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Ramayana – the full story
 
 
Ramayana epic tells the story of Rama, an avatar of Vishnu. it is supposed to have been written during the VIst century by  a wise person named Valmiki. This 24.000 verse story is the favorite of Indonesians. They are capable to watch and listen to it during hours and hours, specially during the night. It might be danced, but it is mostly played as a puppet show, which is accompanied by the insistent song of Gamelan, the typical Indonesian orchestra exclusively made of percussion instruments.
 
 
Birth of Rama
Dasaratha was the king of Ayodhya, capital town of the Kosala kingdom. Kosala was quite prosperous, but  Dasaratha was sad because he did not have any successor. Someday, he called for Vasistha, a priest, and told him : "I become old, and I do not have children yet. I would like to have a son, who will later take my place on the throne." Vasistha was already perfectly aware of the situation, and answered that he would transmit the king's request to the Gods. To do so, il had to execute a sacred rite.
But at that time, Gods were upset because of Ravana, the king of demons. Ravana impeded the normal achievment of all sacred rites . And Ravana had extraordinary powers. Among them, a magic charm protected him from the Gods! Since Dharma was threatened, Vishnu had to come on earth to restore order in the world. He decided to take the aspect of a human, because arrogant  Ravana did not think of protecting himself against humans.
Vishnu sent a messenger in Ayodhya. He remitted a magic potion to king Dasaratha. The king immediately ordered his spouses to drink the potion. Sumitra, Kaikeyi and Kausalya became pregnant. Nine months later, four sons came to life: Rama, Lakshamana, Bharata, and Satrughna. They were intelligent and learned sacred writings.  Rama et Lakshamana became inseparable very soon.
 
The wedding of Rama and Sita
Someday, the wise Vishwamitra came and talked to the king. A demoness regularly stopped sacred rites operated by him. But he belonged to the Brahman caste. For this reason, he could not fight the demoness by himself ! Vishwamitra asked the king an authorisation to take Rama with him, because he knew Rama was an incarnation of Vishnou.
When the king informed his son, Rama accepted immediately to go and help Vishwamitra. Lakshamana went with him. And he was the very person who wounded the demoness with a snug arrow. Then came Rama, who finally killed the demoness. To thank them, Gods made fall a lotus flower rain.
Vishwamitra led both brothers to the kingdom of Mithila. The king of Mithila, Janaka, had a daugher, Sita. Janaka decided long go to mary her only with a man who would be capable to raise and to bend Shiva's bow. The bow was carried in front of Rama by the 500 soldiers which were needed for that. Rama took the bow, raised it, and the bow falled in pieces. Sita could get marred with Rama!
Wedding was celebrated in Janaka royal palace. Rama and Sita were perfect husband and wife, they really were in love one for each other.
 
Exile of Rama
But Dasaratha, Rama's father,  was older and older. He knew it was time that one of his sons came to replace him on the throne. Rama, who allways had particular place in the heart of the old king, received the responsibilty of leading the kingdom of Ayodhya.
Manthara was the maid of Kaikeyi, the youngest spouse of the old king. She feared to loose her advantages.  She went to her mistress and told her why she worried about : « if Rama become the king, she said, his mother will take over the kingdom. You will not be powerful any longer in this palace ». Manthara did cast doubt and sown some disorder in Kaikeyi's head. Kaikeyi went to Dasaratha, and reminded him the ancient promise he did some years before: Bharata, Kaikeyi's son, had been choosen to become the king! And Kaikei asked her husband to banish Rama during a minimum period of fourteen years.
King Dasaratha was honnest, and it was impossible for him to break his word. He relunctantly accepted the request of his young wife. Rama could not disobey his father, and he even made sure before leaving that Bharata would receive the throne, as promised. Sita et Lakshamana did not accept Rama's departure without reacting. They decided to accompany Rama whereever he would like to go.
When Dasaratha saw his son leave the castle, he just knew that no tie could now hold him on earth any longer. He died shortly after Rama's exile. Ayodhya kingdom missed him very much.
 
