Stories from the Ramayana

The Ramayana - I

Are your children familiar with the Ramayana? Introduce them to India's favourite legend, one step at a time. After letting them know a little of the story, have a discussion centered around the Ramayana to find out how much they have learned, and the qualities they have imbibed. The Ramayana is rich with examples of model behavior such as devotion to parents, love for siblings, the importance of keeping a promise and the ultimate triumph of good over evil. In our Ramayana series we will be providing you with snippets of information to brush up your own memory and help you better narrate the story to your children.

Rama's father

Rama was born to King Dashratha, ruler of Ayodhya. The King, who had three wives, was issueless for many, many years. He sought the advice of Sage Vashishtha, who counseled the King to perform a Yagya. Dashratha performed a huge Yagya under the guidance of the learned Sage Shringi. Lord Agni, the god of fire, appeared in the sacred fire with a bowl of kheer in his hand, and gave it to Dashratha, telling him to feed the kheer to his wives and they will bear children.

King Dashratha's wives

King Dashratha had three wives: Kaushalya, Kaikayee, and Sumitra. The King gave half the kheer to Kaushalya and half to Kaikayee, each of who gave half of their share to Sumitra. Months later, Kaushalya gave birth to Rama, Kaikayee gave birth to Bharat and Sumitra gave birth to the twins, Lakshman and Shatrughan.

The brothers were very close and loved each other a lot. In fact, their love was so strong that they could even sacrifice their lives for each other.

Kaikayee's boon

Once, when King Dashratha was in the battlefield with Kaikayee by his side, a nail fitted in the axis of his chariot wheel, came off. Kaikayee saw this and inserted her little finger in the space to make sure the wheel does not fall off. As a result, Dashratha could continue the battle uninterrupted, and emerged victorious. When he saw how Kaikayee had aided him, he promised to grant her any two boons she desired.

Vishwamitra's weapons

Ravana, the demon king with the ten heads, had been persecuting humanity for a long time. As a result of years of rigorous penance, Sage Vishwamitra had acquired divine weapons which could be used by the incarnation of Vishnu to kill Ravana. It had been prophesised that Ravana would die by the hands of the firstborn of Dashratha. Sage Vishwamitra thus set out to bestow Rama with the weapons. When he reached Ayodhya, Dashratha welcomed him and sent Rama and Lakshman, although with much hesitation, to accompany Vishwamitra into the forest to fight some demons who were disturbing Vishwamitra's presence. Vishwamitra requested that Rama accompany him because he wanted to first ensure that Rama was indeed the savior, before handing the weapons over to him.

The Ramayana - II

Read about Rama's journey in the forest with Vishwamitra,

Vishwamitra and the young Rama set off for the forest along with Lakshman, who insisted on accompanying his beloved brother. They journeyed for many days and every time they stopped to rest awhile, Vishwamitra took the opportunity to discuss the sacred weapons with Rama. They continued uneventfully on the journey until they reached the foot of a dark and demonic forest filled with demons of prey.

Tataka or Taraka

Tataka was an enormous she-demon and mother of Marich, who terrorized the forest. Rama, Lakshmana and Vishwamitra entered the forest and with each step they kept going deeper and deeper until suddenly the monstrous Tataka appeared before them. She was huge, repulsive, and wore a necklace of skulls around her neck. When she accosted Rama and Lakshman, she sent off a shower of stones hurtling towards them, which they combated with arrows. Vishwamitra told Rama to "be safe, and be victorious". This, in a way, was an ambiguous order, as Rama was not directly commanded to kill her. Had he received a direct order to kill her, he would have done so since his father had told him that he was to obey Vishwamitra at all times.

Although Rama still could have killed her using his own discretion, he was faced with an enigma since she was female and Rama's principles would not allow him to kill a female. Thus, Rama shot two arrows, cutting off her arms. Tataka then started shrieking and wailing loudly, causing Lakshman to fire arrows and cut off her nose and ears. By way of sorcery she then became invisible and continued assailing the three with huge boulders, but Rama and Lakshmana combated the boulders with their arrows, causing the boulders to split into harmless stones. Vishwamitra then told Rama to set aside his compassion and clearly commanded him to kill her before the sun sets since after dusk and until dawn demons are invincible. Then Rama, guided by sound alone, killed her with a powerful arrow. Vishwamitra and the Gods in heaven were overjoyed and the forest, free from Tataka's hold, became a beautiful and heavenly abode once again.

Mareech and Subahu

After Rama slayed Tataka, Vishwamitra handed the divine weapons over to Rama. They then continued on their journey. A few days later they came across another picturesque forest, which is haunted by Mareech, Subahu and other demons. They guarded Vishwamitra as he performed his rituals for six days and six nights, until the demons arrived to disturb the rituals. Rama shot Mareech with the Manava missile, hurling him a distance of a hundred 'yojans', into the ocean. However, he did not kill Mareech. (Mareech then later on tries to dissuade Ravana from his plans of kidnapping Sita, and agrees to assume the form of a deer to lure Rama away from Sita.) Rama killed Subahu, who was the more vicious of the demons and proceed to destroy the accompanying rakshasas. By doing this Rama endeared himself to all the Sadhus, who were now free to perform their rituals without any hindrances by the demons.

Next: Rama meets Ahilya

Rama Weds Sita

Rama frees Ahilya while journeying towards Janakpuri. He attends the Swayamvara and breaks the bow, winning Sita's hand.

After the death of the demons the sages were free to perform their prayers without any disturbance. Rama and Lakshman stayed on in the forest under the tutelage of Vishwamitra, who taught them the Vedas and other scriptures. Time passed by, and then one day Vishwamitra received an invitation from King Janak, ruler of Janakpur, to attend the Swayamvar (choosing of groom) ceremony of his daughter, Sita. Kings, princes and sages from all over were invited to attend the ceremony to win the hand of the beautiful princess. Vishwamitra asked Rama and Lakshman to accompany him, and so the three set out for Janakpur.

On the way to Janakpur they passed by a deserted cottage besides which lay the stone statue of Ahilya. According to legend, Ahilya was the wife of the learned Gautam Rishi. Ahilya was thought to be the most beautiful woman on earth, and hearing of her beauty, Lord Indira disguised himself as her husband and entered the home when Gautam had gone to bathe in the holy river, and seduced her. When Indira was leaving the hut after the seduction, he was met by Gautam who had guessed what had happened. So enraged was he that he cursed Indira by turning him into a eunuch, and he turned his wife into stone. He then added that she would be turned to a woman when the son of Dashrath touches her statue with his foot.

Rama then touched the stone statue with his foot and released Ahilya from her curse, turning her into a woman again. Ahilya thanked him and offered her prayers.

They proceeded onwards, stopping to take a dip in the holy river Ganga, and finally reached the beautiful kingdom of Janakpur. King Janak himself welcomed the sage. Vishwamitra introduced Rama and Lakshman to the King as the brave and divine sons of King Dashrath. Later on the brothers set out to visit the kingdom when they chanced upon Sita in a temple. Rama was immediately enraptured by her beauty, and Sita, in turn, fell in love with Rama. She prayed that she be wed to Rama.

Soon, the Swayamvara ceremony was held. A large, heavy bow of Lord Shiva, was placed in the center of the swayamvara hall, and Lord Janak announced that the person who managed to string the bow would win the hand of the fair Sita. The ceremony was open to all, and one by one every man in the room tried his hand at stringing the bow, but none of them could even lift it. Then all the kings collectively tried to lift the bow, but they still did not succeed. King Janak was now confronted with the prospect of Sita remaining unmarried, and he was overwhelmed with worry. Finally, it was Lord Rama's turn. As he walked towards the bow, and Sita's heart sank, sure that if such rugged and brave Kings could not even lift the bow, then the young and slender Rama would surely fail to do so as well. But Rama said a prayer and in one breath lifted the bow, strung it, and broke it into two with a thundering sound. Everyone was astounded and immediately broke into cheers. Sita walked up to Lord Rama and placed a garland around his neck. And so, they were wed.

Manthara's Poisonous Tongue

After the wedding ceremony, Dashrath decides that he will hand over the throne to Rama. Hearing this, Manthara poison's Kaikaiyee's mind.

After Rama had been chosen as the groom, King Janak sent a messenger to Ayodhya to invite Dashrath for the marriage ceremony. Dashrath was overjoyed with the news, and instructed Bharat to make arrangements for the departure of the procession. Horses, elephants and chariots were decorated and the Sage Vashishta also joined the procession, which set off for Janakpuri. The roads leading to Janakpuri were repaired, bridges were built and motels were constructed along the way, to ensure the smooth journey of the 'baraat'.

