Viramāṇi

Viramāṇi was the righteous king of Devapura, a magnificent city at the Vindhya mountain. He was a devoted bhakta (devotee) of Bhagavān Śiva, and Rudra always protected him. Devas, asuras and yakṣas bowed their heads to him.

At first Viramāṇi did not approve when his son Rukmāṅgada seized the aśvamedha (horse yajña) horse. But when Śatrughna’s army came, he chose to fight. In a great battle even Śatrughna and Hanumān were made unconscious. In the end Viramāṇi surrendered before the divine presence of Bhagavān Rāma and returned the horse.

Kingdom and character

Viramāṇi ruled Devapura, a city of great beauty at the sacred Vindhya mountain, where Bhagavān Śiva had made his home. Even the houses of ordinary people were made of silver. Gateways of ruby were ringed with many-coloured gems. Floors of crystal shone in every home, and mountains of sapphire, made for pleasure, rose in the courtyards.

The Padma Mahā Purāṇa calls Viramāṇi the chief among righteous kings. He ruled a large kingdom full of every comfort. He was especially devoted to Bhagavān Śiva and enjoyed his protection.

Rukmāṅgada seizes the horse

Viramāṇi’s brave son Rukmāṅgada was playing in a beautiful forest with his companions when the aśvamedha horse came there. His companions urged him on. Rukmāṅgada seized the horse and brought it in triumph to his father’s palace.

Viramāṇi did not approve. He thought it was the act of a thief. He took the matter to his patron deva, Bhagavān Śiva. Bhagavān Śiva advised him to let the horse go and not to fight Śatrughna, who was Rāma’s brother.

The decision to fight

Despite the advice of Bhagavān Śiva, Viramāṇi felt bound by royal honour and by loyalty to his son. He chose to stand firm and meet Śatrughna’s army in battle.

In the great battle that followed, Rukmāṅgada fought Puṣkala, and Viramāṇi fought Śatrughna himself. The battle was fierce. Campaka captured Puṣkala in the end. Viramāṇi’s greater power made Śatrughna unconscious on the battlefield. Hanumān was sent to revive the fallen heroes, and he too was made unconscious.

Surrender before Rāma

Bhagavān Rāma himself came down onto the battlefield, and the whole confrontation changed. Viramāṇi was a devotee of Bhagavān Śiva, who had told him not to fight. He now recognised the divine nature and supremacy of Bhagavān Rāma. Before the divine presence of Bhagavān Rāma his pride melted away.

He surrendered, laid his kingdom at the feet of Bhagavān Rāma and returned the sacrificial horse. The bound heroes Śatrughna, Puṣkala and Hanumān were all set free. Bhagavān Rāma revived those who had fallen.

Sources

• Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Pātāla Khaṇḍa, Chapter 39 (Devapura, the seizure of the horse)
• Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Pātāla Khaṇḍa, Chapters 41–44 (the battle)
• Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Pātāla Khaṇḍa, Chapters 45–46 (the surrender)