There was despair in the vanara sena seeing Lakshmana fall, and Rama was inconsolable. Jambavan called Hanuman and Sushena, who was Sugreeva’s uncle. Sushena had medical knowledge and asked for some herbs. Jambavan instructed Hanuman to go to the Himalayas. There on a mountainside, he must find the mritasanjeevani herb and bring it before dawn […]
The Hopi tribe which reside in reservations on the northeast of Arizona has specific Mourning Customs and beliefs about the dead. Do you know: The Hopi people believe that the dead do not truly leave the land of the living. On the day a tribe member passes away, the Hopi people wail, and a year
Kumbhakarna began to grab monkeys and eat them. Rama aimed arrows at his legs and cut them away. As he tried to creep towards Rama, an arrow shot his head off and Rama killed him. His head fell on houses in Lanka which shook and crumbled. Indrajeet, expert in magic, rode into the battlefield with
When Ravana reached his palace, he was feeling very discouraged. Then he remembered Kumbhakarna and his energy revived. He sent a soldier to wake Kumbhakarna up, who had fallen asleep only nine days ago. All the drums and pipes and bells couldn’t break his deep sleep. Finally, elephants were made to walk over him and
Ravana was very angry to learn that Rama and Lakshmana had survived Indrajeet’s attack. He sent Dhumraksha to kill them, but Hanuman killed him instead. Maddened with fury, Ravana himself arrived in the battlefield in his chariot. He caused heavy destruction, and even Angad and Hanuman were unable to check him. Finally, Hanuman carried Rama
The Ojibwa or Chippewa people of the USA and Canada have a specific custom for a child’s demise. Do you know: The doll is meant to eventually carry the soul of the deceased child. In the Ojibwa customs, if a child passes away, the child’s hair is cut and a small doll is created using
Rama first sent Angad as a messenger offering peace and forgiveness if Seeta was restored and Ravana apologised. But Ravana rejected the offer, and the war began. The vanara sena attacked Lanka. Ravana’s army was equipped with weapons; the vanaras uprooted whatever they could and used it as a weapon. There was terrible slaughter on
As per Russian traditions, if someone dies a glass of water and a loaf of bread are placed near the body of the deceased. Do you know: The place or seat where the deceased would sit for family meals is usually left unoccupied for more than a month. The Russians believe that a loaf of
Ravana stationed his generals and warriors where they could defend Lanka against the attacks of the enemy. He tried to destroy Seeta’s confidence. One of his rakshasas, Vidyutjihva, showed her an illusion where Rama’s head rolled before her. Frightened, she wept, but soon heard war drums and knew this could not be her lord. Sugreeva
Sri Rama forgave Saagara. He understood that the laws of nature had to be respected. The troops collected logs and trunks of trees, boulders and rocks and began to work with guidance from Nala and Neela. For five days they dragged and pushed and pulled till they had built a bridge that was supported by
Feeding a person before he is about to die is an old Estonian custom. Do you know: The Estonians also believed that the hand of a dying person on the one who was sick could heal the sick. As per Estonian customs, a person must be fed before his death because if he were to
After a funeral, Special Dinners are organized in Lithuania. Do you know: The dinner is a way for the mourners to ask the dead to leave the family unharmed. Special dinners are organized as a treat for the soul of the deceased individual and the souls of other dead persons. The dinner is a way
Rama decided to pray to the god of the ocean, Saagara, to find a path to Lanka. He sat on the shore and for three days he kept praying, but there was no response from Saagara. On the third day, Rama burst out angrily, “Using courtesy with fools is a waste of time! They understand
Counting Virtues is a funerary custom in Lithuania. Do you know: Women used to wear white handkerchiefs if they were in mourning, as white was the colour of death. It is customary in Lithuania for a female member to count the virtues of the person who has recently passed away. If the deceased had no
Vibheeshana was terribly hurt at being considered a traitor. For him right conduct was essential in every field of life. He left to submit himself to Sri Rama’s service. When the vanara sena saw him coming, they wished to kill him. Vibheeshana bowed to Rama and explained that he had been unable to bring his