Ravana Enters the Battlefield

 Ravana Enters the Battlefield

The Vanara army saw Rama and Lakshmana cured and cheered, their morale and faith restored. They entered the battle in earnest, ready to face the most dreaded Rakshasa commanders, and even Ravana himself.

The sounds of the Vanaras cheering reached Ravana and the king mused, "The roars of the Vanara army sound like thunder. It seems clear that they are celebrating some great joy. If the brothers are truly dead, then this does not seem apt.” At his command, a Rakshasa climbed atop the rampart and saw the triumphant Vanaras alongside Sugriva, and Rama and Lakshmana freed from the effects of Indrajit's divine weapons: Ravana grew concerned when he heard the news. The effects of Indrajit's terrible arrows were unfailing, but his enemies were free and this would cast doubts over his entire army's competence.

Hanuman's triumph

Enraged, he commanded Dhumraksha to kill Rama. Terrible omens followed the Rakshasa warrior as he left for the western gate, where Hanuman stood. Blood showered from the sky, the ground shook, and the wind blew unfavourably. Yet, the Rakshasa army fought with renewed energy because Dhumraksha was with them. When a charge of Vanaras beat them back, Dhumraksha jumped into the tray and chased them away with a shower of arrows. Dhumraksha met his match when he laced Hanuman, who killed him in a duel.

The vicious Rakshasa general Akampana entered the battlefield and soon, bodies carpeted the earth, which was drenched in blood. The Vanara generals, Kumuda. Nala, and Mainda fought Akampana, but he was stronger than all of them. Finally, Hanuman intervened and killed Akampana.

The king of the Rakshasas

After Hanuman made quick work of the Rakshasa general Pratiasta, Ravana decided it was time to enter the battle. He set out on a chariot with mighty horses, to the sound of drums. Seeing him. Rama asked Vibhishana, "Whose army comes now, fearless and steady?" Vibhishana identified the commanders and said, "The crowned one, Immense as the Vindhyas, is Ravana, blazing like the sun."

Rama exclaimed in admiration, "Ah! The lord of Rakshasas is radiant! I know of no other being that possesses such brilliance."

A vicious onslaught

Sugriva laced the mighty king first, but soon fell to a powerful arrow. Lakshmana stopped Rama from entering the battle and stepped forward instead. Meanwhile, Hanuman approached Ravana's chariot and struck the king with an open palm.

Ravana whirled like the earth during an earthquake, much to the delight of the sages and gods who watched the battle. The 10-headed king praised Hanuman's strength, but the Vanara replied with disdain, "Fie upon my strength, for you still live!" Ravana struck back with equal power and left Hanuman disoriented. Nila joined the fight too and took on a tiny form. He leapt onto Ravana's chariot, and attacked the king until he was shot as well.

Clash of the Titans

Lakshmana approached Ravana and challenged him, and they exchanged arrows. Some found their mark and pierced Lakshmana. Once, he briefly lost grip of his bow, but swiftly regained his strength and broke Ravana's bow with an arrow.

The king then hurled a blazing javelin at him. The prince tried to deflect them with arrows, yet, it struck him in the chest, and he fell.

It was then that he remembered that he was a quarter of Vishnu and could not be harmed. It was why Ravana, who could lift Mount Kailasa, could not pick up Lakshmana.

Hanuman, however, saw Lakshmana injured, grew angry and attacked Ravana. Не struck him with his fist, like lightning, and the king of Lanka trembled and fell to his knees. Hanuman then lifted Lakshmana in his arms - his affection and devotion helping him-and took him to Rama.

Rama's grace

Once Lakshmana recovered, Rama decided to enter the battle. Seeing this, Hanuman said, "Ride into battle on my back and fight Ravana." And so, Rama rode into battle on Hanuman's back. Seeing Ravana, he said, "There is nowhere you can go to save yourself." In retaliation, Ravana shot and injured Hanuman. Rama grew angry and destroyed Ravana's chariot and charioteer before turning his bow on Ravana. The mighty king of the Rakshasas, who did not so much as flinch at Indra's blows, trembled and dropped his bow. Rama shattered his crown and said, "You have fought bravely, but are exhausted. I shall not kill you at this moment." Left alive, the Rakshasa king retreated ignominiously into Lanka.

RAVANA ENTERS THE BATTLEFIELD

ANALYSIS

LAKSHMANA'S REMEMBRANCE

This episode is one of the few in the Ramayana where the divinity of Rama and his brothers is explained, particularly as something which Lakshmana himself remembers. The relationship between Lakshmana recalling his true nature and Ravana not being able to lift his body has been explained in different ways. Lakshmana is regarded as an incarnation of Shesha, the divine serpent on whom Vishnu, the Preserver of the Universe, sleeps and who lifts the worlds on his head, and it is said that Ravana is unable to lift him for that reason.

It is unclear whether the remembrance is meant to remind the reader that Lakshmana is Vishnu's aspect, thus making sense of Ravana's inability to lift him or if the remembrance causes him to become heavier than his human frame allows.

Hanuman burns Lanka

Hanuman burns Lanka 

The Rakshasas quickly followed their king's furious order and got ready to set Hanuman's tail on fire. They would then parade him across the city and its crossroads, and announce him as a spy. Hanuman, however, had something else planned.

The Rakshasas covered Hanuman's tail in rags, soaked it in oil, and set it on fire. Hanuman's face reddened in righteous anger and he swung his tail near the Rakshasas.

As they bound him in restraints once again, he realized that he had not observed the city during the day. "I have only seen it at night and so the plans for protection aren't completely clear," he thought. He masked his emotions and allowed the Rakshasas to lead him through the city, so that he could observe everything.

A plea to the fire god

In the Ashoka grove, the Rakshasis told Sita what had happened. Anguished, she invoked the deity of fire. "II 1 have performed austerities, if my loyalty to my husband is complete, if Rama has any compassion for me. if I have any good fortune left at all. and if Sugriva is to take me across this ocean of sorrow, then Agni, may you be cool for Hanuman," she prayed.

Hanuman suddenly found that his burning tail no longer hurt him with its heat. He could see the flames rise, but there was no pain. He wondered, "Is this similar to the ocean and Mainaka seeking to help me? Or is this because of Sita?"

As he contemplated this, Hanuman roared, leapt into the air and went to the majestic city gates. He changed his form and became so small that his restraints fell to the ground. Hanuman then took on an immense form that resembled a mountain, and turned to face the Rakshasas. He picked up a beam and slew the Rakshasa soldiers. Then he wondered how he could torment the Rakshasas further.

