CHAPTER 46: WORLDWIDE VICTORY OF SRI RAM AND HIS INTERNATIONAL FIRE-CEREMONY (continued )

All of them saluted the rishi and returned to their camp. A huge canopy was stretched. The mountain dwellers came from far and wide and made everything available and comfortable according to the request of Prince Shatrughna, and the whole army along with mountain dwellers and local villagers sat as audience.

Hanumanji accepted the seat of the Speaker and began to sing the songs of the beautiful pastimes of Sri Sita Ram. A current of heart-soothing, nectarine music began to flow all around and the atmosphere was thrilled and sanctified and divinized.

Hanumanji's music was so captivating that the deer, parrots, peacocks, even the rishis from their caves and hermitages, as well as denizens from other planets assuming different forms, appeared from the jungles and space. All sat silently absorbed in the transcendence of love of Sita Ram.

The horse began to whinny and everybody saw that he was moving and the whole army was excited with joy.

Everyone noticed an aura of faint effulgence of light come out from him and then the aura bowed down in gratitude to Hanumanji in front of the whole audience and then arose upward and disappeared in the sky. This program of deliverance of a troubled spirit by musical discourse of Ramayana unfolded an unknown part of Hanumanji's personality.

At the end of the program Hanumanji was adorned with the post of third master of the musical tradition by His important listeners who were Interplanetary figures.

Nowadays, His tradition of music is still popular. Whoever practices it instantaneously expands the conscious capacities of the heart, and waves of thrills spread all over the body and a dance erupts from the heart. The style of music is called "Hanumat Sangit", and even today there are many experts in this tradition. They are specially found in India and Nepal.

The horse walked further and further. He entered Kundalpur state. The King was a great devotee of Lord Ram. Everyday he used to worship Sri Ram, used to sing aloud His Holy Name and meditate on His pastimes. He always requested His saints to speak about Sri Ram's lila. The army was surprised when the horse was arrested in his state.

After inquiry, it was made known to them that it was not a mistake that the horse had been arrested. By the order of the King the horse had been captured and he was being held in His Majesty's custody. It was the ambition of the King along with his family and all the citizens to see Sri Ram. He thought that if Ram's younger brother were in trouble, he would invoke Sri Ram and Sri Ram would come immediately to help him. Very strange and independent are the ways of love.

Prince Shatrughna sent Angada as a messenger to the King. He was respectfully welcomed in the royal assembly and was offered an elevated seat.

Angada described the great influence of the Prince and the great power of Hanumanji in detail and requested with full respect, "Your Highness, please don't be so emotional. Decide precisely."

But the King laughed in his own ecstasy, his belly moving when his laughter paused, he said, "Angada, I know very well how insignificant is the power of man in comparison with that of the Almighty. I know that the Almighty has come in the form of Sri Ram. I know the Prince's great mastery over archery and Hanumanji's great power, but that does not mean I will abandon my way of life as a Ksatriya. I am a Ksatriya and I believe in His Grace only.

"Angada, go and tell all of them, they are not going to find their horse until Sri Ram Himself comes here and gives me His darshan. If Hanumanji is so powerful, He can take His horse back, but only after killing or defeating me. As long as I am alive or unconquered none of you can touch your horse." Thus the King replied and his face was glowing in full confidence and love of the Unseen Beloved.

When the message was delivered to Shatrughna's party, Hanumanji said, "Again we are defeated here."

Everybody looked at Him. Why did He say that?

"Obstinacy is centered around vanity and ego. And into different degrees every non-spiritual individual is obstinate. Circumstances keep breaking this ego in many different ways. Any competing greater power, greater intelligence, or even any big problems or great sufferings fall upon his head just to break it and this is how it is always being reduced by different circumstances. Nature cultures a personality, and it continues till Enlightenment."

"But when some loving devotee becomes stubborn, remaining totally dependent on the Grace of God, then all the powers of the world cannot move him, they all fall in failures. This King knows My great power, he knows Sri Ram is Almighty, and he himself is totally surrendered to Him. Still he is standing against us in war. Now the case becomes serious," Hanumanji said.

Everybody became very serious and silent.

Shatrughna was absorbed in thought. A long time passed. The army was tired of constantly traveling and fighting.

Suddenly Hanumanji broke the silence.

"Let us fight. This war is going to prove to be the Supreme war, for which even a thousand generations of world peace can be sacrificed. This war is arising out of love. It will be all love and end in love; therefore we must engage in it intensively. Only in the intensity of action we become non-split, one Being. On the level of one Being, that which erupts is the Truth -the Absolute. And it changes everything all over with the energy waves of an unknown love and the wholeness of life begins to flow at into deep oceanic love, with the entire universe.

"In such a love environment Sri Ram is always available. Sri Ram is directly perceptible. Peace and war have been detrimental and contradictory to each other throughout the Ages. But when the bottom of intensity of action is touched by the majority of the citizens of any country, then whatever step will be taken by the country, that itself will bring permanent peace. Even war can bestow no other than peace, benevolence and progress. Actually, it would be only an expression of love by two parties of stubborn natures, stubborn being free and independent in love.

