Storytelling for Week 7: Sita's Abandonment

After Rama and Sita had lived peacefully together for almost ten thousand years, Sita came to be pregnant.  She was overjoyed when she discovered that she and Rama would finally have a child together.  The people, however, were a much different story.  Though Sita had proven her innocence to Rama after she was rescued from Ravana, the people did not all believe that nothing had happened between her and Ravana during her time in captivity.  Being cruel, as people often are, they gossiped about how Sita was not fit to be queen.  "Rama," they said, "you deserve a fair queen beside you.  You should not ever have to question her faithfulness or her intentions.  Sita was a good wife for a time, but she is tainted from her time with Ravana.  You cannot trust her word."  Rama, though he knew she was innocent, started to listen to the complaints being brought to him and whispered through the city.  He decided that he needed a queen that the people would respect, even though he knew that Sita was a wonderful queen.  Rather than reassuring the people and informing them that Sita had more than proved herself as his wife, Rama chose the easy path.  He decided that they must be right; Sita had to go.  The poor queen had no idea of the fate that awaited her as Rama plotted.  He orders his brother Lakshmana to take the queen to the Ganges River and leave her there.  There was to be no explanation or comforting of Sita as he left.  She was to be left to the fates.  Reluctantly, Lakshmana requests that Sita goes with him on a short trip, as he told her he desired to go to the river.  Sita agreed, unknowing of what lay in store for her.  When the poor woman was left at the shore, she collapsed to the ground sobbing.  Sita could not understand how the one man she gave everything for would betray her like that.  In that moment she vowed to herself to never give him the opportunity to hurt her again.  No matter how much she longed to be with the man she loved, Sita refused to beg him to take her back.  It was clear to her at that moment that her life would never be the same. 

I decided to retell the story of Sita being exiled from Ahalya, as Rama came to doubt her fidelity. I think that she suffered a great deal because he was too proud to stand up to his people. At the same time, I think that Sita had to come to the decision to look after herself, regardless of whether or not Rama still wanted her.

 (Painting of a mosque overlooking the Ganges River; Photo source Wikimedia)

Week 7: Reading Diary B

Rama and Sita return to Ayodha for the first time in 14 years.  They are now able to return from exile and celebrate their victory over Ravana.  They make it back in time to prevent Bharata from committing suicide at the loss of his brother, as Rama came back as promised.  Rama is immediately crowned king.  After 10,000 years, Sita becomes pregnant.  People begin to mutter that Rama should never have taken her back into his home after she was captured by Ravana.  Even though she has proven her innocence, Rama listens to the gossip and decides that the only course of action available is to send her into exile alone, giving her no warning.  Instead, he chooses to have Lakshmana abandon her by the Ganges River.  At the time she is pregnant with his twin sons.  She is rescued by a hermit, Valmiki, who brings her to live with him and raise her children. 12 years after she gives birth, Rama decides to host a festival in the forest that she now resides in.  The people hear her sons singing the Ramayana.  Rama discovers that they are his children.  Sita decides to prove her innocence to him one last time. This time, however, she is not going to allow him to take her back.  She prays to the mother Earth to open and embrace her if she is innocent.  Mother Earth comes from the ground and takes Sita back with her.  Rama rules for 1000 years after her death.  Eventually, Lakshmana dies from a curse, as he opened a door and interrupted a conversation between Rama and Time to give Rama a warning.  Finally, Rama too comes to an end, jumping into the Sarayu River and dying.

Week 7: Reading Diary A

Malyavan and Shiva meet up at Trikuta Hill, where Shiva then takes Malyavan away.  He does not want him to be killed during the battle between Ravana and Rama. 
Jambavan fights against the demons that supported Ravana. When the two magicians Lightning Tongue and Thunder Teeth try to defeat him, they are killed by Hanuman and Sugriva.  Ravana is preparing for war, sending people as messengers to Rama.  At this time, his wife Mandodari tells him that she loves him.  She then encourages him to give Sita back to Rama before it is too late.  he ignores her and prepares for battle, drawing Kala's wrath. During the final battle, Rama and Ravana face each other.  As Rama cuts off Ravana's heads, they grow back quickly.  Rama and Matali are working together to defeat Ravana.  They look out for each other during the battle.  Finally, Ravana is slain by Rama.  After the battle is over, Rama gets a letter from Shuka, the messenger that Ravana had sent out.  It tells him he should take Sita back.  Rama calls Sita to him, but forces her to prove her fidelity to him.  She does this through a test of fire. The couple then heads back to end their exile and prevent Bharata from committing suicide.  They are accompanied by Hanuman, Vibhishana, Jambavan, and their followers.