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In the epic story of the Ramayana, the demon Kalanemi becomes a formidable enemy of Lord Hanuman, and their encounter holds great significance in the context of Sanjivani and Lakshman's revival.

Characters in the story:

Lord Ram: Lord Rama is one of the most revered deities in Hinduism and is the seventh avataar of Lord Vishnu. He is known for his virtues of righteousness, courage, and devotion, and is considered a symbol of ideal human behavior and the victory of good over evil.

Hanuman: Hanuman is a revered deity in Hinduism, known for his unwavering devotion to Lord Rama and his incredible strength, symbolizing courage, loyalty, and selflessness.

Kalanemi: Kalanemi is a demon mentioned in various adaptations of the Hindu epic Ramayana. He is the son of Maricha, who was tasked by Ravana, the epic’s main antagonist to kill Hanuman. Although not part of Valmiki Ramayana, his encounter with Hanuman has been described in several versions, he was defeated by Hanuman.

Lakshman: Lakshman is a prominent character in the Hindu epic Ramayana, where he is depicted as the younger brother of Lord Rama and a loyal companion in his journey to rescue his wife Sita from the demon king Ravana.

Maricha: Maricha is a demon, whom Lord Rama killed. He is mentioned as an ally of Ravana. His most notable exploit is his role in the kidnapping of Sita, Rama’s wife. Hanuman killed his son Kalanemi.

Vaidya Sushen: Vaidya Sushen was the royal physician of Lanka who told Lord Rama about the Sanjeevani herb for Lakshman.

The formidable adversary of Hanuman, known as Demon Kalanemi, frequently appears in various retellings of the Hindu epic Ramayana. While the details of his character and role may vary across different versions of the story, one consistent element is his encounter with the mighty Hanuman.

Kalanemi is often portrayed as the offspring of Maricha, a demon who faced defeat at the hands of Lord Rama at the request of the sage Vishvamitra. Maricha made multiple attempts to harm Rama but had to flee each time. Eventually, he assumed the guise of a golden deer, aiding in the kidnapping of Sita by Ravana. Nevertheless, Maricha met his end at the hands of Lord Rama, and this fueled Kalanemi’s desire for revenge against Lord Rama for his father’s demise.

His opportunity for vengeance arose during the epic battle between Lord Rama’s army and Ravana’s forces when Indrajita, Ravana’s son, used the deadly Vasavi Sakthi weapon against Lakshman. Lakshman fell unconscious, teetering on the brink of death with sunrise as his deadline. Vaidya Sushen, the royal physician of Lanka, informed Lord Rama about the life-saving Sanjeevani herb found in the Himalayas. Lord Rama then entrusted Hanuman with the task of retrieving this precious herb.

Ravana, keen to thwart Lord Rama’s efforts, sought the assistance of Kalanemi. He instructed Kalanemi to prevent Hanuman from completing his mission. Kalanemi possessed various demonic powers, including shape-shifting and illusions, which he intended to use in a cunning plan. He assumed the guise of a sage and established a magical hermitage near a tranquil Himalayan lake. His aim was to lure Hanuman with rest and guidance in locating the elusive herb.

Upon reaching the hermitage, Hanuman was offered refreshments by Kalanemi, who also offered his assistance. However, Hanuman remained steadfast in his dedication to his mission, declining the refreshments and opting to take a bath in the lake instead. Unfazed, Kalanemi released a crocodile into the water, hoping it would eliminate Lord Hanuman. To his astonishment, Hanuman swiftly killed the crocodile, which then transformed into an apsara, a celestial nymph. This apsara had been cursed to assume the form of a crocodile, but Hanuman’s actions had liberated her. In gratitude, she revealed Kalanemi’s nefarious intentions to Hanuman, who now understood the urgency of saving Lakshman.

Upon his return to confront Kalanemi, Hanuman captured and bound the demon before continuing his journey. In an alternative version of the story, Hanuman encountered Kalanemi on his way back to Lanka, taking him by surprise as Kalanemi believed the crocodile had already dispatched Hanuman. In this encounter, Hanuman exposed Kalanemi’s true form and defeated the demon with a powerful stomp.

It’s important to note that Kalanemi’s narrative does not originate from the original Valmiki Ramayana but has been incorporated into various adaptations and retellings, such as the Adhyatma Ramayana. Different versions may alter the specifics of how Kalanemi attempted to hinder Hanuman’s progress, but his role as an adversary of Hanuman remains a consistent theme. In some renditions, he uses storytelling to delay Hanuman, while in others, he employs shape-shifting to confuse Hanuman. The figure often depicted beneath Hanuman’s foot in certain artworks symbolizes Kalanemi, emphasizing his defeat by the formidable Hanuman in these stories.

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