RAMALEELA PART 1
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The king Dasaratha, of Ayodhya, had got all he wanted, wealth, power, fame, love and respect of the people, except that he had no son.
He had however a daughter, Shaanta, who was his hope for getting a son.
he wanted to marry her to the best boy, learned, of good character, proficient in all arts and crafts.
In the ancient days, the best educational institution was the ashram, which was inaccessible for outsiders, who, with their profligate habits, were feared
to contaminate the residents of the place.
No one ventured to enter the precincts of the ashram, for fear of curse,
and the best way to lure a boy out, the king was to show a part of the glamourous city life.
Accordingly, a few pretty girls were sent for a picnic in a meadow, just outside the forest area, where they could sing and dance, eat fruits and sweets, cut jokes, and play merrily,
They made this show everyday, without anybody in sight, for a long time, until one day, they saw a boy watching them spellbound, and beckoned to him to come near, gave fruits and sweets, which he greedily ate, as he was getting only simple food in the ashram.
If, they said, he would like to have more, there is plenty in their house, which they would give him, if he came with them.
He followed them, as if hypnotised, by the beauty and glamour, and did not want to go back, and Dasaratha gave his daughter to him happily.
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RAMALEELA PART 2
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After the marriage of his daughter, when he was busy with planning and
implementing, the king’s worry about not having a son, surfaced again.
He had been married to a princess from a neighbouring country, Kosala, a a number of years, without getting a son, and was on the lookout for another wife, when, during a friendly visit to a distant country, Kekaya, modern day Punjab, he saw the king’s sister, Kaikeyi, and was charmed by her beauty and graceful manners.
He asked the king for her hand in marriage, and the king was happy to accept the union, but wanted her son to be the heir, to which he readily agreed, thinking that the queen would not have children after all these years.
Kaikeyi was indeed all that one wanted from a wife, beautiful, resourceful, company, and of behaviour, and loving, so that Dasaratha felt himself the happiest man in the world.
But when still no son was born, he married a simple unassuming girl, Sumitra.
When after these three marriages, he could not get a son, he conducted many prayers, and performed many sacrifices, without success, he performed a special sacrifice, for those who are desire a son, Puthrakaameshti, with the .high priest, Rishyashringa.
After several days, arose a godly figure from the sacrificial fire, carrying a
pot of paayasam, and gave it to the king, who gave three quarters of it to the eldest queen, Kousalya, and one quarter to Kaikeyi, his favourite, and none to Sumitra.
They felt the unfairness of not giving a portion to poor Sumitra, and gave each an eighth to her.
Later was born to Kousalya, Rama, half divine, and quarter each to Kaikeyi and Sumitra.
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RAMALEELA PART 3
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Dasaratha was the happiest man in the world, to have three sons,
but the curse of the brahmin couple, arose sometimes, like a worm in the nut.
and the promise given to Kaikeyi’s brother, that Bharatha would be crowned king, hang, throwing an impending a Damocles sword from above.
The first faded from memory, as time passed.
The fear of the Kekaya king claiming Bharatha’s coronation was assuaged by when Kaikeyi assured him that she loved Raama like her own son, would be happy to have Raama king as much as Bharatha.
The children were given the best education, and trained in all arts and crafts required of future rulers of states, and were the joy and pride of their parents, being modest, friendly, and respectful to elders.
Raama was especially loved, because of his pleasant speech, preceded by a smile, and readiness to help the weak.
The king wanted to see Raama crowned, before he was too old, and told his chief Minister to make arrangement for it, but the date was fixed suddenly, at late night, the previous day, and communicated to all including Raama, except Kaikeyi, who watched the festivities from the palace, wondering what they were for.
When she knew that it was for Raama’s coronation, it came as a revelation of how little the king reciprocated her love and trust in him.
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Not knowing how to face the king, she did not go, as usual, to the king for the meal together, and when the king did not see her in his room, went to her room
There he saw her lying in bed, with face turned away from the door, which made him worry what ailed her.
She replied that nothing was the matter with her, and when he asked what she wanted, she demanded Bharatha’s coronation, and Rama’s exile for one year.
This was a sudden thunderbolt from the blue, and he could hardly believe it, and pleaded, cajoled, spoke angrily, and fondled lovingly, without success.
When the king’s bedroom door was found closed, even after the sun arose high in the sky, they opened it to a sorry scene, the king lying on the bed,and weeping, while the queen spoke no word.
They rushed to Rama, who was with Kousalya, and told that the king wanted to see him, when they were jubilant at the coming coronation of her son.
Rama too was very happy at this, without showing it, and saw, to his shock, an unhappy scene, father lying and weeping, and Kaikeyi speaking not a word.
On Rama’s enquiring why he was called, Dasaratha could not speak, because of tears choking the throat, and then turned to Kaikeyi, who said the father could not say that he was being exiled.
Rama said calmly that he was happy living quietly in the forest, while it
was Bharatha, who was to be pitied, since the burden of the state fell on him.
He told his mother what the king’s orders were, and in spite of all persuasion, and drove away, along with Seetha and Lakshmana, without looking back.
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Not knowing how to face the king, she did not go, as usual, to the king for the meal together, and when the king did not see her in his room, went to her room
There he saw her lying in bed, with face turned away from the door, which made him worry what ailed her.
She replied that nothing was the matter with her, and when he asked what she wanted, she demanded Bharatha’s coronation, and Rama’s exile for one year.
This was a sudden thunderbolt from the blue, and he could hardly believe it, and pleaded, cajoled, spoke angrily, and fondled lovingly, without success.
When the king’s bedroom door was found closed, even after the sun arose high in the sky, they opened it to a sorry scene, the king lying on the bed,and weeping, while the queen spoke no word.
They rushed to Rama, who was with Kousalya, and told that the king wanted to see him, when they were jubilant at the coming coronation of her son. Rama too was very happy athis,withoushowing it, and saw, to his shock, an unhappy scene, father lying and weeping, and Kaikeyi speaking not a word.
On Rama’s enquiring why he was called, Dasaratha could not speak, because of tears choking the throat, and then turned to Kaikeyi, who said the father could not say that he was being exiled.
Rama said calmly that he was happy living quietly in the forest, while it
was Bharatha, who was to be pitied, since the burden of the state fell on him.
He told his mother what the king’s orders were, and in spite of all persuasion, and drove away, along with Seetha and Lakshmana, without looking back.
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RAMALEELA 4
Not knowing how to face the king, she did not go, as usual, to the king for the meal together, and when the king did not see her in his room, went to her room
There he saw her lying in bed, with face turned away from the door, which made him worry what ailed her.
She replied that nothing was the matter with her, and when he asked what she wanted, she demanded Bharatha’s coronation, and Rama’s exile for one year.
This was a sudden thunderbolt from the blue, and he could hardly believe it, and pleaded, cajoled, spoke angrily, and fondled lovingly, without success.
When the king’s bedroom door was found closed, even after the sun arose high in the sky, they opened it to a sorry scene, the king lying on the bed,and weeping, while the queen spoke no word.
They rushed to Rama, who was with Kousalya, and told that the king wanted to see him, when they were jubilant at the coming coronation of her son.
Rama too was very happy at this, without showing it, and saw, to his shock, an unhappy scene, father lying and weeping, and Kaikeyi speaking not a word.
On Rama’s enquiring why he was called, Dasaratha could not speak,
Because of tears choking the throat, and then turned to Kaikeyi, who said the
father could not say that he was being exiled.
Rama said calmly that he was happy living quietly in the forest, while it
was Bharatha, who was to be pitied, since the burden of the state fell on him.
