Ramayana

Ramayana:

Plot & Structure

Plot Overview

The Indian epic Ramayana describes the life and quest of Rama to rescue his wife, Sita, from the demon king Ravana. The tale begins with Dasaratha, the aged king of Ayodhya, seekign divine help in having a son. Dasaratha's efforts succeed when he has four sons by his three wives. Among them is Rama, the oldest and most beloved by Dasaratha and the people of Ayodhya. When Rama is a young man, he and his stalwart brother Lakshmana accompany a holy man, Viswamithra, as protectors, assisting him in completing a ritual that rakshasas (demons) try to disrupt. Having accomplished this task, the three go to Mithila, where Rama meets Sita. They return to Ayodhya and are married.

Dasaratha then decides to cede the kingdom to Rama and retire. His third wife, Kaikeyi, fearing her son Bharatha will be dispossessed, holds Dasaratha to a promise of two gifts. She requests that Dasaratha name Bharatha king and exile Rama for 14 years. Everyone laments this turn of events, but Rama encourages all involved to accept them, since his father had made this promise. After telling Bharatha to accept the situation, Rama enters exile with Sita and Lakshmana, who refuse to stay behind. Bharatha agrees to serve as regent in place of Rama until Rama returns.

While Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana are living in the forest, Soorpanaka, the sister of Ravana, the king of the rakshasas, sees Rama and falls in love. When her attempts to woo him fail, she flees to Ravana's kingdom of Lanka and tells her brother of Sita's beauty. Inflamed with passion for her, he goes to Rama's forest and kidnaps her. Rama and Laksmana begin a quest to find her.

Along the way, they help the exiled rightful king of the monkeys to regain his throne. For doing so, the monkey king agrees to help Rama find Sita. After long searching by Hanuman, the monkey general, they locate Sita on Lanka and attack. A great war follows, in which Ravana is slain and Sita saved, though her fidelity is...