Unsung Chronicles:
Ramayana
through my eyes
Welcome to the Unsung Chronicles of Ramayana! I am Prashasti Acharya and I have always viewd Ramayana from a different lens.
Being a classical dancer in 2025, playing different roles in every act I have viewed this story various times from a different perspective.
Here, I retell the epic in brief, But from my point of view. I'll become the character and will make you feel the situation once, through Dance and once through the narrative woven by me.
We have talked enough about the "main characters" of the epic, and now it's time to view various situations from a Different perspective. You'll be exposed to texts and videos by me.
We all have a different sides of a story, then why view this epic-RAMAYANA through one lens only?
Ramayana: a feministic approach
EMERGED FROM THE EMBRACE OF EARTH
While walking through the gardens of my father’s kingdom, I heard a few gardeners whispering ‘Divine! I am telling you, she is the earth goddess herself, appeared straight out of the ground to bless us and the nature’.
I was tired of telling them that I too was a normal Human like them. Well, All this was because of how my father, The king of Mithila, Raja Janak had found me. Yes, he had ‘found’ me. Strange right? While all of you were born straight from your mother’s womb, I was a bit luckier to have Bhoomi mata’s womb.
Though people told me many versions of the story, but the one that my family members told me was the one I believed in the most. I have heard this story many times. It was me and my sister Urmila’s favorite.
That day while ploughing the field as part of a vedic ritual in the kingdom of Mithila, my father was forced to a standstill. A baby lay in his path, a newborn baby who he said didn’t even shed a tear, instead was smiling and grinning, my father added. Yes, that was me, SITA.
I loved my name, he had named me that because of how he found me. In Sanskrit, it meant ‘furrow’. The name ‘Sita’ is a symbol of purity, strength and devotion.
Many of them called me a Goddess, especially when the news traveled about my skill. Whenever I touched a plant, I knew it’s healing properties. I could tell which grasses cured headaches, fever, cold etc. And surprisingly my, this gift was a mystery to myself.
They called me a Goddess also because they said I looked pretty, but don’t all Humans look pretty? Well, the Gen-Zs say that Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. Everyone is beautiful, so if we go by the logic of “Goddess because she’s pretty”, every human must be a God/Goddess then, Right?
Swayamvar
I kind of both love and hate evenings. Love it because of the atmosphere and hate it because evening was the time when I and my sister Urmila used to go to the temple to pray for our husbands.
I love going to the temple and praying, chanting and talking with the divine, but praying for husbands?? I never liked the idea of marriage! We have been doing this for years now, so far it hadn’t helped.
While I was plucking flowers for my temple visit. I heard the sound of payal from far away and eventually could also hear someone’s footsteps running towards me. Thank god. It was Urmila. “Huh, Urmila you scared me” I said. But she looked kind of excited, excited for I don’t know what. “come with me didi I want to show you something.
Two brothers from Ayodhya have come. One hundred and sixteenth didi.”- she said, panting. Another suitor, all of us knew what’s going to happen, but I could see a spark in Urmila’s eyes. She said they were different.
But something that great warriors couldn’t do, how can a young man hardly a few years older than me could do? How can a mere youth can be a match for Shiva’s bow?
I was kind of happy about the failure of many suitors, because since childhood I never wanted to get married. I never considered marriage as my priority. I wanted to rule Mithila like my father did. But unfortunately, my mother said that women cannot rule a kingdom. It was heartbreaking for me to hear that. However, I had to accept what my parents said.
Urmila dragged me to the court, we were hiding behind the Tulsi.
There I saw him, Ram, what a beautiful name. He was young, far younger than other suitors. His brother’s name was Lakshman. Ram was lean, dark, tall and muscular.
Urmila told me that while coming to Mithila, he had killed many Rakshasas. But his aura was so calm and peaceful that it was hard to believe that he could kill rakshasas. As we passed him, he looked at me. His eyes were like lotus petals.
I was quite young when I lifted lord shiva’s bow. My mother said that no one in the history could do it. I was confused that why did they considered just lifting a bow such a big deal. However it was true that not everyone could lift that bow.
