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 The news of a monkey destroying the grove and killing the guards there reached Ravana. Though he could not believe that a monkey could ever kill the mighty rakshasas, he had to concede and send a detachment. It was destroyed. Another and another and yet another were put to the same end. Soon fear spread over the island. It was the intention of Hanuman, for he adopted horrifying ways in killing his pursuers. When abnormal ways are adopted to kill someone, we know that it attracts more attention than the normal ways. Death is certain either someone is stabbed or human-bombed. We are witnesses to the fact that the latter way attracts quick attention and spreads waves of panic faster.
Gruesome ways of killing
Hanuman seems to know this fact. The killing of Sambumali was one such case. Hanuman jumped on the chariot of Sambumali, wrenched his bow from his hand, and bent it to such an extent that the bowstring formed a loop. He then eased the loop over Sambumali's head until it went down around his neck. Hanuman then released the bow. When it sprang back, the bowstring became the deadliest of noose and severed his head. The head flew in the air before it fell to the ground.
Ravana could not believe it. He then sent his five most valiant commanders. When they were also dispatched, he was puzzled. His pride did not permit him to manoeuvre detachments larger than that. He had finally to accept the fact and sent Aksha Kumara, his handsome son. Hanuman destroyed the army that came with him and killed him. And in what manner! He held Aksha Kumara's head by one hand and feet by the other, put him supine on the ground and rolled him over and over again on the earth - like one moves the pestle over the traditional flat grinding stone,
ammi. Blood drenched the earth. Chunks of flesh and puddles of blood and the worn out skeleton of Aksha Kumara remained lying unattended. Nobody dared to go near the corpse shredded down to pieces to collect them, remove them and to perform the obsequies.
 It took Indrajit to capture Hanuman. He had to use the Brahmastra, the most powerful of all warheads of those days to stop him. The mightiest killer just was enough to make him fall unconscious for a while. He was dragged through the streets of Lanka to be produced before Ravana.
When he was thus dragged through the streets, Hanuman was planning is strategy. He was planning his dialogue with Ravana. He was thus far successful in causing terror everywhere in the island though the rakshasas were momentarily rejoicing their power over him, who was bound by the most powerful of weapons, that too was supposed to last only for a short while. His task now was to strike terror in the mind of Ravana or at least shock him. To hit him on the soft spot of his stout ego. To warn him that he is facing a very powerful foe. To remind him of the defeat that he tasted at the hands of Vali. And to tell him that his victor was vanquished by Sri Rama.
Hari Krishnan
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