Doubts and Discussions from the Ramayan II - Page 68

Thanks Mallika ji for passing on my message. I missed all of you and its good to be back.

Thanks Rajnish for the entire list.

And most of all thanks to all those who brought this thread back to the first page and made it sticky - Thank you so much. 😊

Originally posted by: Khalrika

Hey Vibs, welcome back

Thanks Khalrika ji 😃

Originally posted by: Rajnish_Kumar

Hi vibhishana so nice to see you again😛, welcome back and do post more and more here to complete 150 pg😃

Thanks Rajnish. I wont be able to be regular here. But whenever I get time, I'll post what I can 😊

Today, on the Sunday rerun, I saw the episode after a long while. One thing I saw, which I hadn't seen before, was Mareech appearing before Khar/Dushan and telling them why he took sanyas.

One question I had - do any of the other Ramayans - Ananda Ramayan, Adhbhooth Ramayan, et al have the description of why Mareech took Sanyas after being thrown 60,000 yognas? I saw what the episode had, but wonder where it was sourced from. Yeah yeah, I know, after this year swarna-kamal & gretelasuri episodes, we shouldn't be surprised at anything they showed, but still, it would be interesting to know what brought about Mareech's change of heart. And if he had taken sanyas and was dedicated to leading a virtuous life, why did he have to be killed in the end, rather than gain salvation like Rishi Sharbhang, etc?

I am not sure if the explanation is given in any of the texts. I'll check Kambaramayan.

Probably his death was the consequence of his previous sins. I guess he did attain salvation as he was killed by the Lord Himself. But I read that bit in some of the folk tales. I am not sure if this was the case in the written Ramayans.

Besides, all the versions do say that Marich preferred to die by Lord Ram's hand rather than be killed by Ravan.

I checked with the Kambaramayana and the the little I have on the Valmiki Ramayana.

Both the versions explain the two encounters Mareech had with Ram and that Mareech took Sanyas. Mareech does tell Ravan about his near death experience of both his encounters with Ram. I didn't read any account on Mareech meeting Khar and Dushan in the Kambaramayana.

Mareech and Subahu led the demon army to destroy Viswamitra's Yagna. Subahu and the rest were killed. Only Mareech's life was spared. He was thrown into the sea. He lay at the sea bed too weak to move and when he regained strength he went to Lanka led a quiet life for a while. I think Kambaramayan says Mareech wore the ochre robes here itself but I am not sure, I could have misinterpretted something.

Mareech encountered Ram for a second time in Dandakaranya during Ram's Vanvas. He and his two friends assumed the form of fearsome deer and terrorised the forest killing many sages and destroying holy people. Mareech with his strenght and pride restored saw Ram, Lakshman and Sita in the Dandakaranya and dashed forward to kill Ram with his terible horns. Ram killed Mareech's two friends with his arrows and spared him for a second time - Mareech fled realising Ram's might. Again it was only Mareech who was spared.

I remember reading this earlier - Mareech was warned that if he ever came in front of Ram again, he would be killed. I am not able to find it again.

Mareech was spared twice . . . Probably for that one purpose of luring Ram away when Ravan came for Sita.

Thanks both of you. Yeah, I understand that Mareech had picked death @ Rama's hands than Ravan's, but I was not sure why he took sanyas. The episode showed him meeting a rishi who advised him to go that route.

Khalrika, check Ananda Ramayan - they might have something on this, since their version of the Aranya kand - Sambri, all those Khar Dushan activities (like Khar sending Viragh to hunt down Rama), is what the serial used. Actually, really interesting stuff as far as Aranya kand goes, the Ananda Ramayan.