43. Hanuman and the Threat of Manipur: A Race Against Time
On his way to Ayodhya, Hanuman halted at the ashram of Sage Valmiki and asked him, “O Great Soul! How could such a tragedy occur?”
Valmiki replied quietly, “O Hanuman, ruling a kingdom according to the strict norms of dharma is an extremely hard task. But Rama is determined to prove that it is possible. A kingdom comprises all sorts of people—good, bad, conscientious, as well as cruel. Society is a collective body. Just as one’s virtues can bring good to all, so too can one’s vices pollute the atmosphere for everyone. An enlightened king can foresee when the sins of a few are going to wreak devastation on the kingdom. He decides to suffer himself, taking upon himself the consequences of others’ evil so that the kingdom as a whole can be spared. Rama has done the same.”
Reflections on Ayodhya
Hanuman caught a glimpse of the hut where Sita had lived and wandered through the places where Lava and Kusha used to play. The boys, while practicing archery, used to aim at the trees. Hanuman felt delighted to see the marks. After touching the ground of Sita’s hut with his head, he rose into the sky and flew towards Ayodhya.
From afar, he could see the magnificent monuments of the city. The sight thrilled him and saddened him at the same time. The thought of not being able to see Sita filled him with deep anguish, while the anticipation of seeing Rama and his sons brought him great joy. For a moment, he wished he had never left Ayodhya.
Encounter with Lava and Kusha
He descended into the garden adjoining Rama’s palace. Lava and Kusha were trying their hands at various games with their bows and arrows. As soon as they saw Hanuman, they began shooting arrows at him—not to wound or harass him, but to create a wall of arrows around him.
<p“How can we know you are not a wizard disguised as Hanuman? We certainly know of Maricha, who could assume the shape of a golden deer!” said Lava, drawing an arrow to his bow.
Kusha, however, checked Lava and said, “Until you prove yourself to be the true Hanuman, you must remain our prisoner.”
“We’ve heard that Hanuman can assume a gigantic form. If you can do the same, we shall know you to be the true Hanuman,” suggested Lava.
Hanuman smiled and began to enlarge himself. He took the amazed twins on his shoulders and carried them into the sky. “I carried Rama and Lakshmana on my shoulders when they went to defeat Mahiravana,” he informed the princes.
When he descended, Lava and Kusha bowed to him, saying, “O Hero nonpareil! We knew you. We provoked you so that you would be pleased to show us your magnificent form.” The two brothers then led Hanuman to Rama’s presence.
Hanuman’s Words of Wisdom
Rama could not hide his tears upon seeing Hanuman. Hanuman suppressed his own emotions and said, “My Lord, you ought not to be sentimental like an ordinary human being. Rulers of all times to come must learn from your example of suffering and sacrifice for the sake of the people. It is we, Mother Sita’s children, who must lament her departure. As for you, you understand the mystery of all that is happening. You ought not to feel sad.”
“Hanuman! Your words bring me much relief, but it is impossible to overcome the shock of losing Sita. Moreover, if the proposed Ashwamedha Yajna fails, my agony will know no end. The wandering horse has headed towards Manipur, and I want you to follow it and protect it,” Rama instructed.
Facing a New Challenge
Hanuman flew towards Manipur. While on his journey, he spotted a forest below, where his gaze fell on a ferocious-looking demon and a demoness. Both were drunk, shrieking and laughing wildly. Curiosity overtook Hanuman as he reduced himself to a small form and perched on a tree branch.
The demoness gleefully said, “We demons believe in harassing our enemies until the end. I have avenged my brother’s death. O Karalakantha! You played your role wonderfully as my husband on the outskirts of Ayodhya!”
<p“Surpanakha! You too performed excellently as my wife,” the demon congratulated her.
Hanuman soon understood that Karalakantha was the younger brother of the demon Shatamukha, who had fallen victim to Sita’s arrow. The demon was wandering around Ayodhya, seeking a chance to avenge his brother’s death.
The Unlikely Alliance
Strange circumstances brought the two demons together, as they both loitered around Ayodhya looking for opportunities for revenge. One evening, feeling quite hungry, Surpanakha attracted Karalakantha by smiling at him. Both had been hungry and agreed to meet in a lonely area to satisfy their cravings.
When they arrived, Surpanakha assumed her true form to devour the demon, but just then, he revealed his true self as well. A moment of surprise ensued as they both realized the nature of their deception— “So, you are no human but a demon!” they exclaimed in unison. They became allies and pretended to be a human couple, criticizing Rama for accepting Sita, which ultimately led to her banishment.
“We are fortunate that Hanuman was not in Ayodhya. It would have been hard to deceive such a clever being!” observed the demon.
“My blood boils at the mere mention of his name!” warned the demoness.
<p“Does it really boil? I fear it freezes!” commented the demon. <p“The wicked creature reduced our golden fort to ashes!” lamented the demoness, showing a scar on her back caused by a burning beam’s fall. <p“The fort is gone, but it’s a pity that the scar remains!” the demon observed.
The Plot Against Rama
“Don’t tease me!” Surpanakha snapped in anger.
<p“Don’t be upset. Does the name Hanuman sound sweet to you?” the demon asked. <p“But you are a coward! Otherwise, you would not have fled the battlefield while your brother faced danger,” retorted the demoness. <p“It is only because I escaped that I could avenge his death and befriend a charming demoness like you,” replied the demon. <p“You are very clever. Either way, let’s build a hut and live happily,” proposed the demoness. <p“But here lies another chance to strike at Rama. We can steal his wandering horse marked for the Yajna,” said the demon. <p“Wisely spoken! I wish to ride that horse. I lost my beautiful yard-long nose to Lakshmana’s sword, and capturing their horse would make for some compensation!” Surpanakha replied eagerly. <p“Keeping the horse with us is perilous. Rama will discover it and wage battle against us. We must destroy the horse immediately. Rama’s pride will be shattered without it!” the demon insisted. <p“Then, let us find the animal and gobble it up!” Surpanakha proposed.
Confrontation with Hanuman
<p“You greedy girl! Don’t you have any desires apart from gobbling things?” the demon teased her mildly.
Hanuman then cast a few leaves upon them.
<p“Look, we are showered with flowers from heaven!” the demoness exclaimed. <p“Don’t speak nonsense. Those are merely leaves!” the demon pointed out. <p“Flowers or leaves, let’s hurry and finish off Rama’s horse!” Surpanakha insisted.
As they prepared to advance, Hanuman extended his tail to block them, coiling it around them.
<p“A snake! A terrible snake! Where did this come from?” exclaimed the demon in great surprise.
Surpanakha observed the tail closely, looking pale. “This is no snake. For us, this is the noose from the God of Death! This is Hanuman’s tail!” she exclaimed.
<p“Why would Hanuman come to this forest?” asked the demon. <p“Can I ever forget the tail that burnt down our golden fort?” the demoness lamented remorsefully.
Suddenly, the demon leapt up, trying to flee. “Where are you going, leaving me alone, you treacherous fiend?” shouted the demoness, grabbing him.
Hanuman hopped down and stood before them, looking both fearful and majestic. The demon and the demoness cried out in horror before attempting to escape. Hanuman uprooted a massive rock and threw it at them, crushing them to death.
The Flight to Manipur
Hanuman soared into the sky again, flying towards Manipur. He crossed the Ganga, branching out in various directions and observed the Brahmaputra, which resembled a silver necklace.
As the land of Manipur came into view, Hanuman noticed something dazzling like a streak of lightning at the kingdom’s border before it vanished. He flew in that direction.