Indrajit

Ravana and his troupe reached Amaravati, the capital of Indra. Indra hearing this, went to Vishnu for help. Vishnu said - In this form, I will not kill Ravana. Brahma has given a boon to Ravana and he will die in my hands. Ravana will not die in the hands of the Gods. For now, go and fight him.

Indra went back. A fierce battle began. Ravana lost his heads in the battle, and new heads grew. Kumbhakarna, who had woken up in Lanka, also joined Ravana. It was a one sided battle. The Gods fought and got defeated by Ravana and his army. Shani, Yama, Pavana and Varuna came and fought but could not stand in front of Ravana.
Meghnad fought with Jayanta, son of Indra and Jayanta had to flee. He went and hid in the nether world taking refuge with his grandfather, the danava called Paulava.
Indra then went to Durga and asked her to help. Durga asked her sixty four attendants to help Indra.
Seeing this, Ravana bowed and said Please return O Mother. If you loose today, It will be a shame for you and me both.
Durga smiled and the sixty four attendants returned back.
A fight between Indra and Ravana started with Ravana on his Pushpaka and Indra on his elephant, Airavata. Indra attacked with the Vajra in his hand and Kumbhakarna came there and said he would eat up the Vajra. He jumped and started swallowing the Gods. Being immortals, they did not die, and somehow managed to escape from his nostrils and ears. Slowly the day came to an end, and Kumbhakarna too went off to sleep. Ravana had Kumbhakarna transported back to Lanka.
Many weapons were exchanged between Indra and Ravana. Soon Indra released a weapon that put Ravana to sleep. Seeing Ravana sleeping, the Gods came and bound him and started tearing at his clothes and weapons.
Meghnad saw this. Rising into the space, he started showering weapons at the Gods. Indra and the Gods were not able to withstand the weapons of Meghnad and had to surrender. Releasing Ravana, Meghnad tied up Indra.
Ravana was pleased with Meghnad.
Ravana and Meghnad then looted and took with them the treasures that they could find. They left of Lanka with the bound Indra as the prisoner.
The Gods went to Brahma and asked for Indra to be released.
Brahma went to Ravana and ordered him to release Indra. Brahma also said to Meghnad the he was pleased with his feat and gave him the name of Indrajit - The one who won over Indra.
Indrajit asked Brahma for the boon of immortality which Brahma refused. Brahma said The one will be able to stop your sacrifice from being completed, will be the one will kill you. Vibhishana knew this so was able to take Lakshmana to destroy the sacrifice before its completion.

Indra was brought there. Brahma said Indra, this happened because of a curse. Once you had destroyed the purity of Ahalya and this is all because of the curse of her husband, Sage Gautama. Brahma asked Indra to take the name of Rama and all his sings would be gone.Indra left.

Ravana the ruled in Lanka. He touched the hair of Sita and whatever life he had, was reduced because of that.

Rama said to the sage - You have told me about Ravana, now do tell me about Hanumana. 

Rama's joy

In the fight Lakshmana had been wounded. Hanumana and Vibhishana both carried Lakshmana out.

On the side, Rama was worried. He had sent Lakshmana to fight Indrajit. He was thus thinking when Lakshmana arrived, blood flowing from his body. Vibhishana said Lakshmana had come victorious. Indrajit was no more.

All were very happy and celebrations started in Rama;s camp. Rama was happy. He could see the end of Ravana close by. 

Indrajit dies

Vibhishana said killing Indrajit would not be a simple task. Indrajit performed a sacrifice befofre starting for his battle. The day he completed the sacrifice, he would return victorious. Indrajit had been cursed by Brahma that whoever was able to stop his sacrifice before its completion, would be the one who would kill Indrajit. Send Lakshmana with me. Indrajit would be preparing for his sacrifice now. We will got and stop that.

Rama asked Vibhishana about Indrajit's curse.

Vibhishana said Indrajit had asked Brahma to make him immortal. When Brahma had refused, Indrajit asked that when he completed his sacrifice and went to war, he would return victorious. Brahma said he would give him that boon. Indrajit would also be able to fight, hiding behind clouds. If someone was able to stop the sacrifice before it was completed, Indrajit would die in the hands of that person.

