Pages from the Ramayana
Tales of Rama's Journey
Images from the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, of the Smithsonian Institution
A nice summary of an epic story. Design adapted from an article by CoDrops
Images from the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, of the Smithsonian Institution
A nice summary of an epic story. Design adapted from an article by CoDrops
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Rama
breaks
a Bow
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To prove his worthiness as suitor to Sita, Rama tries to string the bow of King Janaka. It breaks. Rama marries Sita anyway.
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Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita in exile
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Rama's Journey
Rama, Rams's brother Lakshmana, and Rama's wife Sita, exiled for 14 years, build a hut in the forest.
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Rama and Lakshmana encounter a demoness
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Rama and Lakshmana encounter the demoness Tataka in the forest. Tanaka does not welcome intruders into her domain.
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Tataka is defeated
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Tataka falls, wounded by a magic arrow. Rama must shoot again to finish his grim task.
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Ravana
the demon
king
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Ravana, the evil king of a demon empire, with ten heads and 20 arms, desires Sita, and tricks Rama and Lakshmana into leavng Sita unguarded.
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Ravana
fights
Jatayu
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Ravana kidnaps Sita and flies to his capitol, Lanka. Jatayu, the great Eagle, attempts a rescue midway, but Ravana cuts off Jatayu's wings, and Jataya falls to his death.
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Rama
rescues
Sita
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Rama, joined by the monkey warrior Hanuman, leads a force to rescue Sita from Ravana. Ravana and his demon warriors put up a fight.
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Hanuman brings medicine
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Ravana's soldiers nearly defeat Rama, and seriously wound Lakshmana. Hanuman magically grows huge, flies to Kailasa Mountain for medicinal herbs, and ends up returning with the entire mountain.
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The end
of Ravana
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Despite using nearly-unsurmountable magic weapons, Ravana is undone by Rama. Ravana had been protected from death from any beings except humans and monkeys, which he thought weak. Rama is Vishnu, born in human form to defeat Ravana.
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Rama rules
with wisdom
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Rama and Sita return to Ayodhya. Rama does not know whether to trust Sita's fidelity. Sita proves her truthfulness but in the process is swallowed by mother Earth.