Tiny Tales: Traditional Stories in 100 Words: March 2000

Shiva and the Dancing Monkey

When the god Shiva heard that Vishnu had been born in human form, Shiva wanted to pay his respects. Shiva thus became a street performer, playing his drum while a monkey danced to the beat. Hanuman was that monkey.
The drummer performed for King Dasharatha and his family, and little Rama was enchanted by the dancing monkey. "Let me keep the monkey!" Rama pleaded, and so Hanuman became Rama's pet.
When Vishvamitra took young Rama away to fight the rakshasas, Rama told Hanuman to go to Kishkindha, where they would meet again later, for Vishnu knew what was to come.

Inspired by: A Hanuman tale reported by Philip Lutgendorf: Hanuman's Tale, story 8 — Playmate of Rama.
Notes: There are many different legends that associate Shiva and Hanuman, thus weaving Shiva's presence into the story of Rama; this is one of those legends. It is not in Valmiki's Ramayana.

(young Rama and Hanuman)

Hanuman and the Kite

One day, little Rama and his brothers were flying kites. Rama accidentally let go and his kite soared into the sky. "I will get it back for you," shouted Hanuman.
The monkey leaped up, grabbed the kite string, and then ran up the string. He ran and ran until he reached Indra's heaven. There he met Indra, and Indra's son Jayanta, and Jayanta's wife: Jayanti.
"That boy is very beautiful!" she said. "Who is he?" Hanuman explained that he was Rama, prince of Ayodhya.
Lusting for Rama, Jayanti later appeared on earth as Shurpanakha, ambushing Rama during his forest exile.

Inspired by: A Hanuman tale reported by Philip Lutgendorf: Hanuman's Tale, story 8 — Playmate of Rama.
Notes: Lutgendorf's account does not explicitly state that Jayanti becomes Shurpanakha, but he suggests that possibility, and I included it here. This story is not found in Valmiki's Ramayana, but there is a story about Jayanti's husband, Jayanta: he takes form as the crow that attacks Sita in the forest. The kite here is from a Makar Sankranti festival; you can read more about that festival at Wikipedia.

(kite)

Rama and Hanuman in the Orchard

Rama, looking for food in the forest, found an orchard guarded by a ferocious monkey: Hanuman. They fought, and Rama knocked Hanuman unconscious.
When Shiva saw this, he grew angry. "How dare you!" he shouted, and so Shiva fought Rama. The fight went on and on.
Shiva's wife Parvati then told them to stop. "You are both part of the One!" she reminded them. "There is no need to fight."
Hanuman then regained consciousness and apologized to Rama. "My monkey-nature made me do it," he said.
Rama gladly embraced Hanuman, and so Hanuman, with Shiva's blessing, became Rama's devoted ally.

Inspired by: A Hanuman tale reported by Philip Lutgendorf: Hanuman's Tale, story 9 — Meeting Rama in the Forest.
Notes: In the original story, Lakshmana came to the orchard first and Hanuman knocked him out; Rama then came looking for his brother. This is another one of the legends that associates Hanuman and Shiva; this story is not found in Valmiki's Ramayana. Parvati is Shiva's wife. Pattanaik also reports this story in his book Sita. In the version he reports (from the Mewati Jogis of Rajasthan and their son "Lanka Chadhai"), Hanuman first fights Lakshmana and swallows him! Shiva then fights Rama, but Rama's touch cures Shiva of a skin disease, who then offers Rama two boons: Rama asks that Lakshmana be restored and that Hanuman become his ally.

(Rama and Hanuman)

Ravana Stops Indrajit's Sacrifice

While Ravana was away at war, his son Indrajit stayed in Lanka, performing rituals to obtain weapons and mantras from the gods. His guru Shukra explained how to perform the sacrifices, and his uncle Vibhishana encouraged him. In this way Indrajit had won an everlasting quiver of arrows and the tamasi spell of darkness.
As Indrajit was about to sacrifice to Shiva, Ravana returned. "Stop this at once!" he shouted. "How dare you worship my enemies?!"
Indrajit thus obtained great weapons and power, and he would have obtained even more... if Ravana had not put a stop to his sacrifice.

Inspired by: The Ramayana (Uttara Kanda, 25).
Notes: You can read more about Shukra at Wikipedia.

(Indrajit puppet)

Ravana Consoles Shurpanakha

Ravana brought the widows of his enemies with him to Lanka; they would be his new concubines.
His sister Shurpanakha was also a widow. "My husband died in battle," she screamed, "pierced by your own arrow! I am now a widow, brother, and you are now my enemy."
"Calm yourself," said Ravana. "I hurl arrows in every direction when I fight. Accidents happen. I will honor you with gifts! Take Dandaka forest to be your own; go feast on the humans you find there, and forget your troubles."
So Shurpanakha went to the forest, where she found... Rama and Sita.

Inspired by: The Ramayana (Uttara Kanda, 24).
Notes: The Thai Ramakien offers a more detailed account of Vidyutjihva's death; here's a summary: Totsakan told his nephew Chiuha to guard Longka. But Chiuha fell asleep after wrapping his tongue around the city to hide it. Totsakan was angry when he could not find the city; he threw his discus in the air and it cut through the tongue, so Chiuha drowned in his own blood. Samanakha was furious that her husband was dead.

(Ravana puppet)