RuhanRamayana
VISHNU is one of the Hindu Trinity GODS. BHRAMA (CREATOR), VISHNU (PROTECTOR) and MAHESWARA (DESTROYER)“NARAYANA” is another name for “VISHNU” which literally means “LIFE” within a “Living Being”
“NARAYANA” incarnates himself in several forms to protect “DHARMA” (ORDER) in the world.“RAMA” is one of such “INCARNATIONS”. Mythology tells “Celestial Gods”and “Ascetics” prayed to LORD VISHNU and His wife GODDESS LAKSHMI to relieve them off “RAVANA”, their tormentor.
It is known that “RAVANA” Can be vanquished only by “NARAS (HUMANS)” And “VANARAS (MONKEYS)”And his end shall be triggered by a “FEMALE” Who originates in “LANKA”.
“NARAYANA” advises “Celestial Gods” to incarnate as “VANARAS”And support him in this task during his “NARA” avatar as “RAMA”.
In preparation to his “RAMA” avatar, “NARAYANA” Transforms His Aura, His Armaments (Shanka and Chakra) And His Couch (Adi Seshu), Into a potion of “Kheer”.In those days, there lived a king “Dasaratha”. He was King of Kingdom “Ayodhya”. He has three wives but no children. He performed “PUTRAKAMESHTI Yagnam” Along with his three wives to please The Gods and Get children
That “Kheer” was given to King Dasaratha and his three wives, by Yagna Purusha
Consuming the Kheer DASARATHA’s wives, KAUSALYA, SUMITRA and KAIKEYI, begot four sons. “RAMA” was born to Dasaratha’s first wife “KAUSALYA”. The twins “LAKSHMANA and SHATRUGHNA” were born to his second wife “SUMITRA” And “BHARATA” was born to third wife “KAIKEYI” “Goddess LAKSHMI” Transforms her Aura into a baby girl.The baby girl was placed in a flower basket in Ravana’s Prayer Room. While offering flowers from the basket during his routine Poojas (prayers), Ravana lifts the baby from the basket. Finding this Baby Girl from nowhere, in his palm, Ravana senses danger for him and his kingdom.
He considered this event a bad omen. He arranged to put the baby girl in a casket And Abandon the casket in high seas. Traversing Seas and Time, The casket lands in “Vaidehi kingdom”. “King JANAKA” is the ruler of “Vaidehi Kingdom”.One day he was tilling the land to prepare it for a Yagna Ritual. The tiller unearths the casket. KING JANAKA finds a baby girl in it. JANAKA adopts her, and names her as “SITA” He raises her as his dearest daughter.
“SITA” is also known as AYONIJA - the one who came into being from nowhere.
In “AYODHYA” Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Satrughna come of age.They learnt the scriptures, skills in use weapons, armory, and warfare from Sage Vashishta.
In “MITHILA” ”Sita” comes of age. Her extraordinary powers came to be known when she pushes aside “SIVA’s Bow” effortlessly. Seeing this Janaka decided to give her in marriage to a person who lifts “SIVA’s Bow”, strings it, and shoots an arrow from it.
Around this period of time, Sage VISWAMITRA visits King “Dasaratha”. He asks DASARATHA to send RAMA with him to the forest to kill demons, which are destroying his YAGNA Rituals in the forest. DASARATHA sends Rama and Lakshmana reluctantly.
The place where Viswamitra is performing his rituals is in a forest known as “Dandakaaranya”. When Rama, lakshmana and viswamitra were about to reach that place, A female demon “Tataki” attacks Rama. Rama kills her.Sage VISWAMITRA realizes Rama and lakshmana needs many more arms and strengths. He bestows upon “Rama and Lakshmana” Several strategic weapons AndSeveral mantras that would help them, while fighting with demons. Rama and Lakshmana stood guard And Ensured smooth conduct of The Sage’s rituals.
They killed the demons attempting to destroy the rituals.
Sage Viswamitra successfully completes his Yagna. Pleased with Ramaand Lakshmana, Sage Viswamitra takes Rama and Laxmana to Mithila where “SITA SWAYAMVARAM” was taking place.Several princes from all around came; they all tried to lift “Siva Bow” and failed. The mighty “Ravana” also failed.
