Ravana falls

Rama picked up the weapon and fitted it on his bow. Reciting the mantra, Rama released the arrow. The arrow struck Ravana and he fell down.

The Gods saw that and were not sure. There had been many instances when Ravana had fallen and gotten up again.

When the Gods were wondering, Rama thought for a while. This was devotee of mine who had been cursed to become a demon.

Rama said to Lakshmana - We have been in the forests for years now. We do not know the art of ruling a kingdom. Ravana is a great learned person. Go to him and learn all you can.

Ravana saw Lakshmana and said let me touch your feet.

Lakshmana said he had been sent by Rama to learn how to govern a kingdom.

Ravana said I am not sure why Rama wants to learn from me, when he knows all. Even then, if Rama wants to hear from me, I request you to please tell him to show himself. I am unable to get up and go to him.

Lakshmana went back to Rama and said Ravana would not say anything but was requesting to see Rama.

Rama went to Ravana.

Ravana looked at him. He said You are the Lord of the World. Please place your feet on my head. Forgive all my sins. You are the only One who exists.

Rama said I want to know from you. You had won over the worlds with your own force.

Ravana said I do not have much energy left and will say what I can.

Do not be a slave of laziness. Let me tell you of an incident.
One day I was passing the abode of Yama. In a corner in the south, I saw hell. I heard the plights of the people suffering there and thought of helping them. I then thought of coming back again. If I had fulfilled that task, hell would have vanished.

I am thinking of another incident. One day I wondered why the ocean was salty. It should made of cream and milk. I kept thinking of taking the salt out of the waters but I never was able to do it, as I kept postponing the task.

If you think you want to do something good, Rama, please do that then.

I once thought of creating a path to the heaven for all. I had thought of talking to Vishwakarma about this but never got down to do this. If I had, the path would have been there for all.

Let me tell you more. Laskshmana cut off Surpanakha's ears and nose. She gave me bad advise and I listened to her. If I had just listened to her and not paid heed to her words, we would not be seeing this day.

Soon Ravana became quiet. His soul left the body.

Ravana was no more,

Hanumana gets the weapon for Rama

Rama appealed to the Goddess to help him. He said he was sad and frustrated.
The Goddess was quiet.
Rama thought rescuing Sita now seemed a distant dream.

Durga then appeared. She said You are all knowing Lord of the Universe. If you think back, you will realize that in an earlier birth, Ravana was a gate keeper of yours who was cursed. Do not worry. You needed to this worship to start the process of my process in the autumn season. I will now leave Ravana.

Rama, filled with new energy, picked up his bow and arrow. Brahma asked Pavana to send a message to Rama to make the chandi impure. Rama asked Vibhishana for advise. Vibhishana turned to Hanumana who got ready.
Taking the form a fly, Hanumana went where the chandi was being recited. Taking a chance, he resumed his own self and erased a few shlokas from the book. The book was incomplete and impure. Seeing this, the Goddess left Ravana.

Ravana appealed to the Goddess to stop, but she went back straight to Kailasha.

Ravana then thought, Rama was not aware of all this. Rama would now go back leaving Sita.

In Rama's camp, Vibhishana said to Rama - Let me tell you about something that happened long back. When Ravana had prayed to Brahma and wanted to be immortal, Brahma had not granted that boon. Brahma had told him that his cut limbs and heads would regenerate. He would die with only specific weapon. No other weapon would be able to kill him. The weapon would remain in Ravana's house, hidden and guarded. This was weapon was guarded by Mandodari. This weapon would have to aimed at his navel.

Rama was aghast. Who would be able to get the weapon from Mandodari? Hanumana said he would get the weapon. Taking the blessings of all, Hanumana went towards Mandodari's palace. Taking the form of an old brahmin and approached Mandodari.

Mandodari seeing the brahmin, gave him a place to sit. The brahmin said he would not sit. He said he was a great astrologer and had come to bless Mandodari and Ravana. He said no one would be able to defeat Ravana because of the hidden wealth.

Mandodari wanted to know what he was saying. The brahmin said he knew about the weapon and wanted to bless it. If the queen did not want that, he would leave.

Mandodari said she had hidden that carefully. The brahmin said Vibhishana would tell Rama about that. Mandodari said even Vibhishana did not know where it was. Pointing to a pillar, the queen said she had hidden it inside that.

Hanumana, taking his own shape, kicked the pillar and broke it, He was able to see the weapon. He picked that up and went to Rama with that.

Rama hugged Hanumana.

Worship of Durga - One lotus stolen by the Goddess

Rama started reciting the Chandi. The vanaras also joined in. Rama recited the hymns whole day, and soon it was evening. It was the sixth day (Sasthi). In the evening, Rama started his Bodhana. He made an idol using clay and worshiped that with the Vilva leaves. Getting nine different twigs, Rama created the navapatrika and tied that near the idol.
What ever was needed for the worship was brought by Hanumana.

The next day, early morning, after having his bath, Rama started the worship for the seventh day. Rama worshiped the Goddess. Similarly on the eight and ninth days, Rama worshiped Durga.

