Ramayana

Lord Vishnu decided to reincarnate as King Dasaratha's son Rama so he could kill the Rakshasa Ravana of Lanka.

Dasaratha soon had four sons, Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrugana. The princes grew up with the best of training and knowledge that befitted their royal stature.

Rama and Lakshmana went to Sita's Swayamwara. King Janaka had stipulated that only a man who could lift Shiva's bow would marry Sita. Rama could lift and break the bow. Rama won the hand of the Sita in marriage.

Years later, Dasaratha decided to crown Rama as king. But Queen Kaikeyi's mind was poisoned against Rama. She demanded Bharata be made King and Rama be banished to the forest for fourteen years.

Rama, Sita and Lakshmana set off to the forest. Dasaratha died in grief. Bharata refused the throne.

For years Rama, Lakshmana and Sita wandered through the forest. When Ravana heard of Sita's beauty he decided to kidnap her. He asked another Rakshasa to take the form of a golden deer. Sita was enchanted by the deer and wanted it. Lakshmana stood guard over Sita while Rama went in pursuit.

Suddenly they seemed to hear Rama lamenting. Sita forced Lakshmana to leave her and go to Rama's aid. When Sita was alone, Ravana carried her away by force. Jatayu, a vulture, tried to intercept, but failed.

Meanwhile Rama and Lakshmana had discovered the deer's true identity. They hurried back to their hut only to find Sita missing. In their frenzied search, they found Jatayu who told them about Ravana.

The distressed brothers travelled southwards when they met Sugreeva and Hanuman. When Hanuman heard their story, he told them that Vaali had driven King Sugreeva of Kishkinda out of his kingdom. If Rama helped kill Vaali, Sugreeva would help find Sita. Rama agreed and killed Vaali.

In gratitude Sugreeva sent his monkey army to all corners of the world to search for Sita. Hanuman and others went southwards towards Lanka. Only Hanuman could cross the ocean to reach Lanka.

After reaching Lanka, he reduced himself till he was just a few inches tall. Unnoticed, he searched for Sita and found her pining for Rama in the Ashoka garden. Sita wanted Rama to rescue her soon.

Hanuman then destroyed the garden and attracted attention to himself. He let Ravana's son Indrajeet capture him, as he wanted to deliver Rama's words of warning to Ravana personally. The enraged Ravana set fire to Hanuman's tail. Hanuman used his tail to set fire to all of Lanka. He then flew back to Rama.

Sugreeva's entire army of monkeys and bears marched southwards to the seashore. Here a bridge was built to span the sea to Lanka.

A terrible war followed. Indrajeet inflicted a lethal wound on Lakshmana. Hanuman flew to the Himalayas and found the valuable Sanjeevani herb to bring Lakshmana back to life. Lakshmana recovered and killed Indrajeet. Almost all the rakshasas died. Finally Rama killed Ravana.