He told his mother what the king’s orders were, and in spite of all persuasion, and drove away, along with Seetha and Lakshmana, who refused to 1be left behind, without looking back.
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RAMALEELA 5
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When Rama left, Dasaratha fell into a swoon, from which he never recovered,
in a few days, passed away.
Bharatha, along with Shatrughna, was staying in Kekaya, with his uncle, when all this was happening, and was highly perturbed when he was called suddenly called home.
He rushed to father’s house to see it unoccupied, furniture covered up, and an appearance of disuse, and then to his mother’s apartment.
There he saw his mother and her fostermother, Manthara, in a strangely happy moodhardlbefitting the occasion.
He burst out in an uncontrollable rage, and caught Manthara by the hair, and threw her away on the ground.
He then turned towards his mother, and in a tone, difficult to believe that it is her dear son was speaking, said, “ woman, you have killed your husband, defamed your son, and barred a fair strong ruler from the country. I don’t consider you as mother, it is Rama’s mother, who is mine too !”.
Then leaving her trembling in fear as a stricken deer, shamed, overwhelmed in sorrow, having lost all he held life worth living for, he went to the forest, determined to give Rama, his rightful place.
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RAMALEELA PART 6
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When Rama left, Dasaratha fell into a swoon, from which he never recovered,
in a few days, passed away.
Bharatha, along with Shatrughna, was staying in Kekaya, with his uncle, when all this was happening, and was highly perturbed when he was called suddenly called home.
He rushed to father’s house to see it unoccupied, furniture covered up, and an appearance of disuse, and then to his mother’s apartment.
There he saw his mother and her fostermother, Manthara, in a strangely happy mood, hardly befitting the occasion.
He burst out in an uncontrollable rage, and caught Manthara by the hair, and threw her away on the ground.
He then turned towards his mother, and in a tone, difficult to believe that it is her dear son was speaking, said, “ woman, you have killed your husband, defamed your son, and barred a fair strong ruler from the country. I don’t consider you as mother, it is Rama’s mother, who is mine too !”.
Then leaving her trembling in fear as a stricken deer, shamed, overwhelmed in sorrow, having lost all he held life worth living for, he went to the forest, determined to give Rama, his rightful place.
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RAMALEELA 7
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Bharatha set out to bring Rama in state to Ayodhya, with a large army, and finding his whereabouts from Guha, approached him, and told him about father’s demise, where they took the purificatory bath and performed the religious death rites.
Then Bharatha asked him to come and take his rightful place as king,
which he absolutely refused.
He would not disobey father’s order banning entry in Ayodhya for one year, and transgress the promise to crown Bharatha as king.
When all his pleading failed to change, he asked for Rama’s sandals, and went carrying them to Ayodhya, where he installed them in front of the throne.
He stayed in a small hut, living as a reclusive renunciate life and ruled the state, in the name of Rama.
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RAMALEELA 8
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Seeing, that people from the city, were likely to come and give no peace, Rama decided to leave his place, and go into the deep dark Dandaka forest, inhabited by wild animals and cannibalistic Rakshasas, where nobody would venture to enter.
He donned a forester’s dress, put on bark clothes, and matted hair with gum oozing from the tree, and lay on the bare ground, full of thorns and stones, which brought tears in Guha’s eyes, as Seetha fumbled about how to wear the bark clothes, and Rama had to help.
They visited many ashrams, and sought the blessings of the sages, received along with them, several weapons for the protection from foes, and promised to protect them from the Rakshasas, who polluted the sacrificial ground, with pieces of flesh and muck.
He waged a war with the Rakshasas, in their land, at
which Seetha was afraid that the people who did nothing against them, and asked to desist, whichhe refused, as it was the sacred duty of the Kshatriya, to protect the good, at which she was aextremely unhappy, but accepted meekly as husband’s decision.
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RAMALEELA PART 9
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The story of SriRama is a tragedy, in which a fatal flaw wrecks the hero, the flaw being Dasaratha’s weakness, and equally Rama’s strength.
Dasaratha made the promise to make Bharata king in his passionate love of the Kekeya princess, and did not want to keep it, while Rama decided to go to the forest, in spite of his father’s pleas.
Rama visited many settlements of ashrams in the forest, and received several weapons from them, in order to protect themselves from wild animals and cannibalistic Rakshasas, and swore that he would eradicate them, who polluted the sacrificial ground with pieces of flesh, and all sorts of muck.
He waged a relentless war with them, the native inhabitants, and Seetha felt that it would be wrong to deny them the peaceful life in their home, and for asked Rama not to provoke them, which could cause great danger, like trample on a sleeping snake.
Rama was adamant in his decision, since it was the sacred duty of Kshatriyas to protect the weak, even though the sages had to tremendous power of curse, for fear of losing the merit accumulated by years of hard penance.
It caused all the tragic events, leading to the kidnapping of Sita and untold sufferings on all them.
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RAMALEELA PART 10
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When Raama went about killing many innocent Rakshasas, they retaliated , and were killed easily by him.
Meanwhile Shoorpanakha, Ravana’s sister, whose husband had been killed during a battle, and had been on the lookout for a suitable replacement, happened to see Raama, and asked him to marry him.
Raama expressed his inability, since his wife was there, and told her to go to Lakshmana, who said that he was like the servant of his brother, and that, in case of marrying him, she would end up as a servant, when she attacked Seetha and Lakshmana cut off her nose and ears.
With her face full of blood, and crying loud, she ran to Ravana, and complained that he had not been able to protect her, and hearing her taunts, he asked his uncle, Maareecha, to go and kill him.
Maareecha, who had once experienced Raama’s extraordinary strength , and did not want to face him again, cautioned against this misadventure, and expressed his unwillingness to confront Raama again, at which he flew into a rage, and said that he would kill him, for not obeying his order, when Maareecha thought that it would be better to be killed by Raama, rather than his evil nephew.
He assumed the form of a golden deer, and played gambolling in front of their house, when Seetha, as expected, wanted Raama to get for her for a pet.
Raama said that the forest was full of phantoms and ghosts, when it was dark at night, leading people to their destruction, and they should not be deceived by them.
Seetha persisted in asking for it, and Raama succumbed to her demand, and went to catch it, when it waited until he came near, and ran away and stood looking back tantalisingly, and repeated it again and again.
After some time, Raama lost patience, and shot an arrow, and killed it, and cried for help before it died, which was heard by Seetha, who told Lakshmana to go to Raama immediately and help him.
Lakshmana refused, saying that Raama had instructed him not to leave her, whatever happened, that anyhow nobody could harm him, and that he would not cry for help.
Seetha, in fear for Raama’s life, accused him that he wanted Raama to die, so that he could marry her, at which Lakshmana was aghast that such a thought could enter her mind, and went, praying that God save her.
Lakshmana met Raama, on the way, and was rebuked for leaving Seetha alone, at which Lakshmana explained what happened, and returned together to be greeted by a general appearance of disuse, and an eerie silence, which, when they called “ Seetha Seetha “, to which echo replied, as if mocking with repeating endlessly.
They fell into a faint, which made them forget everything for a short time, until they came out of it, and awoke to stark reality.
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RAMALEELA PART 11
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When they came to their senses, they wandered in a dazed condition here and there, looking for her in all directions, without any hope, when they met an eagle named Jatayu, King Dasaratha’s friend, who had lived in a nest, near their place, with feathers cut, lying on the ground, about to die.
Before he died, he managed to tell them that he had seen a girl being carried by a demon, going to the south.
They did all the death rites for him, and went in that direction, and came to a valley of a high mountain, when they were noticed by a monkey king Sugreeva, who had taken refuge there from his twin brother, Baali, who had incurred his enmity because of a misunderstanding, and had vowed to kill him.