Sita's kidnapping
After ten years walking, Sita, Rama et Lakshamana reached Panchavati, and decided to settle there.
But … antoher demoness,  Shurpanak, was already living in the area .... She transformed herself into a beautiful maid to seduce Rama. Because she did not succeed, she falled on Sita. Fortunately, Lakshamana was very reactive, and he cut her nose and ears in the fight. To revenge on Rama and Lakshamana, Shurpanakha met with Ravana and told him about her misadventure. She persuaded him that, il he could seduce Sita and marry with her, this would carry favor from the Gods.
Assisted by magician Mareech, Ravana used a trick to capture Sita. Mareech transformed himself in a magnificient deer, and came braze near to Rama's hut. When he saw the so beautiful animal, Rama wanted to capture it. There, not to leave SIta without protection, he drew a magic circle around his hut and went hunting the deer with Lakshamana.
During the absence of Rama, an old man appeared near the hut. He seemed so poor and helpless that Sita decided to offer him a fruit. Ravana, you understood he was the old man, did remark the magic circle. Therefore, he knew that he had to attire the young lady outside of it. He told Sita he was a wise man and that he could not enter the circle to take her gift. Sita knew her duty was to help the old man, ans she went out of the circle. Ravana captured her immediately, and took her to Lanka. He wanted Sita to became his queen. Rama and Lakshamana became conscious of the trick when they went back to the hut.
 
The monkey army
Rama and Lakshamana engaged in search of Sita. When seeking, they arrived in Kiskindha, the kingdom of monkeys
Sugriva is the chief of the monkey army. He was baned from his throne by his brother, who thieved his kingdom. Rama told his story to the king; Sugriva agreed to help him, provided that Rama helps him to recover his kingdom. Rama and Lakshamana defeated Sugriva's brother. Sugriva held his promise, and launched four troops to search for Sita. After one month, only Hanuman's army was not yet back.
Hanuman's army was guided by a bird, who led the troop to Asoka's garden, near to Lanka (the to-day Sri Lanka). Asoka detained Sita as a prisoner. Hanuman's troops were quite confused because, they had no means to cross the ocean. So Hanuman started praying, and praying and praying for Rama, and grew high enough to be capable to cross the sea. He arrived in Asoka's garden, where he could meet with Sita. He showed Sita a ring Rama gave for her, so that Sita understood she could rely on him. She gave Hanuman one of her jewels.

War
Back in Kiskindha, Hanuman told Rama he knew where Sita was detained. Immediately, Rama, Lakshamana and the monkey army took the road of Lanka. They constructed a magic bridge over the sea and reached the island.
During four days, the armies observed themselves. Battle occured only on the fifth day. Rama and Lakshamana took advantage, and they killed so many demons that the streets of Lanka were filled with their bodies. Ravana sent then his son Indrajit on the battle field. And Indrajit hold a charm: he was capable to become invisible.
Rama's army faced then heavy destructions. All monkeys were wounded, or killed. After some moments, Rama and Hanuman only were still standing. Lakshamana was wounded, and lost his blood. At this very moment, a warrior told Hanuman to go to the Mount Kailash: he would find there some medicinal herbs that would be capable to cure them.
 
Hanuman went on the mount. But he did not know the herbs, and could not recognize them. Therefore, he snatched the whole mountain! The battle resumed, and the monkey army killed Indravit. But now, Ravana himsel started fighting. The battle lasted two more full days. Rama felt tired and weak, and he praid Surya, the Sun God. Litlle by little, he recovered his energy, and thanks to the Brahma weappon, which might be used only as a last chance, he killed Ravana.
 
Hanuman's devotion
After its Lanka battle victory, the monkey army marched back home. But Hanuman declared his duty was to stay with Rama and Sita. King Sugiva asked Hanuman to give an evidence of his devotion. The loyal and fellow Hanuman oppened his jacket, and all people could sea images of Rama and Sita  on his chest.
 
Sita's sacrifice
Once back in Ayodhya, Rama went in trouble. Many people doubted about Sita's fidelity and loyalty during her stay in Lanka. Therefore, to make population sure of her loyalty, Sita appealed for the justice of Gods. She climbed on a pyre, but Agni extinguished fire and brought the evidence of Sita's fidelity.
The royal couple reached Ayodhya, and Rama recovered his throne with the support of the population.
 
But there is an alternate -and not happy!- end
In a more recent version of the Ramayana, Ayodhya population did not accept the sentence of the Gods. A Queen, who is seen as impure in spite of the verdict, could not  seat on the throne. Despite it broke his heart, Rama is obliged to ban Sita, in respect of the law of dharma.
Lakashamana took Sita to a forest. She was welcomed by an old hermit named Valmiki. Far away from Rama, she gave birth to twin boys, Kusa andLava.
During the next twelve years, Sita and her sons lived with Valmiki. The ermit teached the twins a poem, wich told the epic of Rama. Valmiki is held for the person who wrote the story of the Ramayana.
Later on, during a ceremony in Ayodhya, Kusa et Lava chanted the poem in front of Rama. Rama recognized  that these twins were his sons! He also repealed Sita by him. But Sita wanted to give people an additional evidence of her fidelity: If she allways had remained loyal to Rama, Earth would have to swallow her!  A huge noise appeared, Earth opened itself, and swallowed Sita.
Rama reigned in Ayodhya during thousand years.

 


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