This is the story of RAMA and how he fought the ten-headed demon, RAVANA. One of the greater Gods had promised RAVANA that he could not be killed by any god or demon. Now RAVANA had become a real pest to the greater Gods and to the holy men because he knew none of them could harm him - after all, he was a demon.
What could any of them do about RAVANA? They came to the Great God, VISHNU, for help. VISHNU had a plan.
VISHNU knew that RAVANA did not fear men or monkeys, and he hadn't asked to be kept safe from them. So VISHNU'S plan was to come to earth Himself as a man. He asked the other Gods - the Sun and Wind and Lightning and Fire Gods - to be born as monkeys.
VISHNU shrank his Spirit and entered a small jar of nectar.
At that time, there was a great king, DASARATHA, who was sad that none of his three wives had had any children. He prayed for sons.
Answering his prayer, the Fire God gave a small jar of nectar to the queens to drink, for the nectar would give them sons. The oldest Queen bore RAMA, the second Queen bore LAKSHMANA and a twin brother, and the third Queen, KAIKA, bore BHARATA.
As sons of the King, it was the boys' duty to be soldiers. To teach them what they had to know to be soldiers and princes, the King chose a great holy man. And as he watched them, the old King became most deeply fond of his oldest son, RAMA.
Meanwhile, a baby girl had been born in King RAVANA's own palace. She was really the God VISHNU'S wife, LAKSHMI. RAVANA had learned that this baby was born to kill him, so he had the baby thrown into the sea. But the sea threw her up on the dry land where another King found her. He adopted her, named her SITA and loved her as his own daughter.
Now this King had the Great God SIVA'S bow in his palace. It was so heavy that even a thousand strong soldiers could not move it.
One day he saw SITA move the bow with her little finger. Right then, he decided that the man who could lift the bow would marry SITA.
Meanwhile, RAMA'S skill with his bow and arrow had become famous. One day, a great holy man came to RAMA'S father and asked for RAMA to come to kill the demons who were making it impossible for him to worship. RAMA and LAKSHMANA, his favorite brother, set out after him to help.
In the forest, RAMA killed the demon who had been bothering the holy man
The holy man was so pleased that he taught RAMA and LAKSHMANA how to use some of the weapons the Gods themselves use, such as fire and water.
One day, the holy man started his worship. But two demons who were trying to upset the worship threw blood, meat and bones into the sacred fire. RAMA killed one with his new arrow of fire and threw the other over the seven seas with his new wind-arrow.
The old King then remembered that when he was young, he had killed another young man by mistake. The dead youth's parents had cursed him, saying that he would also die of sorrow for his own son. In sorrow for RAMA, the old King died.
BHARATA, who was away at his uncle's palace, did not know of all this. When he returned, he was very angry at his mother, KAIKA. He refused to be crowned King.
BHARATA went to the forest and begged RAMA to come back. RAMA gently refused. RAMA told his brother that everyone should follow the path of truth and never go back on his word. Everyone must try his best to lead an ideal life.
BHARATA put RAMA'S sandals on the throne and took a vow that he would not enter the Kingdom till RAMA came back. He ruled in place of RAMA, not from the King's palace, but from a hut on the outskirts of the city.
RAMA traveled South and settled on the banks of the River Godavari. The demon sister of RAVANA fell in love with the handsome RAMA.
The demon sister took the shape of a pretty girl and tried to lead RAMA away.
But LAKSHMANA saw who she really was and punished her by cutting off her nose and ears.
RAVANA was furious! He wanted revenge for this insult to his sister. He decided to kidnap SITA, even though he had been warned not to want someone else's wife. RAVANA did not pay any attention to this warning.
But RAVANA began to be afraid of RAMA'S strength. He sent a demon in the form of a golden deer to lead RAMA away. SITA saw the beautiful deer and wanted RAMA to capture it for a pet. RAMA went after it.
The deer led RAMA far away. RAMA thought it was a trick, so he shot at the deer. It at once changed back into a demon and imitated RAMA'S voice, crying out, "Oh! SITA! Oh! LAKSHMANA!"
Hearing the voice, SITA thought RAMA was in danger. She asked LAKSHMANA to go help him. He said that it was only demon-magic. SITA said some angry words to him. LAKSHMANA'S feelings were hurt, so he left.
RAVANA, pretending to be a holy man, appeared and asked for an offering.
When SITA stepped close, she saw that it was the fierce RAVANA. She fainted. RAVANA did not dare touch her because of an old curse on him that he would break his ten heads to bits if he touched a pure woman. So he broke away the piece of ground she was lying on and carri