When they reached Janakpur they were welcomed very warmly. King Janak had made elabourate arrangements for their reception, and everything went off smoothly. Then Rama and Lakshman came forth to greet their father and embrace their brothers Bharat and Shatrughan. The days leading to the marriage ceremony were joyous and festive.

Brides for the brothers had also been chosen under the guidance of Sage Vashisht, and so all four brothers we wed together. Rama wed Sita, Lakshman wed Urmila, Bharat wed Mandavi and Shatrughan wed Shrutikeerti. After the ceremony and the wedding feast, red betel leaves and nuts were served to the guests, and this tradition of serving paan after dinner is still upheld in India.

Next morning the wedding procession departed after teary goodbyes and blessings were bestowed on the couples. Meanwhile, back in Ayodhya, excitement was in the air and preparations were being made for the reception of the newly-weds. The people of Ayodhya decorated their houses and there was dancing, singing and rejoicing when the King returned with the princes and their brides. The people of Ayodhya now had just one wish in their hearts - that King Dashrath passes the thrown over to Rama. Then one morning when Dashrath looked at the mirror and saw his first grey hair appear, he was struck by the realization that he was growing old. He decided that it was time to hand over the thrown to his firstborn, and announced his decision to his subjects and his children. Rama was skeptical, as he felt he was no more deserving of the crown than were his brothers, but everyone else was overjoyed at the prospect of him becoming King. Everyone else, except for one old maid: Manthara.

Manthara was Kaikaiyee's maid, and was jealous that Kaushalya's son was becoming King instead of Kaikaiyee's son. She conveyed her feelings to Kaikaiyee, who was at first upset to hear anything said against Rama. "I love Rama more than I do my own son," said Kaikaiyee, and reprimanded Manthara for daring to speak against her soon-to-be King. Manthara very cunningly praised Kaikaiyee for her innocence. She subtly continued to poison Kaikaiyee's mind against Rama and Kaushalya, and said that King Dashrath had chosen to coronate Rama at the time when Bharat was out of the kingdom. No thought was given to Bharat's presence at this important time, and when Rama is King, even less thought would be given to Bharat or to Kaikaiyee. She went on to say that Kaikaiyee would have to do Kaushalya's bidding and serve her.

Manthara's words shook Kaikaiyee to the core, and she asked Manthara what she should do.

Rama's Banishment

Kaikayee demands that Rama be banished for fourteen years and Bharat be crowned King.

Many years ago, when Dashrath was on the battlefield, Kaikayee had saved his life. As a result, Dashrath had granted her two boons, and Kaikayee had stated that she would ask that the boons be granted when the time arose. Manthara reminded Kaikayee of the boons that she was to ask of Dashrath, and told her that the time to demand that

Dashrath fulfill his promise had arrived. She counseled Kaikayee to ask that Bharat be crowned King, and that Rama be banished from the kingdom for a period no less than fourteen years.

Kaikayee then removed all her jewellery, lay down on the floor in her bedroom, and called for her husband. When Dashrath heard that Kaikayee was in a bad temper, he went to console her and inquire what the matter was. Seeing Kaikayee in this state greatly disturbed him and he rushed by her side to find out what he can do for her. Kaikayee then asked him if he remembered the two boons he had granted her, and would he be willing to fulfill them. The unsuspecting King answered that he certainly would. Kaikayee then asked for Bharat's coronation, and demanded that Rama be exiled to the forest in the guise of a hermit.

Hearing this, King Dashrath almost passed out with pain. He then begged Kaikayee to ask for anything else, but not to be so harsh as to send his beloved son away to the forest for fourteen years! Dashrath even offered to give up his life instead, but to spare Rama. He said he loved all his sons equally, and the only reason he was crowing Rama king was because he was the eldest. But if it meant so much to Kaikayee, he would happily crown Bharat king. Rama had no greed for the throne, and he would not care if he was not made king! He thus pleaded with Kaikayee not to demand that Rama be sent into exile. However, Kaikayee was unperturbed, and stated that if Rama was not banished before dawn, Dashrath would have to face up to the fact that he had broken his promise, and Kaikayee would take her life.

King Dashrath was a man of his word, and he had to keep his promise even if it was tearing him apart. He then summoned Rama to Kaikayee's chambers. When Rama arrived, he saw his father lying down on the floor, passed out. When he asked Kaikayee what the matter was, Kaikayee told Rama about the two boons, and the demands she had made. Rama stated that nothing would give him more joy than to pass the chance to be King to Bharat, and added that he would willingly go into exile and uphold his father's promise.

Rama then broke the news to his mother Kaushalya, who was heartbroken, and to Sita, who insisted on accompanying him. Rama tried to dissuade her, but she refused to change her mind, saying that a wife's place is by her husband. Lakshman too insisted on accompanying his elder brother. So, early next morning, before the break of dawn, Rama, Lakshman and Sita left Ayodhya after a tearful and shocked farewell.

The Departure

When Rama set out for the forest, the citizens of Ayodhya insisted on accompanying him.

When Rama, Lakshman and Sita were leaving for the forest, a broken-hearted Dashrath pleaded with Rama not to honour the promise he had made to Kaikayee and to refuse to go into exile. Rama said that it was his duty as a son to honour a promise made by his father, and that he would never let his father break his word. This shows the importance a promise carried, and how a person with a high moral character would suffer anything, but would not break it. Kaushalya then pleaded with Rama to let her join him, but Rama refused, and said that a wife should stay with her husband. He asked his mother to look after his father who was broken-hearted and would need her by his side at this time.

Along with Dashrath, the citizens of Ayodhya too pleaded with Rama not to leave, and when Rama did not relent, they stated that they too would accompany Rama into exile for fourteen years, and would live with him in the forest. Rama tried to talk them out of it, but they refused to listen and followed him along with cries of "Dhik twam Dashratham",

or "Shame on you, Dashrath!"

This shows the freedom and the power of the public in that era, and shows that democracy existed in its own form centuries ago in India. No major decision was ever taken without first consulting with the people and courtiers. Even when Dashrath made the decision of crowning Rama king, he made the decision in consultation with his ministers and courtiers, and the decision had the hearty approval of his subjects.

Thus shouting slogans against Dashrath and declaring their love for Rama, the people of Ayodhya followed Rama, Lakshman and Sita out of the boundaries of Ayodhya. When night fell, the procession halted to take a rest. Rama, Lakshman, Sita and Sumant, who was escorting the three to the forest, pretended to be asleep. Seeing them sleep, the people too decided to call it a night and soon fell into deep slumber. Rama, Lakshman, Sita and Sumant then quietly slipped out. They kept on going until they reached the banks of a river. They approached a boatman, who recognised them immediately. He begged Rama to wash his feet before stepping into the boat, saying, "When you touched a stone with the dust of your feet, it turned into a woman! (Ahilya). My boat is simple, and made of wood. If it turns into a woman, what will I do to earn a living?"

Rama willingly obliged, washed his feet and stepped into the boat. Sumant took their leave at this stage, and the three crossed the river. When they reached the other side, Rama was distraught since he had no means to repay the boatman. The boatman stated that simply giving him the opportunity to serve Rama was payment enough.

It needs to be remembered that the Ramayana was written by various people, and the two most prominent versions are by Valmiki and by Tulsidas. Valmiki wrote of Rama as a human being and a ruler much loved by his people, while Tulsidas wrote of him as a God, to be worshiped.

Dashrath Passes Away

The grief of being apart from his son for fourteen years was too much to bear for Dashrath, and soon after Rama departed, Dashrath breathed his last.

After crossing the river Ganges, Rama, Lakshman and Sita disembarked. Sumant had departed in grief, after requesting them to return with him to Ayodhya as per Dashrath's pleas. The three were now accompanied by Nishadraj. Nishadraj had welcomed them into his home the previous night, but Rama had refused to enter, saying that he was in exile and was to live like a hermit. The three then changed into ascetic robes, and took leave of Sumant before crossing the river. Rama requested Nishadraj to go back as well, but Nishadraj refused, requesting Rama to let him stay with them at least for a few days, to help him through his journey in the forest. Rama agreed.

The four of them carried on until they reached the dwellings of Sage Bharadwaj. Sage Bharadwaj was a renowned rishi and had a multitude of followers, who would visit his ashram to hear his talks. He was also a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. When Rama came to visit him, the sage too tried to persuade Rama to return to Ayodhya, but Rama again stated that he would not do so. Sage Bharadwaj's followers all came to pay their respects to Rama.

