Tara - The Queen of Kishkinda - Part 3 of 3

Tara felt a sudden silence. And this time the fear which gripped her heart was palpable. She knew what had happened as she struggled with herself.

“Mother!” The young Angada said as Tara stared at her son blankly, not able to control herself. “You are hurting me,” Angada said trying to pull himself away from his mother’s tight, numbing grasp.

Angada stopped talking as a single tear flowed from his mother’s eye as she saw her son. “I told him,” Tara whispered. “I told him not to pick this fight,” Tara whimpered.

“Mother!” Angada asked confused. “What is….?”

Angada turned as he saw some guards shouting and rushing inside the room, “My Lady!” the Vanara Guard shrieked, “Vali has fallen!” The guard shouted. “The great Vali has fallen!”

Tara was struggling to compose herself as her son was watching the guard numb, “NO!” The little Angada shouted as tears came to Tara’s eyes. “MY FATHER CANNOT DIE!” The young Angada wailed.

“Come with me, Angada!” Tara said leading her son, trying to control herself.

And that was when a Vanara guard stopped Tara. “My Lady, please listen to me!” the guard said. “The victor is Sugriva! If he comes….” The guard swallowed as he saw Angada, “Crown your son as the King first and then Sugriva would be able to do nothing!”

Beyond the numbing pain, Tara felt burning hatred fill her heart as she studied the guard murderously. “That is my husband who is dying there,” Tara said viciously. “I need to see him!” Tara said as she pushed the guard aside taking her son with her.

Tara never thought she would see this scene – Vali was lying on the ground a sharp arrow in his chest and Vali was gasping for breath.

Beside Vali stood Sugriva with a garland around his neck with a very strange expression on his face.

Tara studied the man beside Sugriva – a very tall, dark exceedingly handsome man with intense dark eyes – Lord Rama of Ayodhya and that was when Tara realized that Vali was speaking to Lord Rama. “You should have come to me, Lord Rama,” Vali told the man struggling to breathe as Angada ran towards his father trying to help him.

“If you had come to me,” Vali repeated. “I would have defeated whoever had taken your wife Sita, even if it was Ravana himself and brought them to you in a jiffy!” Vali told Lord Rama. “Your father – King Dasharatha helped my father Lord Indra in defeating monsters. I would have helped you in finding Sita!”

Tara was struggling with her tears as she bent down near her husband clutching his trembling fingers. For the first time, their eyes met as Tara could see regret in his eyes. The regret turned to anger as Vali turned to Lord Rama,

“THIS VANARA,” Vali shouted pointing at Sugriva, “It was because of this Vanara that my wife was made a widow and on top of that, Sugriva also took my kingdom,” Vali hissed angrily drawing an angry breath. “What was my crime when I wanted to kill him?” Vali demanded.

“He is your younger brother, Vali,” The voice of Lord Rama was calm. “Sugriva had promised to look up to you. He is like your son.” Lord Rama’s voice was strong now. “Even if he had made a mistake you should have forgiven him, Vali!”

Tara clutched Vali’s hands strongly as Vali refused to look at his wife. “I committed no crime against you, Lord Rama! Why did you kill me?” Vali demanded.

“Under the authority of King Bharatha, my brother, I can spread righteousness and destroy evil everywhere. And I cannot take your help as a king,” Lord Rama told Vali, “You lost your kingdom when you stepped down the throne to fight Mayavi! You are not a king after that and you cannot help me,” Lord Rama told Vali.

Vali sighed. That was when Vali managed to look at his wife.

“This is for Ruma,” Tara told Vali softly. Tara shook her head unable to stop her tears. “You should not have taken her!” Tara said as she hugged her dying husband tightly, sobs racking her entire body. She watched Sugriva sadly and turned to Vali. “You should not have exiled Sugriva!”

Hanuman, the minister of Sugriva, came towards Tara and shook his head sadly. “What is done is done, Tara! Think about your future! Think about the future of your son,” Hanuman said as Vali drew another hazy breath, barely looking alive. “Angada should be crowned as the king!” Hanuman said.

Tara shook her head sadly not willing to let her husband go. “No! With Sugriva alive, it is not advisable to crown my son as the king!” Tara said simply.

