INTRODUCTION
           
            This is in continuation of 'Mahabharata in Brief' with the same conditionalities for better viewing of Kathakali. It may be noted that Ramayana happened before Mahabharata. Please note here only Valmiki's Ramayana is referred. (Indebted and quoted liberally from C.R.Kerala Varma's book of articles.)
           
            Valmiki, India's first poet is also first in so many of the achievements of the poetic spirit. However he is greatest in his command of pathos. The Ramayana is soaked in tears. Two playful "Crouncha" birds were living in a tree near Valmiki's ashram. A hunter comes in and shoots down one of the birds. Valmiki is agitated by seeing the cries of the other bird. He cries out at the hunter thus:

mA niShAda pratiShTAMtva magamaH SASvatIH samAH
yat krauncha mithunAdeka mavadhIH  kAma mohitam
           
Meaning: "Hunter! Why did you kill one Crauncha bird full of love for the other, because of which you yourself will not live long."

            Starting the story in this manner Valmiki suggests that poetry is an overflow into song of powerful feelings. And also that the most powerful of feelings are that of sorrow and pity, and therefore the sweetest songs cannot be, but that of the saddest thoughts. It also suggests the connection between feeling and rhythmic expression. The 'metre' of the whole poem was invented (just poured out from the heart) at that point of time. The poet thereby proves that metre (chhandas or vrittam) is but the expression of a rhythm (tala) set up within an agitated mind. This particular metre is called 'anusthub' or simply 'sloka metre'.

            Ramayana is not tied down to sorrow. All nine basic emotions are equal to the great poet as we shall see when we proceed through the story.

THE CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH

            Dasaratha, the king of Ayodhya does not have any children. His advisors suggest that he perform a Yaga by none other than a highly accomplished Rishi called Rishyashringa. The yaga gets performed and in time four children are born to Dasaratha. Rama, the eldest through royal wife Kausalya, Bharatha through youngest and dearest wife, Kaikeyi, and Lakshmana and Shatrugna through middle wife Sumitra. As children, while Rama and Lakshmana were interested in matters of war, Bharatha and Shatrughna showed more interest in matters of agriculture.

            Once the sage Viswamitra visited Ayodhya and asked for the services of Rama (and Lakshmana) for the protection of the places of Yaga. Dasaratha agreed reluctantly. The three of them set off. On the way a great demoness called Thataka intercepted and stopped them. Rama fought with Thataka and killed her with his powerful arrows. Rama and Lakshmana defend the Yaga that takes place. The enemies of the Yaga are are thrown out miles away with powerful arrows.
 
            On the return journey Viswamitra takes the boys to the kingdom of Mithila where Janaka, the king is going to conduct the swayamwara of their daughter Sita. A test is arranged for the princes who want to participate in the swayamvara. Only a prince who can tie the bowstring of the huge Thrayanbaka bow is eligible to marry Sita. All the princes try and fail. Then Rama comes forward and easily starts tying the bow. But in the process the bow which was kept idle for long breaks into two pieces. Rama proved his strength and Sita comes forward and garlands him. Immediately Janaka arranges to invite Dasaratha and others to come for the marriage ceremony. The marriage takes place in style. The brothers of Rama are also married to the sisters of Sita.
           
            When Dasaratha was returning to Ayodhya with his children and their wives, a potential tragedy strikes. A great sage called Parasurama who, though a brahmin, had killed countless arrogant Kshatriyas in battle, seeks a battle with Rama. The reason for the battle is that Rama intentionally broke the Thrayambaka Bow which belonged to Siva, Parasurama's Guru. Rama thinks it was but an accident. The arguments get hot. Then Parasurama tells Rama "If you are so confident tie my bow". Rama ties that bow easily. Satisfied, Parasurama blesses them and leaves. Happily the others return to Ayodhya.

THE POLITICS OF AYODHYA

            After some time Dasaratha decides that he is too old to rule the country and requests that Rama be made the king. Ministers agree. Arrangements are made for crowning Rama. Kaikeyi the young queen has a humpbacked maid called Mandhara. This lady comes to Kaikeyi with specious arguments as to why Bharatha and not Rama should become the king of Ayodhya. Initially Kaikeyi laughs it off, but Mandhara persists. Slowly it dawns upon Kaikeyi that Mandhara, the most beautiful Mandhara, is telling the highest truths. Mandhara's hump becomes the hump of knowledge. Kaikeyi gives many gifts to Mandhara and decorates the hump. The hump that also developed in Kaikeyi's mind twisted all wrongs into rights and rights into wrongs inside it.