Rama spent the night at the ashram, and the next morning sought the sage's permission to leave. Bharadwaj's followers too insisted on accompanying Rama through the forest! Bharadwaj sent four of his followers to accompany and look after Rama, and gave Rama his blessings.

The party then journeyed for a while longer, until finally Rama requested them all to

return to their homes. He also took leave of Nishadraj, who departed unwillingly. The three of them then set off on their own.

In the meanwhile, as Dashrath lay in bed in Ayodhya calling out to his son to come back to him, he remembered an incident that had happened many many years ago, and realised that he was about to breathe his last, pining for his son in the same manner as was foretold. And true enough, when Sumant returned to Ayodhya, Dashrath had passed away.

The Curse

Many years ago, King Dashrath had gone deer hunting in the forest. He saw something move that he mistook to be a deer, and fired an arrow. To his dismay, he heard a human voice cry out in pain. Dashrath rushed to the spot and saw a young lad, Shravan Kumar, lying on the ground, badly wounded and bleeding. Shravan then told Dashrath that he had been taking water to his parents, who were old and blind, and he requested that Dashrath deliver the water to his parents and give them the news that their son was no more. So saying, Shravan Kumar passed away.

A grief-stricken Dashrath then took the water to the blind parents, who had been waiting for the return of their son. He broke the news to them, and begged them for forgiveness. The heartbroken parents then told Dashrath that just as they will now die pining for their son, so too will Dashrath lose the son he loves most, and will die pining for him.

Bharat Returns

Dashrath's death sent waves of shock throughout the kingdom of Ayodhya. Bharat, who was now to rule, was sent for.

Dashrath's passing away sent waves of shock throughout the kingdom of Ayodhya. Bharat, who was in Rajagriha visiting his maternal grandparents along with Shatrughan, was sent for.

Bharat too had started feeling restless and wanted to return to Ayodhya. He had had a bad dream, which had upset him greatly. His friends tried to cheer him up and enquired about the dream. Bharat answered that in his dream he saw his father fall from the top of a mountain into a pool defiled by cow dung. Dashrath then started laughing and drinking oil. After this, Bharath also saw an ocean dry up, the moon crash on the ground, mountains vanish into dust and other bad omens in his dream. He thus had a strong feeling that something was not quite right. The charioteer and messengers then arrived to take the brothers back to Ayodhya, but they had been given strict instructions not to convey the bad news to Bharat.

As the brothers neared the kingdom, Bharat noticed that the city was very quiet and gloomy. They reached the palace and Bharat anxiously looks for his father. Upon being unable to find it, he seeks out Kaikayee. When Kaikayee sees her beloved son, she runs to him and embraces him. She enquires after her parents and her brother, and Bharat informs her that all were well.

Bharat then enquires after Dashrath, and Kaikayee very slyly tries to disguise the tragedy by pretending as though she is conveying good news. She lets him know delightfully that Dashrath has passed away, as all people do, and that Bharat will now rule Ayodhya. Bharat, who loved his father deeply, was gripped by grief and fell to the ground in pain and shock. He then asked where his brothers Rama and Lakshman were, and Kaikayee said that they had been banished to the forest. Hearing this, Bharat was

greatly surprised, as he could not imagine his brothers wronging anyone - so why would they be punished in this manner. Kaikayee then told Bharat everything, and added that she had done it all for Bharat. She stated that Bharat should rule with courage, and the kingdom and citizens of Ayodhya were dependent on him now.

Kaikayee's words shocked Bharat, and he now looked at her as he had never seen her before, with hatred in his eyes. He expressed grief at her behaviour and her greed, and blamed her for the death of his father, and added that he would never rule Ayodhya. He would instead go to the forest, bring back his brothers, and would serve as their attendant. Bharat and Shatrughan then go to meet Kaushalya, who, faint with grief, falls down as they approach her. Seeing her in this state move both brothers to tears. They rush to help her up, but she shuns them. She looks at Bharat with distrust in her eyes, and tells him that the kingdom he so desired was now his. Her harsh words pierced Bharat's soul, and he fell to her feet swearing that he knew absolutely nothing about any of this, and that to blame him would be grave injustice. He then harshly cursed the person who was responsible for all that had happened, and begged Kaushalya to accept him as her son. Kaushalya, seeing Bharat's genuine pain, embraced him. Bharat, submerged by grief, lost consciousness.

Bharat Leaves for Chitrakoot

Bharat refuses to accept the throne, and decides instead to leave for Chitrakoot, meet with Rama, and persuade him to return.

Soon after Bharat had returned and overcome the shock of his father's death, the ministers of Ayodhya, in consultation with sages like Vashishta and Vamdeo, decided it was time Bharat took over the throne. After all, no kingdom should remain without a ruler indefinitely, and Bharat was a wise, able administrator. Furthermore, it had been decreed by Dashrath that Bharat be crowned king, and his wishes should be honoured.

When the sages approached Bharat and requested him to agree to be crowned King, Bharat was very hesitant. All tried to persuade him by telling him that this was his father's wish, and that his brothers would be very happy indeed to know that Ayodhya was in able hands and Bharat was the ruler. Kaushalaya too requested Bharat to accept the crown, and gave her heartfelt blessings to her son who had done no wrong.

Bharat, however, was deeply unhappy, and had a burning desire to meet Rama. He was not keen on ruling Ayodhya and strongly felt that Rama was the rightful ruler. He was determined to bring Rama back to Ayodhya, and declared that he would leave for Chitrakoot the next morning.

Everyone heartily approved of Bharat's decision to visit his brothers at Chitrakoot. The ministers immediately started making preparations, on Bharat's orders, for the coronation ceremony. Bharat had decided that he would crown Rama as King and would bring him back to rule Ayodhya.

The next morning an entire procession departed with Bharat. Kaushalya arranged for chariots for all the members of the procession, as she felt that they were too weak to travel on foot. The people of Ayodhya were already very weak due to being depressed by Rama's leaving, and continuous fasting as they prayed for his safe and quick return.

The procession carried on for hours, and when they reached the river Ganga, Nishadraj heard of Bharat's arrival and was disturbed by the news. If Bharat wanted to meet Rama, why did he need to be accompanied by so many others? His doubts lead him to believe that Bharat probably wanted to kill his brothers so he could rule Ayodhya in peace for the rest of his life. He then commanded his troops to remain on alert and be ready to battle in case need arises, and went onward to greet the procession. He introduced himself as a

friend of Shri Rama.

When Bharat realized that this was his beloved brother's friend, he jumped down from his chariot and embraced Nishadraj. Seeing the pure love for Rama in Bharat's eyes, Nishadraj immediately realized that Bharat was indeed going to persuade Rama to return to Ayodhya and not to kill him. Then Bharat and the procession stayed the night as guests of Nishadraj, and crossed the Ganges the next morning. The procession continued onwards until it reached the hermitage of Sage Bhardwaj. The wise sage spoke to Bharat and advised him not to feel guilty about what had happened. He reassured Bharat that he was not to blame. Even if Bharat had accepted the throne, it would be entirely understandable as it was the command of his father. Bharat's love for Rama was no doubt very deep, and the sage stressed that just as he felt blessed to have met Rama, so also he felt doubly blessed on meeting Bharat.

Bharat Meets Rama

Bharat meets Rama and Chitrakoots and begs him to return to Ayodhya. Rama refuses, and Bharat returns dejected - but not without Rama's sandals!.

While Bharat was making his way towards Chitrakoot, Rama was very disturbed about something. Sita had earlier said to him that she had seen Bharat in her dream, and he was on his way to meet Rama. But instead of feeling joy at the possibility of being reunited with his brother, Rama was overwhelmed with sadness as he had a strong feeling that something very inauspicious was about to unfold.

Before long, a cloud of dust emerged on the horizon. As everybody was wondering who could be arriving, the nearby tribals informed Rama, Lakshman and the holy men that Bharat was arriving with an army. Lakshman was immediately apprehensive when he heard this. He feared that Rama's premonition was coming true, and Bharat had arrived with his army to kill Rama. This infuriated him, and he stated that Bharat would have to kill him first before he could lay a hand on his elder brother.

Rama however knew that Bharat would never have such evil intentions, and he pacified Lakshman.

True enough, Bharat had left the army behind and had come to meet Rama, accompanied only by Shatrughan.

The brothers were overcome with joy when they met, and they embraced. Then Rama and Lakshman were informed of the death of their father, and this deeply saddened them. Rama was devastated when he learnt that his father had died because he could not bear to be separated from his beloved son.

