The Ramayana in a Nutshell

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    One day the great sage, Valmiki saw a pair of Krauncha birds. He was filled with joy on seeing them. But, his glee was short-lived, for, a hunter immediately killed the pair of birds. Valmiki was furious. He cursed the hunter in the ancient language, Sanskrit. But, his curse somehow seemed kind of poetic. Surprised, Valmiki returned back to his ashram. Suddenly, Brahma (the creator) appeared. He gave Valmiki the power to see Lord Rama's past, present, and future; and asked Valmiki to compose a book on him. He composed the poem and taught it to Lava and Kusha, who were Rama's sons living in Valmiki's ashram. They recited the poem in many places. It so happened that Rama himself heard of the boys and asked them to sing it in his court. They began:

Bala Kand:

During the Dwapara and the Treta yugas, injustice prevailed. To rid the earth of all evil, everyone requested Vishnu (the protector) to be incarnate on the earth. He was born as Rama. All the gods also obtained sons in the form of monkeys to help Rama in his mission. Once upon a time, there lived a virtuous king named 'Dasharatha'. He was unhappy that he had no sons. One day, he performed a ritual to obtain sons. A celestial being emerged from the sacrificial fire. He gave Dasharatha some sacred pudding. He asked him to give the pudding to his three wives. Dasharatha gave half to Kausalya, quarter to Sumitra, one eigth to Kaikeyi, and the remaining part to Sumitra again. Some time later Rama was born to Kausalya, Lakshmana and Shatrughna were born to Sumitra, and Bharata was born to Kaikeyi. Rama and Lakshmana were inseparable, and it was the same with Bharata and Shatrughna.

One day the venerable hermit, Vishwamitra visited King Dasharatha's court. When asked the purpose for his visit, the rishi (sage) replied that a few demons were troubling them and were disturbing their sacrifices. He asked if Rama and Lakshmana could come with him to defeat the Rakshasas (demons). The reluctant king agreed and Rama and Lakshmana set out with Vishwamitra. While they were walking to the ashram, Valmiki related to them tales of various places and people. He also taught them the secrets of many mystic missiles. When they reached the ashram, Rama made a shed out of arrows. The sacrifice took place under that shed. Finally, the Rakshasas attacked. Rama used the Vayava missile (presided over by the wind god) and scattered the Rakshasas. The sacrifice went undisturbed.

Then, they heard of Sita - the princess of Mithila. Her father, Janaka was arranging a contest. The king or prince who could lift a certain sacred bow and string it was going to be Sita's husband. All the other contendants couldn't even lift the bow, much less string it! When Rama tried, he easily picked up the bow, strung it, and pulled it so hard it broke! As he won the contest, Dasharatha and his retinue were invited to Mithila to celebrate. The wedding took place with pomp and splendor. Ayodhya (Rama's kingdom) was decorated.

Ayodhya Kand:

One day, Bharata and Shatrughna visited Bharata's maternal grandfather, the king of Kekeya. Meanwhile, Dasharatha was planning to install Rama as the crown prince. Kaikeyi's maid - Mandara - who heard about this convinced her to ask Dasharatha to banish Rama to the forest for fourteen years and install Bharata as the heir to the throne. When Kaikeyi asked how she could do that, Mandara recollected that the former had saved Dasharatha on the battlefield when he was wounded. Dasharatha promised Kaikeyi two boons. All Kaikeyi had to do was to redeem them. Kaikeya trodded into the room of anger, clad in soiled clothes. When Dasharatha came, enquiring what happened, Kaikeyi explained to him her wish. Dasharatha collapsed in sorrow. Kaikeyi later summoned Rama and said that Dasharatha had to honor his promise and banish Rama to the forest for fourteen years. Rama agreed. Together he, Sita, and Lakshmana reached a delightful hill named 'Chitrakoot'. Few days later, Dasharatha died of sorrow.

When Bharata returned, he found out all that happened. He went to the forest with a whole retinue, resolved to bring Rama back. When Rama and Lakshmana got wind of the fact that Dasharatha had died, they were engulfed in sorrow and offered water to their father's spirit. When Rama seemed determined not to leave the forest until his period of exile was over, Bharata asked Rama to wear some shoes for some time. Bharata then took those shoes back to Ayodhya and treated them like the real Rama himself. Meanwhile Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana left Chitrakoot as it was filled with bad memories.