Rama lifts the Siva’s Bow easily. As he attempts to string it and arch it, the Bow breaks producing a thundering sound. Rama becomes the successful suitor for Sita.
Rama and Sita were married with all pomp and pleasantries.Lakshmana, Bharata, and Satrughna were married to Sita’s cousinsUrmila, Mandavi, and Srutakirti respectively at the same time and place.
King Dasaratha, considering it the right time, decides to coronate Rama as King of Ayodhya. The people of Ayodhya were happy with this decision.Mandara, Kaikeyi’s servant, was the black sheep. She poisons Kaikeyi’s mind and instigates Kaikeyi to act against Rama’s coronation.
KAIKEYI moves to stall Rama’s coronation. She asks DASARATHA to fulfill the boons“Dasaratha” gave her several years back. One was to Coronate Bharata. The second One was to Send Rama To the forests to lead Ascetic forest life For next fourteen years.
Dasaratha was crest-fallen. Kaikeyi had her way.
Rama leaves for the forests, along with Sita and Lakshmana. The people of Ayodhya bid a tearful adieu to the trio.
Unable to bear the pain of separation from Rama, Dasaratha passes away.
Bharata comes to know of what happened. He becomes very furious with his mother Kaikeyi. He draws sword to attack his mother.Wisdom prevails. Bharata, controlling his anger, declares that he won’t accept the Ayodhya throne.
Bharata goes to Rama and pleads with him to come back and acceptthe Ayodhya Throne. Rama refuses saying that would be dishonoring the promise he made to his father Dasaratha.
Finally Bharata takes RAMA’s Wooden Sandals (padukas) and performs coronation to Rama’s padukas. Bharata stays off from the palace in Ayodhya, and rules Ayodhya kingdom from the outskirts of Ayodhya, on behalf of Rama.
Rama moved on in the southern direction. He built a hutment on the bank of river Godavari and lived there happily with Sita and Lakshmana, till the day Surpanaka entered their lives. Surpanaka isRavana’s Sister -a female demon. She saw Rama and fell for his beauty.
Surpanaka used her ability to assume a beautiful lady form and tried to entice Rama. Rama did not fall for her tricks. Rama wanted to stall her advances. He asked Lakshmana to teach her a lesson. Lakshman cuts off Surpanaka’s nose and ears. This made her ugly as ever and forever.
Surpanaka crying loudly went to her brother Ravana and asks him to take revenge on Rama. Ravana, the Demon King, grew furious and took a vow to avenge by taking Sita away from Rama.Vibhishana, the wiser brother of Ravana, advised Ravana against such evil acts. Ravana did not heed.
Ravana embarked on a treacherous plan to abduct Sita.He forced his friend Mareecha to take the form of a golden deer and appear before sita. Sita would then get enchant by golden deer and ask Rama and lakshmana to get her golden deer.Then Rama and Lakshmana would try to catch golden deer. At that time golden deer (mareecha) should run away into forest. Rama and lakshmana shall run after golden deer into the forest, Sita shall be alone and defenseless. Ravana would then abduct sita. This is the plan. Mareecha knows Rama and lakshmana are very strong.He realized that his end is certain at the hands of Rama and lakshmana, but could not escape from Ravana’s plot.
He takes the form of golden deer and appears before sita.Amused by the beauty of the golden deer, Sita asks Rama to bring the golden deer for her. Rama went after the golden deer. It was not to be caught. It ran into forest,
Rama chased it and realized that it was the demon’s trick. He shot anarrow at it. The golden deer fell dead as Mareecha, crying loudly in Rama’s voice “Haa SITA - Haa Lakshmana.”
Hearing those shouts “Haa Sita-Haa Lakshmana” In Rama’s voice, Sita thought Rama was in danger. She besieged Lakshmana to go to help Rama. Lakshamana realized it was the demon’s trick. As he knew Rama was invincible.He tried to convince Sita that Rama should be safe. Sita won’t take that and insisted That Lakshmana should leave at once. Lakshmana is left with no choice. He drew a line in front of their hutment and Tells sita not to cross that line
That line “lakshmana rekha” was meant to protect Sita. Lakshmana leaves in search of rama into forest. Sita was all alone defenseless.
