RamarpaNam 506 => 511.

Jai Seeta Ram :

Hanuman held captive and meets Ravana :

Jambumali, the chldren of seven Ministers, the five Generals and Aksha Kumara, younger son of Ravana all perished . Hanuman looking like kalaagni -the terminal fire of the age of divulsion of the Universe - cannot be ignored as one another monkey, rather thought Ravana that he must be bigger demon arrived at the instance of Indra, his proclaimed enemy.

Ravana is aware of Vaali, Sugreeva, Jaambavaan, Neelan, Dwidan, Maindan and this monkey must be one among them or is he Kesari, the wind-God. he wondered. 

Who ever it be, it will be unwise to ignore an enemy in combat as small or un-equal.  Periyazhvar, in His Ambuli-age song (Periyazhvar Thirumozhi 1-4-8) condemns the ignorant and ignoring act of the Moon-God as follows :

சிறியன் என்றென் இளஞ்சிங்கத்தை இகழேல் கண்டாய் 

சிறுமையின் வார்த்தையை மாவலியிடைச் சென்று கேள் *

சிறுமைப் பிழைகொள்ளில் நீயுமுன் தேவைக்கு உரியகாண்*

நிறைமதி! நெடுமால் விரைந்துன்னைக் கூவுகின்றான்.

Mahabali, the grandson of Prahlaada, due to haughtiness or pride got relieved of his wealth, by the tactful act of Vaamana turned Thiruvikrama,who assuming the form of a young lad measured the three worlds with phenomenally grown feet, implying that this Universe is His body and that He sustaineth it from within and outside. 

Aksha Kumara, though young was finished by Hanuman mercilessly, as fire has to be put out when it is young and leaving enemy remnants will be disastrous at the end.

Indrajit who was called in to fight, was given a piece of advice by Ravana to use cleverness in the fight with Hanuman, as indiscriminate use of weapons like Vajrayuda, air or fire-Gods will not help their war tactic. Fore-thought and sharpness of intellect combined with the powers of the sacred Mantras of the respective Gods, applied in right measure will only help win over the dreadful Monkey having arrived at Lanks'' door-steps, he cautioned.

As expected the arrows sent by Indrajit were made ineffective by Hanuman by getting away by dodging, leaping, and circumventing from their path. Realising that he can not be slain, Indrajit takes him captive, using the missile in the name of Brahma, the God-of-creations.

By a boon given by the Creator, though the missile in his name will not kill Hanuman, he will remain fastened by it for a period of 45 minutes or so after which Hanuman can get relieved of its effect, if he so chooses. Even if captured by Indrajit and his men, there is the advantage of meeting Ravana. So Hanuman remained motionless and was prepared to be captured by his enemies. Then the demons tied him with tree bark and straw-braid. As soon as this happened, the bondage of the missile is nullified, as it does not co-exist with another bondage.

Indrajit is aware of the same and still can not use the missile second time. He understood that this Monkey is silent for some purpose and in the same tenor he was dragged to the Court of Ravana by all the demons, brick batting him. 

Deeply moved by the luster and strength of the demon King Ravana, Hanuman pities him, as everything will be lost for the sake of his lust for Seeta. Everything that he adorned  starting from the Crown to the ceremonial Throne, are gold and its manifestations,  Hanuman's thoughts are not born out of greed but out of pity for him. 

''யோ நித்ய மச்சுத பதாம்புஜ யுக்ம ருக்மத் திரணாய மேநே ''

ருக்மம் = Gold. 

'' பரமாத்மநியோர் ரக்த்த:, விரகத்த: அபரமாத்மநி ''

Those who believe in the Lotus feet of the God as Gold and the treasure they cherish, the rest are nothing but a twig of waste. That apart, the 10 places where Kali Purushua dwells includes the place of Gold aspirants as well, so declares Bhagavata PuraNa.  By such standards a devotee will not aspire for gold and Hanuman is prominent amongst them all. As a corollary, Ravana dazzling in gold is by the same standards will be distanced by God and His men. 

Despite his anger, Hanuman wanting to advise him, readies himself without fear or insecurity, the essential quality of being a Dhuta - an emissary. As the country secured by oceans on four sides, Ravana's Court is decorated by people of his choice -  say Prahastan, Mahapaarsvan, Kumban, Nikumban and the like. If he is not committed to unrighteousness, he would be Lord of the Celestials, so thought Hanuman. 

Ravana ordering his ministers to interrogate Hanuman desired to know the  purpose of his visit and the motive behind the dire acts of killing many and destroying the garden. For which Hanuman replied saying He is neither Nandi, the divine Bull of Lord Siva or an emissary of  Kubera, Indra, Yama or VaruNabut an envoy from Sugreeva, the monkey Lord of Kishkinda. The purpose being his eagerness to meet Ravana and in self-defense had to kill those who tried to thwart his efforts. That he is as well a messenger of Rama, pointing that if he wished to survive, he should give back Seeta to Rama as otherwise he should get prepared for the worst.

சொன்னால் விரோதமிது ஆகிலும் சொல்லுவன் கேண்மினோ?* (திருவாய்மொழி - 3-9-1)

What I say may be unpalatable. Even then I will say for you to listen. So advises Namazhvar and in the absence of desired response,  speaking to Himself, sings and adores the Lord with all the faculties endowed in Him.

இவர்கள் உபதேசிக்கைக்கு அடி கிருபை. 

பிராட்டி ராவணனுக்கு உபதேசித்தது  பகவத் நிக்ரஹ அநர்த்த பரிகார்த்தமாக. 

ஹனுமான் உபதேசிக்கப் புகுவது அநர்த்த ஹேது நிவர்த்தகார்த்தமாக. 