Vali and Tara exchanged glances and this time there was a faint smile from Vali.

“Support Sugriva, my love!” Vali told Tara nodding his head.

Tara said nothing as Vali turned to Angada. “You will help your uncle, Angada!” Sugriva said as Angada was mute, unable to say anything.

Vali turned to Sugriva. “I should not have exiled you Sugriva,” Vali said as Tara wept suddenly.

Vali stopped her and turned to Sugriva, “There is something I have never told anyone, Sugriva. But you should know. Tara is my strength! She knows everything and she understands everything. If she says something, then it is right.” Vali shook his head tiredly. “Do not question Tara. And whatever she wants should be done for if she says that something will happen, it will happen!”

Vali turned to Lord Rama, “Please make sure that Tara is well taken care of and that no one hurts her.”

With that Vali breathed his last.

[It is believed that Vali saw Lord Rama in the Vishwaroopa [The total universe inside Lord Rama showing him as the beginning and the end of the universe] before he died and hence attained salvation. Sugriva was crowned as the king of the Vanaras and Angada was made the heir apparent to the throne.]

However, the true diplomacy of Tara came after the death of Vali.

After Sugriva was crowned as the king of Kishkinda, Rama believed that Sugriva would keep his word and try to find the whereabouts of Sita. And it was the four months of the year where there was continuous rain. [In those days, no traveling was done during the intense four month rain period.]

Sugriva after becoming the king was indulging himself in his palace and had completely forgotten all about his promise to Lord Rama.

In the forests, Lord Rama was waiting, sick with worry about his wife and Lord Rama was waiting for some news from Sugriva. And finally when there was no word from Sugriva, Lord Rama sent Lakshmana to talk to Sugriva.

Just before Lakshmana could come inside Kishkinda, Hanuman learnt about Lakshmana’s arrival and had all the generals of the Vanara army come to the capital.

And when Lakshmana came inside Kishkinda, the next day, Lakshmana was furious. More than furious as he saw Sugriva living the comforts of the palace. And Lakshmana could see that Sugriva had forgotten everything that he had promised Lord Rama and Lakshmana was painfully reminded of his own elder brother who was in the forest, all alone and pining for his wife.

Lakshmana would have burnt down Kishkinda in his anger, if it had not been for Tara who intercepted Lakshmana before he could meet Sugriva.

“Prince Lakshmana,” Tara said bowing to Lakshmana.

“WHERE IS SUGRIVA?” Lakshmana thundered angrily.

Tara studied the angry prince and realized that Lakshmana was very angry and could not be satisfied with words alone. Tara nodded to Lakshmana, “Prince Lakshmana, you should realize that all the generals and the troops of the Vanara army are coming to Kishkinda as we speak. We will begin our search for Sita at the earliest, as soon as all the troops are here!”

Lakshmana was still furious as Tara continued, “Prince Lakshmana your brother Lord Rama is a great man! And he has approached Sugriva for help in fighting Ravana and his men.” Tara shook her head. “Please prince, do not give way to your anger! As soon as the troops are here, we would find Sita and we would start our campaign to get her back.”

And Tara continued speaking. She praised Rama and she also explained away Sugriva’s inability to act quickly and she also subtly reminded Lakshmana the fact that Rama needed the help of the Vanaras if he hoped to get Sita back.

And Tara explained it so well that as Lakshmana heard Tara, Lakshmana calmed down. [In some versions it is even mentioned that Lakshmana was reminded of his mother as he saw Tara and Lakshmana gave up his anger.]

It was only after Lakshmana left Kishkinda that Sugriva realized how close Lakshmana had come to destroying the entire city. Then Sugriva became serious and then he took over the command of his people and sent them to all the parts of the country to find Sita.

That day, a disaster was averted to Kishkinda, all because of Tara, the Queen of Kishkinda.

Tara - The Queen of Kishkinda - Part 2 of 3

“Mother, my father is no more?” The young Angad asked his mother Tara.

Tara saw the innocent face of her young son, and felt a strange ache fill her heart, “I told your father Vali, not to fight the demon at night! I told him demons were powerful at night,” Tara struggled to control herself as she saw her young son sitting before her, “But Vali did not listen!” Tara said crying openly.