"So," Hanumanji concluded, "If the King is stubborn, then we too must be stubborn, having unshakable Trust in Sri Ram, we must engage intensively in the battle and watch what is happening in each moment.

Whatever happens in the moment is the shrine. Find every moment of doing as eternity and take each step towards eternity as The Supreme Goal. To achieve this goal is victory.

"This kind of victory has been constantly showering peace, harmony and bliss enlightenment throughout the Ages of Intergalactic civilization, and in this war such a victory is possible to both of the parties. Let us not miss it. Let us fight intensively."

With rapt attention everybody heard and understood Sri Hanumanji and girded their loins for an exciting, horrifying war. Prince Champaka, the son of King Suratha, broke into pieces in the air from all the rocks which Hanumanji threw at him. He was a great expert in archery. His efficiency was very great. He could fight with many warriors and also protect himself from all sides. His quickness was really praiseworthy. Hanumanji grabbed him by his arms, took him up in the sky and dashed him down on the earth. He fell unconscious.

King Suratha came face-to-face with Hanumanji and challenged Him. "Hanumanji, You are a great Devotee of Sri Ram, and I am also one of His slaves, but today I will make You my prisoner and arrest You and take You to my city. Try to save Yourself."

"Dear King, if you will be successful My merciful Lord will enjoy greatly by releasing His own from the fetters. Try, if you can, to fulfill your words," Hanumanji replied.

And there arose a terrible fight. The sky was crowded with the planes of astral beings who had come to see the battle. The King was an expert archer but it was not easy to arrest Hanumanji. Hanumanji threw his chariot eighty feet away. The horses and charioteer died and the chariot broke into pieces. The King knew the situation and quickly called in a second chariot which was fully equipped. Hanumanji broke that one also, and continuously He broke into pieces forty-nine chariots and eight bows. But the energy and enthusiasm of King Suratha was incredible. He released divine weapons, but they didn't work on Hanumanji. He released Brahmastra but Hanumanji remained safe.

Then Suratha released Sri Ramastra. There was no way to absorb it. It was invincible. Hanumanji fell down on the ground unconscious. Then whoever came in front of Him fell into a faint, pierced by the fierce arrows of King Suratha. Sugriva, Angada, Jambavanta and Shatrughna all lay in a faint, and Suratha put all of them into his chariot and returned to his city.

His heart was heavy with thrills and joy with the imagination of what Sri Ram is going to do next. Definitely He will come. He will see Him. The King was floating in the ebbs and tides of the ocean of love --Seeing Ram.

When Hanumanji's eyes finally opened, He found Himself in the royal assembly of King Suratha. He looked to His left and right and saw all the leaders of His army arrested. Even Prince Shatrughna was standing there as a prisoner. Big crowd of citizens were thronging outside the gate to see them. In the eyes of all of them there was no limit or hatred, vice versa, there was reflected great reverence and homage.

As soon as Hanumanji's curious yellow eyes met the King's glance, the King said,

"Sri Hanumanji, could You please remember Your Deliverer now?" The King's love-filled, soothing voice echoed in the assembly.

All the royal prisoners closed their eyes in remembrance of that lotus-eyed Sri Ram.

"My Lord, You are the eternal Liberator of Your devotees -Please, why have You forgotten us? Give us Your Holy darshan." All prayed to Sri Ram. Their hearts thrilled and their eyes became wet with tears of love.

Immediately there shone an effulgent light in the expanse of space above the assembly and there in the center of the light appeared a lotus-shaped airplane, Puspaka by name. In the middle of the royal assembly that little plane landed and Sri Ram descended, surrounded by Lakshmana, Bharata and various rishis.

"My Redeemer has come." The King jumped from his royal throne and ordered his ministers to free all of the prisoners, and then he fell down at the feet of Sri Ram, offering a garland of feelings and great thrills of his heart and his eyes were wet with the tears of love.

"You have rightly performed the duty of the Ksatriya (warriors) class. All the religions spring up from ME and human beings who rightly follow their own religion satisfy ME. I am very much pleased with you." Sri Ram raised the King by both of his long arms and embraced him to His chest.

A wave of festivity and music spread all over the capital. Sri Ram, Hanuman, and all the brothers, ministers, and rishis, were the guests of King Suratha. His love and ways of service were inconceivable. Such service had never been seen or heard before.

After a few days Sri Ram returned to Ayodhya in His plane.

The horse walked further. He was on his way back to Ayodhya, enjoying palatable herbs and green grass and looking at beautiful sights the horse walked eastward. The army was relaxed not expecting a big war any more.

It was on the bank of the Ganges near the ashram of Maharishi Valmiki that again the horse was caught. This time by a thirteen-year-old, very handsome boy with a cloud-complexion, large chest, long arms, and silky-soft, long brown hair scattering around his face. His name was Lava.