Lanka, on fire

Hanuman looked at the city before him, with a garland of flames around his tail. "The sacred fire burns on my tail," he thought. "It is appropriate that I offer these excellent houses to it as kindling and satisfy it."

The great Vanara rose into the air to destroy the fortress, his tail resembling a cloud laced with lightning. He roamed through the city, lighting the tops of buildings. The fire spread gleefully from one house to another, and the buildings collapsed rapidly. The strength of Hanuman's rage overpowered the city, which was now enveloped in flames, as if it had been cursed.

The return

Hanuman went to the ocean shore and extinguished the fire on his tail. As he looked at the burning city, he had a worrying thought. The fires may have consumed Sita as well, he thought. But soon another thought replaced this one. "No, she couldn't have died," he thought. Her radiant brilliance protects her. Fire cannot burn fire. It did not burn me and would not burn her either. No, with her truth, she would sooner burn fire." He returned to the grove and was relieved to see Sita untouched and unhurt. "Through great fortune do I see you again, unscathed." he said. He assured her he would return soon, with Rama, and began his journey back across the ocean.

HANUMAN BURNS LANKA

Flames surround a captured Hanuman in a dramatic performance of the Balinese Kecak dance at Uluwatu Temple Bali, Indonesia.

ANALYSIS

FIRE AND HANUMAN

Tamil poet Kamba says not only did the fire on Hanuman's tail cool down as a result of Sita's prayer, but so did all manner of celestial fires. Further, fire, which had been deprived of its offerings, set about consuming Lanka with much gusto. The dormant sacrificial fires in Rakshasa homes came alive too. An Adhyatma Ramayana verse asks how mere fire could burn Hanuman as simply remembering him allows one to cross over the threefold torment of fire (physical, supernatural, spiritual), while Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas holds that Hanuman did not burn, as he was the messenger of the one who created fire.

Mitochondria

 Mitochondria provide power to our metaphorical city. Without them, we have no lights, no heat, and no fun. But any power plant that is LAX on precautions runs the risk of polluting the city.  And Just like older factories, as the mitochondria age, they tend to put more industrial waste into the environment, so we need more antioxidant regulators to clean up the mess.

Mitochondria are our energy factories and continually pump barrels of ATP, adenosine triphosphate into the cells as they travel through the circulatory system. They look like a maze with jagged edges called Cristae. Mitochondria are especially hardy to withstand the dangers of being near free radicals that can be generated with high-powered energy production.

Oxygen free radicals are created when a pair of electrons is separated while spinning around the nucleus of a cell. The odd man out becomes disruptive as it seeks another partner.

Oxidation & Inefficient Mitochondria-Keep the Energy Factories of Your Body Running Smoothly

The body gets its energy from mitochondria. Long ago, that's the time when mitochondria used to be independent single-celled organisms-essentially parasites that lived symbiotically with their host. But at some point, in our evolution, they were swallowed by our regular cells, thus becoming a part of every cell rather than existing on their own.

Mitochondria (you have hundreds of those per cell) convert nutrients from the food you eat into energy that your body uses to perform all of the functions it needs to. They are the fundamental drivers of metabolism. They make sure that what you eat fits into how you perform. Plus, their function (and dysfunction) serves as the backbone for one of the major theories of aging.

The problem is, when mitochondria turn your food into energy, they produce oxygen free radicals- molecules that cause dangerous inflammation in the mitochondria themselves as well as in the rest of the cell when they spill over. Think of them as the power plants of our bodily city. Just like an old factory, aging mitochondria spill more industrial waste into the environment. The damage this inflammation causes to your cells and to the mitochondria within your cells is responsible for many aging-related problems. This oxidation, for example, is what causes a "rusting" of your arteries, which is some of what ages your cardiovascular system. 

How mitochondria work. Mighty Mito: The Body's Power Plant

The mitochondria are something a bit like a labyrinth or maze. The jagged little edges are called cristae. There are hundreds of mitochondria per cell and dozens of strands of mitochondrial DNA per mitochondrion. That means that every cell contains thousands of strands of mitochondrial DNA.

Mitochondria are the body's nuclear power plants. They give off a lot of energy but also have the potential to cause a lot of damage. 

In the case of mitochondria, it's those inflammation-causing oxygen-free radicals, which also decrease the ability of your mitochondrial DNA to convert energy. Both forms of damage spin into a cycle of destruction to your body's cells: Inefficiencies in mitochondrial function cause increased production of free radicals. 

If your body can't produce energy efficiently, it means that mitochondria are not getting the most energy out of the oxygen and sugar that their furnaces are fed. So even if you have good nutrition in what you eat, lower levels of your body's energy currency, called ATP (adenosine triphosphate), are made.

We know that mitochondrial damage in the heart happens when your body no longer consumes oxygen and glucose efficiently. People older than sixty have a 40 percent lower mitochondrial efficiency than people younger than forty. 

The Glory of Kashmir and the Great Transformation

 The Glory of Kashmir and the Great Transformation

[NP v21-42]

The land of Kashmir was a symphony of joyous sounds. The air was always filled with the excitement of festivals, the confident twang of archers' bows, and the deep, rhythmic hum of Vedic recitals. Its towns were crowded with ever-sportive men and surrounded by citizens whose hearts were light with happiness. The province was a tapestry of lush gardens and tranquil pleasure-groves, its atmosphere forever resounding with the beat of drums and the sweet melody of lutes. It was a place cherished by people fond of celebration and dear to the hearts of all good men.

Every corner of the valley was laden with a bounty of flowers, fruits, majestic trees, winding creepers, and powerful medicinal herbs. It was a sanctuary for hosts of wild beasts and a paradise enjoyed by the celestial Siddhas and Cāraṇas. O controller of enemies, the holy region of Kashmir was truly possessed of every conceivable sacred place: lakes of the Nāgas, holy mountains, rushing rivers, and serene lakes. It was dotted with highly sacred temples, each with its own peaceful hermitage. And flowing through its very center, parting the land like a perfect hairline, was the goddess Vitastā—the highest goddess, visibly born of the Himalaya.

King Janamejaya, fascinated, asked, "O Twice-born, how did that which was a pure lake in former ages become a province in our current Vaivasvata Manvantara?"

