"Dasha Avatar"

Rama Avtar - The Rama Incarnation

Part II

He seized this opportunity to punish Rama and set out to Panchavati with his relative Maricha who assumed the form of a golden stag.

Sita was enamoured by its beauty. She showed it to Rama and sent him catch it for her.

After some time she heard Rama's voive, Hey Sita" and she asked Laxmana to follow Rama. Soon that stag was killed by Rama, & he turned into his naturl form, the demon.

Now she was alone and seizing this opportunity Ravana came there in the form of a mendicant and kidnapped her. When Rama and Laxmana returned, they found to their surprise that Sita was missing.

They started the search for Sita in the deep forest. Very often Rama was in tears and he asked trees, streams and stones, "Have you seen Sita anywhere here?"

On their way they encountered with the Jatayu, the vulture king, who said, "Yes, I've seen her being kidnapped by Ravana, the king of Lanka. I tried to stop him but he cut off my wings and escaped in the south."

Moving towards the south, Rama and Laxmana came to a beautiful spot of Pampa Sarovar.

They met there Shabari, an affectionate Bhil woman. She affectionately served them sweet fruits of jujube tree in her hut. Both enjoyed her hospitality and love. When Rama and Laxmana left her next morning Shabari passed away as if her mission in life was now over.Then they arrived at Mount Rushyamuka.

Here they met the monkey-king Sugriva and his secretary Hanumana who learnt about their mission.Now Sugriva was reminded, "Oh, I saw a demon carrying away a woman. The woman threw some of her ornaments towards me. Here they are!" Rama watched the ornaments carefully and soon identified them.

Sita's whereabouts were traced thus far. Sugriva offered them his help and Hanuman soon became a devotee of Rama.Sugriva's elder brother Vali was the king of Kishkindha. He had abducted Sugriva's wife and deported him. Rama-Laxmana helped Sugriva to defeat Vali and when Vali was killed, they made Sugriva the King of Kishkindha.

Vali's son Angada was made Sugriva's chief counselor to bring a reconciliation in the family.

Sugriva must, now, reciprocate the kindness they had shown to him. So he joined Rama in the search of Sita with Hanumana and Angada as his lieutenants.Hanumana crossed the ocean and visited Lanka.

Giving Rama's ring to Sita he informed her, 'Rama will arrive here soon and set you free after defeating Ravana.' Knowing that Sita was in Lanka all preparations were quickly made for the war with Lanka.

A bridge was required to be constructed over the ocean to invade Lanka. The monkeys and bears of Sugriva began the work quickly.

The bridge was ready and the troops of Rama arrived on the outskirts of Lanka. The spies of Ravana informed him of the arrival of Rama's troops.Ravana alerted his large army.

One of his brothers Vibhishana advised him, "You have abducted Sita unlawfully. Now you return Sita to Rama and stop the war."

Even Ravana's wife Mandodari persuaded him to return Sita but all in vain. Truly, one who is destined to be ruined always thinks on the wrong lines!

Ravana chose to fight out.First he sent his generals to fight. When they were all killed he sent his own sons in the battlefield.

Indrajita exhibited great valour in the battlefield by attacking Laxmana bravely and making him swoon.

Had Hanuman not brought the plant ( jadibooti) that restores the dead to life, Laxmana would not survive. Indrajita also was killed at last.Ravana, then, sent his mighty brother Kumbhakarna to fight against Rama.

He used to sleep for six months and on waking he devoured anything he came across. But he was also killed in the battle.Now Ravana himself came to battlefield in his chariot. He used deadly weapons against Rama and Laxmana but none of them could hurt them because they had truth and justice on their side.At last he was killed and Rama and Sita were be reunited.

Rama's unquestioning obedience to his father's wishes, his moral uprightness in the war against Ravana, his deference to the wishes of his people, his generosity in the face of personal loss and his marital fidelity has made him Vishnu's , most august and venerable incarnation.

The End