Bharat and Shatrughan then tried to pursuade Rama to return with them to Ayodhya. Bharat told Rama that he had brought with him the crown and everything else that was needed for the coronation ceremony. He begged Rama to agree to be crowned King. Rama however stated that he was honour bound to fulfill the promise made by his father, and could not return to Ayodhya.

Bharat stayed with Rama in Chitrakoot for five days. In the meantime Kaushalya, Kaykaiyee and Sumitra too reached Chitrakoot. Kaikayee then begged Rama for forgiveness, and said that she was ashamed of what she had done. Rama and the other sages tried to assuage her guilt, and Rama said that he bore no ill will for her in any respect. He loved her as a son loves his mother, and will certainly return to Ayodhya, but only after fourteen years of exile - which he will happily bear for his father.

Then Sita's parents, Janak and Sunaina arrived to meet their daughter and son-in-law,

and to request them to return to their kingdom. They were saddened when they saw Sita dressed as a hermit, but were proud of her strength.

Some days later everyone who had come to meet Rama, Lakshman and Sita, returned. On his return Bharat refused to sit on the throne or live in the palace. He instead started living in a small hut near Nandigrama, in the guise of a sage. He slept on a mat made of grass and ate only food that he could grow - refusing luxuries that his brother no longer had access to. Bharat had also brought Rama's sandals with him, which he placed on the throne. He worshiped the sandals everyday, and ruled on behalf of Rama, waiting and praying for his elder brother's safe return.

Rama Leaves Chitrakoot

After Bharat returned to Ayodhya and taken charge of the kingdom under Rama's name and blessings, Rama decided to move on from Chitrakoot.

Now that Bharat had returned to Ayodhya and taken charge of the kingdom under Rama's name and blessings, Rama started feeling restless and weighed down with a profound sadness caused by the departure of the brother he loved so dearly and by the death of his father. He therefore decided to move on from Chitrakoot, to the hermitage of Sage Atri.

When they reached the hermitage of Sage Atri, the sage welcomed them warmly. He then made them meet his wife, Anasuya, a deeply devout woman. Apparently, many years ago, when a drought had burnt the earth and life around the forest was about to perish, Anasuya, with her deep devotion, caused the Ganga to change course and flow through the forest, thus bringing an end to the drought.

Sita found in Anasuya a wise friend and advisor. Sita spoke about the Swayamvara ceremony and her love for Rama, and Anasuya spoke to her about chastity and duties of a wife. Anasuya then presented Sita with celestial gifts which included attire that would never get soiled or dirty.

A while later, Rama, Lakshman and Sita took leave of Sage Atri and Anasuya, and continued onward with their journey. Before long they were assaulted by the demon Viradh, who attempted to kidnap Sita. However the demon was no match for Rama and Lakshman, who soon vanquished him.

They then reached the hermitage of Sage Sarbhang. The Sages would often renounce their lives after they reached a certain stage of fulfillment. Sage Sarbhang too wished to leave for the heavenly abode, but when he heard that Rama would be passing by, the Sage decided to wait until he met Rama. He was thus greatly moved by Rama's presence, and stated that he would like to leave this world in the presence of Rama. Sage Sarbhang then sat on a funeral pyre, lit it with the help of his yogic powers, and was soon engulfed by the flames.

As they carried on with their journey, they continued making the acquaintances of various sadhus and ascetics who had been dwelling in the forest, and who would often accompany them for a short distance. Soon they reached a place, which, to Rama's dismay, had heaps of human bones scattered for miles to see. This sight greatly upset the three of them, and Rama asked the sages what this meant. They sages replied that these were the bones of sadhus who would perform yagyas here. These yagyas greatly displeased the demons, who would attack the sadhus and kill them. This news angered Rama, and he vowed that he would not leave this place until he had eliminated all the demons. However Rama knew that he would need help in order to kill the demons, as he would not be able to do so on his own. He decided to seek out Sage Agastya to help him in his conquest.

When Sage Agastya heard that Rama had come to meet him, he was very happy. Rama and Agastya greeted each other very warmly. Rama then told Agastya that he wished to kill the demons, and would need Agastya to tell him how to go about it.

The Curse of Dandaka

Rama, Lakshman and Sita set up a cottage in the forest of Dandaka, and Rama vows to rid it of demons.

After Rama greets Sage Agastya, he asks him about the demons, and what he can do to help eliminate them. Agastya first advises Rama to go to Panchavati and rid the forest of the curse that had been afflicted on it many years ago by the sage Gautam.

The Curse

Many years ago, famine struck the Panchavati area, which was located in the forest of DANDAKARANYA. The rishis dwelling there went to Sage Gautam for help, and asked him to accommodate them until the famine passed. Sage Gautam agreed, and with his powers he gave them all they needed. Then, many months later, when the famine had subsided, the sages stated that they would like to return to DANDAKARANYA, but Gautam hesitated to give them permission to leave his hermitage. The rishis were thus a little discontented, and taking advantages of this, some pseudo-rishis, intent on harming the repute of Gautam, came up with a plan. They found an old cow which was on the verge of death, and sent it into the hermitage of Gautam rishi. The rishi tried to drive out the cow, but it didn't pay heed, and when the cow was about to eat a flower, Gautam gave it a shove with his hand. As soon as the cow was shoved in this manner, it dropped dead. Suddenly the rishis stormed into his hermitage and cried out in horror. The fake rishis made a big hue and cry about how Gautam had killed a cow. They condemned him for the sin of go-hathya, and stormed out of the hermitage.

Gautam then, with his powers of meditation, sought to find out if the cow had died an untimely death at his hands, or if the cow's time was indeed up. Meditation revealed to him the trick the pseudo-sadhus had played on him, and he was truly angered and disgusted by their behaviour. As a result, he cursed the forest of DANDAKARANYA, stating that the forest will be the haunt of low-life, demonic rakshasas, will remain barren, and not a leaf will grow until Rama sets foot into the forest.

Another curse too added to the wretchedness of the region. The king of the region, Danda, violated the chastity of the daughter of Bhrgu, his own guru. When Bhrgu heard from his daughter what had happened, he was filled with fury and flooded the region with dust and mud.

Thus, DANDAKARANYA was twice cursed, and it was up to Rama to set things right in this wretched land.

Rama thus, under the guidance of Sage Agasthya, decided to set up an abode in the dry but dense wooded area of Dandaka. As soon as Rama, Laskhman and Sita set foot in the forest, trees started to sprout leaves, the forest suddenly started turning green in front of their eyes and flowers started sprouting in every corner. They arrived at Panchavati, and found a spot by the banks of the river Godavari where they decided to put up a home. When Rama and Lakshman had started building the cottage, the old Eagle Jatayu flew down to pay his respects.

Meeting Soorpanakha

It is from here that the story of the Ramayana takes a turn, and sets the battle between Rama and Ravana into motion.

Rama, Lakshman and Sita set up a small mud hut with a thatched roof in Panchavati, and started dwelling there. They lived happily, with Lakshman lovingly looking after every need of Rama and Sita.

Early one morning, when the three of them were on their way to the Godavari for a bath, Lakshman started reminiscing about Bharat. He missed his brothers deeply, and was upset that Bharat had denied himself the comforts of the palace and was living a life of austerity. "How could such a cruel woman like Kaikayee bear such a noble son?" he wondered aloud, but Rama stopped him from condemning Kaikayee any further. They reached the river, bathed, offered their morning prayers, and started walking back to their ashram, reminiscing about the past.

While they were thus walking in the forest, Ravana's sister, Soorpanakha, was also wandering around. As soon as her eyes fell on the handsome Rama, she fell in love with him. Although Soorpanakha was a demoness and was horribly ugly, with her powers she transformed herself into a beautiful young woman and approached Rama.

She asked him who he was and what he was doing in the forest. Rama stated that he was the son of King Dashratha, and was in the forest to fulfill his duty, with his brother Lakshman and wife, Sita. Soorpanakha then introduced herself stating that she was the sister of Ravana. She added that her brothers Kumbhkaran and Vibheeshan were also renowned warriors, while her other two brothers, Khara and Dooshan reigned over the Pnachvati area and everyone was afraid of them and of her. She then looked at Sita and said, "This little girl is not worthy of you. You need a real woman, someone like me." She then went on to tell Rama that she fell in love with him the minute she saw him, and asked him if he would consider accepting her as his wife.