Vaiśampāyana replied, "O best of kings, this very question was once asked in ancient times. The excellent King Gonanda III, after worshipping the wise sage Bṛhadaśva who was visiting on a pilgrimage, inquired of him."

King Gonanda had asked, 'In the previous Manvantaras, this country named Kashmir did not exist. How did it come into being in this Vaivasvata Period?'

The sage Bṛhadaśva explained the vast cycles of time: "The passage of the sun through one sign of the zodiac is a solar month. Two months make a season, and three seasons make an Ayana. Two Ayanas make one year. O king, 432,000 years make the Kali Yuga. Dvāpara Yuga is twice that, Tretā Yuga is three times, and Kṛta Yuga is four times that number. A collection of seventy-one of these four-Yuga cycles is called one Manvantara. At the end of each Manvantara, all movable and immovable creations on earth are completely destroyed.

O lord of the earth, this whole world then turns into a single, vast sea. Only the greatest mountains survive—Himavat, Hemakūṭa, Niṣadha, Nīla, Śveta, Śṛṅgavān, Meru, Mālyavān, Gandhamādana, Mahendra, Malaya, Sahya, Śuktimat, Ṛkṣavān, Vindhya, and Pāriyātra. The rest of the world is completely effaced.

Then, after this destruction, the lord Mahādeva himself, in the form of water, stays all around the world. At that time, the goddess Satī assumes the form of a great boat. The future Manu, through his magical power, places all the seeds of creation within it for safekeeping. Having assumed the form of a giant fish, Viṣṇu—the father of the world—uses his mighty horn to drag that boat to safety. O protector of the earth, having drawn the boat through the cosmic deluge, the God fastens it to the peak of the great mountain Himavat and then withdraws into an unknown state of rest."

  

Rama Sees Lanka

Rama, Hanuman, Jambavan, Vibhishana, Angada, and the other Vanara commanders had arrived at the door of their enemy and now stood before the unconquerable fortress of Lanka. Rama formed a battle plan, and placed his valorous commanders at strategic positions. They were ready to go to war.

The king of men. Rama, and the king of apes. Sugriva, along with Hanuman, Jambavan, Vibhishana. Angada, and the other Vanara commanders stood together, looking at the fortress of Lanka, invincible for all beings. As they talked, Vibhishana told them that his four companions had entered the city in the guise of birds and examined the army and its strength, and, in doing so, discovered their plans. They told Vibhishana that Prahasta was at the eastern gate, Mahaparshva and Mahodara towards the south, Indrajit at the western gate, Ravana himself stood at the northern gate, while Virupaksha guarded the centre. "There are 1.000 elephants, 10,000 chariots, 20.000 horses, and over 10 million Rakshasas, all fierce in war." He turned to lotus-eyed Rama and said, "Do not be angry. I do not tell you this to scare you. You can defeat even the gods. Once you have arranged this army of Vanaras in battle formation, you shall surely crush Ravana and his forces."

Battle plans

Rama gave the commanders instructions. "Nila, the bull among Vanaras, shall go to the eastern gate of Lanka to fight Prahasta. Angada will go to the southern gate and obstruct Mahaparshva and Mahodara's plans.

Hanuman, son of the wind, and his Vanara army will enter through the western gate, facing Indrajit. Lakshmana and I shall face Ravana be the northern gate and crush his forces.

Sugriva, Jambavan, and Vibhishana will be at the centre," he said.

"The Vanaras are not to take on human forms during the battle, so that we can recognize them," he said. "Only the seven of us - Vibhishana and his companions, Lakshmana. and I shall battle in human form."

Spying on the enemy

After finalizing the battle plans, Rama saw the beautiful slopes of Mount Suvela. He decided that it was important to scale the peak to understand his enemy's position better. He told Sugriva, Vibhishana, and Lakshmana, "We shall ciimb the mountain and look at Lanka from its peak. We will spend the night there and look upon the abode of that Rakshasa who has abducted my wife for his own destruction, who does not know dharma, in whom my anger grows, and because of whom we shall see the Rakshasas killed. A single man has done an evil deed, and the entire lineage shall have to pay.

Climbing Suvela

Rama climbed Suvela, the colourful mountain, with Lakshmana close behind, his bow raised and an arrow in position, ready to strike. If needed. The commanders and the rest of the army followed the two princes.

They reached the summit and saw Lanka, as if it were suspended in the air. They saw the city overflowing with Rakshasa armies, almost forming a second rampart.

The Vanaras saw their enemy and roared. The evening was red and the sun set. Night fell and the full moon rose as radiant as ever.

That night, the Vanaras roamed through the forests and groves, which were full of champaka, ashoka, and sala trees, with beautiful, blossoming creepers everywhere. Sugriva permitted some Vanaras to go into Lanka, the city that stood at the peak of the Trikuta, a mountain impossible to climb even in one's imagination.

Terrible omens

Rama looked at the night sky, turned to Lakshmana, and said, "We shall set up camp here, Lakshmana. Let us gather food and water from the groves. I see a horrible terror before us.

"See how the harsh winds blow and the earth shakes. The mountains tremble and the animals and birds make unpleasant, inauspicious sounds. Armies shall be slaughtered, Rakshasas and Vanaras alike. Look to the skies they seem to be conveying that the end of the world is near. Let us prepare to attack."

Rama and the army descended from the mountain and looked at his army. He stood in front of them, bow in hand, and urged them to attack.

 Ref:"He has unleashed a fire in the residence of the terrible Rakshasa. He has burnt this city of Lanka with its mansions, ramparts and gates... Janakee was not burnt, and we are astounded at this extraordinary event."

CELESTIAL BARDS ON HANUMAN BURNING LANKA, SARGA (53), SUNDARA KANDA

Lanka City in Flames

The Rakshasas quickly followed their king's (Ravana’s) furious order and got ready to set Hanuman's tail on fire. They would then parade him across the city and its crossroads, and announce him as a spy. Hanuman, however, had something else planned.

The Rakshasas covered Hanuman's tail in rags, soaked it in oil, and set it on fire. Hanuman's face reddened in righteous anger and he swung his tail near the Rakshasas.

As they bound him in restraints once again, he realized that he had not observed the city during the day. "I have only seen it at night and so the plans for protection aren't completely clear," he thought. He masked his emotions and allowed the Rakshasas to lead him through the city, so that he could observe everything.