Then Sugreeva sent his senior minister, Hanuman to find out whether they were come as friends or foes, and Hanuman approached them and asked respectfully why they, dressed as a sanyasi, carried bows, arrows and other weapons.
Raama told how his wife was kidnapped, and did not know who and where, and was searching for her everywhere without success, when Hanuman said that he could be helped by his king, if they could move freely without fear of BaaI
He proposed an alliance, in which Sugreeva would undertake to find out, if Bali was removed from action, but expressed his doubt that, in view of Bali’s strength, Raama would kill him.
The doubt was cleared when Raama demonstrated his strength, and killed Baali, when Sugreeva collected a large army of monkeys, and sent them in all directions, a warning that they should not return, without finding out.
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All this time, Hanuman was sitting silently in a corner, seemingly oblivious, watced by Sampathi, the elder brother of Jatayu, who had taken refuge there, tand had been impressed with the bundle of energy,hidden in the small body, and could not help praising Hanuman aloud.
Boosted by the praise, Hanuman remembered his origin from the God of Winds, and stood to his full height, and made a leap over the limitless sea, not caring to rest on a submerged hill, Mainaka, that invitingly arose from the middle of the sea, and landed on the ramparts of the island city of Lanka.
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RAMLEELA PART 12
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Hanuman searched everywhere, in search of Seetha, every spot in the wood, every nook and corner of the city, and in every apartment of the buildings, without success.
Finally in the dead darkness of night, he crept into Ravana’s bedroom, where he slept, surrounded by many women, captured from all over the world, Heaven,earth, and beyond, where he saw a beautiful noble lady in close embrace with Ravana, and whom for a minute, he thought to be Seetha, and he shrugged off the thought, as not befitting her character, and returned to the forest, and sat on the top of a tree, and waited.
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RAMALEELA PART 13
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Ravana’s women used to gather on the smooth lawn, to enjoy the cool breeze under the trees, gossip, cut jokes, laugh aloud, and play games, till late at night.
Hanuman wondered whether one of them was Seetha, and in order to make sure, recited Raama’s name repeatedly, when one of them looked up.
When the others left, he jumped down, and stood in front of her which
scared her, for fear that it was an illusionary trick of the Rakshasas.
He then showed her the crest jewel, that Raama had given him as a mark of recognition, and convinced her of his genuineness.
From that time, every night, when the Rakshasi women were asleep, they talked about the events after her disappearance, how Raama met Sugreeva, had made a treaty with him, that he would kill his brother, Baali, who had become mortal foe, because of a misunderstanding, and on his part, that he would find out her whereabouts.
He sent a large number of monkeys to search, and not to return without success, how he was one of them,
Seetha listened to all the story, and her sorrow was a little mitigated by hearing Raama’s love for her.
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RAMALEELA PART 14
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Having gained the confidence of Seetha, Hanuman dropped down the tree, when the raakshasis, who surrounded her day and night, slept soundly, and assured her that as soon as he returned, and told her place of captivity, Raama would free from captivity, with the help of Sugreeva’s army of monkeys.
He went on coming to her daily , and talking about the past events from her wedding to her captivity, a mixture of happiness and misery.
One night, preceded by the light of torches, carried by several servants, which made day of night, Ravavana, dressed gorgeously, wearying gold ornaments, perfumed with precious scents, came to her.
He tempted her with various offers, if she agreed to be his wife, to which she replied. that she loved Raama,who was brave and noble, and much above
him, who was a coward and stole another’s wife stealthily.
Ravana left in anger, threatening to eat her, if did not agree within one month.
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RAMALEELA PART 14
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Hanuman bade farewell to Seetha, who thanked him and prayed for his safety,
and thinking that he should weaken the enemy before the final assault,
and leaped from tree to tree, from building to building, with a tremendous force, unleashing a virtual cyclone, that toppled them, and wrecked the whole city.
When it was reported to Ravana, he sent his son, Akshakumar, to stop it, when he was killed by Hanuman easily.
Ravana then told his other son, Indrajit, who had many types of magic tricks, and who bound Hanuman with serpent arrows, Hanuman meekly allowing it.
RAMALEELA PART 14
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Hanuman bade farewell to Seetha, who thanked him and prayed for his safety,
and thinking that he should weaken the enemy before the final assault,
and leaped from tree to tree, from building to building, with a tremendous force, unleashing a virtual cyclone, that toppled them, and wrecked the whole city.
When it was reported to Ravana, he sent his son, Akshakumar, to stop it, when he was killed by Hanuman easily.
Ravana then told his other son, Indrajit, who had many types of magic tricks, and who bound Hanuman with serpent arrows, Hanuman meekly allowing it.
When he was taken to Ravana for punishment, his tail was lit with fire, and then he took the fire and burnt all places, except where Seetha sat, and quenched the fire in the sea.
This time, he rested on Mainaka, for a few minutes, and reached the shore, to the great jubilation of his friend, anxiously waiting for his return.
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RAMALEELA PART 15
When at the end of a month, Ravana found no change in Seetha’s resolve, in spite of threats, he appeared before her, gorgeously dressed, wearing golden ornaments set with gems, perfumed with various scents.
He made all sorts of offers, the position of his chief wife, supremacy over all in the state, including himself, happy to be her slave, out of love.
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P Ravana left, Hanuman reassured Seetha that she did not need to worry, and and that her captivity would end, as soon as he returned and told her whereabouts to Raama, he would rescue her, casting a ray of hope in the deep darkness of gloom which enveloped her.
Before going back, in order to weaken the enemy, he hopped from free to tree, from building to building, hitting with hands and feet with such force as to topple them.
When a monkey was reported to be let loose, causing damage, Ravana sent Akshakumar, his eldest son, to stop it, and when Hanuman killed him easily, sent his other son, Indrajit, who bound Hanuman with serpent arrows, to which Hanuman succumbed meekly, and was taken before Ravana.
Ravana ordered to set fire to the tail of Hanuman, who jumped everywhere in the city, burning, except where Seetha sat, and quenched the fire in the sea.
This time he rested for a few minutes on Mainaka, and leaped to where his friends were anxiously waiting, when a shout of jubilation tore the sky, as he stood in front.
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RAMALEELA PART 16
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After Ravana left, Hanuman reassured Seetha that she did not need to worry, and and that her captivity would end, as soon as he returned and told her whereabouts to Raama, he would rescue her, casting a ray of hope in the deep darkness of gloom which enveloped her.
Before going back, in order to weaken the enemy, he hopped from free to tree, from building to building, hitting with hands and feet with such force as to topple them.
When a monkey was reported to be let loose, causing damage, Ravana sent Akshakumar, his eldest son, to stop it, and when Hanuman killed him easily, sent his other son, Indrajit, who bound Hanuman with serpent arrows, to which Hanuman succumbed meekly, and was taken before Ravana.
Ravana ordered to set fire to the tail of Hanuman, who jumped everywhere in the city, burning, except where Seetha sat, and quenched the fire in the sea.
This time he rested for a few minutes on Mainaka, and leaped to where his friends were anxiously waiting, when a shout of jubilation tore the sky, as he stood in front.
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RAMALEELA PART 17
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In the course of the triumphant march to Sugreeva, with the happy news, they passed his favourite fruit garden, when they asked prince Angada, for permission to celebrate their success by having a treat of grapes.
Angada agreed and they began plucking the grapes, greedily eating and throwing on the ground half-chewed fruits, and making a mess of the place.
The guards complained to Angada, who said that it did not matter, as they deserved it, after their great effort to achieve the king’s command.
