Hanuman: Difference between revisions

The relation between Hanuman and the goddess [[Kali]] finds mention in the ''[[Krittivasi Ramayan|Krittivasi Ramayana]]''. Their meeting takes place in the [[Yuddha Kanda]] of this ''Ramayana'', in the legend of [[Mahiravana]]. Mahiravana is stated to be the king of the [[Patala]] (netherworld) and a trusted friend/brother of Ravana. After his son, [[Indrajit|Indrajita]], was killed, Ravana sought Mahiravana's help to kill [[Rama]] and [[Lakshmana]]. One night, Mahiravana, using his ''maya'', took Vibhishana's form and entered Rama's camp. He cast the ''nidra mantra'' (sleeping spell) on the vanara army, kidnapped Rama and Lakshmana, and took them to Patala to sacrifice them to Devi, as per Ravana's suggestion. Hanuman learnt the way to Patala from [[Vibhishana]] and made haste to rescue his lords. On his journey, he met [[Makaradhwaja|Makardhwaja]], who claimed of being Hanuman's son. Hanuman defeated and tied him, and went inside the palace. He met Chandrasena, who told about the sacrifice and the way to kill Mahiravana. Hanuman shrunk his size to that of a bee and came across a huge [[Murti|idol]] of Kali. After being prayed to, the goddess agreed to help Hanuman rescue the brothers, allowing him to take her place while she slipped below. When Mahiravana asked the brothers to bow, they refused, claiming not to know how to perform the act. As Mahiravana decided to demonstrate, Hanuman assumed his ''[[panchamukha]]'' (five-faced) form (manifesting the additional heads of Garuda, Narasimha, Varaha, and Hayagriva), blowing the five oil lamps present in the chamber in the five cardinal directions. He severed the head of Mahiravana, thus killing him. He carried Rama and Lakshmana upon his shoulders to return them to their camp, before which he released and crowned Makaradhvaja the king of Patala. The story of Ahiravan finds its place in the Ramayanas of the east. It can be found in the Bengali version of the Ramayana, written by Krittibash, in the passage known as ''Mahirabonerpala''. It is believed that Kali, pleased with Hanuman, blessed him to be her ''[[dvarapala]]'' (gatekeeper).<ref>Mystery of Hanuman - Inspiring Tales from Art and Mythology