My father had declared that anyone who will succeed in lifting lord shiva’s bow would win my hand in marriage. Many suitors came but they failed.
Ram and Lakshman stayed the night. The next day, I was called to the court and saw Ram in front of the bow. I got goosebumps. Music was playing in the background. Ram was calm and he looked at the bow with love, I felt like he too had a connection with it like I did. He touched it with respect and within seconds he lifted the bow. I was taken aback and the crowd cried in Joy. His action looked so effortless. Even after he lifted it, he kept pulling the left side of the bow, I just blinked my eye and I saw it in pieces on the floor. Ram had broken it. The crowd went silent. I was so shocked that I almost dropped the garland. When my father confronted Ram, he said that it had to be done. And did not explain anything further.
Now it was the time to exchange garlands. Suddenly I could see a doubt in Ram’s eyes. When I asked him, he said that he won’t marry without his father’s blessing.
“I have promised my father that I and my brothers would marry at the same time and in the same family so as to avoid conflict between our wives, hence King Janak I hope you accept and give me a chance to complete my vow”. He said all that with respect but I felt angry, rejected and worthless.
Soon after that the four brothers- Ram, Bharat, Lakshman and Shatrugna joined us. Urmila had told me about her feelings for Lakshman, and now she was marrying him. I could see the love and excitement in her eyes.
After the dinner, Ram came to meet me and apologized for his behaviour during the Garland ceremony. I felt it, finally, all my doubts vanished and I believed that he was the one.
Soon a messenger came and announced that King Dashratha and his three wives are on the way to Mithila. Yes, my marriage was confirmed. I was getting married. My younger self would have never even imagined that I would have been this happy for my marriage. All my sisters and I danced in Joy.
I was getting married to Ram, Urmila to Lakshman, my cousin Mandvi was getting married to Bharat and Shrutkirti to Shatrugna.
SITARAM SITARAM SITARAM
Embarking on a journey of voluntary exile
It had been a few years since my marriage and we have been living happily.
I had often felt lonely, homesick and left out but eventually I learnt to adjust. And honestly, I love my family. My husband Ram was declared as the crown prince and I couldn’t be any happier.
I’d walked only a few steps before I was forced to stop. Blocking my way was an old lady who barely could look up to me, I had seen her before but I couldn’t recognize her immediately. MANTHARA! I screamed in my mind. But why would she block my way? She asked me to go with her and before I could respond, she held my hand and dragged me to maa Kaikeyi’s chamber.
It was dark, the windows were shut and I could barely see anything. Before anyone spoke, I saw King Dashratha lying on the bed with pain and tears. I rushed to him but kaikeyi stopped me. I looked at her and she was staring with arrogance. She looked way more beautiful than she ever did.
As I heard a voice behind me, I turned and could see Ram entering the room. I felt so relieved, but he didn’t notice me. His eyes were focused on the King. Before he could ask anything, Raja Dashrath started cursing maa kaikeyi.
It was all so confusing for me.
“What is the problem maa?” Ram asked.
“Years ago I had saved your father’s life twice in a battlefield, and he had promised me two boons. Today when I asked for them. He is denying. Probably because they are related to you, the men of Raghu have always prided themselves on keeping their word, now the honor lies in your hands, Ram” Maa Kaikeyi spoke.
“I am ready to sacrifice anything to keep my father’s words” Ram said.
“Perfect” I heard a whisper from Manthara.
I looked at her with hatred in my eyes.
“These are the two boons. First that my son Bharat will be declared the King of Koshal and second that, you will be banished to the forest for fourteen years”
Blood roared in my body and I was sure that I have heard wrong. I had seen love for Ram in Kaikeyi’s eyes! Why would she ask for such a heartless boon? I wanted to speak in protest when Ram’s hand tightened around my wrist. I understood what he meant with that hence I didn’t speak.
Ram was a bit hesitant, with a smile on his face he replied “It will be as you wish”. Maa Kaikeyi smiled her triumph.
As we walked out of the room, I looked at ram with tears in my eyes.
