5. Sambhava Khandam - Rathi and Manmadhan

A statue of Manmadhan with wife Rati engraved on the walls of a temple.

Manmadhan is usually seen having a sugarcane bow in his hand.

His chariot is a parrot. With an arrow and bow of flowers he stirs romance in his targets.

All the Devas had gathered in Brahmas palace in the city of 'Manovathi'. Brahma was sitting in padmasana. Lord Vishnu had also come there. Brahma summoned Manmadhan  by thought. Manmadhan appeared before Brahma with his sugarcane bow and wife Rati. Both of them bowed before Brahma. Brahma blessed the couple.

 Manmadhan asked Brahma the reason for his summoning. Brahma spoke, "Manmadha, you are aware of the atrocities of Surapanman. After all these years of being tortured in his hands, we finally have a chance of destroying him. Lord Shiva himself has told that he will create his son who will be the nemesis of Surapanman. Lord Shiva who has become the guru for the sanagadhi saints (sons of Brahma) and Parvathi who is in deep meditation  in the meru mountain have to be bought together. Your bow and arrow should be a bridge to bring them together. Bringing two people together in love is a skill you were born with. It was you who made Lord Vishnu to fall in love with Brindhai. You made Indira to get attracted to Akalyay. It was you who made even me to become mesmerized with Thilothama.

 After listening to Brahma, Manmadhan replied, " All you say is true. But Lord Shiva has a bad temper. If he gets angry on me for firing my arrow at him and he opens his third eye, then i will cease to exist. You must already be aware of this."

  Hearing Manmadhans argument, Brahma got angry. Brahma said, " Brother, is this a time to argue ? If you dont do as i say so, you will face the wrath of my curse."

  

4. Sambhava Khandam- Reason for the sufferings of the Devas

Many yugas went by when Lord Shiva sat under the banyan tree as Dhakshinamoorthy. Great changes had taken place in the deva loka during this time.
 Using all the boons he received from Lord Shiva, Surapanman had defeated the king of the devas Indira.
 Surapanmans son Banugopan imprisoned the devas and saints. The atrocities of Surapanman grew day by day. Indira was deeply depressed. He decided to ask Lord Shiva for a way to end these sufferings. He began his intense meditation on Lord Shiva. Indira began his meditation in the Meru mountain. He began his meditation with the 'Nama Shivaya' mantra in his thought. He continued his meditation for many years without food or water.
 Impressed by the austereties performed by Indira, Lord Shiva appears before him. Indira woke up from his meditation and bowed before the Lord.
 Lord Shiva asked Indira the reason why he did such austereties keeping him in mind.
 Indira replied, " Oh Lord ! Is there anything that you do not know ? I have lost my self respect because of Surapanman. I lost my throne. I have lost my country Amaravathypattanam. My dear son Jayanthan has been imprisoned. Surapanman has enslaved lakhs of devas. At such times there is no other refuge other than your feet Lord. Please kill Surapanman and help us Lord. "
 Lord Shiva took pity on Indira and told, " Indira ! You and the devas had disrespected me by going to Dakshans yagna. You were by Dhakshans side when he was insulting me. That sin is the reason for your suffering. "
  Indira prayed to the Lord to forgive him. Lord blessed him and told, " Indira, i cannot kill Surapanman myself. He had impressed me with great austerities and has gained many boons from me. He has gained boons to become the king of the entire asura kulam and to rule for 1008 years. No Deva can kill him. The only person who can kill him is a son born from me. " Saying this the Lord disappeared.
  " The son of Lord Shiva will save the race of the Devas ". Bearing this prophecy in mind, Indira began waiting for the day the Lords son will be born. But he was also plagued by a doubt in his mind. Lord Shiva was sitting as guru Dhakshinamoorthy and Eshwari was in meditation in the Meru mountain. When they are so far apart, it is not possible for a son to be born. How can the both of them be brought together ? Indira had no answer for these questions.
   Indira along with Brihaspathi and Lord Brahma discussed his doubts. Lord Brahma then told Indira to go and ask to Lord Vishnu for an answer. So Indira along with Brahma and other Devas and saints went to Vaigundam. There Lord Vishnu was in a resting posture with Sridevi and Boodevi massaging his legs. Indira told Lord Vishnu about his plight and asked how the prophecy of Surapanmans death can become true.
   Lord Vishnu comforted Indira, " Do not worry, Indira. Lord Shiva has told that Surapanmans death will be in the hands of the son born to him. We can be assured that this will happen and the Deva race will be safeguarded. Our only thought now should be on how to make Lord Shiva who is now concentrated on giving knowledge as Dhakshinamoorthy into falling in love with Eshwari. I think Manmadhan is our best hope to divert Lord Shiva. Once he fires his arrow of flowers on the Lord, he will see eshwari. "
  Indira, Brahma and the other Devas took Lord Vishnus blessings and started their work on their new plan.