Extra Credit Reading Notes : Mahiravana

 

(Wikimedia)

Hanuman swallows the pavilion of Ram to protect him from Maiyarap (Ahiravan), the demon king of the underworld.

Reading Notes: 

• Mahiravana (also called Ahiravana?) is Ravana's magician son, who is the king of the Nether world. 
• Ravana calls upon Mahiravana to help him defeat Rama.
• Vibhishana shapeshifted to a bird to find out about Ravana's next move and then informed Rama about Mahiravana. 
• Hanuman extended his tail and started making a fortress with his tail. Inside of the fortress, Rama sat on Sugreeva's lap while Lakshmana sat on Angada's lap. The fortress was then topped off with the Sudarshan (a powerful discus) to protect everyone. 
• Hanuman guarded the door while Vibhishana guarded all around. 
• Mahiravana had plans to take Rama and Lakshmana to the Nether world and sacrifice them to the goddess Durga. 
• Mahiravana shapeshifted into Vibhishana and was let inside the fortress by Hanuman. Hanuman was fooled. 
• As Hanuman and the real Vibhishana rushed inside, they find out that Rama and Lakshmana have been kidnapped and taken to the Nether world through an underground tunnel. All the other warriors were fast asleep due to the magic spell.
• Hanuman reached the Nether world through the tunnel created by Mahiravana.
• Hanuman found Rama and Lakshmana, but they were locked inside a chamber. Then, Hanuman went to goddess Durga to ask for help. They came up with a plan.
• Hanuman made himself invisible and followed the princes as they were taken for the sacrifice.
• Mahiravana asked the princes to bow before the goddess, but they pretended they do not know how to bow. Mahiravana got angry but bowed in front of Durga to show the princes how to do it. Hanuman took this opportunity and severed his head with a sword.
• Mahiravana was dead, and Ram and Lakshmana returned safely to the camp with Hanuman.

Bibliography: Mahiravana