Ramayana Creates The Perfect:
If the Mahabharata seems to be about normal flawed human beings with their insecurities and jealousies, the Ramayana is about Utopian ideals and lofty principles. Ramayana creates the perfect: the virtuous elder brother, the obedient, ever-devoted younger brothers and the self-sacrificing, ever-loving wife. All those who appear to be flawed in some way – like Dhashratha, the father of lord Rama, Keikeyi, the step-mother, and above all Ravana the villain – seem to have been put in the story only as examples of how-not-to-be and to enhance the goodness of the principle characters.The Legendary TaleThe central plot of the Ramayana is quite simple.
The king of Ayodhya, Dhashratha's heir apparent is Rama, the righteous man, respectful son, brave warrior, loving brother and doting husband. His brothers, Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrughana, were from the various other queens of the king. The king's favorite consort is Keikeyi, Bharat's mother.Things begin to swiftly fall from ideal when Keikeyi is instigated by her lady-in-waiting to ask Dhashratha to make her son Bharata the heir-apparent instead. She convinces the king to send Rama to vanvaas (exile) for 14 years. The king tries to reason with her – to no avail and in the end has to give in.Rama, being the model son, obeys his father's wish without question. However, Sita being the ideal wife and Lakshmana, being the ideal younger brother, insist on following Rama to exile.
When they are gone, Bharata returns home to find his brother gone and when he comes to know of what has gone on behind his back, he chastises his mother and refuses to accept the kingdom. He insists on following his brother to exile too and living in ascetic conditions. Then Lord Rama himself has to step in and talk him out of this – for someone has to rule the kingdom. Bharata then agrees to rule on his brother behalf.In the forests, Rama and his entourage go through several interesting experiences and insights. Disaster strikes as late as their last year in exile. In the shape of Ravana. Actually Ravana pretty much leaves them to their devices, until Shurpanakha his sister gets enamored by Rama. She tries to seduce him; however Rama rejects her and indeed gets so impatient doing this that he cuts off her nose.Stung by this, Ravana decides to take revenge and abducts Sita. Now starts the trouble.Rama, of course, decides to get his wife back. He organizes a force and attacks the capital of Ravana, called the golden Lanka.
Ravana is talked about as a brave, powerful and very wise king whose only flaw was vanity, which of course does him in, in the end. In the fierce war which ensues, Ravana is defeated and killed, along with his brothers and son. Sita returns to the fold. and then they all come back happily to Ayodhya, where Rama takes over as king again.
"Good Always Wins Over Evil"
By the way, the festival of Diwali celebrates the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya.
If the Mahabharata seems to be about normal flawed human beings with their insecurities and jealousies, the Ramayana is about Utopian ideals and lofty principles. Ramayana creates the perfect: the virtuous elder brother, the obedient, ever-devoted younger brothers and the self-sacrificing, ever-loving wife. All those who appear to be flawed in some way – like Dhashratha, the father of lord Rama, Keikeyi, the step-mother, and above all Ravana the villain – seem to have been put in the story only as examples of how-not-to-be and to enhance the goodness of the principle characters.The Legendary TaleThe central plot of the Ramayana is quite simple.
The king of Ayodhya, Dhashratha's heir apparent is Rama, the righteous man, respectful son, brave warrior, loving brother and doting husband. His brothers, Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrughana, were from the various other queens of the king. The king's favorite consort is Keikeyi, Bharat's mother.Things begin to swiftly fall from ideal when Keikeyi is instigated by her lady-in-waiting to ask Dhashratha to make her son Bharata the heir-apparent instead. She convinces the king to send Rama to vanvaas (exile) for 14 years. The king tries to reason with her – to no avail and in the end has to give in.Rama, being the model son, obeys his father's wish without question. However, Sita being the ideal wife and Lakshmana, being the ideal younger brother, insist on following Rama to exile.
When they are gone, Bharata returns home to find his brother gone and when he comes to know of what has gone on behind his back, he chastises his mother and refuses to accept the kingdom. He insists on following his brother to exile too and living in ascetic conditions. Then Lord Rama himself has to step in and talk him out of this – for someone has to rule the kingdom. Bharata then agrees to rule on his brother behalf.In the forests, Rama and his entourage go through several interesting experiences and insights. Disaster strikes as late as their last year in exile. In the shape of Ravana. Actually Ravana pretty much leaves them to their devices, until Shurpanakha his sister gets enamored by Rama. She tries to seduce him; however Rama rejects her and indeed gets so impatient doing this that he cuts off her nose.Stung by this, Ravana decides to take revenge and abducts Sita. Now starts the trouble.Rama, of course, decides to get his wife back. He organizes a force and attacks the capital of Ravana, called the golden Lanka.
Ravana is talked about as a brave, powerful and very wise king whose only flaw was vanity, which of course does him in, in the end. In the fierce war which ensues, Ravana is defeated and killed, along with his brothers and son. Sita returns to the fold. and then they all come back happily to Ayodhya, where Rama takes over as king again.
"Good Always Wins Over Evil"
By the way, the festival of Diwali celebrates the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya.
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