Rama said he was worried for Lakshmana. Vibhishana said he aware of Lakshmana's strength. When Ravana had tried to lift Lakshmana, he had been unable to do so. Also Lakshmana had the strength of a hundred Indrajit.

With a few selected vanaras, Vibhishana and Lakshmana set forth for Lanka.

Crashing the gates, the group entered into the city. Fighting their way through, they entered the hall where Indrajit was performing his sacrifice. Hanumana, getting a tree, flung that at the sacrificial fire, extinguishing it. He then started urinating on all the offerings.

Angry, Indrajit started shooting arrows at Hanumana, which the vanara skillfully avoided.

Lakshmana then picked up his bow and started showering arrows at Indrajit. Indrajit avoiding the arrows, said to Vibhishana - Fie on you. You are a traitor. You disclosed the secret of my death.

Vibhishana said Though I was born a rakshasa, I did not envy others. I did not try to get what others had. I did not abduct anyone's wife.

Indrajit tried to climb on his chariot, but the vanaras broke that.

Vibhishana said to Lakshmana to stop him from going behind the clouds. If he went there, he would be invisible. He thus captured Indra and Brahma had to come and beg for Indra's freedom.

Indrajit created a chariot from his magic and climbed on that. Vibhishana asked Hanumana to stop Indrajit from going upwards.

Lakshmana started showering arrows. Trying to avoid that, Indrajit went skywards, where Hanumana stopped his path. Hanumana broke the chariot. Indrajit tried to escape in the skies, but Hanumana holding his legs started pulling him down. Hanumana also asked the other vanaras to come and help him.

Indrajit tried to run out , but Vibhishana was guarding the gate. Vibhishana called out to Lakshmana and a battle;e started between Lakshmana and Indrajit.

Hearing of this, Brahma asked Indra to find out a way in which Lakshmana could kill Indrajit. Lakshmana had to be given the weapon which would kill the demon and he needed to use that. Indra silently came and gave that to Lakshmana.

Lakshmana invoked the weapon. Seeing that, Indrajit was scared. Lakshmana released the arrow. Indrajit tried to avoid that but was unable to. The arrow came and cut Indrajit's head off.

Killing of the false Sita

Ravana fell from his seat when he heard of Virbahu's death. All heroes sent to battle had not come back alive. When Ravana was thus thinking, Indrajit came and said it was time he went again and fought.
Ravana agreed. After all Indrajit was the the only one who had fought and returned back alive.
Indrajit said he was surprised how the dead were coming back to life. He had put an end to Rama and Lakshmana and Garuda had revived them. Then when he put an end to them, Hanumana got the medicine and rescued them. How was this happening?
Ravana said this was the work of Hanumana. Hanumana had to be killed first.
Indrajit left and went to see Mandodari, his mother. On his way, he thought, his mother would try to stop him. He decided to go to battle and then when he returned, he would greet his mother.
He went to his prayer room to perform his sacrifice before the battle.
Agni appeared before Indrajit and said Why do you pray to me everyday? What do you want from me?
Indrajit said He wanted to put an end to Rama and Lakshmana.
Agni said that was not possible. Rama was Narayana himself.
Angry, Indrajit left the sacrifice and climbed on his chariot. He went and started showering arrows, felling the vanaras. Lakshmana asked Rama to use powerful weapon and destroy Lanka. Rama said You speak like a child. What did the innocent women of Lanka do that they should die a terrible death?
Indrajit saw he was not able to tackle Rama and Lakshmana. He went back to Lanka and sent for Vidyutjivha. He asked Vidyutjivha to create a clone of Sita, who should be absolutely like Sita in appearance. Indrajit said, he would kill this clone in front of Rama. Seeing this, Rama would die. Seeing that Lakshmana would die too and the vanaras would leave Lanka.
Vidyutjivha created an idol of Sita and with mantras, made it come alive. Vidyutjivha then told the clone who she was and why she was there.

With this clone on his chariot, Indrajit started again for battle. Coming out from the western gate, he started hitting the clone with the whip used by the charioteer.
The false Sita started shouting out for help. Holding her hair in one hand, Indrajit held a sword in another.

