Aṅgada
Aṅgada was the son of Vāli, the king of the vānaras, and his wife Tārā. Through Tārā’s line he was a descendant of Bṛhaspati, the preceptor of the devas. After Bhagavān Śrī Rāma killed Vāli, the new king Sugrīva made Aṅgada yuvarāja (crown prince) of Kishkindhā, as Vāli had wished as he lay dying.
Aṅgada performed his father’s last rites. He received Lakshmaṇa when Lakshmaṇa came to Kishkindhā with Rāma’s warning to Sugrīva. He led the southern party in the great search for Sītā, and later he took part in the war in Laṅkā.
Birth and lineage
Aṅgada was born to Vāli and Tārā, two of the most distinguished beings among the vānaras. Vāli was the son of Indra, the king of the devas. He wore a divine golden garland given by his father, which gave him half the strength of any opponent he fought. Tārā came from the line of Bṛhaspati, the preceptor of the devas, and had remarkable gifts of foresight. Aṅgada carried the heritage of both parents. (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Kishkindhā Kāṇḍa, Chapter 22)
His father’s last words
Vāli lay mortally wounded by Rāma’s arrow. His breath was leaving him, and Sugrīva and the vānaras stood around him. His thoughts turned above all to his son. He said to Sugrīva: “Brother, care for Aṅgada as your own son. He is the light of my life. Let him want for nothing.” Vāli gave his divine golden garland to Sugrīva, with a clear instruction that Aṅgada’s welfare and honour must be kept safe.
Then Vāli spoke to Aṅgada himself, with words of lasting counsel: “My son, deal with Sugrīva neither too closely nor too far away. Serve him with the same balance in joy and in sorrow. This is how a wise man lives and prospers in the court of a king. And above all, serve Rāma. Whatever task Rāma gives you, do it without delay and without excuse. To fail Rāma is adharma.” These were among the last words Vāli spoke before his breath left him. (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Kishkindhā Kāṇḍa, Chapters 22–23)
Grief at Vāli’s death
Aṅgada was overcome with grief when his father died. He came to the battlefield with his mother Tārā and fell weeping beside Vāli’s huge body. The great vānara king looked golden even in death, with the arrow still in his chest and his divine ornaments still shining. The sight broke Aṅgada completely. Tārā’s grief had no limit. She clung to Vāli’s body and could not be moved. Aṅgada stood beside her in sorrow. (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Kishkindhā Kāṇḍa, Chapters 22–24)
Performing Vāli’s funeral rites
When the time came to honour Vāli with the proper rites, Aṅgada took his place as the son who must perform them. With the help of the chief vānaras, and under the care of Lakshmaṇa, Aṅgada carried out the whole funeral for his father. He lit the last fire, said the prayers and kept the rites at the river bank. The vānara people gathered to honour their fallen king, and Aṅgada fulfilled his duty as a son with full propriety. (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Kishkindhā Kāṇḍa, Chapter 25)
Appointment as yuvarāja
Sugrīva was crowned king of Kishkindhā under the care of Lakshmaṇa, and Hanumān carried out the details of the coronation. Sugrīva then honoured his brother’s dying wish and made Aṅgada yuvarāja. This fulfilled Vāli’s last request and gave Aṅgada his place in the line of the kingdom with full dignity. (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Kishkindhā Kāṇḍa, Chapters 26–27)
Receiving Lakshmaṇa at Kishkindhā
Sugrīva was slow to gather the vānara armies, and Rāma’s patience at last ran out. He sent Lakshmaṇa to Kishkindhā with a stern warning. Lakshmaṇa arrived in fury. He pulled up trees, the mountains shook as he came, and the vānaras ran in all directions. At this moment Aṅgada stepped forward to receive him. He came out to meet Lakshmaṇa, bowed with respect, gave him a proper welcome, and took him to where Sugrīva sat. His calm and dignity at that hard moment reflected his father’s advice: balance in joy and sorrow alike. (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Kishkindhā Kāṇḍa, Chapter 31)
Leader of the southern search party (Sundara Kāṇḍa)
Sugrīva sent out the search parties. The southern party went in the most important direction, toward Laṅkā, and Aṅgada led it. Hanumān and Jāmbavanta were among its senior members. On the southern shore the whole party sat in despair, for no one could cross the ocean of a hundred yojanas. Aṅgada then declared firmly that their task was to find Sītā or not to return. In this moment Jāmbavanta reminded Hanumān of his own divine power, and the great leap began. So Aṅgada was present at the decisive moment, when Hanumān became fully aware of himself and took up the crossing.