They hurried to king Sugreeva to complain about it, and the prince’s callous attitude, and to their chagrin, the king was extremely pleased and called them for a hearty welcome.
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RAMALEELA PART 18
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Sugreeva, along with Raama and others, led the monkey troops, to the place where Hanuman landed, and found that they would not be able to cross the ocean.
At this time, Vibheeshana, the younger brother of Ravana, appeared before them, asking for protection from Ravana, who threatened to kill him, because of his advice to surrender Seetha, and forge a treaty of friendship with Raama.
When Sugreeva and others warned that he might be a spy, Raama said that it was the duty of Kshatriya to protect anybody begging for help.
Vibhishana proved his sincerity by giving the layout of Lanka, and the weakness and strength of people, and thus making a plan of assault, in the war.
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RAMALEELA PART 19
The problem of the monkey troops crossing the ocean remained, and it was decided to fill the sea with stones, rocks, gravel and other materials, from the land, where they were, and thus build a raised path over the sea, gradually to the other side, so that the troops could enter the city of Lanka.
Which they ddI and in the ensuing battle, Vibhishana rendered great helpby exposing the illusionary tricks of the Rakshasas, and Hanuman did yeoman service by bringing sections of the mountain Himalaya, containing medicinal plants, l when Raama swooned and lay helpless, under the poison-tipped arrows of the enemy.
All the brothers of Ravana and other army leaders were, one by one Ravana, reputed to have ten heads, came himself to fight.
Raama got into a chariot sent by Indra, and shot arrows so fast as to cut off head one by, and the formidable giant lay dead on the ground, when the victory shout resounded in the air, and heard by Seetha, and she knew that the impossible had happened, and she was free.
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RAM LEELA PART 20
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Seetha expecting Raama to rush to her after their long separation, waited, and attributed his delay to battle weariness.
Raama stood before his victorious army, and asked Hanuman to bring her him, and though it looked odd that he wanted to expose to public view, her unused to move out of the palace, went and conveyed the message, that her husband was calling her to him.
Seetha hurried eagerly without thinking about anything, other than meeting her husband, and was about to go as it was, in her soiled dress, and body dirtied by sleeping on the ground, and unkempt hair, when she was persuaded to tidy up, before all the people.
She stood looking so beautiful, so dignified and so cheerful, that they admired and respected her, but Raama said loudly for all to hear,” Stop, don’t come near me, I can’t believe that Ravana would leave you untouched in your stay in his house for so long. You can go with Vibhishana, Sugreeva or anybody you like.”.
Seetha went pale, and with tears in her eyes, said that she did not want to live, and asked Lakshmana, to lit a fire, which he did unwillingly, and was the to fall into the fire, when gods and saints above in the sky,,“Seetha is pure and purifies others”.
Then Raama was pleased and said that he had spoken thus only to convince the common people, and were crowned as king, with Seetha as queen, and lived happily with his brothers and mothers.
Here Ramayanam written by the poet sage is completed, and his story afterwards is written by another poet of equal caliber.
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Lord Shiva
RAMALEELA PART 21
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Raama was a fair and just king, strong against the bad, sympathetic to the good, protective of the weak, and ruthless in suppress the evil, and became a
synonym for perfect rule, Ramarajya.
He kept himself well informed about what happened in the country and how his subjects felt about him and his actions from people, who had free unhindered access to him, and were encouraged to be frank and tell the good and the bad of what they said in private.
He used to hear interesting,educative and moral uplifting stories, from traveling storytellers and one day, he heard from one of them the story of Ravana, how a great devotee of Lord Shiva he was, how he was born to his mother from Vishravas a learned saint, to whom his mother had been sent by her brother, ,with the intention of getting a son, through the saint,
It seems that the world, the modern Eurasia, was occupied by monkeys, beasts, birds, men, demons and giants, in isolated colonies, separated by was living in peace, not interfering and not interfered by one another.
They were under attack from the people in the slopes of Himalaya, who came In hordes from the overpopulated areas of the Caucasian mountain ranges, the Aryans, who expelled the natives, the Dravidians, and the usurped their land, driving them, the Dravidians to the south of the Vindhyas.
The history of India is mainly the conflict between Aryans and nonAryans, is part ot the global phenomenon of the birth of a new civilisation, with developments technology, agriculture, horse breeding, and industry.
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RAMALEELA PART 23
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Hearing about Ravana’s greatness, Raama congratulated himself for defeating such powerful enemy; it was happier than any time in his life , and promised to be the happiest, when Seetha got pregnant.
He attended to all her needs, frequently asking whether she wanted more, and she said that she would like to go the forest, and see the old friends, who gave solace and company, which took out the sting of their memories of the past miseries of their life in exile.
Raama readily agreed, saying that it was what he too wanted, but did not say when, since it was to be a pleasant surprise, when announced.
One day, he told Lakshmana to get the chariot ready, just before dawn, and when brought, Raama told that he was not coming, and that Lakshmana to leave anywhere in the forest.
It seemed that someone, one of those who report people’s feelings, said that people were gossiping and joking that the king could not be wrong, what would be great sin if done by common people, and Raama thought, was a blur on his fame.
Seetha expressed her disappointment, and did not want to go without Raama, but Lakshmana said that she could go first, and Raama would join later.
Seetha was worried about Raama’s health, and enquired, and when no reply, anxiously kepton praying to God for his well-being, all the time till they reached the forest.
M Lakshmana then broke down and burst into tears, and r Raama’s order was to leave her anywhere in the forest, when she calmly said that he had done his duty, and to go to Raama for any help he needed.
But after he left, she cried aloud, and hearing it, Valmiki, the poet-saint came hurriedly and took her to his dwelling, and she stayed there as a member of the family, his daughter.
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RAMALEELA PART 24
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Valmiki, and other sages took the boys, to Raama,and told him they were the sons of Seetha, born in Valmiki’s ashram.
Raama was happy that they were his sons, and built palaces for them, near his main palace near Ayodhya, gave Bharatha the city being Bharatpur in Rajasthan, Lakshmana the city in modern Lucknow, Lava the modern Lahore, Kusha the city of modern Kasur both now in Pakistan.
They became rulers of provinces, as Raama’s representatives, as Raama, getting old, wanted assistance, and after his death, the kings of those countries.
Lava being the eldest Raama’s son, became the chief king, the Emperor of India, with the capital Lahore.
The history of the capitals depends on the preferences of the conquerors, whose aim was to have a united India, so that they could exert power with.
During Lava’s time, until the Mughal empire came to being, Lahorcontinued to be capital, when Old Delhi became capital, and with the British empire, New Delhi, designed by the great architect Luton, became the capital, which, inherited by the republic of India, continues to the present day.
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RAMALEELA PART 25
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One day, Raama was in conference over state affairs, and forbade everybody including the guards from entering the palace, on the extreme penalty of death.
At that time, when Ayodhya was under attack from enemies, they appealed to Lakshmana for help, and he came quickly, and pushed open the door, and entered the palace, took the weapons, and drove away the attackers.
When Raama sawit, he ordered the execution of the transgressor of his ,order, .and it was his dear brother and close companion for years, who was guilty.
He was aghast,and did not know what to do, and exiled him from his view, and Lakshmana drowned in the river Sarayu,as he felt that exile was worse than death.
Raama followed his brother and, accompanied by those very much attached to him, and sank in the river, to rise to Vaikuntha of Vishnu, whose incarnation he was, to lie on Anantha, whose incarnation was Laksmana, gone before him.