A plea to the fire god In the Ashoka grove, the Rakshasis told Sita what had happened. Anguished, she invoked the deity of fire. "If I have performed austerities, if my loyalty to my husband is complete, if Rama has any compassion for me, if I have any good fortune left at all, and if Sugriva is to take me across this ocean of sorrow, then Agni, may you be cool for Hanuman," she prayed.

HANUMAN BURNS LANKA

Hanuman suddenly found that his burning tail no longer hurt him with its heat. He could see the flames rise, but there was no pain. He wondered, "Is this similar to the ocean and Mainaka seeking to help me? Or is this because of Sita?"

As he contemplated this, Hanuman roared, leapt into the air and went to the majestic city gates. He changed his form and became so small that his restraints fell to the ground. Hanuman then took on an immense form that resembled a mountain, and turned to face the Rakshasas. He picked up a beam and slew the Rakshasa soldiers. Then he wondered how he could torment the Rakshasas further.

Lanka, on fire

Hanuman looked at the city before him, with a garland of flames around his tail. "The sacred fire burns on my tail," he thought. "It is appropriate that I offer these excellent houses to it as kindling and satisfy it."

The great Vanara rose into the air to destroy the fortress, his tail resembling a cloud laced with lightning. He roamed through the city, lighting the tops of buildings. The fire spread gleefully from one house to another, and the buildings collapsed rapidly. The strength of Hanuman's rage overpowered the city, which was now enveloped in flames, as if it had been cursed.

The return

Hanuman went to the ocean shore and extinguished the fire on his tail. As he looked at the burning city, he had a worrying thought. The fires may have consumed Sita as well, he thought. But soon another thought replaced this one. "No, she couldn't have died," he thought. Her radiant brilliance protects her. Fire cannot burn fire. It did not burn me and would not burn her either. No, with her truth, she would sooner burn fire." He returned to the grove and was relieved to see Sita untouched and unhurt. "Through great fortune do I see you again, unscathed," he said. He assured her he would return soon, with Rama, and began his journey back across the ocean.

THE SPLENDID KING Ravana

 THE SPLENDID KING Ravana

When Hanuman first met Ravana, he was in awe of the king's strength and power.

The Rakshasas dragged Hanuman, bound with ropes, and presented him before the king of Lanka. When they saw him, some Rakshasas asked each other, "Who is this?", "Where did he come from?", while others shouted, "Kill it!". "Burn it!", "Eat it!"

Hanuman found himself at Ravana's feet and saw the

king resplendent in all his glory, surrounded by women and powerful Rakshasa warriors. He saw the king's strength, beauty, and all-round perfection,

and contemplated on how Ravana's non-adherence

to dharma had led to his downfall.

The interrogation

Ravana, his eyes burning with anger, faced the Vanara who had killed his son and caused such destruction. He turned to his adviser Prahasta and said. "Ask him where he came from, who sent him, and his purpose. Why did he destroy the grove and scare the Rakshasis?"

Prahasta asked Hanuman, "Tell us who sent you. Was it Indra or Kubera? Perhaps it was the lord of death, Yama? Was it Vishnu? Your form resembles an ape, but your strength distinguishes you. We will free you if you tell us the truth, but your life will be in peril if you lie."

Hanuman replied. "None of them have sent me. I am a Vanara and I destroyed the grove as I desired an audience with the king. I have Brahma's blessings and cannot be bound by any weapon. I went along just so I could see him."

A messenger's plea

Hanuman further said, "I am the messenger of the almighty Rama. Listen to my words for they are beneficial. I have come at the behest of Sugriva, the king of Kishkindha. He, as a brother, asks after your well-being. Listen to his advice, imbued with dharma and artha (meaning or purpose), and it will serve you well in this world and the next."

He then told Ravana of Dasharatha and his virtuous son Rama's exile, of Sita's disappearance, and Rama and Lakshmana's meeting with Sugriva. He spoke of the Vanaras who searched for Sita in all directions and then said, "I am Hanuman, the son of the wind, who has travelled across the ocean to see Sita."

A warning

"You know dharma." Hanuman continued. "You ought not act this way towards another's wife.

Even the gods cannot stand before Rama and Lakshmana's fiery arrows. There is nobody in the three worlds who can cross the Raghu scion and sleep in peace. Accept what I say, for it is for your own good and in accordance with dharma and artha. Return Sita. I have performed the difficult task of finding Sita and the rest is up to Rama. "You have lost your senses since you brought Sita to Lanka. Your attachment to dharma should not be destroyed in this way. Remember, the invincibility that you have received as a result of your self-discipline is only with respect to the gods and Asuras. Sugriva, being a Vanara, is neither, and Rama, too, is human. Do what you can to protect yourself.

"Good and bad deeds both produce results. You have been enjoying the results of the former. If you do not act you shall soon reap the fruit of the latter. Even Indra cannot survive crossing Rama. what of one like you? Bunt by Sita's radiance and Rama's fury, you shall soon see this city in flames. Hamıman said and fell silent.

Hanuman's harsh and unpleasant words made Ravana angrier. Incensed he cried, "Kill the ape!"

 

Hanuman's Capture by Indrajit

After his warriors were defeated, Ravana summoned his son, the mighty warrior Indrajit, who had knowledge of many magical weapons. Only he could stop Hanuman now.

Ravana summoned his son Indrajit and instructed him to capture or kill Hanuman. The prince of Lanka, as powerful as the son of a god, with eyes like lotus petals, circumambulated his father and prepared for battle.

Indrajit, who surpassed all wielders of weapons in their skill, emerged like the ocean on the night of a full moon night, and boarded his chariot. Hanuman was thrilled to hear the sound of his chariot and the twang of his bowstring, even as semi-divine beings and sages gathered to watch the two warriors battle.

Hanuman saw Indrajit arrive and let out a fierce roar. Indrajit pulled at his bowstring, and the twang resounded like thunder. He released a torrent of arrows and Hanuman rose to the sky, to avoid them. He deftly moved between and around them and avoided them, even though Indrajit aimed them well and they possessed the force of lightning. Both the warriors were fast and accomplished in the art of battle.

Indrajit soon realized that Hanuman could not be killed and decided to capture him instead.

He released the Brahmastra, the weapon of Brahma, the Creator of the universe. It rushed towards Hanuman and bound him. When he fell to the ground, the great Vanara recalled the blessings of Brahma, Indra, and his father, the god of wind, and remained fearless even though he was bound. He realised that it was beneficial for him as well, for now he could see Ravana in person.

