When Ravan heard Surpanakha's story he was furious. He decided to carry off Sita. But he could only do this by trickery. He enlisted the help of another demon called Marich.

Marich turned himself into a golden deer and allowed Sita to see him in the forest. Sita was enchanted by the beauty of the deer. She begged Ram to catch the deer for her so that she could keep it as a pet. Ram followed the deer deep into the forest. When he did not return for a long time, Sita sent Lakshman to look for him. As soon as Sita was alone, Ravan appeared, but disguised as a holy man begging for food. When Sita stepped out of her hut to give him the food, Ravan assumed his true form, and grabbing her, put her into his flying chariot and carried her off to Lanka.

Ram and Lakshman came back, and found Sita gone. They learnt from the birds and animals that Sita had been carried off by Ravan.

Ram and Lakshman set off to find Sita. On the way they were helped by all the animals of the forest, particularly the bears and the monkeys. Among the monkeys, Hanuman became Ram's strongest ally and closest friend. Hanuman was not an ordinary monkey - he was the son of the Wind, and had the power to fly over mountains and across oceans.

It was Hanuman who finally found Sita, imprisoned in one of Ravan's beautiful gardens, and guarded by demons. Hanuman managed to whisper in Sita's ear that Ram was looking for her, and now that they knew where she was, Ram and his friends would be here soon to rescue her.

Diwali Stories 

Ram, Prince of Kosala, contd...
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Kali Destroys Evil