Ruma, the first wife of Sugriva, hugged the two of them. “Angad, your father was a great Vanara! And do not worry that Vali is not there with you now! Sugriva will take good care of you and your mother!” Ruma said watching the two of them.

“Sugriva needs to focus on his kingdom,” Tara told Ruma, “He is the king of the Vanaras now and Sugriva should not give in to his grief….!”

Tara did not even finish talking when a horrendous scream filled the kingdom.

Both Angad and Ruma were terrified when they heard the unearthly screams. But Tara was feeling numb. She knew this voice. She knew this voice too well.

********

All the citizens of Kishkinda were scared as they raced outside their homes.

“YOU EVIL VANARA! HOW DARE YOU?” the wild, disheveled very angry looking Vanara was shouting outside Kishkinda on top of his voice.

Sugriva could not believe what he was seeing. He nearly stumbled as he saw who was before him.

“VALI?” Sugriva yelled partly numb from joy and partly unable to believe what he was seeing.

Sugriva ran towards Vali joyously and that was when Sugriva was in for a shock.

Vali rudely pushed Sugriva to the ground and looked at him with angry, hatred filled eyes.

“NOW YOU PRETEND TO CARE ABOUT ME?” Vali bellowed loudly as Sugriva was staring blankly at Vali. Vali angrily pulled up his brother almost choking Sugriva, “I do not think you would be so foolish as to believe that Mayavi would be able to defeat me!” Vali said snarling. “You planned this, didn’t you? You closed the cave door thinking that I would rot inside the cave! And you thought by doing that you would rule my kingdom?” Vali sneered angrily.

It was at that time that Vali caught sight of Tara inside the palace and grew even more angry as he threw Sugriva back angrily. “DID YOU REALLY THINK THAT THAT WAS GOING TO STOP ME?” Vali shouted.

“Br...Brother,” Sugriva stammered gasping for air, “Please listen!” Sugriva took a painful breath and looked at his brother, “I thought that you perished in that cave,” Sugriva said as Vali snorted, “I did not want Mayavi to come back and haunt our kingdom. That is the reason I closed the cave door. Please….”

Sugriva could speak no more as Vali nearly choked him again. “Lies!” Vali yelled, “You speak nothing but lies!” Vali pushed Sugriva out of his palace.

Vali pulled his hand back in another punch when Sugriva was really scared and pushed himself back.

Ruma yelled running after Sugriva as Vali caught Ruma viciously, “And henceforth Ruma stays with me,” Vali said watching his brother with angry, glittering eyes.

Sugriva beat a hasty retreat from the palace.

Following Sugriva, Hanuman also left Kishkinda.

Sugriva feared for his life and he knew that the only place Vali could not come was Rishyamukha where the ashrama of Sage Matanga was situated. Sugriva and Hanuman lived there and over time, Sugriva, the beloved brother of Vali became bitter towards Vali.

Hanuman, on the other hand, met Lord Rama and Lakshmana who were traveling in the forests in search of Sita. (Sita had been kidnapped by Ravana, the king of Lanka)

Sugriva and Rama reached a pact whereby Lord Rama agreed to kill Vali on behalf of Sugriva and make Sugriva the king of Kishkinda and Sugriva promised to help Rama in finding Sita.

Armed with the promise from Lord Rama, Sugriva came back to Kishkinda and challenged Vali to a fight.

Tara was frowning as Vali was fuming and getting ready to fight Sugriva, “How dare that Vanara challenge me?” Vali yelled.

Tara was silent. In fact she did not even look like she was paying attention to her husband’s ranting.

“What?” Vali demanded as Tara said nothing.

“I do not think you should fight Sugriva,” Tara told her husband finally.

That nearly stopped Vali. He stopped ranting and turned his attention to his wife, “What did you just now say?” Vali asked Tara.

“I said you should not fight Sugriva,” Tara said.

Vali was watching his wife as he was getting more and more angry as Tara continued, “We know that Sugriva has taken the help of the Prince Rama of Ayodhya,” Tara said calmly, “Rama is an avatar of Lord Vishnu and I am sure that he would be helping Sugriva in his battle,” Tara shook her head. “It would be unadvisable to fight Sugriva when he is protected by Lord Rama!”