            Both Bharatha and Shatrughna were on tour at this time when things happened. Kaikeyi demands a long lost promise which Dasaratha had made to her and asks for the exit of Rama to forest for fourteen years and the crowning of the then absent Bharata. Dasaratha is shattered but has to agree. Rama proceeds to the forest. Sita and Lakshmana follow him.

THE FOREST

            After a long journey, and after meeting many ascetics and saints and Bharatha also who comes to call him back, which was refused, finally they arrive at a place where something funny is about to happen.

            Surpanakha is a lady with a mind of her own. 'Yeh kash kisi deevane ko mujhse bhi mohabbat ho jaye' type. Where is Rama and where is Surpanagha? Rama is soft and gentle.  Surpanakha is a fierce rakshasi. Still it happened that Surpanakha fell headlong in love with Rama. She is ugly, squint eyed, terrible voiced and notorious; he is lovely, long eyed, sweet-voiced and majestic. Though most incongruous, she proposed to him. And he rejected. And she became angry. And he laughed saying she better select Lakshmana. A mere joke but it led Supanakha threatening to have one of the brothers and Lakshmna cutting off her nose and breasts.

            Surpanagha goes with great pain and complains to her brother Ravana about this incident. She also gives a bait to Ravana. The hidden message being that if he kills Rama he also gets Sita. Alas, Ravana thinks that the wisest thing to do in the circumtances is to abduct Sita. And he also selects a bait. His own uncle in the form of a golden deer. The bait hooks Sita. She tells Rama to get the deer for her. Rama goes after the bait. Then Lakshmana also goes from her side, because of the cutting words uttered by Sita in exasperation on hearing Rama's false cries. Then Ravana comes in the guise of a Sanyasi and abducts Sita.
           
            Rama and Lakshmana come back and Sita is missing. Now what to do? Rama and Lakshmana wander in the forest in search of Sita. Each day is full of tears. The hearts are heavy and words are few. Where to go? What to do? Nothing is clear to them. Life looks like a terrible misery. A great bird called Jatayu which fought against the flying Ravana and was almost dying gives them a sense of direction. That is something to go by.

THE FRIENDSHIP TREATY

            At last they meet efficient Hanuman. Hanuman takes them to his master, Sugriva. Rama makes an oath (Sakhyam) with Sugreeva to help each other. Sugriva's brother Bali had taken the kingdom and also his wife Tara, both of which he wants to take back.

            Sugreeva calls Bali for a fight. Sugreeva was no match to Bali and fails repeatedly. Rama then kills Bali with an arrow shot from behind a tree. There is reason for this act which looks like cowardice. Bali, the strogest in Ramayana cannot be killed in straight battle. Further he had usurped Sugriva's wife. His own wife lost, Rama is bound to do justice to Sugriva. And Sugriva it is who can find Sita through his army of followers. So Bali is dying. Tara weeps over the dying body of Bali. "The earth is dearer to you, my Lord, than me. You have left me, but even in death you embrace her." Sugreeva is magnanimous and takes her back to his shelter along with her son Angada.

THE FINDING OF SITA

            Now it is Sugreeva's turn to find Sita. Armies of monkey soldiers are sent in all directions. Hanuman goes towards Lanka. He alone crosses the sea and reaches Lanka. After entering Lanka he searches for Sita and finds her under an Asoka tree. Hanuman talks to her and tells her that Rama will come with an army and rescue her. Sita becomes hopeful.
           
            Ravana has many wives. And Hanuman is looking at these wives. Most of these women were won in war. But some of these, Valmiki adds, had come on their own accord to find satisfaction in being Ravana's wife. Ravana is not only a great king but he is also a great husband, insists Valmiki.
           
            Hanuman gets caught by Ravana's soldiers. Actually Hanuman allows himself to be captured. Ravana tries a joke on Hanuman. Hanuman could not be killed since he is an ambassador. But he can be punished. Ravana says "Monkeys are proud of their tails, though nothing but an ornament. Set fire to his tail and let him go home with a burnt tail and be laughed at. Let him also be taken round here also to entertain our subjects. The curious procession goes to the streets. People make merry. The laugh
is not on one side only. With the burning tail Hanuman knocks down a few soldiers also. The fire is not burning him.

