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INTERVENING STORIES
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to them in strength, in speed and in taking flight respectively. At 7.35-36 Kesarin is called the ruler of Sumeru mountain. The monkeychild is said to be hungry and therefore, he is said to have taken a flight to catch the sun. At that time his mother had gone out to collect some fruits. Vāyu is said to have become cool to protect the child from the scorching heat of the sun. The child is said to have chased Rahu and the elephant of Indra also. Various gods are said to have granted him many boons. In due course Hanumat started destroying the 'āśramas' of Rşis. They all cursed him to forget his own power until he was not reminded of it by some one else. He performed panances and got learned in many Vidyās. The VR does not mention his assistance to Rāvana or his marriage. But at 6.125.44 it is mentioned that when Hanumat took the message of Kāma's return from Laukā, Bharata offered to him sixteen girls in marriage.
In various non-Jaina works there are references to the sons of Hanumat. The Jaimini Bhārata (Merāvana carita) and the Gujarātī Narmakathākoşa mention that a fish drank the sweat of Hanumat as he went to the sea to take bath after burning Lanka and she gave birth to a son. According to the Ananda Rāmāyana (1.9.216), Makaradhvaja was born on that occasion. The Marathi Bhāvārtha Rāmāyana, the Kannarese Mairāvana Kalaga and the Rāmalingāmsta also refer to the son of Hanumat (Bulck, p. 402), According to the western accounts No. 7 and 8, Hanumat copulated with a 'makarī'. The Seri Rama states that his semen fell down at the time of jumping over the sea and the queen of the fishes became pregnant. The Seri Rāma (Pātānr version) and the Hikāyata-mahārāja Rāvana mention that at that time Hanumat begot children on the queen of the fishes.
The Rama Kiyena mentions that Hanumat begot a son on the daughter of Vibhīsaņa (Bulck, p. 401) and another son on the daughter or Rāvana (Bulcke, p. 403).
3. The birth of Nārada :
When Răvana reaches Rajagặha on the occasion of the performance of a sacrifice by king Marutta, Nārada also happens to arrive at that place. Hearing the name of Narada, Śreņika enquires about Nārada, then Gautama narrates the story (9.49.68).
A Brahmin named Brahmarūci leading the life of an anchorite lived in a forest with his wife Kūrmı. Once some monks on having observed that Kūrmi was pregnant, criticised the anchorite for his attachment to his wife and gave a discourse on the fruits of perverse