The other Rakshasas ran up and bound Hanuman in physical restraints, which released Brahma's weapon, as that bond could not coexist with another. Indrajit fretted for the Rakshasas caused great harm in their ignorance, but Hanuman never realised that he was free.

When Sage Kashyap enters Kurukshetra

 And so, the sage Kasyapa entered Kurukshetra, that field of sacred action, O sinless one, where a multitude of holy places converges into what is called Sanniti upon the earth. It is verily the spot to which all the tīrthas, including the very seas and lakes, always journey at the end of the dark half of every month. He who performs a Śrāddha there at the precise moment when the sun is eclipsed by Rāhu obtains the highest reward, equal to a thousand horse-sacrifices. Having seen that powerful Sanniti, he then beheld Cakratīrtha, about which a verse sung by Nārada is ever current on the earth: “Oh! The persistence of the people for a sun-eclipse! Yet the religious merit obtained at Cakratīrtha is ten times greater than that of any eclipse.”

Having visited these sacred places called Cakra and Pṛthūdaka, he saw the holy Viṣṇupāda and Amaraparṇata. Afterwards, crossing the rivers Śatadru and Gaṅgā, the great sage reached Arjuna's hermitage and the holy site of Devasunda. Then, having crossed the illustrious and sin-destroying Vipāśā, Kāśyapa’s journey brought him to a land starkly different from the lush sanctity he had left behind—he saw the whole country lying desolate. Seeing the land of the Madras so empty and silent, a profound sorrow touched him, and he spoke to the Nāga who guided him: “O Nīla, tell me, your inquiring father, why has this country of the Madras been deserted? For I remember it always as charming, utterly devoid of the calamity of famine, and overflowing with the wealth of grains!”

Nīla said: “O venerable one, all this is known to you, for you are the source of all wisdom. Yet, I shall recount the tragedy: formerly, a demon-child named Jalodbhava, the son of Saṅgraha, was reared up by me. Now that impudent fellow, having obtained boons from Brahmā—chief among them, imperceptible birth and invincibility in water—ignores me completely. I am incapable of keeping him under control due to the boon granted by the lord of the three worlds. By that villain of evil intellect, that eater of human flesh, this whole country of the Madras has been cruelly depopulated. O lord, the countries rendered desolate by him are many: mainly Dārvābhiṣāra, Gāndhāra, Juhuṇḍara, Antargiri, Bahirgiri, and the lands of the Śakas, the Khāsas, the Taṅgaṇas, and the Māṇḍavas. O venerable one, you must make up your mind to check him, for the welfare of the entire world depends upon it.”

 

The Destruction of Lanka

The mighty Hanuman of terrifying heroism destroyed the Ashoka grove and then made for the city and its buildings and palaces. Ravana sent forth his armies, and then some of his bravest warriors, but the Vanara was impossible to kill or capture. Meanwhile, the golden city of Lanka lay in ruins.

Determined to assess Ravana's strength, Hanuman tore up the trees with his thighs and destroyed the Ashoka grove.

He damaged the pools, pulverized the hilltops, and soon the grove looked like a forest fire had rushed through it. Only the place where Sita sat remained untouched. Lanka's residents were bewildered at the sounds of shrieking birds and falling trees. The Rakshasis, now awake, were shocked to see the devastated grove and saw a Vanara presiding over its destruction. Hanuman saw them and took on a fearsome form.

A terrifying sight

The Rakshasis asked Sita where he had come from and what he had told her, but she feigned ignorance. "How should I know the illusory powers of Rakshasas? You must know who he is and what he is doing," she said. Some of them rushed to Ravana and told him what they had seen. "Great king, he could be a messenger of Indra, or of Kubera, the god of wealth, or of Rama. He has destroyed the grove, but he has not touched the place where Sita sits. Punish him."

Ravana burnt with anger and sent 80,000 mighty Rakshasas who rivalled his own strength. They approached the mighty Vanara, like moths that rush towards fire, and tried to restrain him.

Hanuman struck the earth with his tail and roared before taking on an immense form. He pulled a beam off the gate and destroyed the advancing  Rakshasas. Then, Hanuman turned his attention to the buildings in the city.

A declaration of war

He climbed atop a structure. became immense in size, and attacked it. His thunderous roar resounded in Lanka as he cried, "Victory to the mighty Ramal Victory to Sugriva, protected by the Raghu scion! I am a servant of Rama, the king of Ayodhya, Hanuman by name. I am a destroyer of enemy armies. A thousand Ravanas are not my match. I have shaken this city and offered respects to Sita, and now return.

A hundred guards attacked him, but Hanuman uprooted a pillar and struck them, saying, "Sugriva has thousands of Vanaras like me. He will come here with them, and no one, not even Ravana, will survive."

The king of Lanka then sent forth Jambumali, a fearsome warrior who rode a chariot pulled by donkeys.

Jambumali shot at Hanuman with a mighty bow, and the angry Vanara hurled a large rock at him. The Rakshasa shot arrows into the Vanara's arms and chest, but he ignored the arrows that pierced his body and picked up a beam. He swung it over his head and hurled it at Jambumali, who fell dead.

The king then sent his advisers' sons, but Hanuman made quick work of them, as he punched, tore, and slapped some, while others simply fell dead when they heard his mighty roar.

Ravana finally took the threat seriously and called his five commanders, Virupaksha, Yupaksha, Durdhara, Praghasa, and Bhasakarna. He warned them of Hanuman and his suspicion that he was not a mere ape.

They set out and saw Hanuman, blazing in brilliance like the rising sun garlanded by its own rays. They struck him with their arrows, but he leapt into the air and filled the 10 directions with his roar. He then killed each of them and their armies.

When Ravana discovered the fate of his commanders, he sent his son Aksha to face Hanuman. Aksha shot three arrows at the Vanara. The winds and the sun stopped to watch as the mountains shook and the ocean was agitated and a great battle began. Eventually, however, Aksha fell.

ANALYSIS

HANUMAN, UNBOUND

Valmiki's understanding of the difficulty of capturing Hanuman has to do with the latter's might and the boons granted by the Creator, Brahma. Other texts, however, understand it differently. The medieval Sanskrit text Adhyatma Ramayana holds that when the fetters of ignorance can be broken by repetition of Rama's name, there is no question of Hanuman being bound, for he bears Rama's lotus feet in his heart and is thus ever free from all bonds.