Hanumana saw this. He was ready to fight but he was unable to move. What if Sita got hurt. Hanumana had tears in his eyes. Hanumana said It was a sin to kill a woman.
Indrajit said If killing a woman resulted in the death of the enemy, then that was just. I will first kill Sita and then put an end to Rama and Lakshmana.

The clone started crying loudly calling out for help. Indrajit picking up his sword, brought it down on the clone, cutting it into two.
Seeing this, the vanaras started to flee. Hanumana asked to turn back and cut off Indrajit's head and having killed Sita.

Seeing the vanaras come towards him, Indrajit fled and went inside Lanka.

Rama heard a lot of noise and was not sure what was happening. He asked Jambuvana to go and see what was the matter. Jambuvana went and on his way he saw Hanumana coming back. He asked him what was the matter. Hanumana told him Sita had been killed.

Going to Rama with tears in his eyes, Hanumana told Rama what had happened. 

Indrajit returns victorious

Indrajit decided to attack at night.

At the eastern gate, Nila was present. Seeing Indrajit, the vanaras started running away. Nila tried to stop them and then decided to come and face Indrajit.
Nila asked him to leave the battlefield and save his life.
Indrajit said - Creatures of the forest, you were happily were roaming around, Why did you come to fight and put your lives in danger. Who is Sugriva? What skills does Lakshmana have? Killing a few rakshasas does not make Rama great. Rama and Lakshmana would have been dead if they had not been saved by Garuda.

A battle of words started between Nila and Indrajit, with each abusing the other.

Indrajit then went and hid behind the clouds and started showering arrows. Vanaras started falling. Rivers of blood started flowing. Nila fell in the battlefield.

Winning over the eastern side, Indrajit attacked the southern side. Adept with the skill of handling weapons and also hiding behind clouds, he let out a ferocious attack. Mahendra, Devendra and Angada fell in battle.

Winning over, Indrajit went to the northern side. The vanaras could not fight an invisible enemy and vanaras like Sugriva and Dhumraksha fell in battle.

On the western side, Indrajit encountered Hanumana. After a verbal fight with Hanumana, Indrajit, hiding behind clouds, shot arrows wounding Rama and Lakshmana. Rama and Lakshmana fell in battle.

Happy, Indrajit went to Ravana, to give him the news of victory.

Indrajit performs his sacrifice

Indrajit went and sat for his sacrifice. Many rakshasas got all the materials needed for the worship . Red cloth, Red flowers and Red sandal paste was got. Pans full of clarified butter was kept there and goats for sacrifice were brought into the chamber.

Reciting mantras, Indrajit lit the fire. Mixing rice and barley with the butter, Indrajit offered that to the fire. The red clothes and red garlands were offered. The flames of the fire shot up. The brahmanas sitting there recited mantras. Agni came and appeared before Indrajit. Indrajit offered raw rice, paddy, barley, yogurt and honey.

Indrajit asked for victory and he was granted that for this visit.

Happy Indrajit jumped on his chariot and raced to attack. 

Indrajit meets Manodari

Getting his father's approval, Indrajit went to get ready. He told his charioteer to get the chariot ready. He then decided to meet his mother. He knew his mother would be distraught if he left without telling her. He went to meet Mandodari. Mandodari along with the other wives of Ravana was busy worshiping Shiva and Parvati when Indrajit entered her chamber.
Mandodari hugged her son. She said she knew he would be going to war and that all the big heroes who had gone, had not returned, and so she was afraid.
She said - Return Sita to Rama and make peace. Your uncle Vibhishana is a righteous man and he was kicked by your father, in front of all. Your father abducted Sita and now he sends others to fight instead of going himself.

Indrajit laughed. He said - My father is my teacher. He is the one who won over all worlds. You should not be saying things against your husband. Indra, who is the lord of the Gods, had relations with the wife of his guru, Goutama. Chnadra, the moon abducted the wife of Brihaspati, his Guru. Pavana, the wind, had relations with a female Vanara. If Rama wanted to save his wife, he should not have brought her along with him, in the forest. Killing Khara and Dushana, Rama has become our enemy.

Indrajit then decided to go for war at the right time, when the signs were right. The widows of the fallen warriors said they wanted Indrajit to fight and get revenge for the killing of their husbands.

