Dasarata, King of Ayodya, had three wives and four sons. Kasolya bore Rama (the oldest son), Kekayi gave birth to Barata, and Sumitra bore teo sons, Laksmana and Satugna. Rama won the contest for Sinta, doughter of Janaka, King of Wideha.
Does TRAVELLING AROUND THE WORLD provide video about THE RAMAYANA STORY (RAMA AND SINTA) below?
Getting old, Dasarata intended to vacate the throne and bade Rama to mount it. Kekayi however, reminded the King, that she still had two promises to be fulfilled by him: first, Barata, her son, should have ascended the throne, instead of Rama, and second, Rama should be sent into exile to the forest for 14 years. It was indeed difficult to the King to refuse these demands. Rama, on the contrary, being aware of his father’s grief, willingly consented to release his right for the throne and to go to forest. Thence Rama, accompanied by his wife Sinta, and his half-brother Laksmana, left Ayodya. Soon after, grief stricken, King Dasarata passed away. Barata refused to take the throne. He went into forest, looking for Rama. Notwithstanding his persuasions, Rama remained firm in his decision to live in the forest. Thereupon Barata returned to Ayodya, taking with him the sandals of Rama, and laid them on the throne, as a symbol the righteous King was Rama. He himself ruled on behalf of Rama.
Rama often helped the hermits from the never ceasing disturbances of the giants. One he met a female giant, Sarpakenaka, who readily fell in love with him. Laksmana cut off her ear and the tip of her nose. Sarpakenaka reported this humiliation to her older brother Rahwana, the ten-headed giant King of Alengka. She also told him of the beautiful wife of Rama. Thereupon Rahwana went to Rama’s camp in the forest, intending to abduct Sinta as reprisal for the humiliation done to his sister.
Marica, another giant friend of Rahwana, transformed himself in to a golden deer, and run back and forth outside Rama’s camp. Sinta desired to posses the deer and asked Rama to catch it for her. But the deer was not as same as it seemed, and Rama went after it the farther away from his camp. At last he shot the deer with an arrow, who immediately became a giant, shrieking loudly. To Sinta this shrieking resembled the voice of Rama, thence she pursued her brother-in-law to rescue her husband.
Thus Sinta was left alone. In the meantime, a hermit appeared and begged Sinta for a bowl of rice. As soon as Sinta stretched out her hand to give the rice, the hermit, who was none other than Rahwana himself, grabbed it and abducted her. On their return, Rama and Laksmana found the camp empty and no sign of Sinta. They were sad and started to look for her. While wandering they met Jatayu bird, a former close friend of King Dasarata, who had tried to combat Rahwana, when he saw the giant in the act of abducting Sinta. In the ensuing combat, Jatayu lost. Having told his story, Jatayu passed away.
Rama met Sugriwa, King of Mongkeys, whose kingdom and wife had been seized by his own brother Subali. Rama allied himself with Sugriwa: he would help whereas on the other hand Sugriwa would help Rama to get Sinta back from Alengka. Kiskenda was attacked, and Subali was killed by an arrow shot of Rama.
Sugriwa had regained his kingship of Kiskenda, and Anggada, son of Subali, was promoted to crown prince. The army of monkey set out to Alengka. They stooped, when the had reached the straits that separated Alengka from mainland (of india). They were now seeking a way as to how to cross over the sea.
Hanuman, monkey confidant of Sugriwa and son of the Wind God, climbed Mount Mahameru, jumped over the sea and landed in Alengka. He roamed all over Alengka, even he entered the palace. In the end he was able to find the whereabouts of Sinta. To Sinta he informed, that soon Rama would come to meet her.
Hanuman was arrested by the army of Alengka. He was then tied tightly, and afterwards set on fire. But he managed to jump on a roof, and with his burning tail set the town on fire. Thereafter Hanuman jumped back to meet Rama and made his reports.
With the aid of the God of the Sea the army of monkeys succeeded to built a bridge to Alengka. Being aware that his country was threatened by enemies, Rahwana built up his defense. His younger brother, Wibisana, advised him that it was better to return Sinta to Rama than to wage war. Rahwana was furious, and expelled his brother out of Alengka. Thereupon Wibisana joined Rama.
It was a bitter war. After the death of Indrajit, Rahwana’s Son, and Kumbakarna, another brother of Rahwana, the King, threw himself into war. It was a long fight againt Rama, but at the giant king fell in action.
The war was over, and Bibisana was crowned King of Alengka. Sinta met again her husband. Rama did not want to take back his wife, after so long acaptivity in Alengka’s palace, hence enables to live a pure life. Sinta was very sad. She ordered a bonfire, then threw herself into the fire. Now there appeared Agni, the Goddess of Fire, who presented Sinta to Rama.
Rama explained, that he ever had any doubt of Sinta’s being faithful, but as Queen, her purity should be shown in public. Followed by the army of monkey, Rama and his wife and his brother returned to Ayodya.They were met by Barata, who soon thereafter handed over the throne to Rama.
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