At the time when Rama with Sage Viswamithra was in forests killing
all the demons the news came that King Janaka was conducting a
'swayam-vara'- ceremony to choose a bride-groom, for sita who was
by then grown up as an young maiden. The condition laid down by
King Janaka was who-ever broke the 'Shiva-dhanush' that
was found along with sita in the field that person would be
chosen to marry Sita.
Viswamithra took Rama and Lakshmana to the 'swayamvara' where
they were received with the respect due to the princes.
A number of princes tried their and in bending the bow but they
could not even lift it. However Rama effortlessly lifted the
bow and broke into two to the amazement of all present and the
delight of sita who was watching the proceedings from a balcony
above the hall.
Rama married sita with great pomp and pageantry and went back to
Ayodhya with his bride and Lakshman and Viswamithra.
When it was time king Dasaratha wanted to crown Rama as the
king and retire to the forest to devote his time to penance
renouncing all pleasures of life. Called 'vana-prastha-asram
this is considered the last stage in a man's life.
Kaikeyi the third wife of dasaratha and a step-mother to Rama
however wanted her son Bharatha to be crowned the king
Long time earlier Kaikeyi saved the life of King dasaratha when his
chariot over turned. Pleased King Dasaratha Promised kaikeyi
two favours she would ask for. She however did not ask for anything
at that time but said that she would make her wish known at the
appropriate time later.
Now she invoked the promise that King dasaratha had made and asked
that Bharatha be crowned the King instead of Rama. Her second wish was
that Rama should be banished to the forest and live there for 14
years as an ascetic before returning to the kingdom.
King dasaratha was distressed in the extreme as he had a soft
corner for Rama as his eldest son. But he was cornered.
When rama heard about his step mother's wishes
he voluntarily steped down in favour of Bharatha and also agreed to
go to the forest for 14 years.King dasaratha was saved the unhappy
task of telling Rama to do these. But he was very sad at the
thought of Rama going to the forest and died broken hearted.
Rama was not shown the remains of his father but was hustled into
going to the forest. Lakshmana his brother and sita his wife insisted
on going with him and reluctantly Rama agreed. So the trio set forth
on their 'vana-vasam' (residence in the forest).
Bharatha the son of kaikeyi was however not happy to reign over the
kingdom as his mother wanted him to but went into the forest in search
of Rama to persuade him to return to ayodhya take the crown.When Bharata
did meet his brother Rama would not agree to return to the kingdom but
insisted that his step-mother's wishes should be fulfilled. So Bharata
took the pair of Rama's wooden slippers with him to Ayodhya, kept those
on the throne and ruled as the Vice-roy of Rama
Rama set up an 'ashram' in the forest and settled down there with his
brother and wife.
One day Rama went for a hunt and left Lakshmana behind as a guard for
Sita
The present day Srilanka was then ruled by the ten-headed
demon king Ravana. He was an ardent devotee of lord Shiva and had the
distinction of having sung the whole of 'Rig veda' in songs. He attained
great prowess doing penance to Lord shiva became power-drunk and mis-ruled
over his kingdom leading a life of laxity.
Once Ravana's sister Soorpanagai was wandering around in the forest
and ran into Rama and Lakshmana and was struck by the handsome
features of the princes. She went up to Rama and spoke to him coyly to
entice him but Rama was so much devoted to Sita that he would not
countanence any other women in his life. He chasticed her and drove her away.
She next went to Lakshmana with similar intentions. But Lakshmana
did not like her obsene manners and to spite her he cut off her nose
with his sword. Soorpanaga vowed to take revenge on both the brothers
She ran to her brother Ravana and mis-represented her encounter with
Rama and Lakshmana. She also told him about the rare beauty of Sita
and kindled his desire to possess Sita.
So he took the form of a deer and went near the ashram. Sita was so
struck by the beauty of the animal and wanted to keep it in the ashram.
She asked Rama to bring the deer to her. Rama went after the animal
which was running fast taking Rama away from the ashram. At one
point the deer gave out a cry "hey Lakshmana" mimicrying the
voice of Rama.
Sita was panic stricken and thought Rama was in deep trouble and asked
Lakshmana to immediately go and see what was wrong. Lakshmana protested
that his job was to guard Sita and nothing would have happened to
valorous Rama. On Sita's insistence Lakshmana left the ashram to look
for Rama. All the while Ravana was watching and when Lakshmana was
out of sight pounced upon Sita and carried her away in his sky-chariot
to Lanka as his kingdom was called.
Rama was disconsolate when he returned and found sita missing. He upbraided
Lakshmana for leaving sita un-guarded. On regaining composure they both
set forth in search of sita. On their way they saw the wounded jatayu
the eagle who told them that he saw Ravana the King of Lanka carrying
away Sita south-ward. Jatayu was wounded by Ravana when he tried to
rescue sita.
So Rama and Lakshmana went south-ward towards Lanka in search of Sita.
On the way they met Hanuman who became most faithful and
devoted to Rama. Through Hanuman Rama got the following of Sugriva
and his army of monkeys. Sugriva and his brother Vali had some family
quarel and rama siding with Sugriva killed vali. This act bound
Sugriva to Rama
Rama sent Hanuman to search for sita in the south-ward region and
scourging around Hanuman found sita in the asoka-vana in Lanka
disconsolate and sorrounded by evil-ladies. Hanuman met sita and
took from her a ring to show to rama that he had indeed found
sita and returned to Rama who was over-joyed that his sita was
still alive. Rama set forth with the army of monkeys to rescue sita.
Knowing the prowess of Ravana Rama prayed to lord for strength to
fight Ravana and his hordes. Shiva granted him the boon. Armed with
this Rama invaded Lanka. After an epic battle he vanquished Ravana
and his army and rescued Sita.
By this time the prescribed peiod of 'vana-vasa' was over. So
Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman the ever-faithful flew back to
Ayodhya in a 'pushpaka-wimana' (sky-chariot bedecked in flowers)
They were received by the people of Ayodhya with pomp and pageantry.
Rama was crowned the king of Kosala and commenced his glorious rule.
This in short is the epic story of Rama the perfect.
Maha-vishnu took this incarnation to show to the world an
example in virtuous living.
From another angle this marks the period when humans evolved as a
perfect being in the long process of evolution.