While Hanumān was on his mission in Laṅkā, Aṅgada waited with the rest of the party on Mount Mahendra in great anxiety. Hanumān returned roaring with success. As leader of the expedition, Aṅgada was the first to receive his embrace. Aṅgada praised Hanumān before all the vānaras: “In strength and valour there is none your equal. You alone crossed the ocean. You have saved all our lives.” (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Sundara Kāṇḍa, Chapter 57)
The Madhu Vana (Sundara Kāṇḍa)
On the way back to Kishkindhā the joyful vānaras asked Aṅgada for leave to enter Sugrīva’s Madhu Vana. This was a holy grove under strict royal ban since the time of Ṛksharajas. Aṅgada, carried along by the joy of the whole party at the finding of Sītā, gave leave. The vānaras ate the fruit and honey of the grove, drove off its guards, and left it in joyful ruin. Dadhimukha told Sugrīva of it. Sugrīva then knew for certain that the mission had succeeded. He knew that no vānara under Aṅgada’s lead would enter the forbidden Madhu Vana in this way unless he was full of joy at a great success. (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Sundara Kāṇḍa, Chapter 63)
In the Yuddha Kāṇḍa
Aṅgada had several notable parts in the Laṅkā war. Early in the war, Bhagavān Śrī Rāma chose him as the last messenger to Rāvaṇa, the final chance for peace before the battle was fully joined. Aṅgada went into Laṅkā and came straight to Rāvaṇa’s court. He gave Rāma’s last demand, to return Sītā, and warned Rāvaṇa in words with no doubt in them. Rāvaṇa’s courtiers tried to seize him. Aṅgada lifted his leg free of their grip, showing his great strength, and shook the roof of the assembly hall. Then he left, and Laṅkā’s court was stunned. (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Yuddha Kāṇḍa, Chapter 37)
All through the war Aṅgada fought with great courage and met many of Rāvaṇa’s commanders. He was present at the pattābhisheka (coronation) of Rāma at Ayodhyā, received Rāma’s honour and gifts, and was embraced by Bharata himself. After the coronation he went back to Kishkindhā with Sugrīva’s army. (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Yuddha Kāṇḍa, Chapter 131)
In the Tulasī Rāmāyaṇa: Kishkindhā Kāṇḍa
Receiving Lakshmaṇa. Rāma sent Lakshmaṇa to Kishkindhā, angry at Sugrīva’s delay. The city shook at the sound of Lakshmaṇa’s bowstring and his roar of warning. Aṅgada stepped forward first. He went out to receive Lakshmaṇa with respect and courtesy, calmed the moment with his composure, and then took him in. Sugrīva then sent Tārā, with Aṅgada and Hanumān, to calm Lakshmaṇa fully. When they appeared, Lakshmaṇa’s anger went down. The whole episode ended through Aṅgada’s calm diplomacy.
At the ocean shore. The southern search party reached the great ocean and still had no news of Sītā. Aṅgada broke down in grief. He cried aloud that the deadline had passed, that Sugrīva would punish him, and that he was helpless. His weeping spread sadness through the whole party. His despair was sincere, and it also drew Saṃpāti out of his cave. Aṅgada’s cry of the name of Jaṭāyu stopped the eagle and turned him from a threat into a witness.
Holding the party together. Saṃpāti appeared and threatened to eat them all. Aṅgada rallied his companions: “If we flee this creature, how will we face Rāvaṇa? We must be ready to give our lives in the service of Rāma as Jaṭāyu did.” This steadied the party and led to the fruitful meeting.
Leadership and Jāmbavān’s judgment. In Jāmbavān’s final counsel, each vānara said what he could do to cross the ocean. Jāmbavān held Aṅgada back from trying the leap himself. He said: “You are the yuvarāja and our leader. You cannot risk the return journey being uncertain. We need you here.” This shows the authority Aṅgada held over the party. (Tulasī Rāmāyaṇa, Kishkindhā Kāṇḍa)
In the Tulasī Rāmāyaṇa: Laṅkā Kāṇḍa
The embassy to Rāvaṇa. In the Tulasī version of the Aṅgada-dautya (Aṅgada’s mission as messenger), Rāma sent Aṅgada to Rāvaṇa as a last messenger before war. Aṅgada held a long and brilliant duel of words with Rāvaṇa in the royal sabhā (assembly). He mocked Rāvaṇa’s past defeats at the hands of Bali Cakravartī, Kārtavīryārjuna and Aṅgada’s own father Vāli. Through it all he kept his dignity as a messenger. He challenged Rāvaṇa to move his planted foot if he could. The strongest rākshasa warriors tried, but none could shift Aṅgada’s foot. At last Rāvaṇa himself rose to try. Aṅgada said: “Rāvaṇā! I spare you, for you are my father’s contemporary and so like a father to me. If you touch the feet of Śrī Rāma now, you will reach moksha.” Then he threw Rāvaṇa’s four crowns toward Rāma and left. (Tulasī Rāmāyaṇa, Laṅkā Kāṇḍa)
Battle with Rāvaṇa. In the last fights Aṅgada met Rāvaṇa directly in battle. He leapt from the sky and struck a powerful blow that knocked Rāvaṇa from his chariot. This act against the sovereign of Laṅkā is one of the high points of his courage in the war. (Tulasī Rāmāyaṇa, Laṅkā Kāṇḍa)
Sources
- Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Kishkindhā Kāṇḍa, Chapters 22–31
- Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Sundara Kāṇḍa, Chapters 57–64
- Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Yuddha Kāṇḍa, Chapters 37–131
- Tulasī Rāmāyaṇa, Kishkindhā Kāṇḍa
- Tulasī Rāmāyaṇa, Laṅkā Kāṇḍa
- Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Pūrṇa Kāṇḍa, Chapters 3, 5