Lava tied the horse to a tall tree. The soldiers behind the horse thought that he must be the son of some rishi and that his bows and arrows must be toys and not for real use. They thought the boy doesn't know what he is doing arresting the royal horse, and that it was due to childish turbulence that this boy has caught the horse.

"I have arrested this horse. Keep away in your efforts to take him or you will be killed," The voice of the boy echoed.

The guards paid no attention to his warning and they laughed. But as soon as they reached to untie the horse, two arrows flew from the bow of the boy and their hands were cut off -pierced by sharp arrows. Now the soldiers became alert.

Shatrughna sent the commander, Kaljit by name, to the boy to explain to him the situation.

"I am not interested in your horse, but in the golden plate on his head, whatever you have written is challenging to the warriors of the whole world. As long as it is there you cannot get the horse back. Throw that plate away and take your horse, I have no objection," replied Lava.

His powerful way of talking surprised and slightly frightened everybody. War became unavoidable. Amazing, very soon one-third of the army was found fallen on the dust of the battlefield. Even Shatrughna was lying faint on his chariot.

Hanumanji came and as usual He wrapped His tail around the boy and flew towards the sky in order to dash him on the ground with greater velocity.

The boy, Lava, tried constantly to free himself and at last he cried, "Mother," and with this he gave a heavy blow with his fist. It was extremely painful to Hanumanji, extremely torturous, the bondage of His tail loosened and He fell down on the earth, Lava freed himself.

By then Lava's twin brother Kush had also come, and both of them began to shower arrows on the army.

The news was conveyed to Ayodhya and Lakshmana and Bharata came one after the other, and fighting a dangerous fight, they also were forced to lie down on their chariots. When nobody was left to fight with them, the twins began to play with Hanuman and Sugriva.

Lava released a tipless arrow and shot it at the lying-down Hanumanji, which took Him away high in the sky. When in course of falling He came closer to the earth another arrow was released by Kush which took Him again high in the sky. By this time Lava was playing the same game with Sugriva. When they were repeatedly being thrown up and then coming down again closer to the earth, Sugriva screamed terribly, and they both fell to the ground unconscious.

Then the twins stopped their play, tied Hanumanji and then, looking all around with their innocent eyes, found one of the best golden chariots. They placed Hanumanji on it, picked up some precious jewels from the crowns and necklaces of the Prince and other warriors, and drove the chariot towards the ashram.

"Mother, Mother," Lava shouted full of joy and enthusiasm for conveying the news to his Mother, "There is a King of Ayodhya, Ram by Name. He has started a horse fire ceremony . How big is His ego. Come and see what He has written on the crown of the horse ---"

"Have you arrested the horse?" The Mother's trembling question echoed. "Not only arrested, but we have defeated the whole army of Ayodhya. All the three brothers are lying faint on the battlefield and we have brought the most powerful golden-haired Vanara to show You," Lava went on describing excitedly.

"Alas, you naughty boy, you have committed a great offense. It is the horse of your own Great Father!" Mother Sita screamed and hurriedly rushed out and began to release Hanumanji.

The twins were shocked and in great wonder, they became quiet and sad, and seriously began to help their Mother untie Hanumanji.

Through the merciful glances of Mother Sita, Hanumanji opened His eyes and understood everything and fell down at Her feet and began to weep in love, remembering all the past.

"Hanuman, please excuse these little children. They are very naughty. I am worried about the lives of Your warriors," Mother Sita said in tears.

"Do not worry Mother, they all can be resurrected within moments. If Indra of the planet Svah does not shower nectar, we, your three sons, are prepared to chastise him," Hanumanji said.

"Does Indra have nectar, Mother?" asked Lava, fixing his arrow on his bow.

"No, no fighting anymore. Put your weapons away," Mother scolded, and they immediately threw their weapons away and began to look at their Mother's face for the next order.

"Go and inform Maharishi Valmiki, He will direct us what to do."

Maharishi Valmiki the Prachetas and Mother Sita came to the battlefield and She glanced at the warriors with Her merciful eyes -All of them regained their life and were highly enraptured to see their Empress in the form of a yogini. They all bowed down to Her.

A limitless joy arose in the hearts of Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna when they realized who the twins, Lava and Kush were Sri Sita Ram's own children, and they embraced them and smelled their heads with deep feeling.

They requested all of them to go to Ayodhya with them, but Valmiki rishi refused the request and consoled them saying that after some time he himself would come with Sita, Lava and Kush to Ayodhya.

The horse successfully returned to Ayodhya and the horse fire sacrifice began and ended with a great celebration. The Emperor fed the whole city and innumerable guests with delicious meals and donated all the wealth He had received as tributes from the innumerable kings of the world. It was distributed among the philosopher class and the general public according to the rule of the ceremony. Thus Sri Ram became the Emperor of everyone's heart.