Makaradhvaja (Tulasī Rāmāyaṇa)

Makaradhvaja is a son of Hanumān. A fish (makara) swallowed a drop of Hanumān’s sweat that fell into the sea, and Makaradhvaja was born from it. He grew up and came to serve Ahirāvaṇa, the rākshasa lord of Pātāla (the netherworld), as the guardian of the city gate. When Hanumān went down to Pātāla to rescue Rāma and Lakshmaṇa, he met Makaradhvaja at the gate. Hanumān defeated and bound him. After Ahirāvaṇa was killed, Hanumān made Makaradhvaja the new king of Pātāla. The Tulasī Rāmāyaṇa (Tulsīdāsa’s Rāmacaritamānas) tells this in the Laṅkā Kāṇḍa, in the Ahirāvaṇa section.

Birth

The account says Hanumān flew over the sea with great speed, and a drop of his sweat (sveda) fell into the water below. A large fish, a makara, swallowed the drop. By the power of Hanumān’s great tejas (radiance), the fish conceived and gave birth to a son. The son had the form, the features and the strength of his great father. He became known as Makaradhvaja, one who was born of a makara.

Some accounts place this in Hanumān’s crossing of the ocean to Laṅkā, in the Sundara Kāṇḍa. In his own words, Makaradhvaja says it happened when Hanumān came to the ocean shore after the burning of Laṅkā.

Makaradhvaja grew up in the ocean realms. In time he came to serve Ahirāvaṇa, the powerful rākshasa lord of the kingdom of Pātāla under the earth. He was given the task of guarding the city gate, a task that suited his great strength.

Meeting Hanumān

Ahirāvaṇa carried off Rāma and Lakshmaṇa and took them to Pātāla. Hanumān went down at once to follow them. He reached the gate of Ahirāvaṇa’s city and found Makaradhvaja on guard.

Makaradhvaja stopped Hanumān and spoke to him with respect and honesty:

“O Mahātmā! I am your son. My name is Makaradhvaja. When you came to the ocean shore after the burning of Laṅkā, a fish swallowed your sweat-drop and conceived me. Since that day I have been serving here as Ahirāvaṇa’s bhṛtya (servant). Today my master is performing a yajña (fire ritual) to offer Rāma and Lakshmaṇa to a devī. I cannot let you in, for that would betray my master.”

Hanumān felt deep joy inside at his son’s goodness, his bhakti (devotion) to his master and his honesty. But Rāma had to be rescued at once, and there was no other way. Father and son fought a dvandva-yuddha (a fight between the two alone). After a fierce battle Hanumān overcame Makaradhvaja and bound him. Then he entered the city.

Crowned king of Pātāla

Hanumān killed Ahirāvaṇa and rescued Rāma and Lakshmaṇa. Then he returned to his bound son and set him free. He formally made Makaradhvaja the new king of Pātāla, the realm that Ahirāvaṇa had ruled. With Rāma’s blessing and Hanumān’s installation, Makaradhvaja took the rule of the kingdom of Pātāla. Hanumān then carried Rāma and Lakshmaṇa back to the world above.

Sources

• Tulasī Rāmāyaṇa (Rāmacaritamānas), Laṅkā Kāṇḍa, Ahirāvaṇa section
• Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Pūrṇa Kāṇḍa, Chapter 5