A promise to return

  

A promise to return

Hanuman prepared to leave Lanka bearing Sita's messages to Rama and Lakshmana and a plea from her to return as soon as possible. Ravana's one-year deadline had nearly come to an end and Sita knew that time was running out.

Sita told Hanuman to ask Rama why he had not come to Lanka to rescue her. She said, "Tell him that I said, 'O bull among men, you directed that fatal arrow towards the crow for pecking at me. Would you not render unto me that compassion, intermingled with immense strength? I heard that compassion is great dharma.

I know that the gods cannot withstand your strength in battle. Why would you not release your weapons at this Rakshasa? Why does Lakshmana not rescue me at Rama's command?'"

Rama will come

Hanuman comforted her and said, "I swear to you, Rama has turned away from all pleasures out of his love for you. Lakshmana is tormented by Rama's sorrow. The time for grief is over. Those two lions among men will soon arrive. Rama will kill Ravana in battle and take you with him to Ayodhya." He asked Sita if there was anything else she wanted to tell Rama, Lakshmana, or Sugriva, the Vanara king.

Sita replied, "Offer to the son of the great Kaushalya my obeisance and ask after his well-being on my behalf.

"Ask after the well-being of Sumitra's son, Lakshmana, who followed Rama into the forest, abandoning all luxuries, and even his parents. He even protected Rama in the forest. He considers me as his mother and Rama as his father, and is dearer to Rama than even I am. He could not have known I was being abducted. He carries whatever burden is on him.

"You do not need much instruction, great Vanara. Act in such a way that Rama comes quickly. Tell him I will bear my life somehow for a month, but no longer."

A token for Rama

Sita removed her crown jewel, the Chudamani, which she wore on top of her head, tied it in a garment, and handed it to Hanuman.

"This will remind him of three persons: myself. his mother, and the great king Dasharatha," she said. Hanuman accepted the powerful jewel with due respect, circumambulated her, and slipped it onto his finger.

Hanuman suddenly felt lighter, as if a huge burden had been lifted. He felt a deep sense of delight for he had finally seen Sita.

Sita asked him if he wanted to stay and rest. "Your company is a reprieve from this otherwise torturous existence. The ocean is immense -how will the Vanara army cross over the ocean?" she asked.

"How will the princes come? There are, perhaps, only three who can cross this distance: yourself, Vishnu's mount, Garuda, or the wind. You are indeed up to the task of my rescue, but it shall befit Rama to come himself. Act so that it comes about that way."

Hanuman reassured her. "Sugriva is honest and determined, and the Vanara are under his orders. Do not worry about their strength. They are all as powerful as me or stronger. If I could come here, there is no doub they will too. Enough grief now, wipe away your sorrov The brothers will come soon defeat Ravana, and take you safely to Ayodhya."

Sita replied, "Your words comfort me, like rain on parched earth. For a month I shall live, but no more."

A test of Ravana's strength

Hanuman left the grove, but felt that he had only accomplished a part of the task. He could not go back across the ocean, just yet, he thought. It was important to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the enemy. "Of the four means for engaging others. conciliation will not work with Rakshasas. Nor will the employment of wealth because they are themselves prosperous. Bringing abon divisions will be ineffective too because they are proud and mighty people. This only leaves the exercise of fouz I must figure out a way to compel Ravana to send his army to fight me, so that I get a sense of his strength." Hanuman decided that there was only one way t do that. "First, I will destroy this grove, like fice that runs through a dry forest," he thought. "Then, I will slay the Rakshasas that Ravana sends to attack me. Only then will I return to the king of the Vanaras."

ALTERNATIVE ACCOUNT

RAVANA'S IMPATIENCE

In the medieval Sanskrit text Adhyatma Ramayana, it is made clear that Ravana actually seeks death at the bands of the Supreme Lord manifested as Rama, and is left wondering why Rama had not yet arrived. The night Hanuman enters Lanka, Ravana dreams of a Vanara who can change his shape at will in the Astioka grove. On waking, Ravana decides to go and torment Sita while the Vanara watches to that he is forced to go and tell Rama, compeling him to come quickly. Ravana then insults Rama in Sita's presence through statements that can be read as praise and insults.

Inside Lanka

  

 

Inside Lanka

The leap across the ocean did not exhaust Hanuman. Realizing that his immense form would attract too much attention, he returned to his original appearance and walked towards the great city of Lanka. Would he find Sita there?

Hanuman looked around the island, which was a sight to behold, with its forests and rivers. Ravana's Lanka was on the peak of the Trikuta mountain and equalled the city of the gods in its prosperity and splendour.

The impenetrable fort

He approached the city and took in the moat with its flowers, and the golden rampart. Mighty Rakshasas guarded Lanka, which Vishvakarma, the architect of the gods, had built. "What would have been the use if the Vanaras had managed to get here," Hanuman wondered. "What will even Rama do when he reaches this impenetrable fort? These Rakshasas do not look amenable to diplomacy, gifts, or schemes. In any case, only four of us Angada, Nila, Sugriva, and 1-can get here.

"For now," he told himself. "Find Sita and determine if she still lives." He stood outside the city for a moment, wondering how to achieve his goal and Rama's end. Even the wind seemed t move under careful scrutiny in Ravana's realm.

So, Hanuman abandoned his regular form and made himself smaller than a gnat and waited. As the moon rost and shrouded the city in a cascade of moonlight, he entered the gates.

Lanka was divided by pathways and rows of palaces that were seven or eight storeys high. The city's prosperity and invincibility worried Hanuman, but he continued his search for Sita. Finally, he saw Ravana's palace and sensed the beautiful fragrances that filled it. Inside, he saw a thousand of his queens lying entangled, exhausted after that night's sport. None of them seemed to have been brought there forcibly, and they all appeared to love Ravana.

For a moment, Hanuman wondered if any of them could be Sita, but dismissed that thought. He continued walking and saw Ravana, reclining on a bejewelled crystal bed, and retreated. Seeing Mandodari, the king's beautiful wife, Hanuman wondered if she could be Sita. "Sita would not sleep this peacefully when she is separated from Rama. She would not dress up or drink, or be so close to another man - and what man could equal Rama anyway?" he thought.

A moment of doubt

Soon, Hanuman, struck by anxiety about dharma, thought, "Looking at other women is censured, and 1 have been looking at so many sleeping women. This will certainly destroy my dharma."

