Ramayana by Kristen Boehme
Book of the Boyhood of Rama
Sauti, a storyteller, tells this tale to a friend named Saunaka. The story begins when Sita, Rama's wife and queen, is banished to the forest. Narada asks Valmiki to comfort her so she won’t commit suicide. Valmiki takes care of Sita. She has twin sons, Kusa and Lava. Valmiki sings the song of the story of Rama their father. When the boys are young men, they go to Rama’s festival and sing the same song every day for a year. Rama listens and doesn’t know they are his sons.
Ravana, the ten-headed Rakshasa King, has destroyed heaven, which angers the god Indra. As a result, Ravana controls heaven, earth, and hell. Brahma does not seem to be concerned though he once granted Ravana’s wish that no one in heaven would be able to kill him. Indra still wants to fight. Narayana (Vishnu, the preserver) tells Indra that Ravana is not protected from man or beast. Then Narayana incarnates as the four sons of Dasaratha, king of Ayodhya, a very prosperous and happy kingdom at this time. His first wife Kausalya has Rama. Kaikeyi has Bharata. Sumitra has Lakshmana and Satrughna. Lakshmana protects Rama, and Satrughna protects Bharata.
The Rakshasas were born of Brahma’s creation to protect the waters of the earth. They asked Viswakarman, the architect of heaven, to build them a place to live, and he built Lanka. The Rakshasas multiplied, and they wandered beyond Lanka where they would eat men and animals. Narada fought them until there were none living on earth except a few below the waters.
Ravana was born of Kaikasi and Vishravana. He would sacrifice 1 of his heads to Brahma every 1,000 years until there was only 1 left. Brahma did not want to see him suffer any longer, so he stopped Ravana and granted him one wish. He wished to be protected from all gods. With this protection and the help of his son and the other Rakshasas, he took over the 3 worlds.
When Rama was 16, Viswamitra arrived at Dasaratha’s palace. The King promised him anything he wanted. Viswamitra wanted Rama to help him kill the Rakshasas. Rama and Lakshmana became his students. They learned mantras and were shown their heavenly weapons. Rama also received Shiva’s bow. When he is able to use the great bow, he is granted Sita’s hand in marriage. Sita and Rama live in Rama’s Black Stone Palace of the Moon for twelve peaceful years. Slowly but surely, Dasaratha handed over the responsibilities of the kingdom to his son Rama who was proving to be an exceptional leader.
Book of Ayodhya
Dasaratha decides he would like to make Rama king while he is still alive. The people wholeheartedly approve. Meanwhile Manthara, Kaikeyi's hunchback serving woman, plants the seeds of jealousy and greed in her master. She tells her that her role as queen will be diminished if Rama becomes king, because his mother will become the primary queen. Manthara encourages Kaikeyi to use the two wishes she was granted by Dasaratha when she saved him from dying in a great battle. Kaikeyi frets over this in the palace anger room. Dasaratha rushes to find out what is going on only to find his distraught wife. When he asks her what she wants, she asks for two wishes. Make Bharata king and send Rama to the forest for 14 years. Bound by honor, Dasaratha and Rama carry out her wishes. Dasaratha feels as if his world has been destroyed while Rama bears no anger at all.
Dasaratha begs his son to stay, but Rama will not forsake his father's honesty and honor. Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana set out together on a chariot driven by Sumantra. Most of the city of Ayodhya decides to follow them into exile. Rama does not want the people to be dragged into misfortune, so he tricks them into going home. Early one morning, Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana begin their journey while the charioteer drives his horses on a deceiving path that leads back to Ayodhya. When the people wake up, their king is gone. They follow the tracks and end up back home. Rama also asks Sumantra to return home to let his father know that he is okay.
Dasaratha goes blind, because his sight leaves with Rama. Yama, the Death Lord, comes to take him. This is his karma for killing the son of a blind couple in a hunting accident when he was a young man.
Bharata is summoned to return from his grandfather King Aswapati’s kingdom. His mother tells him that he is king, and he doesn’t understand. What did Rama do wrong? He is furious at his mother, but he ends up forgiving her. He has a funeral for his father so that the people of Ayodhya can get over their sorrow. Then he sets out with the queens, an army, and the people to find Rama. The hermit Bharadwaja entertains them and tells them that Rama lives on Chitrakuta Hill. When they find Rama, Bharata tells him that their father has died, and he tries to persuade him to return. Rama refuses. He will return in fourteen years as he promised. Bharata takes Rama’s sandals to place on the throne to await his return. Then Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita set off traveling from place to place and living in various locations for the next 13 years.
Sita’s Rescue
Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana meet Agastya, a wood-dweller, in Vindhya Hills, and he warns them about Ravana and Dandaka Forest. Agastya encourages Rama to fight Ravana. It is his Dharma as a warrior. The Valakhilyas, little fairy saints of the forest, ask him to free the forest.
