ARANYA KANDAM

Aranya Kandam is the book of the forest. The forest life of Rama with Sita and Lakshmana, his constant companion are men tioned here . The kidnapping of Sita by the demon king Ravana also follows.

With a broad smile on the face Rama put it to Surpanakha that he had his spouse and that she might extend her proposal to Lakshmana who was single. The lust pecked demoness then courted the younger brother paying no heed to decorum. But his rebuff was, "I am but his younger brother attending on him as a servant. The paragon of beauty that you are, court him again. You are likely to win his hand." The infatuated intruder mistook this derision for praise. She further hit upon a plan to make her offer effective. If she did away with that slim creature of Sita, her claim on Rama would become paramount. So she pounced on her with a fatal design. But Lakshmana was quick enough to grasp the gravity of the situation. He sprang on the sinister Surpanakha and snipped off her nose and ears, instead of killing her in defense of Sita. As the wounded woman was screaming in agony and hastening back to her quarters the shrill reverberation in the forest was fading away. Surpanakha related her heart rending tale to Khara. Two brothers together with a woman have transgressed into the forest. It was because of that woman that the domiciled sister of Kahara was molested and mutilated. In revenge she would have them slain and would drink their blood. Khara got infuriated over the mishap. He ordered fourteen of his trained followers to go and slay the impudent intruders. Escorted by Surpanakha they hastened to the scene of accident and assailed the offenders. Rama remonstrated with them about the woman's misbehavior. He advised the demons to return in peace. But they proved themselves heedless. When action became necessary he exterminated them leaving the culprit woman to herself. She flew again to Khara and related the fate of his able fighters. Khara became enraged. He called his brother Dushana and the captain Trisira to take arms. The huge army marched under their leadership.

Rama apprehended danger. He asked Lakshmana to take Sita into a cave nearby and protect her. Bow in hand he stood valiant. Wave after wave of the demon forces charged against Rama from all directions. But like moths perishing in a blazing flame the on- rushing hosts were being slain by the shafts cealessly darting form Rama's bow. Along with the multitude Dushana fell slain. Trisira also met with the same fate. Lastly a duel ensues between Khara and Rama. This last demon also is done to death. A miracle is noticed in Rama's action. Akampana was the solitary soldier who escaped annihilation at the hands of Rama. He speeded on to Lanka, sought the audience of the king Ravana and hesitatingly accosted, "The Janasthan at Dandaka is completely destroyed." He hesitated because it is dangerous to oneself to carry bad news to tyrants. Ravana flared up and was at the point of striking him dead. Akampana trembled and begged that he would relate the tragedy if protection to him was assured. "Who are the gods that dared to destroy my domain? I shall go and do away with them just now," shouted the demon king. "Lord, gods dread you. The aggressor is Rama, the son of Dasaratha. With his angel- like wife Sita and warrior brother Lakshmana he is encamped at Panchavathi. This Rama as single- handed killed the fourteen thousand soldiers of Janasthana. He also slew Khara, Dushana and Trisira. The cantonment is gone root and branch." "I shall trample these worms of men to death and return" roared Ravana and rose enraged.

Akampana pacified him and explained in detail the strength and courage of Rama. There was only one way of vanquishing him. He was inordinately fond of his wife, the last word on beauty. If she was somehow stolen away, the man would die of dotage. Going on a battle would prove futile. The tyrant Ravana was a slave to lust. When that weak point in him was kindled he started admiring Akampana's wisdom. The loss of Khara and his hosts was nothing compared to the prospects of gaining one more beautiful wife. Ravana flew northward in his flying chariot to the dwelling of Mareecha who received him with due honour. Now this was the demon who was in the habit of defiling the Yajna of Vishwamithra and who was thrown into the mid sea by the arrow of the then lad Rama. Since then he had become reformed. He thanked Ravana his king for condescending to come to him. He submitted he was at disposal of the king. Ravana viewed Mareecha as his confident friend. So he related the carnage perpetrated by Rama to his Janasthana at Dandaka. In revenge for his atrocity he has plotted to steal away Sita. Mareecha was requested to play his part by assuming the form of a beautiful deer and enticing Rama and Lakshmana away from their abode. Mareecha was fully aware of Rama's prowess. So he dissuaded Ravana from his suicidal enterprise. Some foe in the guise of a friend had ill-advised him to resort to this seemingly easy course. Ravana had many beautiful wives and a vast empire to enjoy. He was advised to be contented with them. The advice was well received and he returned to Lanka and resumed his regime.


Within a few days the disfigured Surpanakha presented herself at the court of Ravana and poured out her pitiful plight. The crafty woman twisted facts to suit her evil design. Eloquently she described the ethereal charm and loveliness of Sita. When Surpankha tried to carry her off as a prize to her affectionate brother, the monarch of Lanka, Lakshmana sprang like an arrow and chopped off her nose and ears. Brother Khara and his valiant army poured in to punish the offender. But Rama, the husband of Sita did, all alone, the whole to death. It was Ravana's duty to avenge the destruction of his cantonment at Dandaka, to regain the honour of the race and to humiliate Rama. All these could be achieved at a stroke if Ravana somehow carried away Sita, the source of joy to Rama. Ravana abruptly dissolved his council of ministers. He sat by himself and cogitated instead of consulting the ministers on these pubic issues. The fact was the lust in him was artfully roused to its height. He resumed the same plot now irrevocably. Somehow Sita should be stolen and Rama befooled. Burning with passion, Ravana flew again in his flying chariot to Mareecha, who, though surprised at his King's quick revisit, received him with loyal reverence. Ravana reintroduced his sinister plot with additional points in support of it. His skilful statement was, "I am in a dilemma now. My sister Surpanakha has been mutilated, disfigured and disgraced by Rama. He has killed my brothers Kahara, Dushana and Trisira. He has destroyed my army at Dandaka. This vagabond is dressed like an ascetic but he indulges in sense pleasures. He embodies adharma. I am no king of Lanka if I do not avenge the wrongs he has done to my sister and to my race. It is my duty to humiliate and punish Rama. I have decided to carry away his wife. I beseech you for help. Casting spell on all eyes you should assume the form of a golden deer with silver spots. In that form you frolic and frisk about the abode of Sita. She is bound to ask her husband to catch the deer for her. You manage to draw the brothers far away. While they are pursuing the deer I shall carry off Sita left alone. The loss of the wife will make Rama languish. I shall then kill him and avenge the harm done to us."

Mareecha was perplexed. He saw into the hollowness of this dangerous scheme. Still he picked up courage and put it to Ravana, "O King I am sorry for the mishaps you have met with. But I should neither flatter nor misguide you. I present the bare truth to you. Rama is the embodiment of valour and righteousness. Of his own accord he has come into the forest in order to save his father from the guilt of falsehood. By courting his enemity you are paving the way for your own destruction and that of your people. It seems as Sita is born to bring about your ruin. You will be burnt to ashes if you violate her chastity. If you are opposed to Rama, fight with him openly. Do not pursue a fraudulent path and invite me to be a party to it, death trap as it were." But Ravana very sternly told Mareecha that he has not come there to seek advice from him. The unalterable decision is already made and it was below his dignity to enter in duel with the act of deceiving and dethroning Rama. He told that he would disgrace Rama by stealing away his wife. Ravana ordered Mareecha to transform him to a pretty deer and delude Rama. He also instructed that if Mareecha fails to follow his ideas, he will be even killed.