He resolved this thought soon. "Yes, I looked but there was no disturbance in my mind, and the mind is the root of the activity of the senses," he told himself.

A more immediate, serious worry took place. "I cannot see Sita anywhere, so she must be dead. This Rakshasa must have killed her as she tried to defend herself, or she slipped as he ascended the sky. Could it be that she saw the immense ocean and her heart simply stopped? Perhaps Ravana or the Rakshasis ate her." He renewed his efforts, but when he still could not find her, he began to panic.

"If I return without seeing her, what will Rama and Lakshmana say? What will I tell my comrades? If I tell Rama that I did not see her, he will certainly die. If he dies, Lakshmana cannot live and neither can Bharata or Shatrughna or their mothers.

"If Rama dies, Sugriva will not live, and Taaraa, Angada, and the rest of the Vanaras will also die. No, the end of the Ikshvakus and Vanaras will not be by my hand. I will not return. I will live here as a mendicant, or enter the sea."

He renewed his efforts and soon came upon the Ashoka grove. He invoked the deities, saying, "Obeisance to Rama and Lakshmana, to that daughter of Janaka. Obeisance to Rudra, Wind, Yama, Indra, Sun, Moon and the Maruts. Obeisance to Sugriva and all the deities.. Grant me success." So saying, he entered the grove.

…

ANALYSIS

LANKA PERSONIFIED

When Hanuman enters Lanka, in some recensions of Valmiki's Ramayana, he encounters the guardian deity of Lanka. When Hanuman defeats her, she tells him of Brahma, the Creator of the universe's prophecy that a Vanara would defeat her, and that it would mark terror for the Rakshasas. This story is retold in many versions, but in Bengali poet Krittibas Ojha's retelling, it is the goddess Chamunda whom Hanuman encounters. Her consort, Shiva, had told her that she could only return home when she had met Hanuman.

ALTERNATIVE ACCOUNT

A MEETING WITH VIBHISHANA

In Valmiki's Ramayana, Hanuman merely sees Ravana's brother Vibhishana's palace as he passes by. In Awadhi poet Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas, he stops at Vibhishana's house, noticing the signs of his devotion to Rama in the objects of worship outside. When Vibhishana wakes up and remembers Rama's sacred name, Hanuman is determined to go and speak to him. He comforts Vibhishana by reminding him of Rama's compassion, and Vibhishana tells him how to get into the Ashoka grove where Sita is confined.

The Vanara army gathers

 The Vanara army gathers

Sugriva's messengers went out in all directions to gather the Vanaras that lived in the five great mountains, the lotus groves, forests, and hermitages. They arrived in the millions, on their king's command, to be Rama's army, battle Ravana, and rescue Sita

Countless Vanaras heard the command of their king Sugriva, who was like death itself in his ferocity. They came from all corners of the land and the great mountains of Mahendra, the Himalayas, the Vindhyas, Kailasa, and Mandara.

Pleased, Sugriva and Lakshmana left for Rama's abode on Mount Prasravana, on a golden palanquin, to the auspicious sounds of conch shells and drums. Surrounded by his fierce commanders and soldiers, he resembled the sun.

Friends reunited

Rama saw Sugriva and his army approach his cave, their hands joined in salutation, out of respect. Almost immediately, his dissatisfaction dissolved, and he embraced Sugriva and asked him to be seated.

Rama spoke up. "The king who pursues dharma, economic and political prosperity, and desire at the appropriate times and in appropriate measure is a real king, best of the Vanaras. However, the one who pursues only desire, abandoning the other two, is like a person sleeping on the branch of a tree. Destroyer of enemies, the time for our endeavour has arrived.

Contemplate the course of action with your advisers."

Sugriva replied, "I have regained lost fame and glory only because of you, Rama. Look, here are the chiefs of the Vanaras, fierce to look at and familiar with various kinds of geography. They are the sons of gods and Gandharvas (magical beings) and can take on any form. They travel with immense battalions. There are brave Vanaras, Golangulas (apes with special powers). and bears, arriving like the great Indra. king of gods. They shall go to war on your behalt, kill Ravana, and reunite you with Sita."

Rama praised him, "Just as it is not surprising that Indra causes rain, and the sun removes darkness, so it is only natural that a friend like you should act in my interest. With you as my protector, I shall defeat all enemies. Ravana abducted Sita for his own destruction

The glorious army

As he spoke, immense dust clouds rose, covering even the sun. The ground began to shake and the mountains, forests, and groves quaked. Soon, the entire earth seemed covered by the army of the Vanaras. They poured in from all directions, the strongest Vanaras from the forests. rivers, mountains, and seas, offspring of the gods with Vanara women (See pp 40-41). A large force accompanied each chieftain. The brave Shatabali arrived with 100,000 million Vanaras, as did Sushena, Taaraa's father, whose face glowed like a golden mountain. Hanuman's father, wise Kesari, with a complexion that resembled lotus fibres, arrived, surrounded by a contingent of a million Vanaras. Gavaksha, the king of Golangulas, terrible in valour, was seen as well, surrounded by his army of 10,000 million Vanaras. The slayer of enemies and known for his speed, Dhumra, the lord of all the bears, came with his warriors, as did Panasa and Nila, with armies of Vanaras as far as the eye could see. Darimukha had 10,000 million Vanaras with him, Gandhamandana brought thousands of millions of Vanaras, while Angada came with a billion, and Mainda and Dvivida brought 10,000 million each.

The great warrior Tara, who could be seen from a distance like a radiant star, brought 50 million Vanaras while Rambha, with a face like the rising sun, arrived with 11,100 Vanaras.

Hanuman came as well, with 10,000 million mighty Vanaras, terrible in valour, like the great Mount Kailasa.

They roared and leapt high in the air. They approached Sugriva, like giant clouds that covered the sky, and honored their king with folded hands.

LOCATION

MOUNTAINS IN THE RAMAYANA

Several mountains are listed when describing the places from where the Van are to be brought forth. Five of them seem to form a set - Mahendra, the Himalayas, the Vindhyas, Kailasa, and Mandara. Valmiki also names the mountains where the sun rises and sets and the mighty Meru and Maharuna. Of these, the Himalayas are personified most often. Mahendra is sometimes identified with the upper ranges of the Western Ghats in India, whereas the Vindhyas occupy central India. Mandara served as the base for the churning of the ocean. Mount Meru has an extensive mythological and Puranic apparatus, which often goes along with an understanding of its mystical significance.