Manodari then said - Son, you are brave and handsome, Listen to me and stay tonight, If you have to go to war, go tomorrow.

Indrajit said - Father has given me permission to go today. I will not be able to stay back tonight. I have to go and complete my Nikuntila sacrifice and then I will go to war.

Saying this Indrajit left.

Indrajit wants to go to battle

Lanka was crying. All were in shock. Controlling himself, Indrajit went to Ravana and said You should sent me and not the others. I would have got Rama and Lakshmana for you. If you permit, I will go again and kill the big vanaras, Rama, Lakshmana and Vibhishana.

Ravana was happy to see the spirit of Indrajit. He gave his permission to proceed. 

Indrajit binds Rama and Lakshmana with snakes

Ravana was furious having been insulted by Angada. He called his army commanders and asked for a solution. He said to Indrajit, Go kill Rama and Lakshmana. First deal with Angada. Meghnad or Indrajit, got himself ready for the war. He set forth on a silver chariot drawn by eight swift horses. With an army of many soldiers and elephants, he started. The ground shook with the trampling of the animals  the soldiers and the musical instruments being played by the army.

He attacked the eastern gate, showering arrows on the vanaras there. The vanaras retaliated by showering rocks and trees. The vanaras killed many rakshasa soldiers.
From the eastern gate, Indrajit went to the southern gate where he saw Angada. He said - You abused my father and ran away like a coward. You have no shame, you that one who killed your father.
Angada said - My father dies because your father abducted Sita. You are a dynasty of thieves.
Indrajit started showering arrows and Angada, angry broke his chariot.
Indrajit jumped and went into the sky and hid behind the clouds, from where he could see the armies fighting. He saw the vanara Sampati attacked by rakshasas. Sampati, wounded lifted a huge tree and hurled that and killed many rakshasas. Then using his tail, he strangled a few. A rakshasa called Tapan, riding on an elephant attacked Nila. Angry Nila jumped on the elephant and killed Tapan. Vidyutmali, another rakshasha came there. Hanumana saw this and attacked him. The rakshasha shot a few arrows at Hanumana. Brushing the arrows aside, Hanumana jumped onto the chariot of the demon and pulling him by his hair, tore his head off and flung it to the ground.
Subarna, a rakshasha entered the battle field, with a chariot full of liquor pots. He would have a drink and shoot arrows. Soon the sky was dark with his arrows. Nila seeing this grabbed a wheel from the chariot of Vidyutmali and flung that at Subarna. Subarna avoided the wheel, and wheel like a boomerang, went and came back with great force, and the force of the wheel cut off the head of Subarna.

Lakshmana entered the battle field and started showering arrows, killing many demons. Indrajit saw his army being destroyed by Lakshmana. He decided that it would be difficult to fight Lakshmana face to face. Hiding behind the clouds, he called Rama and asked him to come forth and fight.

Hiding, he showered arrows on Rama and Lakshmana. Seeing this the entire vanara army rushed to the rescue of Rama and Lakshmana. All went except Vibhishana, who was not aware of the situation.
Indrajit kept showering arrows, and Rama and Lakshmana were not sure how to fight someone they could not see. Seeing this, Indrajit released an arrow that released countless snakes.

The snakes went and coiled themselves around Rama and Lakshmana. Soon it was difficult to make out Rama and Lakshmana, as they were fully covered head to toe with the writhing snakes. Unable to breathe and also because of the venom of the snakes, Rama and Lakshmana fainted.

Indrajit started back for Lanka to tell Ravana about the victory. He said to Ravana - Hear the cry of the vanaras, grieving for the dying Rama and Lakshmana. Of all the battles I have fought, this has been the toughest. The vanaras destroyed my chariot and army and I had to hide behind the clouds to fight them.

Praising Indrajit, Ravana went to Trijata and asked her to take Sita in the Pushpaka chariot and show her the dead Rama and Lakshmana.

Trijata and Sita went where Rama and Lakshmana were lying. Sita, seeing this, started crying. Trijata then told her that Rama and Lakshmana had not lost their lives and would live. Saying this, Trijata took Sita back to the Ashoka garden.

