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.

It became evident that Rama was not going to cut short the period of his asceticism. Bharatha returned disappointed to Ayodhya. Rama was not happy over his contact with the sorrowful Bharatha and his retinue. People of Ayodhya were likely to go to Chitrakuta now and then. The parental injunction to Rama was to live in Dandakaranya. He could meet with many Rishis in that forest. For all these reasons he vacated Chitrakuta and moved southward. The hermitage of the famous Rishi Atri was resorted to by Rama, Sita and Lakshmana. The reception given to them by the rishi verged on veneration for he knew that the advent of these distinguished visitors was to fulfil a great cosmic function. The aged Anusya was the wife of Atri. Both the husband and wife were stalwart spritual figures. The wife Anasuya in particular is to this day the object of adoration. She was the embodiment of the feminine saintly perfection. This holy couple treated the new comers as their own. The affinity that Anasuya evinced towards Sita was spontaneous. It was like a spiritual mother entertaining a spiritual daughter! This unique contact and experience of Sita was impossible in palaces. Rama conversed many sacred things with the Sage. His movements in the forest were also discussed. This meeting was very significant in the forest life of Rama. Several were the forest retreats of the holy men visited by Rama in the course of his ramble. He was given befitting reception everywhere. The anchorites recognized the monarch in him. In the forest he was the uncrowned King. The holy men sought his protection against the monsters that intruded on them occasionally. While assuring them safety, Rama was delighted to see them engrossed in pursuits divine.

While Rama, Sita and Lakshmana were wending their way through a dense forest, a huge demon pounced on them and santched away Sita. Placing her on his shoulders he challenged the right of the two young ascetics owning a damsel. He threatened to kill them and take the young woman as wife. The brothers replied with a shower of arrows which made him bleed profusely. Now placing the woman on the ground, the demon lifted the warriors to his shoulders and ran headlong into the forest. Each brother cut an arm of the demon and got themselves released thereby. But however much they discharged arrows on him, he woud not die mutilated though he was. "This demon has won a boon not to die of weapons. So let us dig a pit and bury him alive in it" said Rama to Lakshmana. When they did so the spell of a curse snapped and Gandharava emerged from the mound of flesh falling into the pit. Before ascending into heaven the celestial spoke: "Adoration to you Rama. Due to a curse I was till now Viradha, the weapon proof Rakshasa hurting human beings. I was told when cursed that Dasaratha Rama's touch would give me emancipation. Glory to you for this merciful act. Rama, be pleased to visit the Asrama of the ascetic Sarabhanga not far from here." And this request was responded to.

The reunited three were now moving towards the abode of Sarabhanga. That sage had lived an exalted earthly life. His karma was exhausted. As Rama was nearing the Asrama, he could see the effulgent Indra and his resplendent retinue withdrawing from the Asrama and ascending into heaven. Rama, his brother and Sita approached the rishi and reverently paid their homage to him. The rishi said, "Come, dear children, I am delighted to see you, Indra came here just now to escort me to the Supreme abode. I told him to tarry for a while so that I could have a vision of Rama with my physical eye before I dropped the body. He approved of the idea; but he would not wait because he said this was not the time for him to meet you Rama. He would do so after you have successfully completed your earthy exploits. Rama, you please meet the sage Suteekshna who will furnish you with all particulars for your residence. The homa fire is ablaze. With your vision in mind I cast off the perishable body into the fire." This he did emerged in a resplendent body. Saluting Rama he ascended into the beyond after the wont of the perfected ones.


Subsequently ascetics practicing austerities of various types gathered before Rama and submitted that they were teased, harassed and hurt by rakshasas infesting in those forests. They pleaded that they be protected by this wielder of weapon. Rama willingly agreed. "I came into the woods in order to fulfill my father's pledge. In addition to it the duty of protecting the good has fallen to my lot. Twice blessed I am. For, I have the privilege of serving the father and the holy men." Thus did he respond to the request. In the company of a few rishis Rama directed his steps towards the ashrama of Suteekshna. That area was the heaven of peace and benediction. Rama introduced himself to the venerable rishi and paid homage to him falling at his feet. The holy man lifted him and embraced. He said that he had heard of Rama's arrival at Chitrakuta and subsequently of his arrival at Dandaka forest also. Advanced though he was in age he had prolonged his bodily life solely for the sight of Rama. Though the Dandaka region abounded with Asramas it was desolate without a king. In Rama's arrival that need had been fulfilled. When the rishi made his observation in this strain the man in exile inderstood what the rishi expected of him. In silences he resolved to discharge his duty. The rishi suggested him to choose one after the other of the Asramas in that locality for his abode. It was with mutual reverence and newly charged vigour that Rama took leave of the aged Sage. In accordance with this arrangement Rama lived repeatedly in turn for varying periods in all of the Asramas. Absorption in spiritual life in the company of the holy ones made him forget the passage of time. Ten years rolled away like a trice.

Rama's visit to the hermitage of Agastya was consequential. The spiritual atmosphere in that place was remarkably superb. The sanctums dedicated to several Deities indicated the one manifesting as the many. The orderliness in the Asrama bespoke good administration. The ampe supply of edible roots and fruits suggested affluence unaided by toil. Audience with the Rishi by appointment revealed regularity of the daily life. The large number of inmates proved the enormousness of the institution. In the august presence of Sage Agastya, the visiting Rama prostrated in reverence. The Sage lifted him up and embraced in reverence. Mutual adoration became unparalleled. In the way of introducing the visitor to the inmates of the Asrama, the Sage made a significant statement in regard to Rama: "He is the embodiment of Dharma; he is the invincible wielder of weapons; he is adorable; his form is to be mediated on; his name is to be repeated constantly." And this is the message of the Rishis of that time to posterity. Then Agastya handed over to Rama certain celestial weapons which were of immense use for the protection of the good and the destruction of the wicked. The sage knew this was Rama's mission in life. So the armaments were providentially forthcoming to him. He was then directed to reside at Panchavati on the banks of the majestic river Godavari.

Reaching Panchavati, Rama found it more beautiful than described by Sage Agastya. The locality was charming; sublime was the sylvan setting; superb were the natural amenities; birds sang in mellow symphony; beasts loitered in friendliness. All the aspects of nature were as though conjointly inducing man to commune with the Maker. In a suitable spot, in this heaven on earth, Lakshmana singly erected a neat, lovely and spacious hut of mud walls and leafy roof. Life in that Asrama was spent in thoughts and talks on matters super mundane and elevating. Dandaka forest was the northern frontier of the domain of Ravana, the king of Lanka. He had posted his cousins Khara and Dushana to be in charge of the cantonement. Their sister Surpanakha took advantage of the camp and freely roamed in that forest. She was fairly advanced in age and rather ugly in appearance. But lust was rampant in her. During a morning stroll Surpanakha chanced to sight the spendidly beautiful Rama and Lakshmana. Her lust was roused upforthwith. In the garb of the ascetics, the demoness found the virile youths living with an angel - like young woman. That gave her clue to hatch her passionate design. She enquired as to who they were. Rama answered courteously giving the details about himself, Sita and Lakshmana. In turn he desired to know who the visitor was. Surpanakha announced who she was and desired that Raman abandoned the loathsome and lean Sita and chose her to wife. They would then delightfully range the Dandaka forest.