Not much is known about the Maharuna, apart from this mention. Kailasa is most famous as the abode of Shiva, the Destroyer, as well as Kubera, the god of wealth, and continues to be of great significance. The locus of Kailasa has a great cross-sectarian and trans-Asian appeal due to the importance of that region not only for Hindus but also for certain Buddhist communities.

The Pledge of Friendship

 The Pledge of Friendship

When Sugriva realized that Rama and Lakshmana were not there to kill him, but wanted to form an alliance, he happily agreed to help them. He consoled the grieving Rama and promised to find Sita. Theirs would prove to be a powerful friendship.

Hanuman returned to his Vanara form and carried the princes to Rishyamuka. After reassuring Sugriva, who was hiding on Mount Malaya, Hanuman introduced Rama and Lakshmana to him as the sons of Dasharatha, from the lineage of Ikshvaku kings. He told Sugriva of Rama's exile and Sita's abduction and said, "Rama seeks your friendship.

Accept the brothers, honour them, worship them."

No longer anxious, Sugriva assumed a human form and accepted the offer.

Forging an alliance

Sugriva said, "Hanuman has told me of your humility in righteousness, asceticism, and compassion. I am honoured by your desire to form an alliance of friendship with me. If it pleases you, here is my arm, extended towards you in friendship. Accept my hand with yours and let this bond be firm."

Rama held Sugriva's hand in a firm grasp as Hanuman lit a sacred fire, made the appropriate offerings, and placed it between them.

Rama and Sugriva then circumambulated the fire. They looked at each another with immense affection, and Sugriva said, "Hanuman has explained why you are here. I will return your beloved Maithili to you no matter what the means and from whichever realm she has been hidden in." He told Rama that he may have seen Sita. "We were sitting on a hilltop when a weeping woman threw down a cloth and ornaments. It could have been your wife being carried across the sky," he said.

A friend's consolation

Sugriva brought forth the ornaments and, seeing them, Rama's eyes filled with tears as he held them close. He showed them to Lakshmana, who looked at them with reverence and said, "I do not know her armlets or earrings, but I know her anklets, as I worshipped her feet every day."

Rama asked Sugriva with some desperation, "Where did you see her taken? Where does this Rakshasa live? What is the strength of his armies? Which family does he belong to?" Sugriva said he did not know the answers, but added, "Do not lose hope, O scorcher of enemies. I am an ordinary Vanara and I have not grieved over my wife's abduction in such a way. You are an illustrious man, known for his forbearance and virtue across the land. Those who lose themselves to grief don't find joy, and their strength and valour diminish. Do not think I presume to preach to you. I merely speak as a friend."

Rama offers his help

Rama wiped his tears and embraced Sugriva, "You only speak as a friend would, Sugriva. Pacified by your affectionate address, I have returned to my natural state. You have promised to help me find Sita. Now, O tiger among Vanaras, tell me what I can do for you. Whatever you need will come to be, like the seeds in a well-prepared field during the monsoon. What I have said in pride, take as bare fact, for I have neither uttered a lie in the past, nor s shall I in the future. This, I swear upon truth itself." Hearing the words of the mighty Rama, Sugriva knew his endeavour would be successful. "The gods must be smiling upon me today, for how else could a scion of the Raghus be my friend, witnessed by the sacred fire? One may win the kingdom of the gods with a friend such as you by one's side, what of my own kingdom. Friends, whatever state they may have fallen into, and whatever state one may fall into, remain the ultimate refuge," he said. He then told Rama the story of his misfortune.

Origin of Shiva’s Worship in Kashmir

 Origin of Shiva’s Worship in Kashmir

Before we speak of sages deep, of Abhinavagupta’s flame,

Let us trace the ancient stream from where Śiva’s glory came.

In Kashmir’s dawn, the songs were sung of powers high and wide,

Of Śiva and His radiant Shakti ever at their side.

The Nilamata Purāṇa tells of gods in varied guise,

Of Ganesa, Vedic lords, and Buddhas yet to rise.

Yet through the crowd of many forms, one presence shone above—

The Lord of dance, of death and birth, and Parvati, His love.

The Nagas dwelt by mountain streams, by cloud and serpent known,

Their faith was entwined with ancient rites and mysteries of their own.

Old Nikumbha, spirit-king, was honoured in their song,

Yet through it all, fair Śiva’s name was whispered deep and long.

Though Buddhism touched the valley’s rim, its shadow faint and small,

The primal pulse of Śiva’s grace still echoed overall.

A mingling of the old and new, of earth and sky and fire,

Thus, Kashmir’s heart was shaped and stirred by Śiva’s vast desire.

Sundra

Sham Misri

 

On Bushan’s six-month ceremony

A Tender Farewell to Our Beloved Baiji

Six months have passed since you left us, Bhushan Misri—our dear Baiji—yet the weight of your absence lingers like an unfinished melody. Today, as we gather to honor your memory in solemn ceremony, our hearts ache with the quiet sorrow of missing you, even as they swell with gratitude for the luminous legacy you left behind.

Born in April 1941, amidst the blossoms of spring, you arrived as a promise—a jewel, just as your name foretold. Bhushan: an ornament, a brilliance that adorned not only your family but all whose lives you touched. Your mother, Soma, cradled you with hope; your father, Janki, named you with a poet’s vision, foreseeing the radiance you would bring into the world. And so, you did—through your wisdom, your gentle grace, and the quiet strength of your character.

A scholar, an engineer, a visionary, you shaped the very foundations of progress in J&K; your work etched into the land you served. Yet beyond your professional triumphs, it was your kindness that defined you. The warmth of your presence, the depth of your ideas, the way you made even the simplest moments feel sacred—these are the gifts we clutch tightly now, like fragile treasures in trembling hands.

Baiji, you were our guiding star in life, and now, though parted from us, you shine still distant yet constant, a light in the vast sky of memory. We speak your name and feel the echo of your laughter, the weight of your wisdom, the love that outlives time itself.

Today, as prayers rise and tears fall, we whisper: You are missed. You are cherished. You are forever our Bhushan—our brightest ornament, our eternal adornment.

May your soul rest in peace, even as your light continues to guide us from afar.

With love and remembrance,
Your Family and All Who Hold You Dear

OM -Shanti… Shanti… Shanti

With tears in his eyes, it is your brother Sham, Bairaj, you would call me, remember.