This incarnation, is said in Narayaneeyam, to teach us how not to behave. P—————————
END
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The king Dasaratha, of Ayodhya, had got all he wanted, wealth, power, fame, love and respect of the people, except that he had no son.
He had however a daughter, Shaanta, who was his hope for getting a son.
he wanted to marry her to the best boy, learned, of good character, proficient in all arts and crafts.
In the ancient days, the best educational institution was the ashram, which was inaccessible for outsiders, who, with their profligate habits, were feared
to contaminate the residents of the place.
No one ventured to enter the precincts of the ashram, for fear of curse,
and the best way to lure a boy out, the king was to show a part of the glamourous city life.
Accordingly, a few pretty girls were sent for a picnic in a meadow, just outside the forest area, where they could sing and dance, eat fruits and sweets, cut jokes, and play merrily,
They made this show everyday, without anybody in sight, for a long time, until one day, they saw a boy watching them spellbound, and beckoned to him to come near, gave fruits and sweets, which he greedily ate, as he was getting only simple food in the ashram.
If, they said, he would like to have more, there is plenty in their house, which they would give him, if he came with them.
He followed them, as if hypnotised, by the beauty and glamour, and did not want to go back, and Dasaratha gave his daughter to him happily.
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RAMALEELA PART 2
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After the marriage of his daughter, when he was busy with planning and
implementing, the king’s worry about not having a son, surfaced again.
He had been married to a princess from a neighbouring country, Kosala, a a number of years, without getting a son, and was on the lookout for another wife, when, during a friendly visit to a distant country, Kekaya, modern day Punjab, he saw the king’s sister, Kaikeyi, and was charmed by her beauty and graceful manners.
He asked the king for her hand in marriage, and the king was happy to accept the union, but wanted her son to be the heir, to which he readily agreed, thinking that the queen would not have children after all these years.
Kaikeyi was indeed all that one wanted from a wife, beautiful, resourceful, company, and of behaviour, and loving, so that Dasaratha felt himself the happiest man in the world.
But when still no son was born, he married a simple unassuming girl, Sumitra.
When after these three marriages, he could not get a son, he conducted many prayers, and performed many sacrifices, without success, he performed a special sacrifice, for those who are desire a son, Puthrakaameshti, with the .high priest, Rishyashringa.
After several days, arose a godly figure from the sacrificial fire, carrying a
pot of paayasam, and gave it to the king, who gave three quarters of it to the eldest queen, Kousalya, and one quarter to Kaikeyi, his favourite, and none to Sumitra.
They felt the unfairness of not giving a portion to poor Sumitra, and gave each an eighth to her.
Later was born to Kousalya, Rama, half divine, and quarter each to Kaikeyi and Sumitra.
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RAMALEELA PART 3
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Dasaratha was the happiest man in the world, to have three sons,
but the curse of the brahmin couple, arose sometimes, like a worm in the nut.
and the promise given to Kaikeyi’s brother, that Bharatha would be crowned king, hang, throwing an impending a Damocles sword from above.
The first faded from memory, as time passed.
The fear of the Kekaya king claiming Bharatha’s coronation was assuaged by when Kaikeyi assured him that she loved Raama like her own son, would be happy to have Raama king as much as Bharatha.
The children were given the best education, and trained in all arts and crafts required of future rulers of states, and were the joy and pride of their parents, being modest, friendly, and respectful to elders.
Raama was especially loved, because of his pleasant speech, preceded by a smile, and readiness to help the weak.
The king wanted to see Raama crowned, before he was too old, and told his chief Minister to make arrangement for it, but the date was fixed suddenly, at late night, the previous day, and communicated to all including Raama, except Kaikeyi, who watched the festivities from the palace, wondering what they were for.
When she knew that it was for Raama’s coronation, it came as a revelation of how little the king reciprocated her love and trust in him.
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Not knowing how to face the king, she did not go, as usual, to the king for the meal together, and when the king did not see her in his room, went to her room
There he saw her lying in bed, with face turned away from the door, which made him worry what ailed her.
She replied that nothing was the matter with her, and when he asked what she wanted, she demanded Bharatha’s coronation, and Rama’s exile for one year.
This was a sudden thunderbolt from the blue, and he could hardly believe it, and pleaded, cajoled, spoke angrily, and fondled lovingly, without success.
When the king’s bedroom door was found closed, even after the sun arose high in the sky, they opened it to a sorry scene, the king lying on the bed,and weeping, while the queen spoke no word.
They rushed to Rama, who was with Kousalya, and told that the king wanted to see him, when they were jubilant at the coming coronation of her son.
Rama too was very happy at this, without showing it, and saw, to his shock, an unhappy scene, father lying and weeping, and Kaikeyi speaking not a word.
On Rama’s enquiring why he was called, Dasaratha could not speak, because of tears choking the throat, and then turned to Kaikeyi, who said the father could not say that he was being exiled.
Rama said calmly that he was happy living quietly in the forest, while it
was Bharatha, who was to be pitied, since the burden of the state fell on him.
He told his mother what the king’s orders were, and in spite of all persuasion, and drove away, along with Seetha and Lakshmana, without looking back.
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Not knowing how to face the king, she did not go, as usual, to the king for the meal together, and when the king did not see her in his room, went to her room
There he saw her lying in bed, with face turned away from the door, which made him worry what ailed her.
She replied that nothing was the matter with her, and when he asked what she wanted, she demanded Bharatha’s coronation, and Rama’s exile for one year.
This was a sudden thunderbolt from the blue, and he could hardly believe it, and pleaded, cajoled, spoke angrily, and fondled lovingly, without success.
When the king’s bedroom door was found closed, even after the sun arose high in the sky, they opened it to a sorry scene, the king lying on the bed,and weeping, while the queen spoke no word.
They rushed to Rama, who was with Kousalya, and told that the king wanted to see him, when they were jubilant at the coming coronation of her son. Rama too was very happy athis,withoushowing it, and saw, to his shock, an unhappy scene, father lying and weeping, and Kaikeyi speaking not a word.
On Rama’s enquiring why he was called, Dasaratha could not speak, because of tears choking the throat, and then turned to Kaikeyi, who said the father could not say that he was being exiled.
Rama said calmly that he was happy living quietly in the forest, while it
was Bharatha, who was to be pitied, since the burden of the state fell on him.
He told his mother what the king’s orders were, and in spite of all persuasion, and drove away, along with Seetha and Lakshmana, without looking back.
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RAMALEELA 4
Not knowing how to face the king, she did not go, as usual, to the king for the meal together, and when the king did not see her in his room, went to her room
There he saw her lying in bed, with face turned away from the door, which made him worry what ailed her.
She replied that nothing was the matter with her, and when he asked what she wanted, she demanded Bharatha’s coronation, and Rama’s exile for one year.
This was a sudden thunderbolt from the blue, and he could hardly believe it, and pleaded, cajoled, spoke angrily, and fondled lovingly, without success.
When the king’s bedroom door was found closed, even after the sun arose high in the sky, they opened it to a sorry scene, the king lying on the bed,and weeping, while the queen spoke no word.
They rushed to Rama, who was with Kousalya, and told that the king wanted to see him, when they were jubilant at the coming coronation of her son.
Rama too was very happy at this, without showing it, and saw, to his shock, an unhappy scene, father lying and weeping, and Kaikeyi speaking not a word.
On Rama’s enquiring why he was called, Dasaratha could not speak,
Because of tears choking the throat, and then turned to Kaikeyi, who said the
father could not say that he was being exiled.
Rama said calmly that he was happy living quietly in the forest, while it
was Bharatha, who was to be pitied, since the burden of the state fell on him.