Ravana disguised himself as Jangamdevara (a Beggar with Leanings for devotion to Lord Shiva).He reached the hutment,Sita was all alone, worried and in lost mood, Ravana asks for alms.
Sita brings alms for the beggar. Sita standing inside lakshmana rekha tries to put alms in beggar’s bag The beggar (Ravana) becomes furious And Insists she give him alms at the place where he was standing. Sita pleads with beggar (ravana) that she is not allowed to cross the line and requests beggar to accept the alms, Beggar (ravana) won’t agree. He threatens to leave without taking alms.Sita is not willing to let go of the beggar without alms, as it is against rules. She steps out of the Lakshmana Rekha. Suddenly Ravana assumes his natural form. Shocked, Sita falls unconscious. Ravana lifts the mound on which Sita fell And Flies towards Lanka,
Sita regains her conscious, and realizes that she is being abducted by Ravana. She cries for help. Jatayuvu, eagle bird hearing her cries, comes to rescue her. Ravana cuts off the wings of Jatayuvu. Jatayuvu falls down.
To leave trailing marks for Rama know her plight, Sita tore apart part of her sari and made a bundle of her ornaments in itand threw it down. That bundle fell in the folded palms of Hanuman, who was doing his regular prayers at that time.
Ravana took Sita to Lanka, his kingdom. He kept her as a prisoner in Ashoka Van (garden) guarded by several femaledemons. Ravana gave sita twelve months time to yield to him and become his queen.
Rama and Lakshmana return back to the hutment.Not finding Sita, they grew worried and moved on in search of Sita.
On the way they saw Jatayuvu, who was holding his last breath. Jatayuvu tells them that Ravana abducted Sita to Lanka, and breathes his last. They moved further down to south and meet Hanuman during their journey. Hanuman befriends with Rama and lakshmana. Hanuman learns about missing sita.Hanuman shows the bundle of ornaments that came his way. Hanuman explains the plight of Sugreeva, his King, at the hands of Vali. A friendship pact was reached between Rama and Sugreeva. Rama will kill Vali and restore Sugreeva’s kingdom and his wife back to him. In return, Sugreeva shall help Rama in finding where about of Sita and in getting her back.
Vali, twin brother of sugreeva is bestowed with the power to reduce opponent’s strength to half, with his mere sight.Using this power, Vali drove his brother Sugreeva out to forests after grabbing his kingdom and wife.
As planned Sugreeva challenges Vali to a fist fight.Rama shoots Vali down with an arrow from behind a tree. Vali was killed.
Sugreeva was crowned as king of kishkinda. Sugreeva gets his wife back. Sugreeva and his kingdom celebrate his coming back After those celebrations, sugreeva picks Best warriors like Hanuman, Jambavanta, and Angada, from his army And Assigns the job of searching where about of sita.This contingent was asked to go in the southern direction in search of Sita. Rama gives Hanuman his ring as an identity to be shown to Sita.This contingent reaches the shores of the sea on the southern side. They need to cross the sea to search for Sita. They accost Hanuman to undertake this task. Hanuman assumes giant form to leap across the sea.
With his giant form, Hanuman takes big leap into air and flies over thesea, to reach lanka on the other side. Hanuman lands on the shores of Lanka, overcoming hurdles on the way.
Lankhini, the demon, was guarding the entrance to Lanka. She stalked Hanuman from entering Lanka. Hanuman gives a deadly fist blow on her head. Lankhini gives way to Hanuman. Hanuman enters Lanka.
Hanuman finds distraught Sita sitting under a tree. Female demons were guarding her.Hanuman wanted to come out of tree leaves and reach out to sita. Before he could do that, Ravana came in. Ravana told sita “you are left with only two months to agree to marry ME”. Sita shows him a straw. Sita thus conveyed her refusal without uttering a word. She also told ravana what she thinks of him without uttering a word. Furious with sita’s defiance, Ravana instructs the female demons To kill Sita and eat her flesh If, she does not heed to his words in the next two months.
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