This 'proposal' amused Rama, and he smilingly turned it down stating that he was a one-woman man. "Why don't you ask my brother Lakshman if he would like to be your husband. He is not married," stated Rama, teasingly.

Soorpanakha then turned towards Lakshman, who she also found to be exceedingly handsome, and asked him to accept her as his wife. Lakshman stated that he was but a slave to Rama. "Why would you want a slave when you could have the master?" Lakshman added that Rama could easily have two wives, so she should go back and insist that he accept her.

Soorpanakha then went back to Rama, who once again turned her down. By now, she was angered, and when she saw Sita besides Rama, she declared that it was Sita's fault Rama could not be hers. She then assumed her original demonic form and advanced towards Sita. Sita was terrified when she saw this huge rakshasi advancing towards her, and called for help. Rama instantly shielded Sita while Lakshman attacked Soorpanakha and cut off her ears and nose. Soorpanakha ran wailing with pain into the forest.

Vishwamitra Makes a Difficult Request

This legend begins in the ancient city of Ayodhya. This fair city, capital of the powerful kingdom of King Dashratha, stood on the banks of the holy river Sarayu. Ayodhya was a beautiful city with wide tree-lined streets, markets filled with skilled artisans, dancers and musicians. It was also a great seat of learning, sheltering many scholars willing to share their knowledge with eager pupils. The citizens of Ayodhya lived in peace and harmony. The lands were fertile and the harvests rich. The people of Ayodhya never went hungry. It was a happy place.

King Dashratha was a benevolent monarch, kind and generous. His people loved him and his kingdom was prosperous. He had three beautiful and loving wives (for that was the custom in days of yore).Yet, the king's heart was heavy as he longed for a son who would succeed him and carry on their noble name.

King Dashratha decided to perform a holy sacrifice in the hope that the gods would be pleased and grant him a son. During the sacrifice, a being appeared out of the sacred fire holding a bowl of sweet gruel. He told the king to feed the gruel to his queens so that they would bear him sons.

One day, the king's dreams came true. His prayers were answered fourfold and he was blessed with four sons. The king was overjoyed. Ram was the first-born, son of Kaushalya, the senior-most queen. Queen Sumitra had twins, Laxman and Shatrugan. Bharat was the son of King Dashratha's favourite queen - Kaikeyi. But Ram was the king's favourite son. 

The four boys were groomed in the true tradition of princes. The wisest teachers in the land taught them skills such as archery, horsemanship, swordplay as well as the courtly manners expected of princes. They were taught the values of courage, truth, piety and respect for elders. They were not just brothers, but friends. The queens loved all the princes equally. Their sweetness and goodness made them beloved in all the kingdom.

The years passed and the princes grew to be fine, upstanding young men.  Then one day, the great holy man, Vishwamitra, came to the court of King Dashratha. The King welcomed him with great honour. He asked Vishwamitra if he could be of service to him in any way. He promised the sage that he would do anything in his power to help him.

Being a powerful man, the king could not imagine that Vishwamitra could make a wish that he would find difficult to fulfil. But this is exactly what happened. Vishwamitra asked for something dearer to the king's heart than his kingdom and all the riches in the world - his son Ram.

Vishwamitra told the king that he had been trying to conduct a sacred ritual at his hermitage in the forest. Unfortunately, he had never been able to complete it because two troublesome demons sent by King Ravan used to come and disrupt the rites. The demons would overturn the altar and scatter the offerings. The sage was a master of warfare and could have crushed the demons as if he were swatting a fly. But being a holy man, he had vowed not to use his skills of combat in anger. He wanted King Dashratha to send his son Ram to protect the sacred rite.

The king was horrified. The thought of sending his favourite son, only sixteen years old, to fight two demons, sent a shiver down his spine. He tried to argue with the sage, begging him not to ask such a difficult thing. The king offered to go himself or to send the whole royal army instead. Vishwamitra was greatly angered. He chastised the king saying that he was not a man of his word. 

King Dashratha's was reminded of an incident that occurred when he was very young. One day when he was hunting in the forest, Dashratha thought that he heard a gurgling sound of an elephant drinking water at a pond and he let loose an arrow in that direction. Dashratha was a superb archer who could pinpoint his target just by sound. This time, things went horribly wrong. His target turned out to be a young hermit filling a pitcher with water, not an elephant at all! Speechless with guilt, his heart filled with sorrow, Dashratha went to break the news to the hermit's old, blind parents. The old couple was devastated, the hermit's father cursed Dashratha saying that Dashratha's son would also be parted from him, and he too would die grieving for his son. 

he Princes' First Adventure

The king was very agitated and upset. He turned to his trusted counsellor, Vasishta, for help. The counsellor knew the prince Ram well for he was also the prince's teacher. He advised the king to send Ram with Vishwamitra because he was confident that no harm would befall the young prince. On the contrary, the prince would benefit and learn many useful things in the time spent with the sage. He reminded Dashratha that he could not break his promise and offend the great sage.

And so Ram left the palace of Ayodhya to accompany the sage Vishwamitra. Prince Laxman insisted on accompanying his older brother.

When they reached Vishwamitra's hermitage in the forest, he showed them a huge arsenal of weapons gifted to the sage by the gods as a reward for his severe penance. An array of shields, spears, bows and arrows, tridents lay spread out before their eyes. The sage trained Ram and Laxman in the use of these mighty weapons.

The day of the sacred ritual dawned. Ram and Laxman kept watch day and night, without sleeping a wink. Suddenly, on the last day of the ritual, the sky darkened and two fierce demons appeared. Ram crushed the first with a wind missile that hurled the demon a distance of 800 miles. A flaming discus put an end to the second demon. Laxman vanquished the lesser demons. Vishwamitra was pleased and invited the young princes to go with him to visit King Janak in the neighbouring kingdom of Mithila.

Prince Ram finds a Wife

King Janak of Mithila had a fair and beautiful daughter who was the apple of his eye. She was no ordinary princess. Her life had an unusual beginning. One year, the kingdom of  Mithila was facing a terrible famine. Times were so bad that the king himself had to work in the fields. On one such day, when King Janak was ploughing a field, he found a baby girl swaddled in cloth in a furrow in the field. King Janak took this as a sign that the child was a gift from Mother Earth and named her Sita after the furrow in which she was found.

Now, when Sita became of marriageable age, King Janak was determined that her hand would only be given in marriage to a man worthy of this precious jewel. He devised a test for the prospective suitors. The king had a bow, extremely heavy and almost impossible to lift. He announced that he would give his daughter, Sita's hand in marriage only to the man who could string this bow. 

Suitors came from far and wide to win the fair princess' hand, but to no avail. It seemed that there was no suitor worthy of the lovely princess Sita. It was at this time that Vishwamitra, Ram and Laxman came to the court of King Janak. Ram decided to take up the challenge. The courtiers waited with bated breath, wondering if this mere slip of a boy would be able to accomplish what many brave warriors before him had not. Ram lifted the bow effortlessly. As he bent the bow to string it, the bow snapped in two! The court resounded with cheers as the courtiers showered praises on the young prince. King Janak declared that he would give Sita's hand in marriage to Ram as he had more than surpassed his expectations. The news was quickly conveyed to King Dashratha. He was delighted and immediately set out to attend the wedding at Mithila.The wedding was celebrated with much pomp and ceremony and the festivities continued for several days and nights. Finally, King Janak was ready to bid farewell to his precious daughter and the newly-marrieds left for Ayodhya. 

Ram goes into Exile

For twelve years Ram and his brothers helped their father to rule Ayodhya. One day, King Dashratha decided that he had become old and did not want to bear the burden of running the kingdom any longer. He felt that it was time that Ram took over the reigns as the crown prince. He summoned all his ministers and courtiers and announced that he had decided to put Ram on the throne as the ruler of Ayodhya. Everyone was in agreement because Ram had shown himself to be noble, wise and kind. More importantly, the people of Ayodhya loved him. The king ordered that preparations be made for a grand coronation. 

Excitement and anticipation filled the air in Ayodhya. The streets were washed and strewn with petals. Houses were decorated with colourful pennants and lamps were lit. The wandering minstrels sang of Ram's noble exploits and people poured into the city from the four corners of the kingdom to see the coronation of their beloved prince Ram. 

But a dark cloud appeared on the horizon in the form of the evil Manthara, Kaikeyi's handmaiden who had been at the queen's side from the time she was an infant. On seeing the festive preparations, Manthara hurried to Kaikeyi's bedchamber to whisper poisonous words into her ear. Manthara told Kaikeyi that once Ram was crowned the ruler of Ayodhya, Kaikeyi would lose her favoured position in court. She would be in a subordinate position to Kaushalya, Ram's mother who would treat her worse than a slave. She reminded Kaikeyi that it was the Queen Mother that held the power and put the idea in her head that her son Bharat would make as good, if not a better ruler than Ram.

