Macchanu (Sanskrit: मकरध्वज:), (Thai: มัจฉานุ; RTGS: Matchanu) is son of Hanuman that appears in the Thai and other versions of the Ramayana.[1][2][3][4][5]
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As per these versions of Ramayana, during one of the battles with Ravana's army, Hanuman encounters one powerful opponent, who looked like vanara from waist-up but had tail of a fish. After a fierce battle, as Hanuman was about to hit the creature with his weapons, a golden star shining in the sky above, reveals by way of aakashwani that the enemy, whom he is going to harm is his own son born by his union with Suvannamaccha, the mermaid daughter of Ravana. Hanuman, immediately holds his weapons in mid-air and father-son duo recognize each other.[4][5]
Another version of story tells, while following Maiyarab in order to find Rama and Laxmana, who have been abducted by Maiyarab and taken to his kingdom in netherworld, Hanuman reaches a pond, where he encounters Macchanu. The fight between them is indecisive, therefore, Hanuman is surprised and asks his opponent, who is he. Macchanu introduces himself as son of Hanuman and Suvannamaccha and so they finally identify and embrace each other. He tells Hanuman that Maiyarab is his foster father, who had picked him up lying on sea shore, where his mother had left him. Although, he does not want to betray Maiyarab but tells Hanuman through a riddle the entrance to the netherworld lies inside the lotus in the pond he was guarding.[1][2][3]
See also
edit- Makardhwaja - the son of Hanuman, as per Indian version of Ramayana, where Hanuman is a celibate.
References
edit- ^ a b The Ramayana and the Malay shadow-play by Amin Sweeney, Vālmīki. Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. 1972. pp. 238, 246, 440.
- ^ a b Satya sudhā, a critical evaluation of Dr. Satya Vrat Shastri's creative works by Satya Vrat Varma. Eastern Book Linkers. 1991. pp. 190, 205, 214. ISBN 9788185133539.
- ^ a b Śrīrāmakīrtimahākāvyam: Thāirāmakathāmāśritya praṇītamabhinavaṃ Saṃskr̥tamahākāvyam by Satyavrat Sastri. Mūlāmala Sacadeva Pratiṣṭhānam. 1990. pp. xvi, 224, 282. ISBN 9789748358512.
- ^ a b "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-03-04. Retrieved 2012-11-05.
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: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ a b "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-11-04. Retrieved 2012-11-05.
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: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)