Week 5 Story: Rama saves Sita

Sita and Rama in the forest. source: Flickr

Hanuman was fresh on the trail.  He moved swiftly and silently like a shadow jumping on rooftops and sneeking through alley ways. He was seeking out Sita, Rama's wife, who had been stolen by Ravana a little while ago when Rama was out hunting.  She was being held in the great city of Lanka, which Ravana had ruled over for quite some time.   Hanuman had searched nearly all of the city over the past few weeks but had still not found Sita.  Then it occurred to Hanuman that he hadn't checked any of the gardens yet because he figured they would hold her away somewhere unseen.  he raced up to Ravana's personal garden and lo and behold, there was Sita sitting under a great tree in the middle of the garden.   Hanuman rushed over to speak with her and see if she was alright.  She told him to go and tell Rama that she is alright but that Rama must come get her, for no other man has a right to touch her.  Hanuman takes a piece of her jewelry as a token for Rama and left.

On his way out of the city, Hanuman is discovered by one of Ravana's sons and he is captured.  Ravana wants to make an example of Hanuman, so he sets his tail on fire and parades him through the streets.  This doesn't go as planned however, Sita prays to the Fire to leave Hanuman unharmed from the flames and it works.  Hanuman becomes impervious to the flame and breaks free of his bonds.  He runs through the streets lighting the city ablaze.  He makes one last check on Sita to make sure she was unharmed and leaves the city on fire.

Once he hears the news, Rama starts to make plans to attack Lanka and take back Sita.  He and Hanuman assemble a massive monkey army and lay siege to Lanka.  It doesn't take long for Lanka to fall when up against Rama's superior force.  He defeats Ravana and finds Sita in the garden where she had been staying for some time.  He embraces his wife and is overjoyed to have her finally return to him.  It was then that one of Rama's generals asks Rama what he is to do with Sita now that he has defended his honor.  Rama became angered at the question for in Rama's mind, there was only one place for Sita, and that was at his side as his queen.  He knocked back the general and exclaimed for all to hear that Sita was his wife and she shall remain by his side forever.

Author's Note:  I decided to tell the story from Hanuman finding Sita until Rama reunites with her.  I changed how Rama reacts to finding Sita because I think the actual story is kind of lame making Sita prove her innocence and then banishing her later.  I think this ending more aligns with modern sensibilities and makes more sense to me.

Bibliography: Sita Sings the Blues, by Nina Paley

Reading Notes: Sita Sings the Blues Part B

Hanuman burning Lanka from Sita Sings the Blues. source: Wikimedia

Sita Sings the Blues, by Nina Paley

Rama is informed by Sita that she is pregnant with his child.  Rama becomes worried that Sita being in his house is tarnishing his reputation and his subjects won't respect him because of her so he kicks her out.  She is taken to the forest and is supposed to be left there.  She meets a teacher there who takes her under his wing.  Sita gives birth to her two sons while living in the forest with the teacher.  The teacher teaches the boys songs praising Rama.  When visiting the forest one day Rama finds the two boys singing his praise.  He finds out who they are wants to bring them back to the palace with him.  He asks Sita to prove her purity to him again to take her back.  She asks to be taken back by mother earth if she is pure, which she is. 

Reading Notes: Sita Sings the Blues Part A

Sita cries a river. source: Wikimedia

Sita Sings the Blues, by Nina Paley

The film intros with Lakshmi rising from the sea listening to a song that is stuck on a loop on the line "a woman like me" implying that it gives her the idea to create a woman like herself.  The narrators start the story by setting up Rama's exile at the request of Kaikeyi.  Rama argues with Sita about her going with him into the forest and she convinces him to let her go with him.  It cuts to a musical number where Sita is singing and Rama slays many Rakshasa.  The narrators then explain how Ravana kidnaps Sita and talks about how he was relatively good outside of this incident.  Ravana's sister begins to convince Ravana to make Sita his wife and to steal her from Rama.  Ravana tells one of his servants to distract Rama by taking the shape of a golden deer while Ravana captures Sita.  Rama goes after the deer and Sita is captured.  Hanuman is introduced and meets Rama to help him find Sita.  Ravana gives Sita an ultimatum to marry him in 2 months or die.  Hanuman finds Sita and relays his findings to Rama.  Rama orders Hanuman to assemble his monkey army so they can march on Lanka.  Rama rescues Sita, but has some reservations about her time in Lanka.  Sita proves her purity by a trial involving a funeral pyre and Rama is convinced to take her back.  Rama and Sita then fly back on a flying chariot.