Aranya Kand:

One day, in the forest, a Rakshasi named 'Shurpanaka' was smitten by Rama. Desperate to become his wife, she attacked Sita. Angered by this rash act, Lakshmana severed her ears and nose. She went wailing to her brother, Khara. He sent fourteen thousand terrible Rakshasas to fight Rama. Hovewer, Rama killed them all, including Khara himself. Then Shurpanaka went to Ravana, king of the Rakshasas. She said "I wished to bring Sita to you, but Lakshmana attacked me." Ravana got his mule-drawn, aereal chariot ready and departed at once to abduct Sita.

First he met Maricha. Maricha - who had seen Rama's wrath at Vishwamitra's ashram - warned Ravana. Ravana turned back and returned to his kingdom. There, Shurpanaka rebuked him. Ravana departed once more. This time, he convinced Maricha to join. The plan was this. Maricha would take the form of a golden deer. Sita would ask Rama to capture it. Once far away from Rama's hut, Maricha would cry for help in Rama's voice. Sita would send Lakshmana to help Rama. Meanwhile, Ravana would carry Sita away.

The plan went exactly as devised. When Rama and Lakshmana returned, they couldn't find Sita. They searched the entire forest and found a giant, dying bird named 'Jatayu' (he was Dasharatha's friend). Jatayu then related to them that he had fought the Rakshasa whom he saw abducting Sita. The Rakshasa (Ravana) mortally wounded Jatayu and escaped with Sita.

In the search; they beheld Kabandha, a fearsome Rakshasa. They cut off Kabandha's arms as he attacked them. Then, from his body emerged a celestial being who suggested Rama to take the Vanara (monkey), Sugriva's advice.

Kishkindha Kand:

Rama and Lakshmana followed Kabandha's advice and searched for Sugriva. One of Sugriva's spies saw Rama and Lakshmana. Sugriva was terrified after hearing the news. His brother, Vali (king of the Vanaras) banished him from the kingdom and seized the throne. Sugriva thought Vali sent Rama and Lakshmana to kill him. He sent one of the strongest Vanaras, Hanuman to find out who they were. After the princes explained the purpose of their visit, Hanuman took them to Sugriva. Due to a curse, Vali couldn't enter the hill where they were staying. Sugriva told Rama what happened with him and Vali "One day, a Rakshasa challenged Vali. In anger, Vali ran out. The Rakshasa fled into a cave. Vali followed him. I also came. After several days, I noticed blood oozing out of the cave. I thought Vali had been killed. To trap the Rakshasa, I blocked the entrance with a boulder. I returned back to the kingdom with a heavy heart. Vali, however, had not died. He managed to move the boulder and reached Kishkindha. He chased me all over the earth and took the kingdom. Finally, it was Hanuman who reminded me that Vali couldn't enter the Matanga hill."

After hearing Sugriva's story, they formed an alliance. Sugriva challenged Vali to a fight. Meanwhile, Rama - who was hidden in a tree - shot Vali dead with an arrow. Sugriva was installed the king of Kishkindha. Vali's son - Angada - became crown prince. Monsoon was starting. Rama asked Sugriva to start the search for Sita after the monsoons. Sugriva forgot that he had to search for Sita. One day, Hanuman reminded him what the time was. Sugriva immediately called millions of Vanaras and bears to start the search. He send the group led by Angada to the South, Vinata to the East, Sushena to the West, and Shatabali to the North. All of the groups except the one led by Angada returned with no news about Sita's whereabouts. Angada's group lost all hope. They began to take a fast unto death. At the seashore, Sampati (Jatayu's brother) told the Vanaras that Sita was at Lanka. No one in that group except for Hanuman could cross the sea and reach Lanka. But, he realized his strength only after Jambavan assured him.

Sundara Kand:

Hanuman was ready to cross the sea measuring a thousand kilometres in one jump. He stood on Mount Mandara, which could bear the force of his leap. Then, he jumped. Sagara, the sea god - who was helped by Rama's ancestor - told the foremost of mountains, the winged Mainaka who dwelt in the sea to rise and help Hanuman by allowing him to rest on his peak. He did as told as Hanuman's father Vayu the Wind God (Hanuman was born with Vayu's blessings) helped him. Earlier, when mountains had wings, they used to fly around, unmindful of the havoc they caused. Indra decided to cut off all their wings. When he approached Mainaka, Vayu blew him into the sea and saved his wings. Mainaka told Hanuman this and asked him to rest awhile. Hanuman politely declined and continued.

