Mahiravana captures Rama and Lakshmana

The night was half over. Vibhishana came to Hanumana. He said Do not let anyone enter the enclosure. Even if your father, the Wind God comes, he should not be allowed in either.

Mahiravana decided to go and capture Rama and Lakshmana. He went single handed. He saw Vibhishana outside the fort and was not sure how to go inside and capture Rama and Lakshmana.

He took the form of Dashratha and appeared before Hanumana. He said My sons are inside your enclosre. Please let me see them.
Hanumana said Please wait. Vibhishana will be coming soon. Let us do what he says.
Vibhishana came there and Mahiravana fled.
Hanumana said Dashratha had come to see his sons.
Vibhishana said No one should be allowed inside.

Mahiravana then took the form of Bharata and came to Hanumana. He said he wanted to see his brothers. Hanumana asked him to wait till Vibhishana came there.
Mahiravana left that place.

Hanumana told Vibhishana. Vibhishana said Do not allow any one. Saying he went on his rounds.

Mahiravana then took the form of Kaushlaya and said she wanted to see her sons. Hanumana told her to wait and Mahiravana vanished.

Mahiravana then took the form of Janaka and said he wanted to see his son in law. When Hanumana told him to wait, he too vanished.

Mahiravana then took the form of Vibhishana and came there. Hanumana said You just left a moment ago. Why did you come back so soon. Mahiravana, as Vibhishana, said I have come to warn you of the magic of Mahiravana. I have two talismans with me. Let me tie that on Rama and Lakshmana. They will be safe then.
Thinking it to be Vibhishana, Hanumana let him in.

Mahiravana first put all to sleep. Mahiravana picked up Rama and Lakshmana. Digging a tunnel, he took into his city. There, he put them in a room. Rama and Lakshmana were still asleep.
Mahiravana stayed back in his city.

Soon Vibhishana came on his rounds. Hanumana said You went inside to tie talismans on Rama and Lakshmana. When did you come out?

Vibhishana argues and convinced Hanumana that he was Vibhishana and no one else. Vibhishana said Then let us see if Rama and Lakshmana were safe.

Hanumana let Vibhishana inside and he himself peeped in. Rama and Lakshmana were missing. Everyone else was asleep. There was a tunnel in the ground.

All were shocked and did not know what to do.

Jambuvana then said Let Hanumana go and look for Rama and Lakshmana. he alone can perform this task.

Hanumana creates an enclosure

Rama said to Hanumana, I am relying on you to save us all.
Jambuvana said Mahiravana will not come in open. He will come to steal Rama and Lakshmana. The best is, if all are awake. Let us sit together and plan how to handle this.

Hanumana said he would create a fort using his tail. Rama and Lakshmana would stay inside that, the whole night.

Hanumana coiled his tail and created an enclosure. Sugriva and Angada went inside. Sugriva took the responsibility of guarding Rama while Angada took the responsibility of guarding Lakshmana.

Some more vanaras also went inside to guard Rama and Lakshmana. 

Ravana thinks of Mahiravana

Ravana was not sure whom to send to battle. All the great heroes were no longer alive. His mother, came to him. She said I had tried to talk sense to you, but you did not listen. Vibhishana spoke to you, but you kicked him. There is only one option left. If you remember, you had gone to conquer the nether world. There you had a great son called Mahiravana. He will be able to help you.

Ravana thought of Mahiravana. He ruled over the nether world. A devotee of Goddess Kali, he was an expert in magic. Ravana remembered that Mahiravana had said that if Ravana thought of him, he would come.

Ravana closed his eyes and started thinking about Mahiravana.

Mahiravana started looking around. Who was thinking off him? He realized it was Ravana. He quickly went and greeted his father. Ravana told him what had happened to Lanka, so far.

Mahi said You should have thought of me before Rama and Lakshmana had crossed the ocean. I would have killed them there. I can capture Rama and Lakshmana and no will realize my work. You live with Sita. I will help you.

At Rama's camp, Vibhishana wondered what was happening. He decided to inquire. He took the form of a bird and flew to Ravana's court to hear what was being discussed.

He saw Mahiravana there in the court of Ravana. Not liking this one bit, Vibhishana came back and reported to Rama what he had seen. He said Ravana had sent for his son Mahiravana and the two were discussing how to tackle the enemy.

Vibhishana said Mahiravana was an expert in magic and illusion. He lives in the nether world. Gods fear him when he goes to battle. Mahamaya is there in there nether world with him, What ever he wishes is granted. All need to be careful here. All need to stay up and beware.

Hanumana said he would stay up the night and kill Mahiravana when he came.

Vibhishana said that may be true but I am very restless. I will not have any peace of mind before the night passes.

Sun is released

All were overjoyed. Jambuvana said, It was best that Hanumana returned the mountain to its original place. Hanumana rose into the sky with the mountain.
Ravana saw Hanumana flying. He asked seven rakshasas to go and grab Hanumana and kill him. They flew behind Hanumana and tried to grab him. Grabbing them with his tail, Hanumana dashed to the ground, killing them.One of them managed to survive and he went and gave the news to Ravana.

Hanumana in the meanwhile kept the mountain where it was. Now knowing which herb was medicinal, Hanumana took a few leaves and crushed it in his hands. He had sprinkled the juice over the Gandharvas whom he had killed. The gandharvas came to life and started attacked Hanumana again. Hanumana fled from there and flew back towards Lanka.

Hanumana came back to Rama. Rama then asked Hanumana what was there in his armpit. Hanumana then told Rama how he had captured Sun and kept him in his armpit.

