A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature c5.1504.2

c5.1504.2

Tall as a mountain peak, he stoped with his arms the sun and moon in their course, and preveted their rising." The terror he inspires is such that where he is "the sun does not give out its heat, the winds do not blow and the ocean becomes motionless." His evil deeds cried alod for vengeance, and the cry reached heaven. Vishnu declared that, as Rāvana had been too proud to seek protection agains men and beasts, he should fall under their attacks, so Vishnu ecame incarnate as Rāma-chandra for the express purpose of desroying Rāvana, and vast numbers of monkeys and bears were created to aid in the enterprise. Rāma’s wars against the Rākshasas inflicted such losses upon them as greatly to incense Rāvana. Burning with rage, and excited by a passion for Sītā, the wife of Rāma, he left his island abode, repaired to Rāma’s dwelling, assumed the appearance of a religious mendicant, and carried off Sītā to Lankā. Rāvana urged Sītā to become his wife, and threatened to kill and eat her if she refused. Sītā persistently resisted, and was saved from death by the interposition of one of Rāvana’s wives. Rāma called to his assistance his allies Su-grīva and Hanumān, with their hosts of monkeys and bears. They built Rāma’s bridge, by which they passed over into Lankā, and after many battles and wholesale slaughter Rāvana was brought to bay at the city of Lankā. Rāma and Rāvana fought together on equal terms for a long while, victory sometimes inclining to one sometimes to the other.