When Indradev and Prajapati Brahma along with other Devtas were thinking of ways to rescue Sri Rama and Lakshmana, Prajapati Brahma narrates story of Mahiravan’s previous birth. Long ago there was a Gandharva called Shatrudhanu who was a devotee of Bhagwan Vishnu. He used to dance in front of the Lord in Vaikuntha. Sri Hari was also pleased with him. Once Ashtavakra Muni came to visit Bhagwan Vishnu. Seeing the disabled Ashtavakra Muni, Shatrudhanu laughed. At this Ashtavakra gets angry and cursed the Gandharva that he will be born as a demon. Laughing at physically disability is a demonic sign, said the Munivar. Gandharva Shatrudhanu fell at feet and begged for forgiveness. Munivar said to him that his curse will not go in vain. Shatrudhanu will take birth in demon clan and will be the king of demons Paatalpuri. Through the power acquired by his austerities, he’ll be able to please Mahamaya and as a result, Mahamaya will live in his Paatalpuri. Mahamaya will be kind to him even if he is born in a demon clan. Finally, Bhagwan Vishnu will take birth in a human form to slay the demon and it will be a bhakta of Sri Hari only who will give mukti to the demon by beheading him and then Mahiravan will go to swargaloka.
When Mahiravan came to know about the death of his demon brothers, he came to Mandodari. Mahiravan then bowed down to Mother Mandodari and said – “Mother! I was not fortunate enough to take birth from your womb. But, to me you’re my mother and I’ve known only you as my mother. Why didn’t you remember me in times of trouble? My brothers, they were all killed one by one. I heard that uncle Vibhishan joined that enemy team. Why mother! Why didn’t you give me news once? Had I been there, none of my brothers would have been killed. I’d have brought the dead body of Rama and Lakshmana to Lanka.” Mandodari said- “Son Mahi! I have never known you differently. You’re as dear to me as Meghnada. So I say, son, you should never take part in this war. The result of this war is only destruction of the clan of Rakshasas and your father’s ego has sent all the powerful rakshashas one by one to Yama’s door. Son, you are the only descendant now. I don’t want anything to happen to you. You should rather go back to the Paatal loka. To listen to your father is to hear Yama’s footsteps. Don’t make that mistake.” Saying this, Mandodari explained to Mahi. Mahi said – “Mother! Even uncle Vibhishan cannot understand what I’m capable of doing, let alone Rama and Lakshmana. I have been in Lanka for a short time, so uncle Vibhishan doesn’t know my weakness, and that is Mahastra to me. I’ll kill Rama and Lakshmana in such a way that the entire vanarsena will keep searching for them but would never find them. Entering the Paatal loka is not an easy task. It is impossible even for the Gods.” Mandodari said – “Son! Many rakshasas said the same but none of them succeeded. That’s because Sri Rama is invincible. No one can defeat Him. So I say it would be wise at this time to give back Sita to Sri Rama.” Ravana calmed down his wife by scolding again. Mahiravan was flaunting his strength. Mandodari said – “Son Mahi! It seems that there will really be no one to give us mukhagni this time. Because by enmity with Sri Ram you invite your own destruction.” Saying this, Mandodari left.
Ravana said – “Mahi! What is your plan?” Mahi said – “Father! You know that I am a worshiper of Paatal bhairavi. I am a Tantrasiddha. By the grace of the Goddess, I have performed various siddha mantras. On coming Amavasya, I will take Rama Lakshman to the Paatal lok and sacrifice Him at the feet of the Paatal Bhairavi. I heard that Rama and Lakshmana were the sons of Raja Dasaratha of Ayodhya. They are Kshatriyas and the Kshatriya is appropriate for sacrifice. By doing abhishekam of the Goddess with royal blood, I will attain great power.” Ravana said- “Son!sacrifice them and kill them – do as you please. But drive away these evils from Lanka. But be very careful, Vibhishana, the enemy of the house, has gone and joined their army. He’s telling them every secret. It is not an easy task to take Rama Lakshmana to the Paatal lok and sacrifice them in this situation.” Mahi said – “Father! They have only seen the play of Maya, but not the power of Tantra. This is not Maya. This is a huge Mayajaal. It is not easy to get out of it. I will abduct them in such a way that they themselves will be amazed.” Hearing this, both Ravana and Mahiravan started laughing.
