The king had no desire to exile Ram. But long ago, Kaikeyi had saved his life and he had promised her that she could ask of him two wishes, which he would grant, no matter what. Kaikeyi used this promise to force him to exile Ram.

Ram left for the forest. With him went Sita his wife, and his younger brother Lakshman.

Bharat was furious with his mother for what she had done. He followed Ram into the forest and begged him to return, but Ram refused, saying that he must honour his father's word. Bharat returned sadly to Ayodhya. King Dasaratha, broken-hearted at what he had been forced to do, died of grief.

Bharat refused to be king and ruled Ayodhya in Ram's name. He never sat on the throne, but put there instead a pair of Ram's wooden slippers, symbolic of the fact that Ram was the true king of Ayodhya.

Ram, Sita and Lakshman lived in the forest for many years. One morning, a rakshasni, a female demon, called Surpanakha saw Ram, and fell in love with him. She begged him to marry her. Ram refused, saying he was already married. She then asked Lakshman, who also refused. Surpanakha threatened to eat Sita if neither of the brothers married her. In anger, Lakshman cut off her nose and her ears.

Furious, Surpanakha went to her brother Ravan for help. Ravan was a great and powerful demon, and ruler of the golden city of Lanka. He had 10 heads and 20 arms, and had been granted a boon by the gods - that neither god nor demon could kill him.

Diwali Stories 

Ram, Prince of Kosala, contd...
1   2   3   4   5  

Kali Destroys Evil