Rama asked Hanumana to release the Sun. Hanumana spread his hands. Sun came out and went skywards.

Rama embraced Hanumana. 

Hanumana meets Bharata and Lakshmana is revived

Hanumana went back to the mountain. He started looking for the medicines. He then saw the gandharvas singing and dancing there. He went to them asked them to tell him where he could find the medicines.
The gandharvas said they obeyed only HaHa and HuHu who were their kings. Saying this they started attacking Hanumana. Hanumana also started fighting back.
HaHa and HuHu came to fight but were defeated by Hanumana. Hanumana then started moving from peak to peak but could not find the medicine.
Not seeing any other alternative, Hanumana tugged at the mountain and uprooted it. Many animals started running around. Trees fell. Hanumana jumped in the sky with the mountain in his hand.

Hanumana then flew over Kailasha and passed over Ayodhaya, while travelling southwards. Having heard a lot about Bharata,  He flew  Nandigram, where Bharata was living. Bharata saw something in the sky. It was huge and its shadow was covering the land. The moonlight falling on Rama's sandals was being covered. Who dared do this?  Now knowing who was this, Bharata gave a catapult to Shatrughna. Shatrughna aimed towards the sky. Taking the name of Rama, the catapult was released. The iron ball that had been propelled, hit Hanumana. Hanumana lost his consciousness. Still holding onto the mountain and the Sun, Hanumana landed in Nandigram. He started taking the name of Rama.

Hearing the name of Rama, Bharata came running. Bharata asked him who he was and how he knew Rama who had gone to the forests with Lakshmana and Sita.
Hanumana was in intense pain and was unable to speak.
Vashishtha then came there. The great sage knew what was happening in Lanka and had not said anything. He then said to Bharata, Why have you stopped this great person?
Vashistha, with some mantras, relieved the pain of Hanumana.
Hanumana then said all that had happened so far.

Bharata and Shatrughna broke into tears hearing the tale from Hanumana. Bharat then said I will come with you to Lanka. Shatrughna will handle Ayodhya.

Hanumana said Rama would not allow this. Bharata said Then go fast , Hanumana.
Hanumana said he had no strength left, after having been hit by the catapult.

Bharata then got an arrow. He asked Hanumana to climb up on the arrow along with the mountain and Sun. Hanumana was amazed to see Bharata's strength. He, who was able to lift Hanumana, the sun and the mountain on the arrow.

Bharata released the arrow. Withe speed of the wind, Hanumana landed in Lanka. All were stunned to see Hanumana come there with the mountain. Hanumana said he had been unable to recognize the medicine, thus he had got the whole mountain.
Rama said Hanumana , You are Great. There is nothing you cannot do.

Rama then asked Sushena to get the medicine. Sushena climbed on the mountain and started searching its peaks for the medicine. He got the herbs and made a paste from them. He then held the paste under Lakshmana's nose.

Blood started flowing in the veins. The broken ribs became like before. Slowly Lakshmana came to life. Lakshmana got up, and with tears in his eyes, Rama embraced Lakshmana.

Hanumana kills Kalnemi and captures the sun

Hanumana soon landed there. Seeing Kalnemi disguised as a sage, bowed down to him. Hanumana said who he was and said he had come to look for the Vishalyakarani herb that he needed to take back before day break. Kalnemi asked Hanumana to rest, eat something and then go looking for what he needed. Hanumana said he was in a hurry and had no time. Kalnemi said If a guest went away hungry, that would be a sin. He said there was a stream close by and if Hanumana had a bath there and came back, he would try and help him.

Hanumana agreed. He went and jumped into the waters. The sound was heard by the crocodile. The crocodile, Kumbharini, came rushing. Seeing Kumbharini, the fishes in the water started swimming away.Kumbharini came and grabbed Hanumana.

Hanumana was stunned. What was this happening? Hanumana jumped up on the bank of the stream with Kumbharini still holding onto him. With his nails, Hanumana tore apart Kumbharini's body. Kumbharini then changed into a beautiful woman who rose into the skies. She said she was a celestial girl called Gandhakali. She used to go around dancing. Once while dancing, she had fallen on the sage Daksha. The sage had cursed her to be a crocodile saying when she met Hanumana she would be relived.The woman then told Hanumana to be careful of the false sage. Saying this, she vanished.

Kalnemi was happy. Hanumana was not comingback, which meant he had been eaten up by the crocodile. He began thinking of ruling Lanka with Ravana and also get Mandodari as his wife.
Hanumana then appeared there.

Kalnemi was not sure what to say. Hanumana said I know you are not a sage. Show your real self. Kalnemi appeared before Hanumana in his rakshasa form. Both began fighting. Hanumana, pressing his knee of Kalnemi's chest, killed him. Hanumana then picked up the body, swung it in the sky and flung it. Kalnemi's lifeless body landed in Lanka.

Ravana was shocked to see this. He need to do something. He then sent for the Sun God and asked him to go up in the sky. The sun said It was still night and there were hours to go before it was time.
Ravana said he did not care.

Sun reluctantly agreed to go.

Hanumana saw this. He jumped up in the sky and appeared before the Sun. Sun was unable to travel. Hanumana was blocking his way. Sun asked his charioteer who was this blocking the way. The charioteer said it was a vanara. Sun said he would burn this vanara.

Hanumana heard this and bowed down to Sun and requested him not go up in the sky else Lakshmana would die.
Sun said he would not be able to disobey Ravana.
Hanuman then grabbed the Sun and locked him under his armpit. The sun was captured.

My postings here

Due to work pressures, I will be posting here only on weekends for the rest of this month and most part of next month. I will try and post, in between, if I can.