Vali Vadham 4

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The meeting of the heroes

 

Sugriva is a peculiar mix. When he appears in the Kishkindha Kanda, he is

practically out of his senses. His sense of security is very frail and

unbalanced, always ready to tilt towards a fall. He suspects anything and

everything like the proverbial cat that tasted milk that was too hot and then

was afraid of going anywhere near anything that was white.

 

We have seen the opening scenes when Rama and Lakshmana, guided to Rishyamuka

Parvata, the haven of refuge of Sugriva who was hiding there from the pursuit of

his powerful elder brother Vali. (See: Hanuman the Trusted Deputy) As we saw

earlier, Sugriva was terror stricken when he saw Rama and Lakshmana walking at

the foot of the hill, approaching him. Sugriva saw their bows and arrows and

immediately and without giving a second thought came to the conclusion that they

must be mercenaries sent by Vali to kill him. He instructs Hanuman to go and

find out why these persons ‘sent by Vali’ are coming there.

 

‘kaalin maa madhalai idhu kaaNminO!’ See this O son of the wind! ‘karuvu udaya

vaali evalin varvinaargaL.’ (They) are coming on the order of the hard-hearted

Vali. ‘neela maal varai anayavar.’ They look like veritable blue mountains.

‘needhiya ninaidhi.’ Think of it (and find out the reason of their arrival) you

who are an adept at reasoning. ‘ena moolam orgilar marugi Odinaar muzhai

adhanin.’ So saying, Sugriva fled into a cave and hid himself.

 

Sugriva didn’t even stop to complete his instructions. It was left to the

skills of his trusted deputy, Hanuman, to assess the real situation and build up

a friendship between the two. Hanuman went to them. He felt a strange kind of

feeling filling him up – unstoppable love for these two strangers. Despite that

feeling, he remained so cool and true to his leader, Sugriva and collected

information on them so tactfully, without giving much information to them about

Sugriva. These have been fully described in the series under ‘Hanuman – the

trusted deputy.’

 

Well, Rama and Lakshmana were made to wait in a particular spot while Hanuman

went to Sugriva and informed him privately about the prowess of these two

warriors who are the right ones to kill Vali. He danced like the very Shiva

himself, performing his ‘oordhva tandava’ on the day of the deluge, so happy

that they could at last find an end to all their misery.

 

It was such a difficult life for Sugriva and his followers who chose to remain

with him against all odds. That Hanuman chose to leave the side of Vali and

left with Sugriva was something that shows Sugriva did not do anything that was

wrong against Vali. Hanuman, in private, prepares Sugriva mentally before he

brings him to meet Rama and Lakshmana. He was aware that this poor soul would

not act properly otherwise in the presence of these excellent warriors who have

come to them, seeking their help in their search of Sita.

 

Hanuman knew fully well that unless Sugriva became the Vanara king again, he

would not be able to help Sri Rama in any manner, for the search would require

superhuman (or should we call it super ape!) efforts to scour the world. That

would require the empowerment of Sugriva to command the forces. Hanuman’s

farsightedness also told him that they might also have to fight the demons to

retrieve Sita. He therefore made it a precondition that Sugriva should be made

the king of Vanaras, if anything fruitful is expected to result from their

alliance.

 

 

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