Maruthi sets Fire to Lanka
“Having found Sita, informed her of Rama’s story, pacified her, also I came to know of her Story. I have also tested and verified the Rakshasaas Phalaphalam (weighting consqeuences and Benefits), by talking to Ravan I have understood his opinion, is there any thing left to be done?” thus Anjhaneya was overcome with his ever growing enthusiasm looked around on all 4 sides and thought “ What activity I should do by which these Rakshasaas will grieve ? I have destroyed Ashoka Garden; I killed the important Rakshasaas; I have killed portion of their Army; what is balance is destroying the Fort, Palaces and the Fortress wall. By destroying the Fort, I will add benefit to all those strenuous efforts done so far by me.In this matter , I should not expend much energy, and adopt a suitable method. I should offer in return to Agni(God of Fire) who has shown immense mercy, by offering these buildings as a Sacrifice” thus Hanuman decided.
The likes of the Lightning streaks which passes the Clouds with his Tail which was burning started hovering over the Buildings of Lanka,Rakshasaas Groves,Palaces, and was jumping from house to house lloking at them . Then He jumped to Prahastha’s house and Lighting them on Fire. Then Maha parsvaan,Vajhradhamsta, Suga, Saarana,Inrajith, Jhambhumali, Sumali, Reshmiketu,Surya shatru,Hrasvakarna,Dhmshtra, Romacha, Yudhonmantha,Mathha.
Dwajhagreeva, Vidhyuthjihva, Hasthimukha, Karaala, Shonidhaaksha, Kumbhakarna, Mkaraaksha, yangya shatru, Brahma shatru, Narandhaka, Kumbha, Nikkhumbha and others Houses were set ablaze in a series. He did not set ablaze Vibheeshana who was well wisher for himself and Sita. In those houses where grananary ware houses and Vault there Wealth , Money , expensnive itmes were kept were also set ablaze along with their Vehicles; which ofcourse belonged to the Rich and annihilated their property totally.Then after crossing all the houses he came to the Palace of Lord of Rakshasaas Ravana.What a courage ! That palace which is studded with Gems and matchless in Candour, Splendour in all the worlds,and has mutistoreyed buldings, Balconies was emitting Fragrance with choicest of perfumes he used the Fire in His Tail to set that house on Fire and Roared.
Immediately Agni(God of Fire) along with Vayu(God of Wind) joined together and engulfed it in Raging Flames.This explosive combination of Air & Fire set alight all the houses.The Houses which were adorned by Windows made of Gold embedded with Pearl necklaces, Rare Gems were turned inot Ashes. Like those Saints who due to Punyam ( Good fortune accrued from Past or being accumulated for future by Virtuous Dharma/good deeds/conduct)Karma have attained abode with their Aricrafts and then when the bank balances of Punya Karma(benefits of Good Noble Deeds)gets depleted , the Air crafts fall to the Earth, Like wise due to raging Fire the Domes of the Houses burst and exploded in Flames and fell apart to the ground. Rakshasaas instead of trying to salvage their houses with attrition, were running helter skelter and were crying hoarsely “ Oh My ! What came here was not a Monkey. Agni(Fire God) himself has come in the disguise of Monkey What a dismay ! “ they were all yelling .When the top stories of the buildings caught Fire, the Ladies with their hair unfurled with their Babies in their Arms in a dishelved manner jumped from Top of their buildingsand this was akin to the Lightining streaks falling from Clouds.The houses which were architecturally built aesthetically with Rarest Gems, Coral, Pearls in Unique Designs and the Precious metals such as Gold, Silver and other costly metals were found melting and flowing and falling by MaruthiJust as the Fire is never satiated with dry stalks, wooden barks and dry grass, so was Hanuman not satisfied; nor was the Earth satisfied by the Rakshsasaas died that day; may be if entire Lanka was destroyed he might probably have been satisfied.In the inferno in some places looked like Phalasa (Greewia asiatica)
Flowers, Some places like the Red Kumkum , some places like the Ilavam( Cotton tree Flower ) pure white, and in some places appeared fiery red. In earlier times like Rudra burnt Tripura Asura, Hanuman burnt Lanka. **( It is a fact Adi Parashakthi took Hanuman’s form to assist Rama durig tricky stuations)
Then Hanuman went to Thrikoota Mountain Peak . The Fire set off by him spread all over Lanka.. The Fire that caught all the Rakshasaas houses was sky high, was burning like an inferno without smoke, like fuelled further by the Ghee of Rakshasaas bodies. Vayu & Agni who were thus far were afraid of Ravana were instigated by Hanuuman and unabashedly without fear burning like the Fire of Deluge(Pralaya kaala Agni) and started destroying Lanka. The Fire was dazzling like Millions of Suns and did not spare any place while spreading Fire in Lanka;All the materials were being baked and exploding causing huge Noise as though the entire universe under an explosion. The Flames of Fire were like Phalasa flowers in colour mentioned above and the Agni(inferno) was reaching the Sky. The smoke which emanated due to quenching of Fire was hiding the clouds looked like the Back Lily flowers.