He told his mother what the king’s orders were, and in spite of all persuasion, and drove away, along with Seetha and Lakshmana, who refused to 1be left behind, without looking back.
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RAMALEELA 5
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When Rama left, Dasaratha fell into a swoon, from which he never recovered,
in a few days, passed away.
Bharatha, along with Shatrughna, was staying in Kekaya, with his uncle, when all this was happening, and was highly perturbed when he was called suddenly called home.
He rushed to father’s house to see it unoccupied, furniture covered up, and an appearance of disuse, and then to his mother’s apartment.
There he saw his mother and her fostermother, Manthara, in a strangely happy moodhardlbefitting the occasion.
He burst out in an uncontrollable rage, and caught Manthara by the hair, and threw her away on the ground.
He then turned towards his mother, and in a tone, difficult to believe that it is her dear son was speaking, said, “ woman, you have killed your husband, defamed your son, and barred a fair strong ruler from the country. I don’t consider you as mother, it is Rama’s mother, who is mine too !”.
Then leaving her trembling in fear as a stricken deer, shamed, overwhelmed in sorrow, having lost all he held life worth living for, he went to the forest, determined to give Rama, his rightful place.
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RAMALEELA PART 6
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When Rama left, Dasaratha fell into a swoon, from which he never recovered,
in a few days, passed away.
Bharatha, along with Shatrughna, was staying in Kekaya, with his uncle, when all this was happening, and was highly perturbed when he was called suddenly called home.
He rushed to father’s house to see it unoccupied, furniture covered up, and an appearance of disuse, and then to his mother’s apartment.
There he saw his mother and her fostermother, Manthara, in a strangely happy mood, hardly befitting the occasion.
He burst out in an uncontrollable rage, and caught Manthara by the hair, and threw her away on the ground.
He then turned towards his mother, and in a tone, difficult to believe that it is her dear son was speaking, said, “ woman, you have killed your husband, defamed your son, and barred a fair strong ruler from the country. I don’t consider you as mother, it is Rama’s mother, who is mine too !”.
Then leaving her trembling in fear as a stricken deer, shamed, overwhelmed in sorrow, having lost all he held life worth living for, he went to the forest, determined to give Rama, his rightful place.
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RAMALEELA 7
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Bharatha set out to bring Rama in state to Ayodhya, with a large army, and finding his whereabouts from Guha, approached him, and told him about father’s demise, where they took the purificatory bath and performed the religious death rites.
Then Bharatha asked him to come and take his rightful place as king,
which he absolutely refused.
He would not disobey father’s order banning entry in Ayodhya for one year, and transgress the promise to crown Bharatha as king.
When all his pleading failed to change, he asked for Rama’s sandals, and went carrying them to Ayodhya, where he installed them in front of the throne.
He stayed in a small hut, living as a reclusive renunciate life and ruled the state, in the name of Rama.
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RAMALEELA 8
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Seeing, that people from the city, were likely to come and give no peace, Rama decided to leave his place, and go into the deep dark Dandaka forest, inhabited by wild animals and cannibalistic Rakshasas, where nobody would venture to enter.
He donned a forester’s dress, put on bark clothes, and matted hair with gum oozing from the tree, and lay on the bare ground, full of thorns and stones, which brought tears in Guha’s eyes, as Seetha fumbled about how to wear the bark clothes, and Rama had to help.
They visited many ashrams, and sought the blessings of the sages, received along with them, several weapons for the protection from foes, and promised to protect them from the Rakshasas, who polluted the sacrificial ground, with pieces of flesh and muck.
He waged a war with the Rakshasas, in their land, at
which Seetha was afraid that the people who did nothing against them, and asked to desist, whichhe refused, as it was the sacred duty of the Kshatriya, to protect the good, at which she was aextremely unhappy, but accepted meekly as husband’s decision.
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RAMALEELA PART 9
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The story of SriRama is a tragedy, in which a fatal flaw wrecks the hero, the flaw being Dasaratha’s weakness, and equally Rama’s strength.
Dasaratha made the promise to make Bharata king in his passionate love of the Kekeya princess, and did not want to keep it, while Rama decided to go to the forest, in spite of his father’s pleas.
Rama visited many settlements of ashrams in the forest, and received several weapons from them, in order to protect themselves from wild animals and cannibalistic Rakshasas, and swore that he would eradicate them, who polluted the sacrificial ground with pieces of flesh, and all sorts of muck.
He waged a relentless war with them, the native inhabitants, and Seetha felt that it would be wrong to deny them the peaceful life in their home, and for asked Rama not to provoke them, which could cause great danger, like trample on a sleeping snake.
Rama was adamant in his decision, since it was the sacred duty of Kshatriyas to protect the weak, even though the sages had to tremendous power of curse, for fear of losing the merit accumulated by years of hard penance.
It caused all the tragic events, leading to the kidnapping of Sita and untold sufferings on all them.
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RAMALEELA PART 10
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When Raama went about killing many innocent Rakshasas, they retaliated , and were killed easily by him.
Meanwhile Shoorpanakha, Ravana’s sister, whose husband had been killed during a battle, and had been on the lookout for a suitable replacement, happened to see Raama, and asked him to marry him.
Raama expressed his inability, since his wife was there, and told her to go to Lakshmana, who said that he was like the servant of his brother, and that, in case of marrying him, she would end up as a servant, when she attacked Seetha and Lakshmana cut off her nose and ears.
With her face full of blood, and crying loud, she ran to Ravana, and complained that he had not been able to protect her, and hearing her taunts, he asked his uncle, Maareecha, to go and kill him.
Maareecha, who had once experienced Raama’s extraordinary strength , and did not want to face him again, cautioned against this misadventure, and expressed his unwillingness to confront Raama again, at which he flew into a rage, and said that he would kill him, for not obeying his order, when Maareecha thought that it would be better to be killed by Raama, rather than his evil nephew.
He assumed the form of a golden deer, and played gambolling in front of their house, when Seetha, as expected, wanted Raama to get for her for a pet.
Raama said that the forest was full of phantoms and ghosts, when it was dark at night, leading people to their destruction, and they should not be deceived by them.
Seetha persisted in asking for it, and Raama succumbed to her demand, and went to catch it, when it waited until he came near, and ran away and stood looking back tantalisingly, and repeated it again and again.
After some time, Raama lost patience, and shot an arrow, and killed it, and cried for help before it died, which was heard by Seetha, who told Lakshmana to go to Raama immediately and help him.
Lakshmana refused, saying that Raama had instructed him not to leave her, whatever happened, that anyhow nobody could harm him, and that he would not cry for help.
Seetha, in fear for Raama’s life, accused him that he wanted Raama to die, so that he could marry her, at which Lakshmana was aghast that such a thought could enter her mind, and went, praying that God save her.
Lakshmana met Raama, on the way, and was rebuked for leaving Seetha alone, at which Lakshmana explained what happened, and returned together to be greeted by a general appearance of disuse, and an eerie silence, which, when they called “ Seetha Seetha “, to which echo replied, as if mocking with repeating endlessly.
They fell into a faint, which made them forget everything for a short time, until they came out of it, and awoke to stark reality.
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RAMALEELA PART 11
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When they came to their senses, they wandered in a dazed condition here and there, looking for her in all directions, without any hope, when they met an eagle named Jatayu, King Dasaratha’s friend, who had lived in a nest, near their place, with feathers cut, lying on the ground, about to die.
Before he died, he managed to tell them that he had seen a girl being carried by a demon, going to the south.
They did all the death rites for him, and went in that direction, and came to a valley of a high mountain, when they were noticed by a monkey king Sugreeva, who had taken refuge there from his twin brother, Baali, who had incurred his enmity because of a misunderstanding, and had vowed to kill him.
