Invitation to World Religions

The Teachings of Hinduism  121

The Ramayana (“The Journey of Rama”), composed between 200 bce and 200 ce, is a compel- ling tale of political intrigue, ro- mance, and philosophical

speculation. It tells the story of a ten-headed demon king named Ravana, who was rewarded for his austerities with the granting of a wish by Brahma. Ravana asks for protection from gods, ce- lestial beings, and other members of his own demon race. Protected in this way, he and his demon hordes dominate the earth and eventually enslave the gods of heaven. But in his arrogance, Ravana neglects to ask for protection from humans and animals. In the meantime, King Dasharatha of Ayodhya and his three queens, desiring an heir, perform a sacrifice in hopes that the gods will grant their wish. The king is blessed with four sons—Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatrughna. Rama, as we have noted earlier, is an avatar of Vishnu. Rama eventually marries a princess, Sita. As Rama is beloved for his righteousness and virtue, King Dasharatha, wishing to step down from the throne, announces that Rama’s coronation will soon be held. Then Kaikeyi, Dasharatha’s favorite wife, suddenly calls in two wishes that the king had once granted her. She demands that Rama be banished to the forest for fourteen years and that her own son, Bharata, ascend to the throne of Ayodhya instead. Distraught, King Dasharatha grants Kaikeyi’s wish but dies of a broken heart. Rama accepts his exile without protest and is accompanied by his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana into the forest, where they spend many years, until one day Ravana kidnaps Sita and carries her off to the island of Lanka. A despairing Rama and Lakshmana wander in search of Sita. They eventually meet Hanuman, a messenger from a kingdom of monkeys. Hanuman helps to search for Sita. At the citadel of Ravana on Lanka, Hanuman finds Sita held pris- oner in a garden. He tells her not to lose hope, promising that Rama will soon come to free her. Upon hearing Hanuman’s news, Rama and his army march to Lanka. During the battle that ensues, Rama kills Ravana and is reunited with Sita. However, after spending a year in another man’s house, Sita must publicly prove her chastity through a trial by fire. With the fire-god Agni as her witness, she passes through the flames and into Rama’s embrace. Their exile concluded, Rama, Sita, and Laksh- mana return to Ayodhya, where Rama is reinstated as the rightful king. All are Hanuman (the monkey god of the Ramayana ) at a temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, during the festival of Diwali. PROPERTY OF OXFORD Hindu priests perform arati , waving a lamp of burning camphor before an image of

UNIVERSITY PRESS