SRI #RAGHAVENDRA SWAMY’S
SRI #RAMACHARITRYA #MANJARI
(ಶ್ರೀ #ರಾಘವೆಂದ್ರಸ್ವಾಮಿ
ವಿರಚಿತ “#ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಮಚಾರಿತ್ರ್ಯ ಮಂಜರಿ”)
Indrajitu’s bravery and his fall/ಇಂದ್ರಜಿತುವಿನ ಪರಾಕ್ರಮ ಹಾಗೂ
ಅವಸಾನ – Part 1
After the demise of Kumbhakarna and the depression in which Ravana was
sunk, Indrajitu tells his father: “Dear father, I do not want you to be defamed
that my father, who was not defeated by Indra got vanquished by a human king. Please send me to the war.” Ravana had no
option and therefore encouraged his son Indrajitu to fight against Rama and
kill him. But, Ravana was already sinking as he could easily predict the result
of the war. Meanwhile, Indrajitu went straight to a cave called Nikumbhila,
wearing a red loin cloth. He got fire sticks of a tree called Bibheetaka and
holy grass called Shara arranged for a special ritual. A pan of iron was placed
and a totally black sheep was chosen to be sacrificed. He performed Abhichara
(black magic) Homa or a sacrifice with evil motive of securing magical power by
chanting hymns from Atharva Veda. A celestial
chariot that originated from the sacrificial fire was taken by Indrajitu and
became invisible. He chose very sharp arrows, invoked the hymns of Nagastra and
fired them at Srirama, Lakshmana and the army of monkeys. The efforts of
monkeys to find the origin from where the arrows were being pounded went in
vain. They wandered in the sky but to no avail. Owing to the power of Nagastra,
they became tired and weak. Indrajitu tied each and every monkey with numerous
Nagastras.
Srirama, Lakshmana and Hanumantha were not tied by the Nagastras as they
were beyond reach for any Astra. In fact, Srirama, Lakshmana and Hanumantha
were capable of nullifying the Nagastras. However, being aware of the secret
power of deities, they pretended as though they had been tied down by the
Nagastras. Besides, they did not liberate the monkeys from the influence of
Nagastra.
To lure the demons, people with Tamas and Rajas attributes that he was
an ordinary human being, Srirama pretended to have severely wounded, pierced
and broken by lethal arrows or even ordinary arrows; he would appear as though
he had been shattered and tied by the Astras; he would appear as getting
drenched in blood and so on. For Satviks and some distinct deities, the fact
that no weapon, arrow or Astra can ever touch him. He is always the happiest,
unperturbed, invincible and omnipotent Almighty.
Believing that he had killed everyone in the army of Sugreeva, including
Rama and Lakshmana, Indrajitu returned to Lanka and boasted in front of his
father that he had conclusively won the battle.
Ravana was mighty pleased with the fake report given by Indrajitu and arranged
to show to Seetha the scene in war field, where the army of Sugreeva, Rama and
Lakshmana was lying motionless. Seetha also pretended to be mourning and as
ever, Trijata consoled Seetha by stating that Rama was eternal and
indefatigable.
Garuda releases monkeys from the clutches of Nagastra
“PraDhwastAshEShanAgam padakamanatam tArkShyam Aanandya – RavaNaprEShitEnEndrajitA
nAgapAshaistrivAram badDhAn kapeen praThamatO GaruDEna mOchayitvA|
प्रध्वस्ताशॆषनागं पदकमलनतं
तार्क्ष्यं आनन्द्य – “रावणप्रॆषितॆन्द्रजिता नागपाशैस्त्रिवारं बद्धान् कपीन्
प्रथमतॊ गरुडॆन मॊचयित्वा”
Having been assigned to war,
Indrajitu tied the monkeys with Nagapasha thrice. In the first instance,
Srirama relieved the monkeys from Nagapasha by summoning Garuda, the golden
eagle.
Earlier, before Sri Vishnu
decided to incarnate as Rama, all the gods, goddesses and deities were assigned
to serve Rama on earth in various ways. However, Garuda was not given any task.
He asked Lord Vishnu for the reason to have kept him aside.
The period or the life span of
Lord Brahma through the Kruta, Treta, Dwapara and Kali yugas is called a Brahma
Kalpa. Lord Rudra in the previous Brahma Kalpa had become Lord Shesha in the
present Brahma Kalpa. Therefore, Rudra and Shesha are equal in rank and file. Yet,
Shesha had the “Sadhana” or the experience of serving Lord Vishnu of an
additional Kalpa and therefore, his attributes, capacity and caliber were
slightly higher, compared to that of Lord Rudra. Therefore, Shesha had that
tacit advantage of being able to sideline the boon bestowed by Rudra upon
Indrajitu. Shesha could dismantle the Nagapasha on his own. However, Rama,
Lakshmana and Hanumantha gave an opportunity for Garuda to serve the Lord
during Ramavatara.
As soon as Garuda touched the monkeys,
they were relieved from the Nagapasha. They roared once again to the utter
dismay of demons. Indrajitu had to come out twice and vanish twice before
meeting his end. That part will be described in the subsequent episode/s.
Please read, comment and share. SDN
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