We are at the end of Ramayana in this post and I am excited to see how the story will end for Rama and Sita.
We pick up in the story to see Rama trying many methods to get across the ocean to Lanka. Finally, the Ocean King rises and listening to Rama's plea, addressed Nala to make a bridge for Rama to cross over. Upon hearing about Rama's power, Ravana was again advised to let Sita go, but he refused. Ravana even tries to convince Sita that Rama is dead before the battle begins.
As Rama's monkeys started their attack, the rakshasas waited till they were strongest: at night. Inderjit, Ravana's son, became invisible and shot many arrows that harmed Rama and Lakshmana and the others. However, Garuda comes to their rescue and was able to save Rama and Lakshmana. Then we learn that the rakshasas were planning to attack again and awoke Kumbhakarna, the most powerful of all the demons. The legend is that each time he awoke, he would eat a huge meal and then go back to sleep. Kumbhakarna was quite powerful but as he was trying to carry Sugriva away, Rama severed his head. Inderjit came back and killed many more in Rama's army. But Hanuman carried an ENTIRE MOUNTAIN of herbs back to the battlefield and was able to heal the slain monkeys. But Inderjit fights back again, only this time Lakshmana is able to kill him. Upset about his son's death, Ravana heads to kill Sita but is asked to instead head to the battlefield. Ravana hits Lakshmana with an arrow and he dies. However, Hanuman again brings medicine to bring Lakshmana back to life. After many arrows, Rama thinks he has killed Ravana. But he knew it was going to be harder than that to kill the King of the Rakshasas. So then he slowly cut Ravanas heads off (he had multiple). His wives and the rakshasas performed Ravana's last rites.
After Ravana's death, Sita is adorned in better clothing and brought a palanquin to take her to Rama. But Rama wanted to make sure she was still "pure" (oof). So she was asked to walk across a path of flames to prove her pureness. Her feet were spotless, even after being burned, so she was considered pure.
As Rama's monkeys started their attack, the rakshasas waited till they were strongest: at night. Inderjit, Ravana's son, became invisible and shot many arrows that harmed Rama and Lakshmana and the others. However, Garuda comes to their rescue and was able to save Rama and Lakshmana. Then we learn that the rakshasas were planning to attack again and awoke Kumbhakarna, the most powerful of all the demons. The legend is that each time he awoke, he would eat a huge meal and then go back to sleep. Kumbhakarna was quite powerful but as he was trying to carry Sugriva away, Rama severed his head. Inderjit came back and killed many more in Rama's army. But Hanuman carried an ENTIRE MOUNTAIN of herbs back to the battlefield and was able to heal the slain monkeys. But Inderjit fights back again, only this time Lakshmana is able to kill him. Upset about his son's death, Ravana heads to kill Sita but is asked to instead head to the battlefield. Ravana hits Lakshmana with an arrow and he dies. However, Hanuman again brings medicine to bring Lakshmana back to life. After many arrows, Rama thinks he has killed Ravana. But he knew it was going to be harder than that to kill the King of the Rakshasas. So then he slowly cut Ravanas heads off (he had multiple). His wives and the rakshasas performed Ravana's last rites.
(Image depicts that battle scene between Ravana and Rama, where Ravana is losing his heads; image provided by Wikimedia Commons)
Rama's exile ended and he returned to Ayodhya, his kingdom, with Sita and Lakshmana and Hanuman. Bharata welcomed his brother and Rama was crowned the king. However, this did not end the turmoils. Time went by, but people still questioned Sita's purity and virtue. She left Rama to go to a hermitage of Valmiki, where she gave birth to two sons, Lava, and Kusha. 16 years later, the sons win a battle and when Rama asks about their mother, they tell him it is Sita. Sita is asked to testify in front of a jury that the boys are Rama's sons. Right afterward, the earth opens a throne and takes Sita. in. The story ends with Rama leaving the kingdom in a path of worship.
Bibliography: Public Domain Edition
Authors: M. Dutt, R. Dutt, Gould, Griffith, Hodgson, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Oman, Richardson, and Ryder.
Authors: M. Dutt, R. Dutt, Gould, Griffith, Hodgson, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Oman, Richardson, and Ryder.
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