RAMYANA:
with the MAHBHRATA this is one of the two great epics of INDIAN literature. It
tells the story of RMA and his wife St who is kidnapped by the demon King of Ceylon. With
the help of the Monkey King, Rma eventually slays the demon and rescues his wife whose
loyalty Rma questions. St throws herself on a pyre but the fire GOD, AGNI, refuses to
accept her SACRIFICE and Rma realizes her innocence. After returning to his kingdom and
assuming the throne his people again question St's purity creating doubts which cause Rma
to send her away. She gives birth to twins and asks the earth to swallow her, which it
does, thus finally proving her innocence. Years later Rma recognizes the twins and give
them his kingdom allowing him to return to HEAVEN as VISHNU. The epic, which is around
24,000 stanzas long, dates from approximately the first century although sections of it
are definitely much later and is traditionally ascribed to Vlmki. A version which is far
more overtly religious was produced by Tulasi Das in HINDI which emphasized BHAKTI in the
sixteenth century.