Then Sugreeva sent his senior minister, Hanuman to find out whether they were come as friends or foes, and Hanuman approached them and asked respectfully why they, dressed as a sanyasi, carried bows, arrows and other weapons.
Raama told how his wife was kidnapped, and did not know who and where, and was searching for her everywhere without success, when Hanuman said that he could be helped by his king, if they could move freely without fear of BaaI
He proposed an alliance, in which Sugreeva would undertake to find out, if Bali was removed from action, but expressed his doubt that, in view of Bali’s strength, Raama would kill him.
The doubt was cleared when Raama demonstrated his strength, and killed Baali, when Sugreeva collected a large army of monkeys, and sent them in all directions, a warning that they should not return, without finding out.
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All this time, Hanuman was sitting silently in a corner, seemingly oblivious, watced by Sampathi, the elder brother of Jatayu, who had taken refuge there, tand had been impressed with the bundle of energy,hidden in the small body, and could not help praising Hanuman aloud.
Boosted by the praise, Hanuman remembered his origin from the God of Winds, and stood to his full height, and made a leap over the limitless sea, not caring to rest on a submerged hill, Mainaka, that invitingly arose from the middle of the sea, and landed on the ramparts of the island city of Lanka.
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RAMLEELA PART 12
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Hanuman searched everywhere, in search of Seetha, every spot in the wood, every nook and corner of the city, and in every apartment of the buildings, without success.
Finally in the dead darkness of night, he crept into Ravana’s bedroom, where he slept, surrounded by many women, captured from all over the world, Heaven,earth, and beyond, where he saw a beautiful noble lady in close embrace with Ravana, and whom for a minute, he thought to be Seetha, and he shrugged off the thought, as not befitting her character, and returned to the forest, and sat on the top of a tree, and waited.
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RAMALEELA PART 13
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Ravana’s women used to gather on the smooth lawn, to enjoy the cool breeze under the trees, gossip, cut jokes, laugh aloud, and play games, till late at night.
Hanuman wondered whether one of them was Seetha, and in order to make sure, recited Raama’s name repeatedly, when one of them looked up.
When the others left, he jumped down, and stood in front of her which
scared her, for fear that it was an illusionary trick of the Rakshasas.
He then showed her the crest jewel, that Raama had given him as a mark of recognition, and convinced her of his genuineness.
From that time, every night, when the Rakshasi women were asleep, they talked about the events after her disappearance, how Raama met Sugreeva, had made a treaty with him, that he would kill his brother, Baali, who had become mortal foe, because of a misunderstanding, and on his part, that he would find out her whereabouts.
He sent a large number of monkeys to search, and not to return without success, how he was one of them,
Seetha listened to all the story, and her sorrow was a little mitigated by hearing Raama’s love for her.
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RAMALEELA PART 14
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Having gained the confidence of Seetha, Hanuman dropped down the tree, when the raakshasis, who surrounded her day and night, slept soundly, and assured her that as soon as he returned, and told her place of captivity, Raama would free from captivity, with the help of Sugreeva’s army of monkeys.
He went on coming to her daily , and talking about the past events from her wedding to her captivity, a mixture of happiness and misery.
One night, preceded by the light of torches, carried by several servants, which made day of night, Ravavana, dressed gorgeously, wearying gold ornaments, perfumed with precious scents, came to her.
He tempted her with various offers, if she agreed to be his wife, to which she replied. that she loved Raama,who was brave and noble, and much above
him, who was a coward and stole another’s wife stealthily.
Ravana left in anger, threatening to eat her, if did not agree within one month.
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RAMALEELA PART 14
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Hanuman bade farewell to Seetha, who thanked him and prayed for his safety,
and thinking that he should weaken the enemy before the final assault,
and leaped from tree to tree, from building to building, with a tremendous force, unleashing a virtual cyclone, that toppled them, and wrecked the whole city.
When it was reported to Ravana, he sent his son, Akshakumar, to stop it, when he was killed by Hanuman easily.
Ravana then told his other son, Indrajit, who had many types of magic tricks, and who bound Hanuman with serpent arrows, Hanuman meekly allowing it.
RAMALEELA PART 14
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Hanuman bade farewell to Seetha, who thanked him and prayed for his safety,
and thinking that he should weaken the enemy before the final assault,
and leaped from tree to tree, from building to building, with a tremendous force, unleashing a virtual cyclone, that toppled them, and wrecked the whole city.
When it was reported to Ravana, he sent his son, Akshakumar, to stop it, when he was killed by Hanuman easily.
Ravana then told his other son, Indrajit, who had many types of magic tricks, and who bound Hanuman with serpent arrows, Hanuman meekly allowing it.
When he was taken to Ravana for punishment, his tail was lit with fire, and then he took the fire and burnt all places, except where Seetha sat, and quenched the fire in the sea.
This time, he rested on Mainaka, for a few minutes, and reached the shore, to the great jubilation of his friend, anxiously waiting for his return.
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RAMALEELA PART 15
When at the end of a month, Ravana found no change in Seetha’s resolve, in spite of threats, he appeared before her, gorgeously dressed, wearing golden ornaments set with gems, perfumed with various scents.
He made all sorts of offers, the position of his chief wife, supremacy over all in the state, including himself, happy to be her slave, out of love.
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P Ravana left, Hanuman reassured Seetha that she did not need to worry, and and that her captivity would end, as soon as he returned and told her whereabouts to Raama, he would rescue her, casting a ray of hope in the deep darkness of gloom which enveloped her.
Before going back, in order to weaken the enemy, he hopped from free to tree, from building to building, hitting with hands and feet with such force as to topple them.
When a monkey was reported to be let loose, causing damage, Ravana sent Akshakumar, his eldest son, to stop it, and when Hanuman killed him easily, sent his other son, Indrajit, who bound Hanuman with serpent arrows, to which Hanuman succumbed meekly, and was taken before Ravana.
Ravana ordered to set fire to the tail of Hanuman, who jumped everywhere in the city, burning, except where Seetha sat, and quenched the fire in the sea.
This time he rested for a few minutes on Mainaka, and leaped to where his friends were anxiously waiting, when a shout of jubilation tore the sky, as he stood in front.
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RAMALEELA PART 16
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After Ravana left, Hanuman reassured Seetha that she did not need to worry, and and that her captivity would end, as soon as he returned and told her whereabouts to Raama, he would rescue her, casting a ray of hope in the deep darkness of gloom which enveloped her.
Before going back, in order to weaken the enemy, he hopped from free to tree, from building to building, hitting with hands and feet with such force as to topple them.
When a monkey was reported to be let loose, causing damage, Ravana sent Akshakumar, his eldest son, to stop it, and when Hanuman killed him easily, sent his other son, Indrajit, who bound Hanuman with serpent arrows, to which Hanuman succumbed meekly, and was taken before Ravana.
Ravana ordered to set fire to the tail of Hanuman, who jumped everywhere in the city, burning, except where Seetha sat, and quenched the fire in the sea.
This time he rested for a few minutes on Mainaka, and leaped to where his friends were anxiously waiting, when a shout of jubilation tore the sky, as he stood in front.
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RAMALEELA PART 17
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In the course of the triumphant march to Sugreeva, with the happy news, they passed his favourite fruit garden, when they asked prince Angada, for permission to celebrate their success by having a treat of grapes.
Angada agreed and they began plucking the grapes, greedily eating and throwing on the ground half-chewed fruits, and making a mess of the place.
The guards complained to Angada, who said that it did not matter, as they deserved it, after their great effort to achieve the king’s command.