Seeing the Houses, Animals, Trees being burnt very fast, the Intellectuals “ is it Devendra wearing Vajhrayudha , or is it Mahendra who killed Vridhasura? Or is it Varuna or Vayu or Rudra or Agni or Sun or Kubhera or Moon or is Death himself? Or is it Brahma who had created the universe his anger has taken the form of this Monkey and has come to decimate the Rakshasaaas and come here? Or this is not conforming to either time or environment/current situation , it is also beyond comprehension and beyond reach of Senses, is it Radiance of Maha Vishnu and has been created by his Mystic speicifically to destroy Rakshasaas has this Monkey come in disguise ? “ thus they spoke amongst themselves.
Rakshasaas, Horses, Elephants, Birds, Animals,Trees and all other materails were also decimated by Hanuman, that City was in Kadhara ( Pleading,Yelling, Bellowing,screaming loudly, Exasperation)which will make all those hear it in Disstress. “ Aaah Dear Child! Aaah father ! Aaah Hubby! Aaah Friend! You have died horribly , we have Lost all our life’s yearnings,Lost their Lifes, how will we survive now? “ thus Rakshasaas were yelling, and the same was gory and devastating to hear. Flames engulfing,Great Warriors also dead, and the Army ran helter skelter , The Lanka which was destroyed by Hanuman’s Anger and Strength, looked as though it was destroyed because of Curse. Upon God’s ordain Earth is destroyed similarly Lanka was baked by Flames of Agni(Fire), the Rakshasaas there were in deep sorrow and Hanuman saw them they were running here and there.
The Ashoka Garden filled with different types of Trees was destroyed, the famed Rakshasaas having been killed, the houses which were like pear necklaces of Lanka having been burnt, having achieved the purpose for which Hanuman came, and was sitting in the thrikoota Moutain peak with his Tail still on Fire, Hanuman looked like the Sun with it’s radiating Rays.Having killed countless Rakshasaas,having destroyed the Ashoka Garden full of Trees, having Torched Rakshasaas Houses and thus thought of Rama having achieved his purpose of Visit “ Lord! Ever since having come from your Presnce the tasks undertaken by me I shall narrate Physically on my return; please accept same”thus prayed Anjhaneya. Then the great Strong ,intellectual, who matched Vayu(Wind) in speed, Vayu’s son inteeligent Hanuman was celebrated by Devas(Celestials). He also was raditing illuminence having destructed Ashoka Garden and also having Killed Rakshasaas. Then the Sidhas, Devas, Gandharvas, and sages were saying “ What audacious Courage ! What Valorous Prowess?so far we had not dared to even look at Lanka, he had single handedly turned Lanka into Ashes” were awestruck iin ceasless wonderment. Even Animas who were surprised at Hanuman’s achievements spoke amongst themselves, “ This is not Monkey.It is none other than Fire that causes destruction During deluge. “ thus fearing they trembled.All the Deva, Gandharva, Vidhyadhara, Naga , Yaksha Entrouges and Sages , all spirirts, ghosts were happy by the Mirculous Dare deviliry of Hanuman. (Slokas 62)
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