நடுவில் குடியரான பாகவத கிருத்தியம் இவருடையது. ஸ்வீகரிக்கைக்கு உடலான புருஷகார கிருத்தியம் பிராட்டியுடையது.

RamarpaNam 500 => 505.

Jai Seeta Ram :

Hanumat prathaabam :

As Hanuman  was preparing to depart, Seeta took out a jewel of the fore-head named ''choodamani' that which was given to Her during marriage and which She held in Her saree knot and handed it to Hanuman. Hanuman had the jewel in his hands with pride and joy filling his heart. Conveying Her enquiries to Rama, Lakshmana and Sugreeva, Seeta wanted Hanuman to carry to them Her pleadings to evolve a strategy and help save Her from the sea of sorrow.

Swamy Thirumangai Azhwar of similar predicaments engages a honey bee to serve as His emissary to the presiding Deity of Therazhundur,ஆமருவியப்பன் :

அறுகால சிறுவண்டே தொழுதேன் உன்னை 

ஆமருவி நிறை மேய்த்த அமரர் கோமான் 

அணியழுந்தூர் நின்றானுக்கு, இன்றே சென்று

நீமருவி யஞ்சாதே  நின்று ஓர் மாது 

நின்நயன்தாள் என்று இறையே இயம்பிக் காணே! (தி.நெ.தாண்டகம்-26)

Similarly Swamy NamAzhwar in His Thiruvoimozhi (6-1-10) 

மாறில் போரரக்கன் மதிள் நீறெழ செற்றுகந்த 

ஏறு சேவகனார்க்கு என்னையும் உளள் என்மின்களே!

In this the Azhwar begs a group of bees to, as they carry the fragrance from flower to flower, so too carry His message to Sri Rama, who destroyed the Rakshasa in combat and who now resides at Tiruvanvandur on the north bank of the clear-water-Pampa that He has the Azhwar waiting for His protection.  For Seeta Hanuman is the messenger carrying similar message to Sri Rama, enhancing his status to an Acharya who facilitates the union of Atma withParamatma. 

If agreeable stay for a day more and can go tomorrow, Seeta wished praising Hanuman for his zeal, ability, devotion and dedication reminding him that the job is half done and the rest He only can complete..

But Hanuman asking her to keep aside Her sorrow as well as how Rama and His men will cross the great ocean said that there are many Vanara more powerful and skilled than Him. When he the less superior can arrive by air to Lanka, what to talk of the mighty ones? That soon She will see him with the two Princes on his back, he replied humbly.

Seeta wishing his safe sojourn, Hanuman bid adieu to Her. Nonetheless before leaving the place once and for all Hanuman seated on the garden wall thought a while as to why not he take a chance to meet the crooked Ravana and give him a piece of advice? If unheeded he shall instill fear in him, showing what is in store in the near future.

A Dootha is one who accomplishes related tasks without being told, adding strength to the assignment he is upto. Towards this end, Hanuman explored one by one whether dana, sama, bheda will work but decides on dhanda, the fourth one. Ravana has all the wealth known in this world and so can not be bought by money (Dana). Neither he is amiable toconciliation (Sama) or seeding discard (Bheda) will help either. The last and final resort will be dhanda and deciding so, He assumed a big form, and started destroying the Pramadha Vana aside Seeta's Asoka Vana, turning the Park into a heap of ruin. Disturbed by the pandimonium, the Rakshasis woke up from their slumber and sighting Hanuman in a menacing form, shouted ''Hari'' ''Hari'', as though following the dictum ''பிராம்மே முஹூர்த்தே உத்தாய மநஸா சிந்தயேத் ஹரிம் ''. Nonetheless they only shouted ''ஹரி'', ''ஹரி'' meaning ''கபி'' ''கபி'' the other name for monkey. 

On seeing the intruder some Rakshasis ran to Ravana to give the news about the destruction of his favourite Udayana vana and some grilled Seeta, pointing to the monkey as to why he was here? What was he talking to Her ? etc. Seeta dismissed all their questions saying he must be one of the Rakshasas and so they must be able to tell better.

Furious as ever, Ravana ordered his bodyguards to go at once and fetch the monkey. But Hanuman swiping an iron rod from the gate, killed all of them. Shouting Glory to Rama, Lakshmana and Sugreeva sweared the destruction of the city by his hands. Jambumali, son of Prahasta followed fully clawed. In the meanwhile Hanuman destroying the Chaitya Mantapa proclaimed to destroy the Rakashsas altogether. The guards posted in the temple of deity for-the-demons ran amok in the fire caused by Hanuman wading the uprooted pillar and hitting against the rest. Hit by the rocks and the Sal-tree hurled at him, Jambumali too succumbed to injuries. The seven more sons of Prahasta sent at the fall of Jambumali too were crushed by Hanuman using his palms, feet, fist, nail, chest and the thigh. After killing them all in this fashion, he took position on the arch at the doorway of the Park as though awaiting for the arrival of the five top Generals in Ravana's army, sent by Ravana next.

Hanuman killed Durdhara first. Virupaksha and Yupaksha were finished next. Praghasa and Bhasakarna ended last along with their army of horses, elephants and chariots. Bewildered by this, Ravana sent Aksha Kumara, his own son. 

Fierce battle ensued between the two. Hanuman admiring the young son's heroism at one stage realised his becoming formidable. But it was unwise to take chances with him and hence regretfully killed him, at first destroying the chariot, its horses, by throwing his full weight on them in the process crushing his bones to pieces. The death of his son, Aksha Kumara created great fear in Ravana requiring him to instruct his eldest son, Indrajit to go for battle against Hanuman.