Kaikeyi was convinced and she decided to take action before it was too late. Now, Kaikeyi had once saved King Dashratha's life on the battlefield. As a gesture of appreciation, King Dashratha said that he would grant her two wishes. Kaikeyi had not taken him up on the offer at that time. However, she felt that this was a good opportunity to remind the king of his promise made years ago. She told the king that her two wishes were that her son, Bharat, be crowned king and that Ram be sent into exile for fourteen years. The king was heartbroken. He begged Kaikeyi to make any other demand but this. He reminded her that the law of the land said that it was the eldest son who should succeed his father. But Kaikeyi was unbending. The king, being a man of his word, had no choice but to comply with her wishes. 

When Ram heard of the king's decision he did not demur. Ram calmly accepted that it was his lot to leave Ayodhya to live the simple existence of a hermit, not to return for fourteen long years. Ram was so noble that he did not hesitate to sacrifice his place as king to a younger brother. It was clear that his father's honour was of greater importance to him.

The Death of King Dashratha and the Return of Bharat

Ram went to bid farewell to his loved ones. His mother, Kausalya, was deeply distressed. Ram did not know with what words he would explain the situation to his wife, Sita. As it turned out, she solved the problem herself. She was absolutely clear that her place was with her husband wherever he may go. Ram tried to dissuade her from accompanying him describing the dangers, the deprivation and discomfort of their life ahead. It was not a life for a delicately nurtured princess. But Sita had made up her mind and there was no way that she would allow Ram to leave Ayodhya without her. In as great a show of solidarity, Ram's brother, Laxman, decided to leave the comforts of the palace and accompany his brother, in some way to shoulder the burden of the hard life that lay ahead. So this threesome bravely went forth into the unknown.

King Dashratha became a shadow of his former self after Ram's departure. His heart was heavy with sorrow and he lost interest in life itself. His body grew feeble and his

breathing laboured and faint as his life slowly ebbed away. The whole kingdom of Ayodhya was plunged into a state of mourning when King Dashratha died. 

Now, prince Bharat had been away during this time of turmoil and was unaware of these terrible developments in Ayodhya. He was summoned back to Ayodhya on his father's death. On his return, he was shocked by all that had taken place in his absence. He was furious with his mother and blamed her for King Dashratha's death and for banishing his two beloved brothers.

He stated that he had no wish to be the ruler of Ayodhya. He believed that this was Ram's birthright that had been wrongfully denied to him. He announced that he would call Ram back from exile to reign in Ayodhya and go into exile for fourteen years himself. 

Bharat set out from Ayodhya at the head of a huge procession of citizens to look for Ram and persuade him to return to Ayodhya to take his rightful place as king. After several weeks, they finally found Ram. Bharat fell at his feet, begging him to return to Ayodhya. But Bharat's words fell on deaf ears. Ram was firm in his denial. He said that it was his duty to keep his father's word and honour even if it involved staying in exile for fourteen years.

Bharat agreed to return to Ayodhya on one condition. He said that he would rule in name only for fourteen years. The true king would be Ram. Bharat would place Ram's sandals on the throne of Ayodhya that would serve as a reminder to the people as to who was the real monarch. The sandals would remain in this position till Ram's return. As for Bharat, he would forego the comforts of royalty and live as a hermit in a mud hut till his brother's return.  

An Encounter with Surpanakha

The three exiles soon became accustomed to their life in the forest and even began to enjoy it. Their royal life became a thing of the past, silk cushions and splendid bedchambers were forgotten. Ram, Laxman and Sita slept under the stars on beds of leaves and grass and lived on a diet of fruits and berries. Far from the cares of the material world, they began to take pleasure in the simplicity of forest living. 

And always through their travels a faint shadow followed them, watching out for them, sheltering from the rain and blocking the unrelenting rays of the sun. One day, the shadow identified himself as Jatayu, the vulture king and a friend of King Dashratha. He had promised King Dashratha that he would act as their guardian angel and protect them from harm and help them in times of trouble. 

The hermits and sages that lived in the forests also offered Ram, Laxman and Sita their hospitality. These were holy men that lived deep in the forest where they could be at peace and spend their time in deep meditation. They welcomed the weary threesome into their humble abodes, giving them a chance to take the weight off their tired feet for a little while. But tranquillity did not reign at all times in the forest. There were several demons that lurked in the forest and disturbed the calm existence of the sages. The sages were men of peace and they turned to the two brothers to keep them safe from the demons.

One day, the trio heard a blood-curdling scream and they came face to face with a hideous demon. She had wild bloodshot eyes and tangled hair. Her voice, when she spoke, was like a growl. She introduced herself as Surpanakha, the sister of Ravan, the powerful ruler of Lanka and the king of the demons. She had never seen such handsome young men like Ram and Laxman in her life and she had fallen in love with their beauty at the first glimpse. She invited them to come and spend some time with her so that they

could enjoy each other's company. Ram refused her invitation saying that he would not be able to accept as he was with his wife. Enraged, Surpanakha rushed at Sita with bared fangs and outstretched claws saying that she could easily get rid of such a small obstacle. Laxman rushed to intervene and cut off the demon's nose and ears. Screaming in agony, the maimed demon rushed off into the depths of the forest.

Surpanakha went straight to her brother, Ravan, the mighty demon king. She demanded that he avenge her humiliation and the mutilation of her face. She taunted him saying that were he to let Ram and Laxman's actions go unavenged, the other demons would only accord him the respect due to a toothless tiger. 

Ravan promised his sister that he would not rest till Ram and Laxman had been punished. He swore that they would suffer and die a horrible death. He summoned all the cleverest demons for a meeting and together they hatched a cunning plan. They all knew that Sita was Ram's weak spot. They told Ravan that the best plan would be to capture Sita and bring her to Lanka. Ram would surely follow to rescue his beloved wife. Once Ram was in Lanka, he would be in alien territory and at a disadvantage. Thus, Ravan could catch him on the wrong foot and vanquish him easily.

Ravan was pleased with this plan and decided to kidnap Sita himself. He sat in his flying chariot, Pushpak and travelled with amazing speed to the house of his friend, Maricha. Knowing that they would have to employ some means of subterfuge to abduct Sita, the two demons disguised themselves. Maricha took the shape of a beautiful deer and Ravan the guise of a poor ascetic wandering through the forest begging for alms. 

The Abduction of Sita

One beautiful morning, Sita spotted a lovely deer outside their hut. It was truly an exquisite creature like no other deer she had ever seen before. Its skin had a golden luminous sheen and it stood out from the rest of the herd as it cavorted enticingly between the trees. Sita was charmed. She requested Ram to bring her the deer as a pet that would keep her company while they were away hunting. Ram could not resist his wife's plea and followed the deer into the forest to capture it and bring it back for his wife. But before he left he cautioned Laxman not to leave Sita's side for a moment.

Ram found the deer to be an elusive creature that led him a merry dance deeper and deeper into the forest. Finally, Ram strung his bow and shot an arrow that pierced the deer's heart. In an instant the deer was transformed into the demon Maricha who cried out for Sita and Laxman in a perfect imitation of Ram's voice. Sensing that something was terribly wrong, Ram hastened to get back to Sita.

Back at the hut Sita and Laxman were dismayed to hear what they thought was Ram's cry of distress. Sita was beside herself with fear and begged Laxman to go to Ram's aid. Laxman was in a dilemma. On the one hand, he had promised his brother that he would not leave Sita alone under any circumstances. On the other, he wanted to rush to help Ram if he was in trouble. But Laxman suspected that things were not what they seemed. He did not want to leave Sita, but she was adamant that he go and find Ram. Against his better judgement, Laxman agreed. He drew a circle around the hut with his arrow and told Sita that on no account must she step across this line. As long as she stayed behind this boundary no harm would come to her. 

As soon as Laxman had disappeared into the forest, a frail hermit approached the hut begging for alms and food. Sita served him graciously, being careful to stay within the line that Laxman had drawn. But the feeble old man said that he could barely reach the cup of water that she had set down for him and requested her to step forward. Sita could

not see what possible harm this weak creature could do her and she stepped across the line. Instantly, she was caught in a vise-like grip as Ravan revealed his true identity. 

