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Vali Vadham 4

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Hari Krishnan • November 6, 2001 


 
The meeting of the heroes
 
Sugriva is a peculiar mix.  When he appears in the Kishkindha Kanda, he is practically out of his senses.  His sense of security is very frail and unbalanced, always ready to tilt towards a fall.  He suspects anything and everything like the proverbial cat that tasted milk that was too hot and then was afraid of going anywhere near anything that was white.  
 
We have seen the opening scenes when Rama and Lakshmana, guided to Rishyamuka Parvata, the haven of refuge of Sugriva who was hiding there from the pursuit of his powerful elder brother Vali.  (See: Hanuman the Trusted Deputy)  As we saw earlier, Sugriva was terror stricken when he saw Rama and Lakshmana walking at the foot of the hill, approaching him.  Sugriva saw their bows and arrows and immediately and without giving a second thought came to the conclusion that they must be mercenaries sent by Vali to kill him.  He instructs Hanuman to go and find out why these persons ‘sent by Vali’ are coming there. 
 
‘kaalin maa madhalai idhu kaaNminO!’  See this O son of the wind!  ‘karuvu udaya vaali evalin varvinaargaL.’  (They) are coming on the order of the hard-hearted Vali.  ‘neela maal varai anayavar.’ They look like veritable blue mountains.  ‘needhiya ninaidhi.’  Think of it (and find out the reason of their arrival) you who are an adept at reasoning.  ‘ena moolam orgilar marugi Odinaar muzhai adhanin.’  So saying, Sugriva fled into a cave and hid himself.  
 
Sugriva didn’t even stop to complete his instructions.  It was left to the skills of his trusted deputy, Hanuman, to assess the real situation and build up a friendship between the two.  Hanuman went to them.  He felt a strange kind of feeling filling him up – unstoppable love for these two strangers.  Despite that feeling, he remained so cool and true to his leader, Sugriva and collected information on them so tactfully, without giving much information to them about Sugriva.  These have been fully described in the series under ‘Hanuman – the trusted deputy.’
 
Well, Rama and Lakshmana were made to wait in a particular spot while Hanuman went to Sugriva and informed him privately about the prowess of these two warriors who are the right ones to kill Vali.  He danced like the very Shiva himself, performing his ‘oordhva tandava’ on the day of the deluge, so happy that they could at last find an end to all their misery.
 
It was such a difficult life for Sugriva and his followers who chose to remain with him against all odds.  That Hanuman chose to leave the side of Vali and left with Sugriva was something that shows Sugriva did not do anything that was wrong against Vali.  Hanuman, in private, prepares Sugriva mentally before he brings him to meet Rama and Lakshmana.  He was aware that this poor soul would not act properly otherwise in the presence of these excellent warriors who have come to them, seeking their help in their search of Sita.  
 
Hanuman knew fully well that unless Sugriva became the Vanara king again, he would not be able to help Sri Rama in any manner, for the search would require superhuman (or should we call it super ape!) efforts to scour the world.  That would require the empowerment of Sugriva to command the forces.  HanumanÂ’s farsightedness also told him that they might also have to fight the demons to retrieve Sita.  He therefore made it a precondition that Sugriva should be made the king of Vanaras, if anything fruitful is expected to result from their alliance.  
 
 
More followsÂ…
 
  


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