Originally posted by: Chandraketu
My internet connection has been acting up, which is also why I was unable to do much in the Rakshashkul contest either. It looks like it'll be that way for some days before it gets straightened out 😭
In Krittivas Ramayan, there was only the story of Mahiravan: his wife isn't shown, and neither is Makardwaj. He is also described as a son of Ravan, as opposed to a friend, as shown here. The circumstances under which Rama & Lakshman were captured were somewhat different from what's shown, and Hanuman assumed a miniature form and went, and did not encounter so many demonic obstacles as he did here. Also, as we discussed, it was he who beheaded Mahiravan, and there was no battle between Rama & Mahiravan - it was purely Hanuman's doing. Also, the Mahiravan episode happened after the death of Indrajit & Kumbhakarna, and before Ravan; here, it actually precedes the war.
If you get hold of the ACK Mahiravan, that gives a good account of the story. I'll probably post the story of Mahiravan sometime, once my internet is back in form, and this forum doesn't seem as slow.
Thank you Chandra ji, that clears it up a bit, though I still have doubts regarding Maharadwaj.
I'll get hold of the ACK book - Mahiravan. I have read a full account of it before, but still will be waiting for your post. I might have missed something.
Regarding Maharadwaj - this is one of my completely wild guesses . . .
The Cambodian version of Ramayan - Reamker - says that Hanuman had a son who was part monkey and part fish from a princess (Yes, that is the way it is portrayed and I too was totally shocked when I read it first). The story is almost similar with the Indian versions but with . . . sort of unusual variations.
The story of Maharadwaj - Hanuman, a white monkey general (somtimes a monkey king), flies to Lanka and learns that Sita (Neang Seda in Cambodia), the wife of Ram (Phreah Ream) is held captive there. On his return, he gives orders to his soldiers to build a bridge that connects the mainland to the island. The monkey soldiers start the huge task - it is not easy to fill the belly of the sea with stones. But something strange was happening. Everytime a monkey had left a stone on the surface of the sea and returned with another one to place next to it, the original stone was gone. Hanuman and his soldiers were baffled. Hanuman dives into the sea to investigate (sometimes it is said that Hanuman went to the sea bed with some of his choicest soldiers). There he found mermaids carrying off the stones they had used for the bridge to the depths of the sea. Hanuman tried to catch the mermaids but it was not as easy as jumping from tree to tree. They were in the deep sea waters and the mermais were very very elusive. Hanuman spotted an extrememly beautiful mermaid among them all. He realised that this one was the leader and thought that if he could catch her he might be able to persuade her from doing this. This mermaid was indeed the leader of the group - a princess named Sovann Machha, the daughter of Ravan and a mermaid. Hanuman chased her, but she eluded his every attempt gracefully. But the two fell in love with each other. Hanuman realised that he was drawn to her beauty and charms whereas she was drawn to his strength and determination. Eventually, Sovann and her mermaids help Hanuman to complete the bridge. Hanuman left Sovann with a child - who was born later as part monkey and part fish (He had the body of a monkey and a fish's tail) and was brought up by Ravan and his family. He later fought against his father Hanuman in the war (I don't know what happens to him after that).
The reasons I think Maharadwaj's story comes from here is because he (Maharadwaj) was found in a fish's belly (some say its a crocodile) and then raised by Mahiravan (or Ahiravan) and appointed as the guardian of the gates of Patalpuri.
I stumbled upon this story when I was searching for the origin of the story of Maharadwaj. But could a Cambodian legend find its way into an age old Indian epic? Reamker claims to be a retelling of an Indian Epic Ramayan.
Another story common in South India on how and why Maharadwaj was born:
Lord Shiva, in the Himalayas, kept chanting a mantra continuously. The power of that mantra rippled all over the world and gave a surge of goodness to all. Devi Parvati asked Lord Shiva what mantra that was. Lord Shiva replied that it was the name of the next incarnation of Lord Vishnu - the name that will be the universal mantra till the end of days - RAM. He also told her that he will be taking active part in this avtaar. Devi Parvati asked longingly that she too be allowed to participate in the events. Lord Shiva refused blatantly saying that he will be a brahmachari in this avtaar as Hanuman and he cannot accept any women in that life. Devi Parvati silently swore that she won' t be left out and that she will come down to earth and bear him a son without spoiling his vow of celibacy. And hence she was the crocodile (or fish) who swallowed Hanuman's sweat drops and bore the son Maharadwaj.
That is all the information I have regarding this topic. I do not mean any offece by positng the first story. I am merely sharing the information I've read before.
CID
Anupamaa
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