Vali went near his wife standing very close to her, “You know I would never hesitate to fight when challenged!” Vali told her. “It would not matter to me whether the challenger is Lord Vishnu himself!” Vali said shaking his head as he could see a single tear in Tara’s eyes. “Even if Angad were to challenge me, I would fight him,” Vali said and walked away without a second glance.

It almost seemed like Tara worried about nothing. Because Vali won the first fight almost effortlessly. Sugriva realizing that he could possibly end up losing his life, ran away from the fight. (Lord Rama was hiding behind a tree and waiting to shoot Vali as Vali and Sugriva were fighting. Unfortunately, Lord Rama could not distinguish between the two Vanaras while they were fighting and did not fire during the first fight as Lord Rama was afraid to kill Sugriva by mistake. It was to solve this problem that Sugriva wore a garland, the next time he challenged Vali to a fight.)

Once Sugriva came back for the fight, this time Tara was adamant, “It does not make sense!” she said watching Vali and for the first time there was fear in her eyes.

“What does not?” Vali demanded angrily. “That Vanara does not have sense and keeps coming back to fight….”

“It does not make sense!” Tara interrupted Vali, “Why would a man who was so completely defeated by you come back for a fight so soon?” Tara asked Vali frowning.

“I think you should end your enmity with Sugriva,” Tara said with sharp troubled eyes, “Make him the crown prince of Kishkinda and make friends with Lord Rama,” Tara said clutching Vali’s hands tightly as Vali could feel her hands trembling.

Strangely Vali smiled at Tara, “I know how much you love me! But as I told me before, I will never ignore it when someone has challenged me to a fight.” Vali said walking away from the place. Vali stopped at the door for a few seconds, “I will not kill Sugriva! I will just crush his pride!” Vali said walking away from the room.

The two Vanaras fought and this time there was no mistaking in Lord Rama’s aim.

Tara - The Queen of Kishkinda - Part 1 of 3

Tara, the Queen of Kishkinda, was the wife of Vali, the Vanara King. She is one of the most under-spoken and definitely one of the most brilliant women in the Ramayana epic.

Her story starts with a buffalo demon by name Dundhubi.

Dundhubi was so arrogant and vain that he believed that he was strongest man in the world. The foolish demon went to the King of the Oceans.

“I will fight you and prove that I am the greatest warrior in the world!” Dundhubi said as he watched the Ocean waters, arrogantly.

The king of the Oceans rose up from the waters and shook his head. “I am not capable of giving you the fight that you want. King Himavan, the king of the mountains is the right person for that task.” The King of the Ocean said.

“Himavan?” Dundhubi asked in a sneering tone.

“Yes!” The King of the Ocean nodded. “He is the father-in-law of Lord Shiva himself and he shelters the sages in his caves and he has power of the mountains. He is the right person for you to fight.”

Dundhubi looked angrily at the King of the Ocean for the few minutes and then without a second glance, turned away from there.

Like an arrow shot from a bow, Dundhubi landed straight in the door steps of Himavan. Yelling hoarsely, Dundhubi pushed himself towards the mountains and pulled up rocks from the mountain.

“Give me a fight, King Himavan!” Dundhubi yelled. “The king of the Ocean said that you were the best person for me to fight with. Which is why I have come here. Fight me, so that I can prove to the world that I am the strongest person in the world.” Dundhubi said haughtily.

King Himavan watched the power hungry demon for a few minutes.

“Go to the city of Kishkinda. There you will find the son of Indra.” Himavan said with shining eyes. “His name is Vali.” Himavan smiled without meaning to and continued. “He will give you a fight.”

Dundhubi had no idea what a huge mistake he was about to make, as he approached the city of Kishkinda.

Meanwhile back in the city of Kishkinda, Vali was in his palace fast asleep with his wives. It was at that time that a loud roar was heard through the entire kingdom.

Being the king of the Vanaras, Vali ran outside of his palace and found Dundhubi there, looking fiercely at him. Vali’s wives followed him as they were standing around Vali to help him in case of need.

