When Indrajit entered the battlefield, Rama got ready to fight him. Indrajit created a Maya Sita and sat her in his chariot. He beheaded the Maya Sita in front of Hanumanji and other vanaras. A distraught Rama wanted to withdraw from the battle since purpose for the battle was not relevant any longer.

Vibhishana revealed to them the trick that Indrajit has played. Indrajit wanted to finish a Yagna at Nikumbhila which will make him invincible. To distract vanaras he created this incident. Vibhishana asked the vanaras and Rama to forthwith kill Indrajit before he completes the Yajna.

Picture Credit: art-ma

Indrajit had already started the Yajna. Lakshmana, Sugriva and the vanara army marched with heavy rocks and trees which they hurled at the rakshasas. Indrajit realized that he would not be able to complete the Yajna if the vanaras are not beaten back. Therefore, he started to fight. Hanuman lifted Lakshmana on his shoulder. Indrajit saw Vibhishana and mocked him that he has betrayed the clan. Vibhishana countered him saying that the actions of Indrajit and his father are the reason the clan is in danger. With Rama’s blessings, Vibhishana will protect the clan.

Finally, Lakshmana used the ultimate arrow from his quiver, Indra-astra. The astra killed Indrajit, washed itself in the sea and returned to the quiver of Lakshmana.

Picture Credit: Balasaheb Pant, Chitra Ramayana

Ravana heard the news of his son's death and fell unconscious for a while. He deemed Sita to be the reason for his death and wanted to kill Sita and drink her blood. Suparswa, an intelligent advisor of Ravana, stopped him and told him to avoid amassing more sins in his life. Suparswa told Ravana that he was pious, a devotee of Shiva, brother of Kubera and well versed in Sama Veda. It does not fit his character to kill a woman. Suparswa asked him to fight his enemies instead.<

Ravana agreed and entered the battlefield again.

Picture Credit: Persian Ramayana

Sage Shukra, Guru of Ravana, asked him to do a Yajna in a secret cave. If he is able to complete the Yajna, he would obtain invincible warriors. Ravana entered a cave, sealed it and started the Yajna. Smoke started leaking from the cave which Vibhishana noticed. He asked Rama to send the vanaras to disturb the Yajna.

Hanuman, Angada, and scores of monkeys stormed the city. Sarama, Vibhishana's wife showed the location of the sacrifice. Vanaras went inside the cave after breaking the locks of the heavy doors. They tried distracting Ravana but could not. They started to frighten Mandodari by pulling off her dress.

She cried for help and told Ravana that a good husband must try his best to rescue his wife from the enemy. Ravana broke the Yajna and engaged Angada in a fight. Since the Yajna had got disrupted, the vanaras left Mandodari. There was not enough time for Ravana to restart the Yajna.

Picture Credit: Dr. K. U. Krishnakumar and Guruvayur Devaswom

Ravana’s Yajna was disrupted by vanaras. Ravana set out to fight. Before that, he told a distraught Mandodari that once someone is born, they are bound to experience all that is destined. He told her not to fall for grief. “We erroneously identify with the body and that is the cause for sorrow. Our relationships with spouses and children are associated with the body. Sorrow, delusion, fear, anger, greed, desire, hatred, attachment, elation, old age, and death, etc. are born out of ignorance. But the reality is knowledge itself. It is complete and it does not have any attachment or detachment with anyone or anything. See this truth in yourself and throw away your anguish.“

Ravana told Mandodari that he will fight Rama and will be liberated by Rama’s arrows. He confides that he deliberately abducted Sita so that all his sins in this world can be washed off by death at Rama’s hands.

Thus Adhyatma Ramayana uses even the villains of the story in poignant moments to communicate Advaita and detachment.

Additional Source: Adhyatma Ramayana by Swami Tapasyananda

Picture Credit: Dr. K. U. Krishnakumar and Guruvayur Devaswom

Mandodari told Ravana that no one in the three worlds can win over Rama. “He is Mahavishnu in human form. He has taken divine avatars - a fish, a tortoise, a boar, a man-lion, a dwarf, and Parasurama. He has taken birth as Dasaratha's son to annihilate you. You have abducted his wife and that became the cause for your fall and our son's death. You must be ashamed of yourself. Return Sita to Rama and give the kingdom to Vibhishana. Rama is compassionate and he will let us go to pursue penance in the forest."

Picture Credit: B.P. Banerjee

Ravana sped in his chariot, ready to fight. A big army of Rakshasas under ten commanders went with him. Ravana used a special spear gifted to him by Maya, at Vibhishana. Lakshmana prevented it from reaching Vibhishana. That made Ravana furious, and he used his ultimate weapon, Sakthi on Lakshmana. Lakshmana fell unconscious having struck with the sharp spear, Shakthi.

Rama asked vanaras to watch over the unconscious Lakshmana and swore to kill Ravana. But he was distressed knowing Lakshmana's condition. His grip on the bow was not strong enough to kill Ravana.

Sushena came forward and observed that Lakshmana can be revived as his body has still not turned blue. Vishalya Karani can wake him up. Immediately, Maruti flew to the Himalayas and brought the medicine and revived Lakshmana.

Picture Credit: J. Martin and Manoj Publications

Rama once again went to fight with Ravana resolutely. Both were attacking each other the best way possible. Seeing Rama may be a bit relaxed, Indra told his charioteer, Matali to take his chariot to assist Rama. Matali went to Rama and offered his help. Ravana was surprised to see Rama in a new chariot as tall as his.

Ravana’s charioteer noticed that Ravana was getting tired and took him out of the battlefield. He clarified to an angry Ravana that he acted in Ravana’s best interest; and that the job of a charioteer is also to judge what is required in the battlefield without having to be told.

Picture Credit: Gita Press, Ghorakpur