriva narrated the measures taken in the search for Devi Sita, and Vayuputhra who sends emissaries to all directions to assemble the huge army of Vanaras. Further, Sugriva with Lakshman, Angadha, Kapeeshwara and numerous Vanaras arrived to meet Lord Rama in the hills of Prashravana.

 

Sugriva prostrated before Lord Rama and with folded hands spoke “Oh! Prabho, your Maya is extremely powerful, I am not responsible for it, Oh! Rama, your Maya can be get rid of your grace, the deities, Manushya, Sages, and deities are under the constant influence of your Maya, trapped into the pleasures of the senses. Oh! Prabho, I am a dull-minded Vanara, and extremely lustful, Oh! Raghuram, 1) the person who is not gets aroused with the sharp arrows like the eyes of a woman, 2) the person who is wide awake without sleep in the anger like dark hours of night 3) the person who is free from anger and Lobha is equivalent to you. These qualities cannot be attained with the practice of asceticism; it can be attained only with your grace.” Raghupathi with a sweet smile spoke “Oh! Sugriva, Oh! Brother, you are beloved like Bharatha to me, invest all your efforts to locate Devi Sita.” Rama and Sugriva were immersed in various discussions, soon a huge army of Vanaras arrived in the hills of Prashravana, and they were in different colors and stature, packed in the woods.

 

Lord Shankara speaks “Oh! Uma, it is difficult to count the number of Vanarasena, even though I was there, it was in huge numbers, they prostrated before the supreme Lord, and stared at the face of Rama and found their Lord in him.   He inquired about the welfare of all, there was not even a single Vanara left out by Rama. It is not a difficult task for Rama who is all-pervasive, has assumed numerous forms. They were stood obediently in a line at the instruction of the leader of the army. Sugriva spoke “Oh! Vanaras, I order you to sincerely follow the command of Rama, and work for the welfare of Rama, Oh! Vanaras, you have to conduct a rigorous search for Devi Sita in all the directions. Oh! Brothers, you should be back with the whereabouts of Devi Sita in a month. Oh! Vanaras, listen to me carefully, whoever returns with empty-handed or without any information or come after a month would get killed in my hands.”

 

In a second, the huge army of Vanaras led by their leader flew to different directions. Sugriva called for Angada, Nala, Jambavan, and Hanuman and spoke “Oh! Neela, Angada, Jambavan, and Hanuman, listen to me, you all are extremely valorous and intelligent, you have to move through the southern direction and conduct an inquiry for Devi Sita. You have to utilize all your energies and prowess to locate Devi Sita and for the welfare of Rama. Lord should be served with utmost sincerity and dedication with mind, words, and action. Jeeva should have the knowledge of the impermanent nature of material matters and bondage and get rid of Maya, eventually attain the Paramagathi which is eternal bliss, it would remove all the sufferings and miseries of worldly existence. Oh! Brother, if we want to attain the fruitfulness of this life, we should sincerely serve Rama and contemplate upon him. Whoever devoted to the lotus feet of Rama is considered as virtuous and fortunate.” All the Vanaras prostrated before Sugriva, contemplated upon Rama and bade farewell to Sugriva and enthusiastically moved forward.  Hanuman stood before Sugriva and Rama and prostrated before them, Rama understood he is the only one capable to perform his task. Rama called Hanuman near to him, he patted his head affectionately, and handed his ring, “Oh! Vayuputhra, pacify Devi Sita, convince her about my prowess, and inform my grief of separation from her, and return back immediately.” Hanuman realized his birth has achieved the fruitfulness. Hanuman contemplated upon that supreme Lord who is Kripanidhi and set out. The Supreme Lord Rama who is the protector of deities, aware of all, followed the Rajaneethi. Thus all those huge armies of Vanaras set out journey through the dense woods, ponds, rivers, hills, mountains, and streams.  They meticulously conducted the search for Devi Sita, leaving all their discomforts. On their way, they have killed numerous demons, they have searched in the caves, mountains, woods, not leaving a single corner, and they enquired about Devi Sita to the ascetics whoever comes into sight. In this way, they enthusiastically conducted a meticulous search in the dense wood, soon after they were besieged with extreme thirst, did not find a source of water, lost their track in the wilderness. Hanuman thought “If the situation continues, many Vanaras would die of thirst.” He leaped into the top of the mountain and looked for the water source, he caught the attention of a unique place on the Earth, there he could see the cluster of Chakravaha, Pelican, water birds, swan from the opening in the dense forest, and there were numerous birds went inside the openings as well. Hanuman jumped down from the hill and led all those Vanaras to that unique opening he had witnessed, and everyone entered into that opening led by Hanuman. Immediately they could spot a beautiful pond of crystal clear water with the cluster of lotus flowers, surrounded by marvelous pleasure gardens, etc, there was a beautiful shrine in the middle of the garden, in that shrine they found a Thapasvi woman immersed in meditation.