All about history book of myths and legends. ( PDFDrive )

THE RAMAYANA

RAMA AND SITA

In the epic, Rama and Sita are portrayed as the ideal couple. Rama

wins his wife in a contest of strength, and fights fearlessly to rescue

her when she is abducted. Similarly, Sita is considered the perfect

devoted wife. However, Rama has been seen by some as a flawed

hero who failed to

appreciate Sita’s

goodness by doubting

her chastity twice

Some accounts

interpret Rama’s actions

as befitting a just ruler

who has to place ideals

of kingship above all

personal bonds.

THE IDEAL OF BROTHERHOOD

Brotherhood is thematically integral to the Ramayana. The ideal

brother is Lakshmana – he accompanies Rama and Sita into exile,

guards them, and aids Rama in his battles with the demons and in his

rescue of Sita. Bharata, too, shows his love for Rama by overriding his

kingly aspirations and placing Rama’s sandals on the throne.

Shatrughna is similarly devoted to Rama, and

outraged at the injustice done to him.

Rama’s marriage
Rama and Sita show their
mutual devotion through
their actions – she, by
following him to his forest
exile, and he, by rescuing her
from the demon king, Ravana.

Plough

Sita’s name means

“furrow”. Her father

found her in a furrow

in the the soil while

ploughing his fields.

Lakshmana

When Ravana’s sister tried to take

revenge on Rama for spurning

her advances, Lakshman

cut off her nose.

THE EPIC

The Ramayana, one of the great works of world

literature, is said to have been written by a sage,

Valmiki, who plays a role in the epic, but may

also have been a real person. Varying accounts

place its date of compilation between 500 BCE

and 200 CE. Valmiki probably did not write the

entire poem; several passages were added after

the work was originally composed. The epic

primarily deals with the life of Rama, who

belonged to the Surya Vansha (lineage of the

sun god) or Raghu Vansha (lineage of his

great-grandfather, Raghu, a great emperor).

Sage Valmiki
In the epic, Valmiki is
a sage who lives in the
forest, and is often visited
by Rama and Sita during
their exile. When the pair
are estranged, Valmiki lets
Sita stay in his hermitage.

THE RAMAYANA IN

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Besides its popularity in India, the Ramayana is well known

in Southeast Asia. The epic reached Indonesia during the

early centuries of the Common Era. In Java, Malaya, and

Thailand, local writers translated

the Sanskrit text, and theatre

companies adapted it.

In Thai literature, the

epic is called Ramakien.

Episodes from it are

presented in Thai

khon (mask) plays

and in such art

forms as the

Indonesian puppet

and shadow theatre.

Mask used in Thai khon plays

Rama’s sandals

The sun god

FROM THY FEET CAST

FORTH THOSE SANDALS,

THEY SHALL DECORATE

THE THRONE. Val mik i, Ramayana

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