            Suddenly Hanuman makes a big leap. The laughter increases. A burning monkey on the roof top, he jumps from building to building and the laugh turns to cries since he was also setting fire to the buildings. After burning down a part of Lanka, Hanuman dips his tail in the sea and extiguishes the fire.

            When Hanuman returns with the good news, Rama along with the Sugriva's army go to war with Lanka. A huge army needs to cross the sea, even though a short one, tremendous effort was involved and they are successful in building the bridge.

THE WAR

            The war is full of incidents. The war was a savage one. Fighting with trees and stones, teeth and nails. Blood drinking Rakshasas spitting blood. There is fright and flight on both sides. Jumping into the sea and disappearing into forests. When things go bad in the Lankan army, it is time to wake up Kumbhakarna. It was so tough to wake him up. As soon as he wakes up he starts eating. Huge amounts of food and drink are served. Eyes turbid with sleep he falls on the food heaps with no other thought.
Then he goes to war, fights bravely, but gets killed. Then comes Meghanada also called Indrajith, since had defeated Indra in war. But he is also killed by the sharp arrows of Lakshmana.

            At last Ravana was killed by Rama and Sita was brought back to Ayodhya, the three of them flying the Pushpaka plane. Rama is not foolish enough to keep the plane. He returns it immediately. Rama does not keep something which belongs to others.

THE AFTERMATH

            While at Ayodhya the rishis who come visiting tell the story of Ravana. The story of how he got the three boons from Brahma, how he ruled from Lanka, how he defeated his brother Vaishravana and acquired the Pushpaka plane, how he travelled upto Kailasa, how he lifted it, how he cried while lifting it and so earned the name Ravana, and how Siva gave him gifts. Two of these incidents need elaboration.

            Once Ravana was flying in his newly won Pushpaka plane and suddenly finds that its movement is arrested. He is told that Sankara is amusing himself with his wife and disciples. His eyes red with anger he descends from the plane and laughs at Nandi and his face. Who is Sankara? He asks. Deciding to root out the offending mountain he puts his arms under it and shakes it. Everything in it shakes. Parvathi, shaking, takes refuge in the embrace of her lord. Sankara smiles and with a smile Mahadeva presses slightly the mountain with his toe. Poor Ravana's hands are caught firmly under the mountain. He shouts in vain. But not fully invain because he got his name Ravana from that shout (ravam = high noise, thunderbolt). He conciliates Sankara with long prayers and Tapas and finally Sankara blesses Ravana.

            Proud, haughty, Ravana goes to Kishkintha for a fight with Bali. But Bali is not there. He is asked to seek him in the shore of the south sea. Ravana flies to that place. Bali is too smart for Ravana. As he approaches from behind, he is caught in Bali's armpit without even turning his head. With Ravana hanging from his armpit like a snake, Bali jumps from sea to sea for doing many prayers. Ultimately he returns back. Releasing him now Bali asks with a loud laugh "Where from you are???"

            After some time at Ayodhya Sita became pregnant. This was also the time when the dhobis of Ayodhya started inventing one-up stories. One Dhobi fighting with his wife over fidelity was heard telling that he will not take back his wife even though Rama took back Sita after she lived in Lanka for about six months. This matter got reported to Rama. Rama who thought justice is more important than life, asked Lakshmana to take Sita back to the forest. Lakshnmana left Sita near Valmiki's ashram. (Autobiographically) Valmiki takes care of Sita. She gives birth to twins. They were named Lava and Kusha. They are well educated by Valmiki in all aspects.

THE LAST WORDS

            Then a grand Ashwamedha yaga takes place at which time first Sathrughna goes to protect the sacrificial horse. Lava and Kusha tie up the horse and defeat Shatrughna. Then Hanuman comes to protect the horse. The twins tie up Hanuman and brings him to Sita. Sita is very happy to see Hanuman after such a long time. Hanuman is both happy and sad at this. The matter is also reported to Rama. The past is forgotten and Rama re-accepts Sita, but it is too little, too late. Sita goes back to mother earth. Once when Rama was in serious discussion with a Maharshi, Lakshmana barges in, to report some unrest in a part of the kingdom. Rama had given strict instruction not to interfere, and is is not amused, and exiles Lakshmana for his impudence. Later Rama himself accepts Jalasamadhi in the river Sarayu, thus ending a golden chapter of Indian history, since Rama was always a man of truth and justice.