Ramayana – An Epic That Inspires Inclusion

 

 

 

 

This year a theme of International Women’s Day has been #inspireinclusion. While the world celebrates this theme a fresh in current times, it’s interesting that it is deeply rooted in our ancient literature. Ramayana, the first epic poem, also celebrates this theme. Ramayana, as the name suggests, is a story of journey of Rama. Rama is celebrated as a perfect man. At the same time, his story includes many female characters that are part of his journey.

 

The first section of Ramayana is Balakanda. It starts with description of city of Ayodhya and birth story of Rama. The most prominent episode in the middle of Balakanda is Rama protecting the fire sacrifice of sage Vishwamitra. A journey of valor of Rama ushers in during his journey with sage Vishwamitra. During this journey Rama meets to two different women, one inspires a valor, the other one inspires an acceptance.

 

 

 

Before reaching the place of fire sacrifice of sage Vishwamitra, Siddhashrama, Rama has an encounter with Tataka. This encounter is a test of valor of Rama. Rama is hesitant to kill a woman but sage Vishwamitra inspires him to perform his duty penetrating his gender biased perception. This sense of duty makes Rama a true leader. After the fire sacrifice attains success, sage Vishwamitra takes two brothers Rama and Lakshmana to Mithila. During this journey, they come across an ashram. When Rama curiously asks sage Vishwamitra why this ashram looks forlorn, the sage tells him a story of Devi Ahalya and Sage Gautam. When Rama touches the feet of Devi Ahalya as instructed by sage Vishwamitra, she feels awaken and the life comes back to her. A transformation of Devi Ahalya is also a lesson to Rama about an importance of acceptance. If we throw a glace at a life journey of Rama, we realize that he takes this lesson along and shows acceptance at various junctures. His acceptance, be it to vanara king Sugriva along with his army or to the people of Ayodhya, makes him a true leader.

 

The second section of Ramayana is Ayodhyakanda. It brings a new turn in the journey of Rama, making him leave Ayodhya and proceed to the forest. This turn in the journey of Rama comes because of perceptions, emotions and actions of two women – Manthara and Kaikeyi. If we throw a glance at a life journey of Rama, we realize that during his exile Rama has been able achieve many impossible feats that encompass his birth place that is city of Ayodhya and impact the whole Bharatvarsha. As a result of perceptions, emotions and actions of two women, Rama performs titiksha – forbearance.

 

He lives his kingdom and starts his journey from north side of Bharatvarsha to southern side. This forbearance raises him to extraordinary character being revered in the entire Bharatvarsha. This section ends with a dialogue between two women – Seeta and Anusuya. At the juncture of Chitrakuta and the forest of Dandaka, Rama, Lakshman and Seeta visit ashram of sage Atri and sati Anusuya. Seeta’s meeting with sati Anasuya and their following discussion is a crucial point of a story of Ramayana. It prepares Seeta for her journey with Rama ahead. Herein after, a story of Ramayana has two parallels, a valor of Rama and a forbearance of his consort, Seeta.

 

The third section of Ramayana is Aranyakanda. In this section, Rama has an encounter with Shurpankha. This encounter is a test of Dam – a control over the senses. In this section a prominent episode of Ramayana, an abduction of Seeta by Ravana takes place. After an abduction of Seeta, during her search, Rama meets Shabari. Meeting with Shabari is a story of faith and devotion. After this meeting, a search of Seeta gets expediated. Until then Rama has been wandering in search of Seeta along with his brother from forests to forests calling her out in grief.

 

The fourth section of section of Ramayana is Kishkindhakanda. In this section, Rama forges a friendship with vanara king Sugriva. Sugriva in turn helps in search of Seeta. As a result, Hanuman and other proceed in search of Seeta. When a timeline given to them by their king get exceeded and they get exhausted, they take a refuge of an ascetic woman, Swayamprabha and receive her hospitality. In the earlier section as Rama’s meeting with Shabari brings him to the end of his loneliness and he finds new alliance, in this section meeting with Swayamprabha is an end of directionless expedition of vanara and a beginning of dedicated expedition of Hanuman in a right direction.

  

The fifth section of Ramayana is Sundarakanda. In this section, a story tells us about many women in the city of Lanka. They are initially described as deformed and dangerous. However, as a story progresses, we realise they are in reality, beautiful in their hearts. In the beginning of the section, Hanuman encounters with Lankini. It is interesting that the city of Lanka is guarded by a woman. She eventually not just allows Hanuman to enter the city but also foresees the downfall of the city.

 

The sixth section of Ramayana is Yuddhakanda. In this section there is a description of a war fought for a love of a woman against a lust for a woman. In the beginning of this section, through a discussion in the court of Ravana we meet an interesting woman. Her name is Punjiksthala who has been forced upon by Ravana. She runs to the creator for her rescue from Ravana and then the creator curses Ravana that if he forces himself upon any woman hence after, his head will be cut into pieces. She is a woman who ensures that other women should not share the same sufferings and pains. She protects other women from Ravana with the curse. And because this curse, we see Seeta still sitting in the Ashoka Garden and waiting for Rama. Ravana has never been able to force himself upon her; not out of his love but out of his fear. It sets a purpose for a rescue of Seeta.

 

 

 

 

In our everyday life we come across many women. Each of the women has a story. How many times do we take a time to listen to their stories, include them as a part of our life and take an inspiration from them and in turn inspire them for their journey ahead. A story of Ramayana inspires us to do that. In a story of Ramayana, we see that women inspire Rama to build his character and in turn they also get inspired. An inclusion of a woman is a common theme of Ramayana. We need a fresh perspective to embrace it and to celebrate it to build a better inclusive world for tomorrow. An overview of our ancient literature always inspires us for a better future.

 

 

 

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