Ramayana

Sundara Kand, the fourth book of Ramayana

**Ramayana** (Hindi: **रामायण**), is a sanskrit epic book written by Maharishi Valmiki. This book tells us about Lord Rama. This book consists of seven parts, they are Bala Kand, Ayodhya Kand, Aranya Kand, Kishkinda Kand, Sundara Kand, Yuddha Kand and Uttara Kand.

## Plot

King Dasharatha has three wives they are, Kausalya, Kaikeyi and Sumithra. Kausalya gave birth to Rama, Kaikeyi gave birth to Bharata and Sumithra gave birth to Lakshmana and Shatrughna. Rama marries Sita, the princess of Mithila, Lakshmana marries Urmila who is Sita's younger sister, Bharata marries Mandvi and Shatrughna to Shrutakirti. As Dasharatha is old, he plans to get Rama to be crowned as the crown prince of Ayodhya as he is the eldest among the princes. Hearing this, Kaikeyi's nurse Manthara is enraged and convinces Kaikeyi to ask Dasharatha to crown Bharata as the prince and send Rama to exile.

A tearful departure happens in Ayodhya. After living a lot of years, a rakshasi named Shoorpanakha falls in love with Rama and wants to marry him but Rama refuses to do so as he should be faithful towards his wife. Angry and Heartbroken, Shoorpanakha tries to kill Sita but is stopped by Rama who orders Lakshmana to cut off Shoorpanakha's nose and ears with a dagger. Feeling insulted, Shoorpanakha asks her brothers Khara and Dooshana to kill Rama. However, Rama is so strong that he killed 14000 rakshasas including Khara and Dooshana. Shoorpanakha approaches her brother Ravana who plans to avenge this insult by abducting Sita and marrying her. Rama is heartbroken about Sita's abduction and plans to win her back. He allies with Sugriva, the king of monkeys and Hanuman. He also allies with Vibhishana, a kind-hearted rakshasa and Ravana's younger brother who guides Rama to win back Sita. A ferocius war happens where Ravana is defeated.

Sita is successfully rescued by Rama. Finally, Rama and Sita return to Ayodhya where they are warmly welcomed by the people. Rama is crowned as the king of Ayodhya and Sita as queen. Unfortunately, Rama had to send away Sita to the forest as it is stated that a married woman who is abducted by another man must not live with her husband. Rama is tearful to send away his most beloved wife, so in order to remember her he creates a statue of Sita and keeps it forever. Sita finds out in the forest that she is pregnant with Rama's children.

Later, Sita gives birth to twins, Lava and Kusha, and takes care of them in the forest. However, she keeps the secret that Lava and Kusha are the sons of Rama. Once Lava and Kusha go to Ayodhya to sing Bhajans, Rama is deeply admired by their voices and gives them a reward of 18000 gold coins. However, Lava and Kusha say that they are forest dwellers and don't need gold or silver. Rama is curious about it and gets to know that they are Sita's sons. Rama sends some messengers to bring back Sita. Sita enters the assembly where Valmiki proves her innocence, Rama is deeply remorseful of sending her away. Sita prays to her real mother Bhoomi Devi to take her way. Bhoomi Devi arrives and take away Sita. Rama is heartbroken but takes care of her sons and crowns them as the king of Ayodhya.

## Backstory of Ramayana's creation

Valmiki also called as the *Adikavi*(The first poet), wanted to write a story about the most virtuous man in the world. Later, Narada narrated the story of Rama to him which inspired Valmiki to write this story.

## Variations

* In one of the Ramayana versions, it is mentioned that Rama had a sister named Shanta who was given to Romapada by Dasharatha.
* Another version also tells that Sita was the rebirth of Vedavati.