Sita was terror struck. She tried to struggle, but her strength was no match against Ravan's brute force. She tried to warn Ravan of the consequences of abducting her. She told him that Ram would move heaven and earth to find her. When he discovered that it was Ravan who had kidnapped his wife, his wrath would be terrible to behold and Ravan would be destroyed. But Ravan merely laughed at this suggestion. He bundled Sita into his magnificent flying chariot and sped off to Lanka. The vulture king, Jatayu, tried to come to Sita's rescue. But Ravan cut off his wings and left him bleeding and helpless. 

Ravan was quite taken with Sita's charms. He decided that if he could persuade Sita to marry him, he could kill two bnirds with one stone. On the one hand, he would acquire a lovely wife. On the other, it would mean the ultimate humiliation of Ram. He gave Sita an ultimatum. He told her that he would give her one year's time to make up her mind to be his wife. If at the end of this time her answer was no, he would have her cut up and served to him as a delicious meal. However, Ravan decided that he would court Sita in the period of one year. He would impress her with his wit, charm, knowledge and wealth. Ravan cherished hopes that Sita might even fall in love with him by the end of a year. 

Knowing the pleasure that Sita took in nature, Ravan ensconced her in a beautiful garden. This garden was filled with wonderful trees, flowers, birds and animals. But Sita felt like a bird kept captive in a golden cage for all the time she was kept under the watchful eye of demonesses. 

The Search for Sita

Far away, Ram and Laxman had come upon each other in the forest. They gazed at each other in dismay as they realized that they had been the victims of a terrible deception. They hurried back to the mud hut only to find their worst fears confirmed. Sita had disappeared. Laxman was overcome with remorse and reproached himself for leaving Sita alone. They hunted high and low for Sita, calling out her name till their voices were hoarse. But silence shrouded the forest. Not a leaf moved and the birds and animals were silent. Just when they were about to give up hope, they stumbled upon the dying vulture. With the little breath that was left in his body, Jatayu told them that Ravan was the villain they sought, but he did not know where the demon had taken Sita. These were his last words before his death. The princes were deeply saddened by Jatayu's death. He had laid down his life while attempting to rescue Sita. 

The disconsolate princes had no clue as to which way to turn. But help was on hand in the form of the 'monkey people' led by their king Sugreeva. Ram and Laxman unburdened their hearts to Sugreeva. The monkey king offered to help them. The monkeys had a wonderful ability to climb to great heights and to travel long distances jumping from branch to branch. This would be a tremendous asset in the search for Sita. Sugreeva promised a reward to the first monkey that discovered Sita's whereabouts. So hundreds of these nimble little creatures scattered in different directions to look for the hapless Sita.  

Now Ram had taken a liking to the monkey, Hanuman. He had a feeling that it would be this monkey that would discover where Sita had been kept captive. Ram took the signet ring that he wore off his finger and gave it to Hanuman. He explained that Sita would trust the bearer of this ring as a true messenger from Ram. 

As it turned out, Hanuman was the first monkey to discover that Ravan had taken Sita to Lanka. But help came from an unexpected source. A bird with amazing eyesight that enabled it to see over high mountains, dense forests and wide oceans. This bird had

spotted Sita, captive in the Ashoka grove in Lanka and he whispered this information into Hanuman's ear. 

The mystery had been solved. But now a new obstacle presented itself. An immense expanse of water separated Lanka from the land where Ram and Laxman resided. The question was how to get across the water? Hanuman volunteered to attempt the leap across the ocean. After praying to the gods, Hanuman planted his feet firmly on the ground. He then girded his loins, took a deep breath and launched himself into the air with a mighty roar. He flew high up into the air, across the ocean, till he landed lightly on the sandy beach of Lanka's shore. 

Hanuman in Lanka

The city of Lanka was perched upon a triple-peaked mountain, fortified by high walls and surrounded by a deep moat. Armed guards patrolled the city night and day and stopped any strangers that happened by. Hanuman, being a monkey, could enter the city unchallenged. 

Hanuman found Lanka to be an astonishingly beautiful city. There were lush gardens, tinkling fountains, impressive monuments with towers that reached towards the sky, crystal palaces with gem-encrusted doorways. Everywhere there was wealth and prosperity. 

Finally, Hanuman happened upon Sita in the Ashoka grove. There she sat, a forlorn figure, surrounded by demonesses. Hanuman managed to creep up to her unnoticed. He told Sita that he was a messenger from Ram and gave her the signet ring that Ram had entrusted to him. He told her how her husband pined for her and reassured her that Ram would bring reinforcements and rescue her from captivity. Sita was overjoyed to see a friendly face after such a long time. She pulled a jewelled ornament from her hair and told Hanuman to give it to Ram so that he would know that she was alive and well. 

Hanuman realized that he must return to Ram in haste so they could make preparations to rescue Sita and vanquish Ravan without delay. But being a monkey, Hanuman had mischief in his blood. He could not leave Lanka without first creating some kind of a disturbance. He took a deep breath and as the air entered his body, he grew to an enormous size. He then set about wreaking havoc in the city of Lanka. He uprooted trees and shook the grand mansions to their foundations. He left a trail of destruction in his wake. The news soon reached Ravan that a monkey was causing chaos in the city. Ravan ordered that the monkey be captured and brought to him. Scores of soldiers rushed to do their king's bidding. Hanuman put up a spirited fight, but ultimately he was subdued and brought before Ravan. 

Ravan was enraged by the temerity of the monkey that dared to disturb the peace of Lanka. Knowing that his tail is a monkey's pride, he ordered that Hanuman's tail be dipped in oil and set on fire. Hanuman allowed the guards to have their fun for some time. He then took a deep breath, breaking out of his bonds as if they were toothpicks. Seeing another opportunity to wreak havoc, Hanuman darted about the city setting fire to everything that cane across his path. Satisfied that he had caused enough of a commotion, Hanuman took a deep breath and disappeared into the sky with a thunderous roar. 

Ram Wages War on Lanka

When Hanuman returned home he was given a hero's welcome. Ram embraced him like a brother for he had breached the formidable walls of Lanka and found Sita. But Ram was dejected because he was at a loss for a plan to attack Lanka. How would they cross the

sea? Sugreeva reassured him saying that he and all the monkey folk were at Ram's disposal. Together they would find a solution to the problem and rescue Sita from the clutches of Ravan. They pumped Hanuman for information about the size of Ravan's army, the strength and structure of the fortress, the arrangements for defence, and the positioning of the sentries. The one thing they all agreed on was the fact that time was of the essence.

Finally, they devised a plan. They would build a bridge that would extend to the shores of Lanka. Monkeys of all sizes, shapes and hues scrambled to collect branches, stones and even large boulders and dragged them to the shore and piled them one on top of the other in the sea. For once, these mischievous creatures forgot their pranks and concentrated on the task in hand. The work was back-breaking, but in five days the task was complete. Ram, Laxman, and Sugreeva proceeded at the head of the monkey army, across the bridge to Lanka. 

Lanka's alert sentries soon spotted the invaders. When the news reached Ravan's court, the assembled courtiers gave out a bloodthirsty roar exhorting Ravan to attack Ram and his followers and crush them. The only voice of dissent was that of Vibhishan, Ravan's brother. He tried to explain to Ravan that he had committed a sin by abducting another man's wife. Vibhishan told Ravan that he could still avert a disaster by returning Sita to her rightful husband. He begged Ravan not to put the whole of Lanka in danger merely to satisfy his lust for Sita. 

But Ravan would not listen to reason. Blinded by lust, he was convinced that Ram was the only obstacle that prevented Sita from accepting him as her husband. He was certain that once Ram was out of the way, Sita would fall into his arms. He was infuriated at what he thought was his brother's betrayal. He told Vibhishan that if he was so concerned about the enemy, it would be better if he joined Ram's army. Knowing that he was on the side of the right, Vibhishan did join Ram's army. 

Now, the demons that made up Ravan's army were great, fearless warriors. They were confident of winning this battle because after all they were fighting mere monkeys. Drumbeats and the blowing if conches and trumpets signalled the beginning of the battle. The two armies charged at each other. The monkeys hurled trees and stones at then enemy and fought with their teeth and claws. The battlefield was a blood bath, but still the monkey folk kept on despite the loss of many lives. Ravan's army was shocked at their inability to fight off this puny army. Ravan could not believe his eyes as he watched his soldiers fall one by one on the battlefront. He realized that he would have to summon reinforcements. 