With Lakshmana on his side, Rama continued the worship on the ninth day. There was no sign of the Goddess.

Rama turned to Vibhishana and asked him what should be done. Vibhishana said he had heard that Durga loved the blue lotus flower and her worship was to be done with one thousand and eight of those lotus flowers.

Rama asked Vibhishana where were these flowers available. Hanumana said he would get the flowrs if they were available anywhere in the world.

Vibhishana said these flowers were in the favorite lake of the Goddess and it would take someone ten years to get there. Hanumana said that was not an issue. He would go and bring them. He started his journey for the flowers.

Rama then started worshiping the Goddess taking her many names. The Goddess was pleased but she wanted to test Rama, thus remained invisible.

On the other side, Hanumana managed to get one thousand and eight of the lotus flowers and started his journey back.

Rama counted the flowers and then started offering them to the Goddess one by one, reciting the mantras.

Remaining invisible, the Goddess stole one of the flowers.

Rama offering the flowers and noticed he was one short. He said to Hanumana that there was one flower less.

Hanumana said He would go and get the flower from the lake where he had got the others, but unfortunately, there were none left. He said he was sure this was Kali testing Rama.

Brahma asks Rama to worship Durga

Vibhishana said to Rama - I am not sure if I have a solution for this.

In the heaven, Brahma said, the only solution was the worship of the Goddess. This was the season of autumn. If Rama worshiped Durga and pleased her, he will be able to kill Ravana.

The message was given to Rama by Brahma. Rama asked how was he to worship the Goddess. The spring was the time for the worship, this would not be the right time. The worship was done and the Goddess would was woken up on the ninth day of the dark phase of the moon (Navami, Krishna paksha). This was the process set by the king Suratha.

Brahma said Do not worry. Invoke the Goddess on the sixth day (Sasthi) and worship her the way King Suratha had done.

Rama got early in the morning and had his bath. Rama made offerings of wild flowers and fruits to the ocean and started his worship of Durga.

Ambika pleased with Ravana

Pleased with his prayer, Ambika appeared before Ravana. She sat on the chariot and Ravana sat on her lap.
She said I will now protect you. Even if Shiva comes to fight, he will have to face me.

The dusky Kali sat with Ravana.

Ravana was thrilled. He started showering arrows at Rama. Rama got ready and then saw Shiva's beloved in the chariot. He left his bow aside and said to Vibhishana - How do I fight this battle, when Durga herself is there with Ravana.

The Gods were also shocked. Why was the Goddess doing this? They went to Brahma and asked him to figure out a way out. 

Ravana calls out to Durga for help

Ravana shot arrows at Rama wounding him. Hanumana then jumped on Ravana's chariot and slapped him. Ravana fell, senseless on his chariot. Rama revived himself and Ravana also gained his senses and the fight resumed.

Ravana then called out to Durga. Where are you O Mother, Ambika. Kali, Please Help me. You alone can help me. 

Rama Ravana war

Ravana was shocked to see Indra's chariot.
Rama went around the chariot and climbed it.
Ravana thought if Kumbhakarna and Indrajit were here, Indra would not have dared send the chariot.

Ravana asked the charioteer to go where Rama was. Ravana released arrows which took the form of snakes and flew towards Rama. Rama released the eagle weapon which devoured the snakes.

Picking up a spiked mace, Ravana faced Rama. Ravana released the weapon. Blazing, the weapon fled towards Rama. Whatever it touched, burnt to ashes.
Matali said to Rama - there is spear that Indra has sent. Use that on this weapon.
The spear cut off the mace.

Rama and Ravana kept showering arrows at each other and kept shouting at each other alongside. Rama threw a thunder bolt at Ravana which struck him on his chest. Ravana fainted. Seeing this, Ravana's charioteer turned the chariot and started fleeing.
Gaining consciousness Ravana started shouting at the charioteer and asked him to take him back.

Seeing the chariot return, Rama asked Matali to be careful as Ravana was returning.
War resumed with Rama and Ravana showering arrows at each other. Ravana flung a mace at Rama which was cut off.
Ravana then flung a weapon of Shiva, which Rama cut off.
Ravana then flung a spiked mace at Rama. Rama was unable to divert or cut off the weapon. Matali told Rama to use Indra's spear. That worked and the spiked mace was cut off. Cutting the weapon, the spear returned to Rama.

So terrible was the war between the two, that the earth was trembling and the ocean was throwing huge waves at the shore.

Rama taking control, shot and wounded Ravana gravely but Ravana kept fighting.

Ravana said I am not Khara or Dushana. I am Ravana. I will end your life.

Rama said you are tough and are able to survive my arrows.

Ravana then said I know who you are and I bow down to you.
Rama said How do I kill a devotee of mine now.

Gods sensing trouble asked the Goddess Saraswati to sit on Ravana's tongue. Ravana then called out to Rama and asked for a battle.

The war between the two resumed again.

Rama then using a weapon, cut off Ravana's head. As soon as the head was cut off, a new head emerged.

Rama cut off two heads of Ravana and new heads emerged.
Rama then with a weapon, cut off Ravana's body into two. The two parts magically joined back and Ravana resumed fighting.