Mahiravan, the Maharaja of Paatalpuri, did intense tapasya and worshipped Mahamaya. Devi pleased with his tapasya, told Mahiravan to ask for some boon. Now, Mahiravan wanted to be immortal but Devi refused to give him such boon and told him to ask for something else. Mahiravan said, “may no snake, God, Gandharva, Yaksha, Rakshas, Kinnar, Pisach, kill me in the battlefield.” Devi granted him this boon & Mahiravan thought he is immortal now. Only Nar & Vanar were left. Devi said, “Nar (human) and Vanar (monkey)” would be the reason of your destruction. You wouldn’t be an immortal.” What harm would human and monkey (bhaksya jaati) do of a rakshasa? Mahiravan laughed! On the other hand, in the vanara shivir, Vibhishan, Hanuman, Jambuban, Sugriva, Angad, Sri Rama, Lakshmana and the vanarsena were discussing. Prabhu Sri Rama said – “Vibhishan! There is no great warrior alive in Lanka – is that so?” Vibhishana said – “Lord, only one is alive, and that is my elder brother Dashanan. But there is one more, who is the warrior of warriors. He’s skilled in trickery. He is Mahiravan, the manasputra (mind born son) of the elder brother Ravana. He lives in the Paatal loka. He is a worshiper of Patal Bhairavi. He is also a great Tantra siddha. He rarely comes to Lanka. So unfortunately I do not know much about him. I only know that he can do such impossible things through Tantra that no one can fathom.”
Hearing this, the vanaras looked at each other’s faces. Everyone was surprised. Vibhishana said – “Lord! This courageous Mahiravan will never come from the front because he knows that he will not win. He will develop some tantric powers which no one can understand, but he will succeed. When and how will this Mahiravan strike, no one knows. I have received news through my messenger that Mahiravan has come and met my elder, Dashanan. Now surely Mahiravan will do something.” Then Vibhishana said to Hanuman – “Pavanputra! You are the most devoted servant of the Lord. Now you have to take responsibility of the Lord’s protection in your own hand. Especially when Sri Rama and Lakshmana sleep. Nobody can predict how and when and in whose disguise Mahiravan will come. He has power of assuming forms more than Marich even. The vanaras were terrified. Sri Rama and Lakshmana went to sleep. Their security was tightened even more now. Hanuman lengthened his tail and coiled it into the hut of Sri Rama and Lakshmana so that an ant also cannot enter their hut.
Hanuman said – “nobody has the power to move my tail an inch even, let’s see how Mahiravan comes. The moment he comes, I’ll send him to Yamaloka.” Hanuman sat in the same state. The vanaras were guarding the tent with gadaa and torches in their hands. On the other hand, Mahiravan was laughing seeing all these. Mahi assumed various forms- Raja Dasaratha, Vibhishan & others but everytime Mahaveer Hanuman failed his plan.
