Raghu Veera Gadhyam -Yuddha Khaandham: Part 7

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GS 56 : Gagana chara Kanaka giri garima dhara nigamamaya

nija Garuda garudhanila lava gaLitha visha vadhana sara kadhana !

Jaya ! Jaya !

 

(Meaning ) : Hail to thee ! O Raghuveera , whose sufferings

from the tips of the poisonous NagAsthrams were chased away by the

slight breeze associated with the wings of your friend Garudan,

who has the reputation both as the embodiment of the Vedas

as well as the mighty Meru mountain flying in the skies! Hail to Thee!

 

(Background ) ; The last salutation (55th) was associated with the twenty second

canto of Srimadh RaamayaNam , where the reference was to the building

of the Sethu and travelling across it by Rama and his retinue to arrive in

LankhA .

Swami Desikan jumped now over tweny second Cantos and focussed

on an incident described by Sage Valmiki in the 45th canto of his

epic work .

 

The battle at the four gates of the city of LankhA had begun. Night set in .

Monkeys had a disadvantage in fighting the ogres at night

since the ogres doubled their strength at night . Rama came to their rescue

and used six flaming arrows to kill six of the chieftains of the army of

RavaNA : Yajnasathru , MahaaparsvA , Mahodhara, the gigantic VajradamshtrA,

and the two spies , Suka and SaaraNA . Their death is described by Valmiki as

that of the moths coming in contact with a flame ( PrathangA: iva Paavakam ) .

Rama"s golden-feathered arrows raining on all sides of the battle

field made the autumnal night look as though it was illumined with

resplendent fire flies ( Bhabhuva rajanee chitrA gadhyOtairiva saaradhee ) .

 

Elsewhere in the battle field , the mighty Angadha , the son of Vaali

wounded Indrajith , the powerful warrior and the son of RaavaNA .

The valor of Indrajith was legendary . He had defeated Indra in a previous

battle and derived his name from that exploit. Now , AngadhA overpowered

the powerful Indrajith . Rama , LakshmaNa, VibhishaNA and SugreevA

applauded the bravery and heroism of young AngadhA .

 

The humilated and enraged Indrajith used his magical powers

and became invisible. He used a boon conferred by Brahma and

hit Rama and LakshmaNa with powerful arrows , whose shafts

consisted of formidably poisonous snakes ( naagAsthram) .

The scion of Raghu could not locate the cowardly

Indrajith , who was fighting in an unethical and treacherous manner

defying the accepted practises of face to face combat . Protected by

his supernatural power, Indrajith remained invisible , while showering

NagAsthrams on the princes of AyodhyA . Rama and LakshmaNA

were bound tightly by the darts in the form of venemous snakes

through an act of conjury by Indrajith. Rama and LakshmaNA were

immobilized by the network of poisonous snakes biting into them .

Indrajith continued to torment the heroic bothers , even when they

were unable to fight him . With all of their limbs pierced by the son

of RavaNA practicing witchcraft , the two princes of AyodhyA swooned .

Indrajith concluded htat the brothers were dead and returned to his

father's side in a triumphant mood .

 

RavaNa congratulated his valiant son and then commanded his

servants to transport Sita in the Pudhpaka Vimanam and to show her

the sad and helpless plight of her husband and her brother -in-law.

Sita burst into a wail on seeing her husband lying helpless tied by

the net of hissing serpents. Trijata , one of the prison guards of

Sita consoled her and assured her that no evil would befall the

scions of Raghu and took Sita back to asokhA grove.

 

Rama regained consciousness and wailed over the lot of LakshmaNA .

Hearing Rama's wail , the monkeys got despondent. . Rama thanked

Sugriva for his display of extraordinary friendship and support and

all around there was a thick curtain of melancholy . The father-in-law of

SugreevA , SuseshaNaa, suggested that HanumAn should rush over to

the milky Ocean and bring back the medicinal herbs of SanjivakaraNi

(Life restorer ) and Visalyaa ( healer of wounds inflicted by the NagAsthram

invoked by Indrajith ) . As these discussions were taking place , something

totally unexpected happened .

 

There arose a mighty wind and the sky was filled with lightning.

Waters of the ocean rose whipped up by the furious winds. The

son of VinathA , Garuda became visible in the sky flying at a

terrifying speed . The serpents covering the bodies of the brothers

ran for their life at the sight of their feared enemy . Garuda descended and

lifted the brothers and then wiped their faces with his hand . The touch

of Garuda cicatrized the wounds on the limbs of the brothers inflicted by

Indrajith and their skins turned bright and smooth . The strength , majesty ,

splendour , perspicacity and the intelligence of the brothers redoubled as

a result of the touch of Garuda , the embodiment of Vedas . Garuda

joyfully embrced both the brothers . Rama asked the life-saver Garuda as to

who he was and what he can do for his extraordinary service. Garuda replied:

" aham sakhA tE kaakuthstha priya: prANO bahiscchara { I am GarudA , your

dear friend (nay ) your (very ) breath moving outside , arrived here for your

help} .

Hearing that you have been fettered by the sankes , I rushed at once to

your side out of my affection and friendship for you . I shall now depart.

You should not be curious about our friendship any more . At the conclusion

of your battle with RavaNA and your victory over him , you will come to

recognize the mystery behind our friendship . You will destroy all the

demons of LankhA including the evil RavaNA and rejoin with Sita."

 

After the above response to the queries of Rama , GarudA walked

clockwise around Rama to show his respect , embraced Rama ,

spread his golden wings and soared into the sky with the speed

of the winds of deluge. The simian army was thrilled to see Rama

and LakshmaNA restored to their original selves and raised a tumultous

noise in happiness.

 

Garuda BhagavAn is the Lord of Pakshiraja Manthram , which was

recited by Swami Desikan on OushadhAdhri at Thiruvahindrapuram.

Garuda was pleased and appeared before Swami and initiated him

into Sri Hayagreeva Manthram and Lord Hayagreeva sat on the tip

of Swami's tongue and rest of what happened led to us being blessed

with the Sri Sookthis of Sri Nigamaantha MahA Desikan . Thus , Swami

Desikan was indebted to Garuda Bhagavaan immensely . His tribute to

Garudha BhagavAn tok the form of Garuda PanchAsath and Garuda

daNdakam. He describes the embrace of Garudaa on the battle field in

LankhA in the 48th slokam of Garudha PanchAsath . He calls that

kaimkaryam as " Labdha SevA visesha: " ( one who obtained that

bhagyam of distinguished service to Rama ) . Swami goes on to

describe that GarudA was fortunate to receive the embrace of

the shoulders of Rama , which were renowned for their fragrance

arising from the association with the flowers decorating the ears of

SitA dEvi ( VaidEhi karNapoora surabhiNA ya: samAsleshi DhOshNA

Sa Garuda : ) .

 

On tha tfrgrant note , I will conclude this posting .

 

Sri VaishNava Daasan ,

 

Oppiliappan Koil VarasAchaari Sadagopan