“Give me a fight.” Dundhubi yelled loudly. He then saw Vali and his wives and snorted. “I came here thinking that you would be able to give me a fight.” Dundhubi snorted again. “You were asleep. I do not deem it worthy to fight a man who is half asleep.” Dundhubi said trying to walk away.

Vali was enraged as he saw the buffalo headed demon. “You dare make fun of me? You think I need to be awake to fight a pathetic creature like you?” Vali demanded angrily as he pulled the golden pendant he wore around his neck, coming forward.

Vali realized that the foolish demon really did not know much about him. The pendant that Vali was wearing was no ordinary pendant. It was a gift from his father – Indra. The power of the pendant was such that if any person who challenged the person wearing the pendant, the challenger would lose half his strength.

Without further talk, Vali engaged Dundhubi in a fight, then and there. And it was a really gruesome fight. Though Dundhubi tried to hurt Vali, Vali was way more powerful. In no time at all, Vali hurled the badly injured Dundhubi, far back. In a few more minutes, Vali effortlessly won the fight against Dundhubi and killed the demon.

And then Vali proved his actual strength. Vali lifted the dead demon and flung him far away.

And that was Vali’s mistake.

Because Dundhubi’s body landed in the ashram of the Sage Matang.

The sage was angry because that disturbed his meditation. Furious on seeing his hermitage destroyed, the sage used the powers of his meditation and realized who had done this.

“I curse you, Vali. And I also curse any of your friends in this forest.” the sage thundered angrily. “If any of you ever come within one “yojana” (a measure of distance) of my hermitage, you would be petrified.” the sage cursed.

Vali’s Vanara friends were living in the forest and when they heard the words of the sage, they all hurried away from the forest and they told Vali all about the curse of the sage.

Vali tried apologizing to the sage. But it was of no use. The sage was adamant and the curse was not even modified.

Many days after this event, another demon called Mayavi challenged Vali to a fight. And this time Vali was in his court in the kingdom. Not shying away from the challenge, Vali fought the demon and easily defeated the demon.

Facing defeat, the demon fled the kingdom. Vali was however not satisfied and he and his brother Sugriva gave chase to Mayavi.

Mayavi fled into a cave slightly further away from the kingdom.

Vali was about to enter the cave after the demon, when he called upon his brother Sugriva. “Though the demon is tired and has lost a lot of blood, be careful.” Vali told his brother. “If I do not make it out of the cave, close the cave and go back to Kishkinda.”

Sugriva watched his brother, looking scared, as Vali nodded. “Take care of Kishkinda, if anything happens to me.”

Sugriva was speechless but before he could say anything, Vali went inside the cave.

And inside the cave, Vali and Mayavi, fought. Sugriva was guarding the cave outside. The fight went on, not for a day or two but for twenty eight days.

And suddenly on the twenty eighth day, from inside the cave, came a blood curdling scream.

Sugriva was getting nervous outside the cave. And he thought of the worst when he heard the scream. He was sure that his brother was no more. Sugriva closed the mouth of the cave with a huge rock and ran back to the Kishkinda.

He told the people all that had happened there.

And as Vali was no more, Sugriva being the younger brother was crowned as the king of Kishkinda.

As Vali was presumed dead, his widow Tara married Sugriva.

Lakhmana and Urmila

Lakshmana stared at the sleeping form of his beloved elder brother and his sister-in-law. They seemed dead tired as they slept in the rough forest ground. Looking at them Lakshmana felt a strange agony in his heart. Rama and Sita...The people who were going to rule one of the greatest kingdoms in the world....sleeping unprotected in the bare forest ground....If Lakshmana had not been there in the forest with his brother, he would never have believed that this was even possible....

Lakshmana thought back of Urmila, Sita's sister and his wife, whom he had left behind. Her anguished face on seeing him leave...

'Please....Sita is going with her husband, Rama! Why can't I do the same?' Urmila had demanded angrily.

Lakshmana had taken her aside and made her sit down on the bed. 'I...I know....it is very wrong to leave a wife and go away alone. But I want you to be here....'

'Why?' Urmila asked close to tears, looking confused.

'I want you to stay here and look after father and our mothers....' Lakshmana said quietly.

'But...' Urmila started angrily.

