I am now reading the chapters that describe the battlefield, where the armies of Rama and Ravana are fighting with one another.  Moments of crisis and conflict and how people respond to it. As I read these chapters, I am left with more of questions than answers – questions on what makes people to rise to challenges / crises. I am sure though that these questions will ring in me, till I get the answers. Where will the answers come from? Read this chapter till the end to know 🙂

Rama’s camp surrounded Lanka and blocked all the entrances to the city. When the army of Ravana knew about it, while some soldiers felt a sense of fear at the thought of a battle ahead, some were joyous looking forward to the battle ahead.

Many times when we anticipate a challenge ahead, some of us are overwhelmed at the very thought of it and draw into a shell. There are some of us though who can feel the Adrenalin pumping in us. There is excitement within us at that time.

 – What is it that makes some of us to look forward to challenges?

 – What do we look forward to, when we anticipate challenges?

 – What are the feelings that we have at these times?

Indrajit (Ravana’s son), when he was being attacked by Angadha (Sugreeva’s son) and was finding it difficult to fight back, decided to become invisible; and attack Rama’s army. Becoming invisible, he attacked Rama and Lakshmana and rendered them helpless. The two most powerful men in Rama’s army, were Rama and Lakshmana themselves. When they were made to a near unconscious state by Indrajit, the army of monkeys feared what would happen next. Sugreeva was even more frightened. Vibheeshana on seeing this, reassured him saying that victory is not assured in battles and that faith is needed. An overdose of emotions will only be detrimental, he shares.  He requests him not to lose hope and that he needs to motivate and inspire the monkey camp.

We see people who seem mentally strong most times, being rendered helpless (due to a physical ailment or some other influencing factor). We also see people around them being impacted by that helplessness. Motivating oneself or inspiring others around is a far cry then.

 – Are people who are mentally strong most times meant to be so, all through their life?

 – Are there times when they find themselves on a weak wicket? If yes, do they show their vulnerability during those times? If they do, how do they show it? If they don’t show their vulnerability, why not?

 – When one is emotionally dependent on the person who is mentally strong and suddenly the latter is rendered helpless,  how does the emotionally dependent person handle themselves?

Rama gains consciousness and on seeing that Lakshmana was lying unconscious next to him, became inconsolable. He expressed his thoughts of how Lakshmana was with him all through his (Rama’s) sorrowful times.. and of what he would say to Sumitra (Lakshmana’s mother).. of how he would follow Lakshmana if he were to die.. he then tells Sugreeva that he could not keep his word of helping Vibheeshana to be crowned the King of Lanka; and that Sugreeva could go back to his kingdom of Kishkintha as Ravana will defeat them if he (Rama) was not there. He also mentions that Sugreeva has done what he could do as a friend. When the monkey army got flustered at Rama speaking like this; and Vibheeshana too breaking down and losing his hope, Sugreeva speaks aloud to Vibheeshana. He says that both Rama and Lakshmana are only unconscious and they will regain their strength and win over Ravana. He then passes orders for Rama and Lakshmana to be taken to Kishkintha, so that they could be healed; and that he would go and fight Ravana, rescue Sita and return.

Even the most mentally strong people sometimes find themselves, in a mental and emotional state that is shaking and low. When two such people working towards a cause find themselves alternatively being on their highs and lows, most times they are able to support one another and the cause as well. It is indeed beautiful to watch the way they support one another at these times, being each others’ pillars of strength. 

 – Isn’t this the law of nature, to have emotions and mental states that are the opposite of one another, at different points in time?

 – Do we always have the opportunity to have someone else who can pull us up, when we are down mentally and emotionally?

 – In a crisis, how do we seek someone to pull us up? or how do we bring ourselves to motivate another?

Garuda the eagle, extends its gesture and brings both Rama and Lakshmana back to mobility. The monkey camp becomes charged and start cheering. Ravana on hearing this, sends one of his leaders Vajradamshtra to lead the Asura army. Vajradamshtra kills many a monkey soldier. The monkey army is frightened on seeing this. They go to Angadha (Son of Vali). Angadha steps in, fights with Vajradamshtra and kills him. Ravana then sends Agambana another leader, to the battle. Hanuman now steps in to fight and slays Agambana. Ravana then calls another leader, Brihastha. He tells Brihastha that his roar will frighten the monkey army and then destroying Rama and Lakshmana will be easy. He then asks Brihastha his opinion and also says that if he has a different opinion he can say it, without a worry of whether Ravana will like it or not.

Brihastha reminds Ravana that this situation has already discussed with all the leaders; and even at that time, there was a difference of opinion between him and Ravana.  He also recalls having requested Ravana to send Sita back to Rama as otherwise a war will begin. He now agrees to go to the battle, as a show of gratitude towards Ravana. Brihastha battles ferociously and causes huge damage to monkey army. This makes Neela, a monkey leader in Rama’s camp to fight Brihastha and also kill him. Ravana hears of this and decides to now enter the battlefield.

I am tempted to talk about the leadership style of Ravana or Rama, as I see it in this situation. However, as this blogpost is more of how people respond to crisis / challenges, I am steering away from blogging about leadership styles.

Be it Angadha, Hanuman or Neela, they seem to know the strength of the people they were fighting against.

 – What made them get into the fight with no hesitation?

 – Was it the confidence and faith they had, on their own strength? 

 – Did they have no fear of what the opponent will do?

 – Was there no fear in them that they would lose or die?

 – Or the only thing on their mind was that they were fighting for a purpose? In which case, the purpose becomes larger than life? 

I know the next few days will be my observing and learning from people, as I see them handling and responding to situations that are challenging. This perhaps will give me the answers to my questions. Though, even as I read on how the people in the two camps stood upto challenges / crises,I can visualize what would have happened. I feel as though I am seeing them handling the situations with grit, and an immeasurable confidence in their own abilities. Visualization is many times due to the power of writing!! My respect for Cho Ramaswami went up by a few notches, just for the way he unfolds this epic!!

 

 

 

 

 

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