Kumbhakarna and Indrajit Enter the Fray

Kumbhakarna was Ravan's brother and had a truly formidable reputation as a warrior. The gods had cursed him so that he slept for a stretch of six months at a time. It was nearly impossible to wake him from his deep slumber. But Ravan realized that he needed to introduce Kumbhakarna onto the battleground to boost the morale of the demon army. Ravan had great faith in his brother's prowess as a warrior and was convinced that he would be able to slay Ram and rout the enemy. He ordered all his officers and servants to work on the difficult task of waking Kumbhakarna. They made an enormous din, blowing trumpets and conch shells, beating drums and shaking Kumbhakarna's body vigorously. But still the giant slept on undisturbed. Finally, when the servants had almost exhausted their efforts, Kumbhakarna woke, yawning hugely, and shaking off the servants like so many flies. He first sat down to eat the mountains of food that were prepared for him for it was common knowledge that when Kumbhakarna awoke from a deep slumber, he would be ravenously hungry. His hunger satisfied, Kumbhakarna prepared to go into battle. 

Kumbhakarna arrived on the scene like a whirlwind. He made short shrift of the monkeys, cutting through their defence like a knife cuts through butter. Mnagled bodies of monkeys lay strewn all over the battlefield. But Kumbhakarna's aim was to slay Ram. He charged at Ram brandishing an iron club in one hand and an uprooted tree in the other. Ram flung a wind missile at the demon that took off both his arms. But the demon did not seem to notice and charged on. Next Ram amputated the demon's legs, but Kumbhakarna hurtled on undeterred. Finally, Ram managed to decapitate the demon. A shocked silence hung over the battlefield as Kumbhakarna's severed head fell to the ground. 

Indrajit, Ravan's son, decided that he would take up the challenge of defeating Ram's army. Since Ram and Laxman could not seem to be vanquished by ordinary means, Indrajit decided to use his magic powers to make himself invisible. He hovered over the battlefield in his chariot and rained down poisoned arrows on Ram and Laxman. The two princes were bewildered. How could they fight an enemy they could not see? Finally, Laxman and Hanuman managed to entice Indrajit onto the battlefield where Laxman challenged him to single combat. Indrajit was confident that Laxman would be no match for him. As it turned out, he was wrong and his overconfidence cost him his life. The battle between Laxman and Indrajit raged for a long time for they were both well matched. But as Laxman felt his strength flagging, he prayed to the gods to give him a last surge of energy to finish off his foe. The gods answered his prayers and he cut off Indrajit's head. Without a leader, the demon army fell into disarray and they retreated helter skelter. Ravan was stricken by the news of the death of his son, but he did not have the luxury of time to mourn.

The Famous Battle between Ram and Ravan

Ravan decided that it was time that he took matters into his own hands. All his brave generals and warriors had been defeated and he had lost both his brother and his son. Ravan donned his armour and prepared to go into battle. Ravan's entrance on the battleground was a truly awe-inspiring sight. Clad in dazzling armour made of solid gold and encrusted with precious jewels, Ravan mounted his chariot drawn by four magnificent black horses. With his ten heads and countless arms, Ravan's appearance was fearsome enough to strike terror in the hearts of the bravest soldiers. 

The monkey folk made a valiant attempt to attack the terrible demon, but their stones and boulders rolled off his body like water off a duck's back. Ravan's flaming arrows depleted the monkey ranks and unleashed terror in their hearts. Laxman rushed forward to help his monkey friends, but Ravan struck him down with a powerful thunderbolt. Ram feared for his brother's life when he saw him lying senseless in a pool of blood. 

Again the monkeys proved themselves resourceful in a crisis. They told Ram that they knew of some medicinal herbs that could save Laxman's life. The only stumbling block was that these herbs were only available far away in the Himalayas. Ram's heart sank. This was as good as having no cure at all. How would they able to collect the herbs from such a distant place and return before Laxman breathed his last?  

Hanuman saved the situation one again. He was swift as the wind and immensely strong. He flew up into the air and disappeared in the direction of the Himalayas. When Hanuman landed on the mountain, he found a million different varieties of herbs. He had no idea which were the right ones that would save Laxman's life. Hanuman felt that the only solution to this quandary was to pick up the whole mountain and take it to the plain where Laxman lay. That is exactly what he did! Once Hanuman returned to Lanka with the mountain in the palm of his hand, the monkey folk quickly went to work to revive Laxman. They made a potion out of the herbs and made Laxman inhale the vapours. The potion worked like magic and the strength quickly began seeping back into Laxman's body. 

Ram decided that it was time that he took on the terrible Ravan in battle. Both the warriors were evenly matched and both had access to secret powerful weapons. Neither Ram nor Ravan had ever tasted the bitter fruit of defeat.. They were both masters in the use of the bow and arrow. Even the gods gathered to watch this magnificent battle. The air was thick with arrows flying in both directions. Ravan's twenty arms bristled with weapons that he wielded all at the same time! Every time Ram managed to cut off one of Ravan's heads, another one would grow in its place. The monster seemed indestructible. Finally, Ram remembered the brahma-astra, a missile gifted to him by the Lord Brahma himself. Ram uttered the spell that would summon the mighty weapon. Then invoking the gods, he hurled the weapon with all his might at Ravan. A deafening roar was heard as the brahma-astra exploded and the mighty Ravan was destroyed. 

Sita's Trial by Fire

Sita had been confined to the Ashoka grove for the entire time that the battle had been raging. She had lived through those days with her heart in her mouth, worrying about Ram and Laxman. After Ravan had been vanquished, Ram sent Hanuman to Sita to convey the good news. 

Sita's reunion with Ram was not at all as she expected. His demeanour was cold as he greeted her from a distance. Ram then told Sita that now that Ravan had been salin, she was free to choose her path in life. He told her that she could stay in Lanka with Vibhishan, or accompany Laxman or may be Sugriva. She could also go to Bharat if she so desired. Sita was bewildered by Ram's behaviour. She soon understood when Ram explained that he doubted Sita's fidelity after she had lived with Ravan for a year. 

Sita was deeply hurt that Ram should question her loyalty in front of a gathering of people. Insulted, she turned to Laxman and bade him to build a fire. She reminded Ram that Ravan had kept her captive in Lanka for a year against her will. He had tried to woo her in that time, but she had been steadfastly loyal to Ram. She told Ram that she would prove her fidelity by a trial of fire. She would walk through the fire that Laxman built, and if she had been unfaithful to her husband in thought or in deed, the flames would consume her. On the other hand, if her mind and heart had never wavered from her husband, she would emerge from the fire unscathed. After saying this, Sita calmly walked into the flames. The assembled crowd gasped with horror as the flames enveloped Sita. But a few moments later the people heaved a collective sigh of relief as Sita emerged from the roaring fire unscathed. Not a hair on her head was singed. 

There could be no greater proof of Sita's fidelity. Ram embraced Sita and said that he had never for a moment doubted her purity. But being a monarch, he had a duty to satisfy the minds of his subjects on this issue. Else, they would have no respect for him as a king. He praised Sita saying that her trial by the fire had put to rest any doubts that might have been raised in the future. 

The Homecoming of Ram

Finally the fourteen long years of exile were up and Ram, Sita and Laxman were ready to return to Ayodhya. Vibhishan, who had been crowned king of Lanka after Ravan's death, offered the wonderful chariot Pushpak to Ram so that they could fly home to Ayodhya. Ram gladly accepted his offer and climbed aboard along with Sita, Laxman and their monkey friends. They soon reached the outskirts of Ayodhya.

As he had done so many times in the past, Hanuman was the messenger that bore the glad tidings of Ram's return to Bharat. Bharat was ecstatic when he heard the news. He decided that the people of Ayodhya would give Ram and his friends a reception the likes of which the kingdom had never seen before. Once again the people of Ayodhya

prepared for the coronation of Ram. The streets were gaily festooned with flags and washed with scented water. Colourful garlands hung over every doorway. Musicians, dancers and acrobats performed in the streets. The people paraded the streets dressed in their best finery. Everywhere there was happiness and laughter as Ayodhya anticipated the homecoming of Ram. When the weary threesome entered the gates of Ayodhya, a resounding cheer went up from the gathered crowds. The three queens embraced Ram, Sita and Laxman with tears of joy pouring down their faces. The brothers were overjoyed to be reunited after such a long time.

Ram presented Sita with a beautiful pearl necklace before the commencement of the coronation. She sought out Hanuman and begged him to accept the necklace as a token of her undying gratitude. Hanuman was thrilled to have such an honour conferred on him.

At last Ram's coronation was complete. The gods smiled down on the new king of Ayodhya. From then on prosperity and happiness reigned in the