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 There are several things in the epic that render us speechless. One such thing is the geographical details. Sugriva gives elaborate details of various locations scattered all around the nation to the different teams. How to go, which location is followed by which location, where to search in particular, etc. If you sit with a map of India and read the verses one by one, it can be seen that they were not born out of imagination and they are accurate descriptions of actual locations. Now, Kamban's epic is around 1000 years old. Valmiki's version is much older than that. The wonderful thing is their vivid knowledge of the geography of the land, with the very basic modes of transportation (horse drawn chariots, at the most) and without the need for the technology that we have today.
The team that went south was headed by Angada. Sugriva specified them a time limit of one month to come back, either with or without the news. He was a demanding master, very specific about time limits and one who never hesitated to punish failures.
The team started and reached the southern sea. The time limit had expired. Angada was worried. He saw no point in returning to Kishkindha. 'When we go with no information to convey, we will face the wrath of Sugriva. More than that, Rama won't live. I don't have the strength to see Rama in such a sad condition. We so very enthusiastically and proudly promised him that we would return with the news about Sita. We have not done so, even though the time limit has passed. More over we do not have a clue as to how much more time this search is going to take us. I think that it is better that we give up our lives, taking the strongest of poisons or we perform a penance and fast unto death.' An endless discussion ensued. But the discussion was only about who should die and who should return!
Maruti was the only one who struck a note of confidence. He told his friends that there were other places on the earth to search for, still. It was necessary for them to search those places also. Expiry of the time limit was not a matter at all if they could return with the happy news. He mentioned as a last sentence, 'We will continue our search. If we are not able to find her at the end of our search, we will give up our lives like the great vulture king,
Jatayu.'
Jatayu's elder brother Sampati was living in that hillock. When they were young, both vied with each other in flying higher and higher. At one stage, Jatayu rose so high that he was close to the sun. Sensing the danger, Sampati flew higher over his brother and shaded him with his wings, to save him from being scorched by the sun. That saved Jatayu; but scorched the wings of Sampati instead and he fell on the hillock. He was living there for a long time. He overheard their conversation and was shocked at the mention of his brother's name and to hear that his brother was dead. He dragged himself to the spot where the Vanaras where camping and learnt the story.
And here comes the moment in Hanuman's life, when he is going to turn into an unmatched devotee of Sri Rama and culminate into the Lord's carrier, second only to Garuda - 'periya thiruvadi' - and be celebrated as 'siriya thiruvadi' .
Hari Krishnan
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