A Rakshasa tries to snatch away Sita, and Rama defeats it. It turns into Tumburu the musician Lord after being freed from the curse of being in a Rakshasa body.
After traveling further into the forest, they encounter Surpanakha, Ravana’s sister, who says she desires Rama. When Rama and Lakshmana resist her advances, she tries to kill Sita. Lakshmana cuts off her ears, and she flees to General Khara at the Rakshasa garrison. He leads a Legion of Rakshasa warriors in an attack against Rama. Rama kills all 14,000 of them with his powerful bow. Surpanakha runs to Ravana to warn him about Rama. Ravana does not seem to care, but then he hears about Sita. He must have beautiful Sita for his wife.
In exchange for half of his kingdom, Ravana asks Maricha to help him capture Sita. Maricha turns into a beautiful, jeweled deer, and he wanders by Rama’s encampment. Lakshmana seems to know it is an illusion, but Rama wants to catch him alive for Sita. Maricha bounds off into the woods, and Rama chases after him. Then Maricha imitates Rama’s voice and cries, "Help me!" Sita is upset and convinces Lakshmana to go help him. Ravana turns himself into an old holy man and approaches Sita who graciously offers him food and drink. He returns to his real form and offers to take her to his kingdom. She refuses, and he carries her off in his chariot. As they fly off to Lanka, she drops her jewelry to mark their trail. Jatayu, the Vulture King, tries to stop Ravana, but he gets killed.
Ravana imprisons Sita in the tall Asoka trees at his palace. The god Indra puts everyone to sleep and tells Sita that she is protected. He explains the story behind the fact that any man who desires and unwilling woman will be burned.
Meanwhile, Rama discovers Sita is missing, and he finds out who has taken her. Now he and Lakshmana must figure out where she is. Havari, an old woman, says that Hanuman, a monkey, can help him. She tells the story of Hanuman’s birth. He is the son of Vayu, the Wind god, and Anjana, a beautiful monkey. She also tells them how Hanuman triumphed over Vali, the monkey king, and helped Sugriva, his friend, become the king instead. When Rama and Lakshmana meet Sugriva and Hanuman they agree to help search for Sita. Sugriva calls out for help from the animal kingdom, and he sends out search groups to the north, south, east, and west. They must all report back in a month. Hanuman, Prince Angada of the monkeys, and King Jambavan of the bears set out to the south toward Lanka. They reach the coast and can see Lanka 100 leagues across the sea. Hanuman volunteers to jump across to see if Sita is there.
The Book Beautiful
Hanuman performs the amazing jump across the sea. He turns himself into a cat and forces his way past the palace walls. He explores the kingdom and finally finds Sita in Ravana’s Asoka grove. He witnesses Ravana come to the wood to woo Sita. She refuses his offers, and he angrily returns to the palace. Hanuman reveals himself to Sita and proves his identity by giving her the gold leaf and pearl hair ornament she received upon her wedding to Rama. He offers to take her back to Rama, but she asks him to take a message back instead. She asks Rama to come rescue her himself if he remembers how much he loves her.
Before Hanuman returns to Rama, he begins to destroy Lanka in a fit of rage. Sita convinces him to start off on his journey before completely destroying the city or else he will take away Rama’s future fame. Hanuman jumps back to the mainland and returns to Rama. He relays Sita’s message and implores Rama to fulfill his destiny. Rama promises to kill Ravana.
The War Book
Lakshmana and Rama consider the impossibility of attacking a palace across the sea. King Jambavan exclaims that they should attack not think and listen. He tells Rama to call on their "animal rage" and to "release [their] violence." Rama resolves to fight. He leads all of the animals to the ocean shore where they are confronted with the problem of crossing. Samudra, the Ocean god, agrees to support any foundation that Nala, the monkey, builds. Nala begins construction on a bridge of stone, wood, grass, and sand that is 100 leagues long and 10 leagues wide.
Ravana knows that the animals are building this bridge, so he calls a council meeting. Vibhishana asks Ravana to return Sita. He implores that Ravana, a slave to his anger, is not thinking clearly, and he will be killed. Angered by this, Ravana orders him out. Vibhishana leaves and seeks protection under the true king Rama. He is welcomed as a friend and ally.
The animals cross the bridge and set up their camps. Ravana cannot believe they have crossed the sea. He sends out the demons Sardula and Sarana to count the enemy. They take on the shape of monkeys and mingle with the animal army. Vibhishana discovers their presence and captures them. Sarana is so afraid he disappears into nothing while Sardula is sent back to the palace.
Ravana tries to convince Sita that Rama is dead so that she will marry him. He shows her Rama’s bow and his severed head, both illusions. She breaks down with grief. Trijata, the Rakshasi who befriends Sita, ensures her that Rama is still alive. Then Ravana meets with his council and is determined to fight. He will not give Sita back. He thinks that he will win the war and win over Sita’s love.