'Please...hear me out! I am going to the forest, because I want to take care of Rama...Taking care of him is my life's purpose....' Lakshmana said with a quiet pride in his eyes. 'If I take you along with me....How can I take care of my brother all the time?'

Lakshmana saw his wife as she angrily opened her mouth to protest. But she closed her mouth and properly saw him....Probably she realized that Lakshmana could not exist without Rama and that there was no point in stopping him.... Out there in the forest, where there were wild animals, dangerous monsters, Urmila realized that her husband would need to have his wits around him if he were to protect himself and the others. If Urmila went along, her husband's attention would be divided and he would have to take care of her safety also....

Urmila looked at Lakshmana and mutely nodded her head. 'OK!' She said in a chocked voice. 'I will stay behind...'

It was at that minute Lakshmana realized that his wife was also special....She had a quiet strength in her and he did not doubt, not for one second, that she would wait for him till the end of the fourteen years, here in the palace. He smiled as he looked at her tear-filled eyes....

Lakshmana smiled as he thought of the day...a warm feeling filling him.

There was a slight change in the breeze and Lakshmana saw Rama move in his sleep. His brother looked so.....Lakshmana just could not find a proper word for his brother.....A man born to be king....It was at that minute that Lakshmana made a fierce promise to himself. The armies of Ayodhya are not there to look after them, but I am there. And I will look after them through day and night....

Lakhsmana felt his vision blur as he looked around panicking slightly. He turned and saw a fierce bright light. He was about to pull out his weapon when his vision started getting more burred. Alarmed, he saw a beautiful Goddess stand before him.

'How will you do that warrior?' The Goddess asked.

'Do what?' Lakshmana asked looking confused.

'Look after them day and night!' The Goddess said clarifying.

Lakshmana looked totally confused not understanding the question of the Goddess. He was feeling extremely blissful, the same state he felt before every sleep...He squinted as he stared at the Goddess.

The Goddess smiled. 'I am Nindra, the Goddess of Sleep! How can you hope to protect Rama and Sita, day and night? You are a human...you also need to sleep!'

Lakshmana fiercely fought the growing sleeping sensation in his eyes. 'NO! I won't sleep! I need to....'

The Goddess smiled sadly. 'Every living creature needs to sleep....There is no exception!' The Goddess looked sad. Suddenly her eyes brightened. 'Unless...!' The Goddess was however looking skeptical.

Lakshmana grabbed at any chance he had. 'Unless what....Whatever it is I will do it....'

Nindra Devi shook her head. 'It is not something you can do....It is something that needs to be done for you....'

Lakshmana frowned looking at the Goddess. 'You have to find someone....' The Goddess continued. 'Someone who is willing to sleep for you....all the fourteen years that you are in the forest....That person would sleep for you and you will never feel the need to sleep or get tired....But whom would you find who would be willing to do that....'

Lakshmana smiled without meaning to. Even before the Goddess had finished the question, Lakshmana knew the answer to that question.'Urmila!' He breathed heavily.

The Goddess looked enquiringly at Lakshmana. 'Urmila would be willing to do this for me!' Lakshmana did not doubt it, not even for one minute, that Urmila would do this for him....'Please go and ask her. She would be willing to make this....sacrifice!' Lakshmana knew that that was exactly what Urmila was doing and she would do it for him happily....

Goddess Nindra went to Urmila. Lakshmana had correctly judged his wife...Urmila happily accepted the responsibility given to her. It is said that Urmila slept her husband's share of sleep through the fourteen years that her husband spent in the forest. That is why almost very little is said about her during the fourteen years of exile.

However Urmila's acceptance had far more reaching consequences than just help Lakshmana protect Rama.

Ravana, Rama's nemesis had a son Meghanand [he is called Indrajit, because he had defeated Indra, the king of the Devas] Meghanand was almost invincible in battle because he had a boon that only a person who had not slept for fourteen years could defeat and kill him....When Urmila had agreed to the condition of Goddess Nindra and took her husband's sleep, she had given her husband a powerful chance to defeat the invincible Meghanand. 

And during the battle between Rama and Ravana, Lakshmana was the one who killed Meghanand, which truly turned the battle in favour of Rama and his army, in their fight for getting back Sita.....