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continued.... A later section of the Ramayana tells how some of Rama's subjects suspected Sita of being unfaithful. Although she was proved innocent, Rama banished her to the forest. There she was looked after by the hermit Maharishi Valmiki, and in his hermitage she had twin sons, Lava and Kusha. When the boys grew up, they turned out to be outstanding warriors and highly talented. Once they accompanied Maharishi Valmiki to King Rama's court and sang the Rama Katha (story of Ramayana) in a melodious and passionate way. Rama was deply touched to hear of the hardships Sita had to bear in her exile and ordered Lakshamana to bring back Sita. Thus the family was reunited, but Sita was forced to call on the Mother earth to testify to her fidelity to Rama. The earth swallowed her up, and Sita went straight to heaven. The poet Valmiki supposedly wrote the first version of the Ramayana in Sanskrit during the 300's B.C. It has 24,000 verses. Translated or rewritten versions appear in other Indian languages. The Hindi version Ramacharitamanasa, written by the poet Tulsi Das in the late 1500's, became the most popular. The Ramayana story illustrates several ideals of human behaviour. Rama is the ideal king. He puts his duty to the people of his kingdom before his responsibility to his family. Sita is the ideal wife and is still worshipped throughout India as 'Ma' or Mother. No matter how many dangers she faces, she always remains faithful to her husband. Lakshmana is the ideal brother. He supports his elder brother without question, even at great loss to himself. Hanuman is the most loyal of followers. He is loyal to Rama through good and bad times. The story also teaches the importance of duty and obedience. If Lakshmana had obeyed Rama and stayed with Sita in the forest, she would not have been captured. If Sita had obeyed Lakshmana and stayed in the house she would have been safe. Evil, in the form of Ravana, can have no power over those who are dutiful, faithful, and obedient. The story of Ramayana has held the attention of Hindus over the centuries, and the moral lessons it contains have had a deep and lasting effect. It remains one of the most popular tales of moral perfection in Hinduism. There have been many translations, numerous films, and a television series of the epic. It is claimed that great religious merit comes from watching or listening to the Ramayana. Both the Ramayana and the Mahabharata form the basis of stories told through the Kathakali dance drama of south India. next page >> |
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