Then, the Rakshasi Simhika who caught flying animals by grabbing their shadows, got Hanuman. He made his body hard and entered her mouth and burst out of her body, killing her. Then he reached the city of Lanka. Suddenly, the city became a fierce Rakshasi, the gaurdian of Lanka. he defeated her and explored the city after reducing his size. He searched and searched and finally found Sita in the Ashoka Vana (Ashoka Grove). He sang the praises of Rama in the language of ordinary people to win Sita's trust. He told her the purpose of his visit. She gave him some of her jewelry to show Rama that he found her. Then, he decimated half of Ravana's army. Finally, Ravana's son - Indrajit - caught him and took him to Ravana. Then, Ravana decided to kill Hanuman. Vibhishana - Ravana's pious brother - objected as envoys weren't supposed to be killed. Then, Ravana set fire to Hanuman's tail. While Hanuman was being paraded through the city (criminals were paraded to make them shameful) he broke free and with his burning tail, ignited the city of Lanka except for Vibhishana's palace. Then, he made sure Sita was safe and returned.

When he got back to the coast, the Vanaras deduced he succeeded due to his happy roar. Then, he told them all that happened. They went back to Kishkindha. On the way, they saw a grove gifted to Sugriva's ancestors by the gods. It was rich in delicious fruits and roots. When the guards reported the matter to Sugriva, he told Rama, "I believe Sita has been found. Otherwise, never would Angada's group return late and raid my grove," and he told the guards "Don't oppose them. Let them have their fill."

When the group's hunger was satisfied, they returned back to Sugriva and told him the news. Hanuman showed Rama Sita's jewelry.

Yuddha Kand:

As Ravana was not prepared to give up Sita so easily, Rama had to fight him. He praised Hanuman. To cross the sea, the Vanaras built a bridge. Soon, tens of millions of Vanaras were heading towards Lanka.

Ravana was also planning for war. He called all his brothers and generals. Everyone except Vibhishana supported war. Ravana shunned Vibhishana. Foreseeing nothing but destruction fo Ravana, Vibhishana joined Rama. Ravana sent spies to assess Rama's army. Hovewer, Vibhishana discovered them. The Vanaras beat them up and sent them back.

Sugriva killed Praghasa who was literally eating all the Vanara troops. Nila killed Nikhumba and Nala blinded Pratapana. With his flaming arrows, Rama killed Yajnashastru, Mahapaarshwa, Mahodara, Vajradamshtra, Shuka, and Sarana. Indrajit became invisible and bound Rama and Lakshmana with snake-like arrows. Just then, Garuda (the mortal enemy of snakes) arrived and the snake-like arrows fled and Rama and Lakshmana revived. Hanuman - who was gaurding the West - killed Dhoomraksha. Angada slayed Vajradamshtra. Hanuman killed Akampana and Nila killed Prahasta. Finally, Kumbhakarna appeared and wreaked havoc on the field. He killed a large number of Vanaras and bears. Kumbhakarna captured Sugriva, but he escaped. Rama killed Kubhakarna with the Aindrasthra (mystic missile of Indra, king of the gods). Rama, Lakshmana, and the Vanaras killed Ravana's sons.

Finally, Rama invoked the Aindrasthra and killed Ravana. Sita was restored. The fourteen years of Rama's exile were also completed. Then, Rama was coronated and justly ruled the righteous citizens of Ayodhya.

Uttara Kand:

Later, Rama heard that doubt began to arise in the citizens whether Sita was pure or not. So, he had to send her away. Rama was extremely sorrowful on doing that. In due time, Sita gave birth to Lava and Kusha.

One day, Yama (god of death) visited Rama. He said that anyone who overhears his conversation has to die. The ill-tempered sage, Durvasa appeared at the same time. He said he wanted to see Rama. Unfortunately, Lakshmana interrupted Rama's conversation and died.

The gods told Rama that he actually was Vishnu (the protector) incarnate and Sita was Lakshmi incarnate. So, one day, from a crack in the ground; Mother Earth appeared on a throne and took Sita with her. At that moment, Rama and all the citizens willingly ascended bodily to heaven.