Mahi understood that Hanuman is too intelligent to be fooled. Mahi then made a secret tunnel and through that tunnel, he abducted Sri Rama and Lakshmana and took them to Paatal loka. When Hanuman came to know that His Prabhu Sri Rama and bhrata Lakshmana have been abducted by Mahiravan & are in Paatalpuri now, He without making delay for a second, went to the Mandir of Paatal Bhairavi. Hanuman had assumed form of a bee. He went to Devi and murmured in the ear of Mahamaya, “I’ve heard that Mahiravan brought my Prabhu Sri Rama and bhrata Lakshmana and he’s going to give you their narbali. Have you given this boon to Mahiravan? Hanuman unable to see His Prabhu in such condition, told Mahamaya that He would wipe off the entire lineage of Mahiravan and would drown them in your water, along with your Mandir. Mahamaya laughed on hearing words of Hanuman. Mahamaya said that Paatalpuri has been purified with the arrival of Sri Rama. Mahiravan is the sinner of sinners and to slay this Nisachar, Sri Rama has taken avatar. Mahamaya tells Hanuman the way to kill Mahiravan. When Sri Rama will be brought for the Narbali, tell Sri Rama to offer Pranaam to Devi but make sure that He doesn’t bow to me. Mahiravana finished the puja and brought Sri Rama and Lakshmana and presented him in front of the haarikath (a wooden block that is used for narbali/pashubali). Adorned with Raktavastra, Raktatilak and Rudraksha, Mahiravan’s face looked very terrifying in the dark Paatalbhairavi mandir. Hanuman was sitting behind the murti of the Goddess and waiting for Mahiravan. Mahiravan said – “Rama, Lakshmana! You’re very lucky that you are engaged in the service of Mahamaya. Do sashtang pranaam to Devi keeping your head on the haarikath.” Sri Rama and Lakshmana said – “Of course! But there is a problem. We are the Rajputras of Ayodhya. Our father was a powerful king. Everyone bowed to us. The vanaras used to bow down to us even when we were in exile. We never bowed down to anyone. Don’t know how to bow. If you show me, then only I will understand. Mahiravan said with a smile – “This is the matter! I will show you how to do sashtang pranaam!” Saying this, Mahiravan smiled and bowed his head on the haarikath saying ‘Jai Ma’. Immediately Hanuman leaped out from behind the murti of the Goddess. When Hanuman arrived, He first blocked the haarikath. In one blink, He took the sword from the hand of the Goddess and beheaded Mahiravan with one stroke. The head of Mahiravan fell at the feet of the Goddess. Seeing the murti of the Goddess, it seemed that She was very much pleased and smiling happily. Laughed the Pratima-roopini Mahamaya! Hanuman freed both Sri Rama and Lakshmana. Both of them laughed seeing the power of Hanuman. Devi accepted Mahiravan’s sacrifice. Her Mandir was washed away in Mahiravan’s blood. When Mahiravan died, Hanuman untied the hands of Sri Rama and Lakshmana. The Rakshasas army came to fight against Hanuman. The battle started. The Puja-griha was turned upside-down. The pradipdani turned upside down and caught fire. Hanuman defeated all the rakshasas. When the wife of Mahiravan came to know about the death of her husband, she was burning with anger. She accused Jogadya for the death of her husband. She said, “Jogadya accepted the Puja from Mahiravan but She had something else in Her mind. She killed him only. It’s because of Jogadya that my kingdom is destroyed. I’ll go and drown the Jogadya’s Mandir and then at end I’ll kill those humans and the vanarsena.” She picked up sword and started fighting the enemy army. She fought Hanuman and Hanuman retaliated. At that time the queen was ten months pregnant with Mahiravan’s child Ahiravan. Then Ahiravan came to the battle. A fierce battle ensued with Hanuman. There was such a hand-to-hand fight, it seemed that the entire Patalpuri would collapse. Sri Rama, Lakshmana and Hanuman were laughing see the power of the just born demon. Finally, Hanuman lifted Ahiravan and buried him in the ground. Ahiravan’s head was crushed by that. Thus ended the demonic father and son. Hanuman swooped down with his mace and killed many demons in an instant. The bodies of the demons were piled up. Lord Ramachandra said – “Patalpuri is empty now. A ruler is needed here now. Makradhwaja will be the king of Patalpuri from today.” The sages and Devtas and all were freed from Paatalpuri by Hanuman. Mahamaya then said, “who will serve and worship me now?” Hearing this, Hanuman smiled and carried Paatal Bhairavi on His back. Hanuman went around the whole world to find a suitable place for Devi Puja. At last, He reached the village which is “Kshirgram” at present and established the pratima of Devi Jogadya.
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