The Story of Rama and Sita
The King of Ayodhya is blessed with several sons, born to his 3 wives. Rama is the eldest and much beloved by the city’s citizens. And is to succeed him as king. Ramas’ stepmother fearing for herself and her son gets the king to promise that Rama will be banished for 14 years to the forest and Bharata installed as king.
Rama obedient to his father request agrees to go. Sita, his devoted wife, whom he won in a conquest of strength, and his loyal younger brother demand to accompany him. They leave the city but are followed soon after by Bharata, the step-mother’s son who pleads for him to return, realising that it is Rama who is the rightful king, and unhappy at this wrong order. However, Rama will not break his vow of obedience to his father. Bharata returns to the city, and places Ramas sandals on the throne to show everyone that he is only standing in for him.
Rama, Sita and Lakshmana sette in a small hut in the woods. They are discovered by the demon Ravana who has heard of Sita’s beauty and determines to capture her. He lures Sita by disguising himself first as a golden deer, and then as a holy man.
Rama and his brother enlist help of monkeys to find Sita. Hanuman, the divine monkey general, does his duty and searches for her until he finds her on the Island of Lanka. He is himself captured but escapes. He returns with Rama and his helpers and they carry Sita off from the island on a bridge of monkeys. Ravana tries to prevent them from leaving, and there is a great final battle, where Ravana is killed. However, Rama is also wounded in the battle, so he sends Hanuman to bring him a herb that will heal him. Hanuman faithfully obeys, but not being sure which herb was the right one, Hanuman brings the whole mountain to the battlefield.
After the battle, Rama and Sita return to their home city, but Rama has doubts about the time that Sita spent in Ravana’s company, and so do the citizens of the city. To stop bad feeling spreading, Rama, heartbroken, does his duty as a good king and sends Sita away. Sita agrees to go, realising it is her duty to obey her husband and serve the people. She gives birth to twins, then dies. Rama then grieving also dies and ascends to heaven with followers.