They hurried to king Sugreeva to complain about it, and the prince’s callous attitude, and to their chagrin, the king was extremely pleased and called them for a hearty welcome.
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RAMALEELA PART 18
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Sugreeva, along with Raama and others, led the monkey troops, to the place where Hanuman landed, and found that they would not be able to cross the ocean.
At this time, Vibheeshana, the younger brother of Ravana, appeared before them, asking for protection from Ravana, who threatened to kill him, because of his advice to surrender Seetha, and forge a treaty of friendship with Raama.
When Sugreeva and others warned that he might be a spy, Raama said that it was the duty of Kshatriya to protect anybody begging for help.
Vibhishana proved his sincerity by giving the layout of Lanka, and the weakness and strength of people, and thus making a plan of assault, in the war.
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RAMALEELA PART 19
The problem of the monkey troops crossing the ocean remained, and it was decided to fill the sea with stones, rocks, gravel and other materials, from the land, where they were, and thus build a raised path over the sea, gradually to the other side, so that the troops could enter the city of Lanka.
Which they ddI and in the ensuing battle, Vibhishana rendered great helpby exposing the illusionary tricks of the Rakshasas, and Hanuman did yeoman service by bringing sections of the mountain Himalaya, containing medicinal plants, l when Raama swooned and lay helpless, under the poison-tipped arrows of the enemy.
All the brothers of Ravana and other army leaders were, one by one Ravana, reputed to have ten heads, came himself to fight.
Raama got into a chariot sent by Indra, and shot arrows so fast as to cut off head one by, and the formidable giant lay dead on the ground, when the victory shout resounded in the air, and heard by Seetha, and she knew that the impossible had happened, and she was free.
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RAM LEELA PART 20
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Seetha expecting Raama to rush to her after their long separation, waited, and attributed his delay to battle weariness.
Raama stood before his victorious army, and asked Hanuman to bring her him, and though it looked odd that he wanted to expose to public view, her unused to move out of the palace, went and conveyed the message, that her husband was calling her to him.
Seetha hurried eagerly without thinking about anything, other than meeting her husband, and was about to go as it was, in her soiled dress, and body dirtied by sleeping on the ground, and unkempt hair, when she was persuaded to tidy up, before all the people.
She stood looking so beautiful, so dignified and so cheerful, that they admired and respected her, but Raama said loudly for all to hear,” Stop, don’t come near me, I can’t believe that Ravana would leave you untouched in your stay in his house for so long. You can go with Vibhishana, Sugreeva or anybody you like.”.
Seetha went pale, and with tears in her eyes, said that she did not want to live, and asked Lakshmana, to lit a fire, which he did unwillingly, and was the to fall into the fire, when gods and saints above in the sky,,“Seetha is pure and purifies others”.
Then Raama was pleased and said that he had spoken thus only to convince the common people, and were crowned as king, with Seetha as queen, and lived happily with his brothers and mothers.
Here Ramayanam written by the poet sage is completed, and his story afterwards is written by another poet of equal caliber.
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Lord Shiva
RAMALEELA PART 21
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Raama was a fair and just king, strong against the bad, sympathetic to the good, protective of the weak, and ruthless in suppress the evil, and became a
synonym for perfect rule, Ramarajya.
He kept himself well informed about what happened in the country and how his subjects felt about him and his actions from people, who had free unhindered access to him, and were encouraged to be frank and tell the good and the bad of what they said in private.
He used to hear interesting,educative and moral uplifting stories, from traveling storytellers and one day, he heard from one of them the story of Ravana, how a great devotee of Lord Shiva he was, how he was born to his mother from Vishravas a learned saint, to whom his mother had been sent by her brother, ,with the intention of getting a son, through the saint,
It seems that the world, the modern Eurasia, was occupied by monkeys, beasts, birds, men, demons and giants, in isolated colonies, separated by was living in peace, not interfering and not interfered by one another.
They were under attack from the people in the slopes of Himalaya, who came In hordes from the overpopulated areas of the Caucasian mountain ranges, the Aryans, who expelled the natives, the Dravidians, and the usurped their land, driving them, the Dravidians to the south of the Vindhyas.
The history of India is mainly the conflict between Aryans and nonAryans, is part ot the global phenomenon of the birth of a new civilisation, with developments technology, agriculture, horse breeding, and industry.
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RAMALEELA PART 23
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Hearing about Ravana’s greatness, Raama congratulated himself for defeating such powerful enemy; it was happier than any time in his life , and promised to be the happiest, when Seetha got pregnant.
He attended to all her needs, frequently asking whether she wanted more, and she said that she would like to go the forest, and see the old friends, who gave solace and company, which took out the sting of their memories of the past miseries of their life in exile.
Raama readily agreed, saying that it was what he too wanted, but did not say when, since it was to be a pleasant surprise, when announced.
One day, he told Lakshmana to get the chariot ready, just before dawn, and when brought, Raama told that he was not coming, and that Lakshmana to leave anywhere in the forest.
It seemed that someone, one of those who report people’s feelings, said that people were gossiping and joking that the king could not be wrong, what would be great sin if done by common people, and Raama thought, was a blur on his fame.
Seetha expressed her disappointment, and did not want to go without Raama, but Lakshmana said that she could go first, and Raama would join later.
Seetha was worried about Raama’s health, and enquired, and when no reply, anxiously kepton praying to God for his well-being, all the time till they reached the forest.
M Lakshmana then broke down and burst into tears, and r Raama’s order was to leave her anywhere in the forest, when she calmly said that he had done his duty, and to go to Raama for any help he needed.
But after he left, she cried aloud, and hearing it, Valmiki, the poet-saint came hurriedly and took her to his dwelling, and she stayed there as a member of the family, his daughter.
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RAMALEELA PART 24
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Valmiki, and other sages took the boys, to Raama,and told him they were the sons of Seetha, born in Valmiki’s ashram.
Raama was happy that they were his sons, and built palaces for them, near his main palace near Ayodhya, gave Bharatha the city being Bharatpur in Rajasthan, Lakshmana the city in modern Lucknow, Lava the modern Lahore, Kusha the city of modern Kasur both now in Pakistan.
They became rulers of provinces, as Raama’s representatives, as Raama, getting old, wanted assistance, and after his death, the kings of those countries.
Lava being the eldest Raama’s son, became the chief king, the Emperor of India, with the capital Lahore.
The history of the capitals depends on the preferences of the conquerors, whose aim was to have a united India, so that they could exert power with.
During Lava’s time, until the Mughal empire came to being, Lahorcontinued to be capital, when Old Delhi became capital, and with the British empire, New Delhi, designed by the great architect Luton, became the capital, which, inherited by the republic of India, continues to the present day.
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RAMALEELA PART 25
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One day, Raama was in conference over state affairs, and forbade everybody including the guards from entering the palace, on the extreme penalty of death.
At that time, when Ayodhya was under attack from enemies, they appealed to Lakshmana for help, and he came quickly, and pushed open the door, and entered the palace, took the weapons, and drove away the attackers.
When Raama sawit, he ordered the execution of the transgressor of his ,order, .and it was his dear brother and close companion for years, who was guilty.
He was aghast,and did not know what to do, and exiled him from his view, and Lakshmana drowned in the river Sarayu,as he felt that exile was worse than death.
Raama followed his brother and, accompanied by those very much attached to him, and sank in the river, to rise to Vaikuntha of Vishnu, whose incarnation he was, to lie on Anantha, whose incarnation was Laksmana, gone before him.
This incarnation, is said in Narayaneeyam, to teach us how not to behave. P—————————
END