The great battle begins the next morning. The youngest third of the Demon army comes out of the north gate to fight. They could not win in daylight against the animals. The demons wait until nightfall when their strength increases to fight again. Nala kills Prahasta, Ravana’s general, by causing his chariot to crash and throwing one of its wheels at Prahasta’s heart.
In retaliation, Ravana decides to wake up his brother Kumbhakarna who is a giant. Kumbhakarna is awake one full day and then sleeps for six months. It is time for him to awaken again. At first Kumbhakarna tries to talk Ravana out of fighting. He says stealing another man’s wife is the worst sin of all, and he tries to convince him to give Sita back. He knows Ravana will be defeated, but he finally agrees to fight for his brother. Most of the animals flee when they see the giant. Hanuman is injured by the giant after biting his ear. Lakshmana’s arrows cannot penetrate his coarse hair. Rama succeeds in cutting off his limbs and head with his mighty arrows. Ravana is enraged by the death of his brother. As he is crying out in anger, his son Indrajit arrives and tells his father that he will fight for him.
When Indrajit attacks the animal army, the results are devastating. He is invisible, and the army does not know where to aim. All of the animals die. Alas, Rama and Lakshmana are killed as well. As night descends, Vibhishana regains his strength. He looks around for any living friend. Hanuman, who cannot be killed, is alive as well. The two allies find King Jambavan barely alive. The bear king tells them that they can save the army from death by fetching the healing herbs from Medicine Hill high in the Himalayas. Hanuman jumps back across the ocean and uproots the whole mountain, which he brings back to Lanka. Just the smell of the herbs brings the army back to life and heals their wounds.
Ravana approaches his son Indrajit as he is meditating in his invisible grove and asks him to help one more time. This time Indrajit rides his chariot over the animal army and pretends to slaughter an "illusion" of Sita. He returns to his grove leaving the animals devastated. Vibhishana convinces them that it is an illusion and says a prayer to make Indrajit and his grove visible. The animal army descends on the grove, and Lakshmana ends up killing Indrajit.
Ravana is upset and determined to defeat Rama. Time visits Ravana and tries to reason with him, but it is useless. Ravana will try to defy even Time. He goes out to fight the army. Rama tells everyone else to cross the bridge to safety until he calls them. Indra sends his chariot driven by Matali to help Rama. A magnificent duel ensues. Rama is ultimately victorious.
Vibhishama becomes king of Lanka, a kingdom now empty. Ravana is burned on a funeral pyre. After washing and putting on their royal clothes, Rama and Sita are reunited. All of the animals come back to life when Vibhishama and Hanuman speak an ancient mantra. Pushpaka, a heavenly chariot owned by Vaishravana the Treasure King, arrives to take the whole army home. Everyone boards this chariot which is covered with gardens, fountains, and palaces. As they fly over the ocean, the bridge sinks to the ocean floor. They spend the night in Kishkindhya where the animals are reunited with their loved ones. Then the chariot takes the whole group to Ayodhya. As they travel, they recall the events that have led them to this place in time. When they arrive at the palace, Rama puts on his sandals and is welcomed as the king. He rules for 11,000 splendid years.
The Last Book
When his reign is almost 10,000 years long, Rama asked his ministers what his people say about him. He finds out that the rumor is he desires Sita though Ravana touched her. Rama thinks that he cannot survive as a king with a bad reputation, so he asks Lakshmana and Sumantra the charioteer to abandon her in the forest when she goes to visit the hermits. They do as they are ordered, and they tell Sita why they are leaving her. Now we return to the beginning of this story. Kusa and Lava grow up learning this story, and when they are twelve years old, they sing this tale at Rama’s great public festival. When they are done singing, Rama recognizes them as his sons, and he asks for Sita to be brought to him. All of the animals are there to witness this celebration. Sita asks to prove her innocence. She tells Mother Earth to take her home and hide her if she has been faithful to Rama. Mother Earth comes out of the ground, takes her daughter in her arms, and disappears back into the earth. Rama is sad to see her go, but he is also happy to know the truth. He knows that they will meet again in another lifetime.
At the end of the story Time comes for Rama. It is his time to die. Learning of his departure, many of the animals arrive in Ayodhya. Rama goes to the Ganges and dives in followed by all who wish to join him. Now anyone who hears or tells this story receives the grace and glory of Rama.
Themes
The passage of Time
Balance of Good and Evil
Loyalty
Keeping promises
Honor
Faith in the final outcome
Faith in our strengths
The power of nature
Duty to one’s spouse, kingdom, friends
Dharma and fulfilling one’s destiny
Karma and facing the consequences of one’s choices
Questions
- What does the role of Time play in the Ramayana?
- Many people consider Sita to be the role model of a perfect wife. Based on what you have read, what would those characteristics be?
- This story is told and retold to many people in India. What lessons would it teach a child? An adult?
- Is there such a thing as good and evil in the book? Explain.
- What is the relationship between the gods and the people and animals?
- What do you learn about Dharma?