SRI RAGHAVENDRA SWAMY’S
SRI RAMACHARITRYA MANJARI
(ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಘವೆಂದ್ರ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ವಿರಚಿತ “ಶ್ರೀ
ರಾಮಚಾರಿತ್ರ್ಯ ಮಂಜರಿ”)
Search for Seetha
begins/ಸೀತಾನ್ವೇಷಣದ ಆರಂಭ
70. KapeeshAn
dasha haritaH prEShya – “SarvadikShu vidikShu SeethA vimrugyatAmiti prEShTha”
(ಕಪೀಶಾನ್
ದಶ ಹರಿತಃ ಪ್ರೇಷ್ಠ - “ಸರ್ವದಿಕ್ಷು ವಿದಿಕ್ಷು
ಸೀತಾ ವಿಮೃಗ್ಯತಾಮಿತಿ ಪ್ರೇಷ್ಠ”
Sugreeva sent
four large groups of Monkeys, bears and other animals to all directions and
sub-directions. In most of the versions of Ramayana, including Sri Valmeeki
Ramayana, the directions in which the monkey groups were asked to search for
Seetha has been described briefly. However, the monkeys were instructed by Sugreeva
to visit all eight directions, the cardinal as well as sub directions and also
the upper and underworlds such as Kailas and Patal.
Sri Hanuman meets
Seetha Devi
71. ATha SeethAm
vichitya AyAta SreemadDhamadgiram samanushrutya – Sri Hanuman, who went in
South direction, found Seetha Devi, returned and apprised Srirama about
everything, including the strength and weakness of Ravana and his armed forces.
This particular statement is the pulse of the whole story of Ramayana. It is
the concluding part of Kishkindha Kanda, Sundarakanda and the prelude to Yuddha
Kanda.
Word “Vichitya”
indicates Sri Narayana since “chiti” implies knowledge. “Vi” means VishiShTa or
Special and so “Vichitya” means the most special, superhuman and unimaginable
knowledge which Sri Narayana alone can be attributed with. Commentators state
that “Vichitya” also implies incomparable purity.
Hanuman puts
Monkeys to a test
Sri Hanuman tells
his fellow beings: “Oh Monkeys! We have been searching for Seetha Devi for a
very long time now. Yet our efforts have become futile as we have not been able
to find Seetha, so far. It is now up to all of us to plan our next move.”
This dialogue of
Sri Hanuman may outwardly mean that more than anyone else, Sri Hanuman was
exhausted. However, what Hanuman wanted to do was to give a wakeup call to his
group. All the monkeys, by that time, were literally dejected and exhausted. They
were hungry and thirsty. They started searching more deeply in Vindhya Mountains
and the forests around. They were afraid of the anger of Sugreeva and worried.
They continued to search for Seetha Devi due to their sheer devotion for
Srirama.
Cave Rukshabila
The monkeys
suddenly saw different types of birds and deer coming out of a cave. They
sensed that there might be some water source and decided to quench their thirst
and relax for a while. They were surprised to see the vast space within that cave,
which was, much to their agony and surprise, shrunk in utter darkness. Holding
one another by hand and groping in that pitch dark, serene and silent interior
of that cave, the monkeys suddenly recalled Rama. As soon as they pronounced
the name of Rama, the darkness vanished and they could see a dense and
enthralling forest in that sprawling cave. All the objects in that cave were
made of gold. They also saw a young and charming woman in that cave. Sri
Hanuman questioned her: “ Oh
great woman, who are you? We believe that you have subdued several saints and Munis
with the power of your penance. Everythin, the sofas and other luxury items
appear to have been made of gold. We are engaged in the task of searching for
Seetha Devi, the consort of Dasharatha’s son Srirama. We are all servants of
Sugreeva.”
The woman
replied: “I am the daughter of a Manu called Merusavarni and my name is
Swayamprabhe. Long time ago, Mayasura created this cave and named it as “Rukshabila”
and decorated it with everything. He was living in this cave. I am a friend of “Hema”
and at present, I am doing penance in this cave. Inadvertently you have entered
this cave and my Ashram. You appear to
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