Week 7 Reading Diary B: Sita's banishment

Recap from section A. Rama cuts of Ravana’s heads but they grow back. Rama is eventually able to slay Ravana. After Ravana’s death, Shuka brings a from Ravana to Rama. He tells Rama to take Sita back. Hanuman is then sent to tell Sita of the victory! When Hanuman finds Sita, she is dressed in royal garments. Rama orders Vibhishana to bring her to the assembly. Agni testifies to her innocence.

Ramas exile is almost up so he sends word with Hanuman to Bharata to announce their arrival. Bharata weeps tears of joy. After 10,000 years Sita becomes pregnant. After hearing of gossip, that people cannot believe Rama allowed Sita back in his house after she lived with Ravana. He tells Lakshmana to take Sita to the Ganges and abandon her there. Sumantra believes the banishment is a result of karma.

Sita is left on the shore of the Ganges. Once Valmiki takes her into his hermitage, she gives birth to her two sons, Kusha and Lava. Valmiki teaches the boys the song of Ramayana and has them sing a part of it every day at Rama’s public festival. Rama has a golden statue standing in Sita’s place. Once a day the boys sing a part of the Ramayana and the people are enchanted by it. Rama realizes the boys are his sons, Valmiki tells him that Sita has been living with him for twelve years.  Sita goes to Rama and requests to prove her innocence. Mother earth takes Sita and vanishes below ground. Rama rules for a thousand more years after her disappearance. Laksmana dies. Then Rama gives Hanuman the ring that bears his name. He then goes to the Sarayu river and jumps in.

(Screen shot: Rama jumping in river)