Hanumana captured by Indrajit

Hanumana approached the mango trees. They had fenced to prevent animals from stealing the fruits. Hanumana made himself tiny and climbed up one of the mango trees. He then started shaking the branches. This scared the birds resting on the trees, who started to fly around.
The rakshasas guarding the trees looked up and saw a monkey jumping around. They decided to deal with the monkey later. Rakshasas, who had been sleeping, went back to sleep.

Hanumana had his fill of the fruits. He then started tearing off the leaves from the trees. Not satisfied, he started breaking branches and then started uprooting the trees.

The rakshasas got up and saw the entire mango grove destroyed. They started shooting arrows and started throwing other weapons at Hanumana, who cleverly dodged the weapons. Hanumana, then started uprooting trees and started throwing them at the rakshasas. Like a mad elephant, Hanumana attacked and killed many of the rakshasas.

The rakshasis guarding Sita went to her and asked her who the monkey was. Sita said it would an illusion of the rakshasas and she had no idea who the monkey was.

The rakshasas rushed to Ravana and reported to him about the monkey. Ravana asked a rakshsa called Mura to go and kill the monkey. Mura went and saw Hanumana sitting on a fence. He started throwing weapons at Hanumana. Hanumana dodged the weapons, Breaking off a pillar, Hanumana smashed Mura.

leaving only the tree under which Sita was sitting, Hanumana started uprooting the trees in the grove. Many rakshasas died.

Jambumali, son of Prahastha, a minsiter of Ravana, decided to go and deal with Hanumana. The warrior shot many arrows at Hanumana, which pierced him. In pain, Hanumana, uproot a Sal tree and flung that at the Jambumali. Jambumali cut off the tree with his arrows. Hanumana uprooted rocks and hurled those, which were also cut off. Hanumana spotted a mace and hurled that. That killed Jambumali.

A brave rakshasa, Dhumralochana, decided to attack Hanumana. He went prepared with weapons. Hanumana saw Dhumralocahana coming. He reduced his size and hid in the fence. The rakshasas looking for him, could not find him. Thinking the monkey had fled, they went homewards. Seeing them leave, Hanumana hurled large boulders at them and killed them. Some rakshasas feld and reported to Ravana about the death of Dhumralochana.

Akshaya, a son of Ravana, decided to go and kill Hanumana. He left on his chariot, and approached Hanumana. He went to Hanumana and said he was Akshaya, son of Ravana and he had come to put an end to Hanumana. He then started shooting arrows, which Hanumana avoided. Some arrows pierced Hanumana. Hanumana then jumped on Akshaya's chariot and killed the horses and the charioteer. Akshaya feld sky wards. Hanumana, seeing this chased Akshaya. He caught Akshaya by his legs and dashed him on the ground, killing him. He then sat down on the fence.

News of Akshaya's death reached Ravana. Ravana then called Indrajit and asked him to go. He told him that great warriors had gone, and no one had been able to capture or kill the monkey. Indrajit said he would capture the monkey. Indrajit set forth. Ravana said he heard of Vali, Sugriva and Hanumana and if one of them had come, then it would be very tough fight.

Indrajit saw the monkey sitting on the fence. He started shouting at Hanumana. Hanumana also started shouting back at Indrajit talking about the evil deeds that Ravana had committed.

A war started and none was able to take control of the other. Indrajit knew of a weapon called Pasha which had the ability to capture its prey. Indrajit shot that arrow. Hanumana was captured and fell on the ground. Hanumana first thought of tearing off his binding, which he was capable of. Then he decided to use this as an excuse to meet Ravana.

The rakshasas came and started tying up Hanumana's hands and feet. They then started dragging him towards Ravana's court. Hanumana started increasing his weight, and the rakshasas could not move him a bit. Hanumana asked the rakshasas to announce his arrival by playing instruments and also asked them to carry him on their shoulders.

Trumpets were blown and Hanumana then went forth on the shoulders of many rakshasas. When they came towards the door of Ravana's court, Hanumana increased his weight and the rakshasas could not carry him anymore. When the rakshasas left him, Hanumana increased his size such that he was much larger than the door. The rakshasas reported this to Ravana.

Ravana ordered the door to be broken. Seven doors were broken to make way for Hanumana. Hanumana then got up and walked inside Ravana's court.