Set in ancient India, this story of righteousness holds sway over the Hindu life even today. It never fails to enchant the
Western mind seeking to learn about Indian culture and religious beliefs.
king Dasaratha of the Solar dynasty rules Ayodhya. He has three queens named Kaushalya, Sumithra and Kaikeyi. By them he has four sons named Rama, of Kaushalya; Bharata, of Kaikeyi; Lakshmana and Shatrughna, twins of Sumithra.
In the forests, the sages are being constantly troubled by the people of an Asura (ignoble) king named Ravana. Sage Vishwamitra prays to Lord Vishnu (the Preserver of the Trinity) to seek His help. The Lord tells the sage that Rama is his own Self incarnated on earth for the purpose of annihilating Ravana’s injustice. Vishwamitra approaches King Dasaratha and asks him to send Rama to kill the wicked Asuras. The king agrees and Lakshmana insists on accompanying his brother.
Back in the forest, the sage teaches Rama and Lakshmana various hymns, by meditating on which they could, as Kshatriyas (warriors), beget immense powers. Having invoked these powers, Rama and Lakshmana kill several powerful Asuras .
The King of Mithila, Janaka, has a lovely daughter named Seetha. While she was yet a child, she moved the bow of Lord Shiva with her little finger. Understanding that she was no ordinary child, the king decides to give her away in marriage only to the one that can string the extremely heavy bow.
Sage Vishwamitra, hearing of Janaka’s proposal, takes Rama to Mithila. Rama, in his attempt to string the bow, breaks it into two! He marries Seetha and the happy couple along with Vishwamitra and Lakshmana return to Ayodhya.
The royal family live well for several years. Dasaratha is aging and he feels that it is time to crown Rama, his eldest son, king. Even as arrangements are being made for the ceremony, Kaikeyi, under the influence of her crooked maid, demands Bharata be crowned instead!
The king is crushed between his wife’s wish -- which he owes as an earlier promised commitment -- and the demands of righteousness. Kaikeyi wins. She also demands that Rama be exiled for fourteen years. The weak king agrees.
And so, in the absence of Bharata and Shatrughna, who are away at their grandfather's place presently, Rama leaves for the forest. Seetha and Lakshmana follow him. Soon thereafter, with none of his four sons by him, the cursed Dasaratha dies of heartbreak.
When Bharata and Shatrughna return, they are shocked and outraged. Bharata goes to the forest with the news of their father’s death and the earnest request asking Rama to return. But Rama declines to violate the promise made to his father. Bharata vows that he would not rule the kingdom. Until Rama returns, he remains outside Ayodhya and makes use of the wise advisory council to run the affairs of the state in the name of Rama.
Rama, Seetha and Lakshmana live well in the forests, thanks to the advices of sages and wise people. Years pass. Ravana comes to hear of the trio. He knows that it was the brothers that had killed his people. He also hears of Seetha’s unmatched beauty and is smitten.
Using mean tricks to deceive the brothers, Ravana abducts Seetha to his kingdom, Lanka. His noble wife, Mandodari, objects to this. His wise father objects. His sane brother, Vibheeshana, objects. Ravana, blinded by obsession, pays no heed to them.
Rama, grieved by her disappearance, goes in search of Seetha accompanied by Lakshmana. Taking the cue provided by their friends along the way, they reach Kishkindha, the kingdom of the Vanaras (monkey people) . They earn the trust and friendship of their king Vali’s brother, Sugreeva.
Rama also gets the unquestioned devotion of one of the greatest beings ever, Hanuman (son of the Wind god), who has the power to attain great sizes and leap across the ocean. Soon Hanuman discovers that Seetha is in Ravana’s custody. But he does not bring Seetha back as that would not lead to dfeating or containing Ravana, leaving insecurity to prevail.
The Vanara army helps Rama build a bridge to reach the isle of Lanka. This is not anticipated by Ravana. He is aware that getting an army ready in such short notice would be futile. Yet, he wants
war.
Many offers of peaceful settlements are made by Rama’s emissaries to Ravana, but he does not budge.
Finally, war erupts. It is brief yet bloody. Many warriors fall on both sides. Ravana’s side suffers great losses. Yet, he does not call off the war and declare peace. He is well past all reasoning now.
Ravana’s death now becomes imminent and inevitable. The warrior once was just and kind and was a worshipper of Lord Shiva (the Destroyer of the Trinity). Ravana falls ignobly because he had grown conceited.
Ravana’s death leads to great jubilation in Lanka. Vibheeshana, who did not take part in the war and acknowledged justice on Rama’s side even before the war, is now crowned king. Lanka, sanctified by Rama’s advent and Vibheeshana’s rule, becomes Sri Lanka or ‘Holy Lanka’.
Seetha is unified with Rama. The period of exile has now come to an end. Kaikeyi had long been chastised. Her true noble self dominate over her vices and she welcomes Rama more happily than she would have seen Bharata crowned king.