“I know this is a shock for you, but I need you to be strong and calm now. I need your support, My dearest wife.” -Ram said.
“I will always support you, till my last breath. Whatever your decision will be, I will stand with you.” I replied.
He looked at me with love and affection. We proceeded to maa Kaushalya’s chamber as Lakshman and Urmila were there too.
We entered the chamber, and declared the news. Lakshaman’s face grew red with fury “How can you make such a promise brother? All of us know that there is no one better than you to become the king, I am sure that Bharat himself will go against this decision of yours. How did maa Kaikeyi become so heartless!” (I somewhere agreed with Lakshman, but my respect for maa was way higher than anything else)
Maa Kaushalya almost fainted but Urmila held her. I could see disappointment everywhere and every person was against this promise.
“I am going to come with you bhaiya, my duty is not to stay here, my duty is to follow you wherever you go. I have been doing it since I learnt to crawl. Please do not stop me bhaiya. I want to accompany you to this exile” Lakshman cried. Ram accepted Lakshman’s request and confessed that he wanted Lakshman to join him.
I saw a smile on both of their faces. But a cold, shivering hand touched mine, I turned and saw Urmila with tears in her eyes. I hugged her and let her cry in my arms.
The next day, I, Ram and Lakshman proceeded for the 14 years long exile.
ABDUCTION: A Tale Of Love and Loss
Days and distances rushed by us. When we reached Chitrakoot, Ram looked at me and noticed that I was t ired. He said that we will stay here for a few days, Lakshman protested by saying that it wasn’t safe. Before I or Ram could reply, we heard a noise.
A noise of chariots rushing towards us, I got scared.
I looked at Ram, he smiled and said “I am sure that’s Bharat”.
Bharat? Why will he come?
I got nervous. Sweating and Shivering.
Someone got off the chariot, and guess what, It was BHARAT!
When Bharat appeared, he was neither dressed up like a warrior who was coming to fight his brother nor like a King.
He was dressed in White dhoti and a while dupatta around his neck and chest. He came closer and said, “Our father, Dharmaraj (another name of Dashrath) has passed away”.
Tears fell down my cheeks, he didn’t deserve to go through all that. Bharat begged Ram to go back to Ayodhya saying that now that he is dead, the promise has ended, but Ram denied.
Ram explained how it is his duty to complete his father’s promise and he won’t return until he completes it.
Bharat then said that he wont become the king and will live a life of a sadhu outside the city, he took Ram’s Paduka to keep it on the sinhasana saying that no one expect his brother Ram deserves to rule Ayodhya.
I had tears in my eyes, Bharat left after that.
We had reached to Dandaka forest and I had been seeing a golden deer since day 1. I loved deers but this one attracted me so much.
I had controlled myself but now it was unbearable, I asked Ram to go and get it for me. But Ram didn’t have a good feeling about this deer and neither did Lakshman. But after my request, Ram decided to get it for me, and asked Lakshman to guard me.
Suddenly, we started hearing a voice. It was familiar. RAM?
It sounds like Ram’s voice and he is asking for help calling Lakshman.
I got anxious and asked Lakshman to go and see what had happened, he denied saying that he can’t leave me alone as said by Ram. But I could not control myself “Lakshman, you go and see or else I will have to go”.
After my requests, he finally decided to go and check if everything was right.
But before going, he took his arrow and made a circle from it, “No matter what the situation is, don’t step outside this Rekha, this will protect you” he chanted a few mantras and then left.
As soon as Lakshman left, I cried my heart out, why did I ask for that deer? I am responsible for the trouble caused to my husband. I will never forgive myself for this.
“Good day lady. The blessings of a sadhu upon you and your house”. A man wearing orange robes of a holy mendicant stood exactly where Lakshman had drawn the Rekha.
I could not feel any more relieved, I offered him the simple meal that I had prepared and thought to ask him to stay a bit longer till Ram and Lakshman returned. But he denied for it. I offered him a few fruits but he said that he can’t move and will have to accept the fruits from where he was standing. I told him that I am not supposed to step out from the hut.
“It’s okay, I may leave now”.
No, I couldn’t do that! I can’t let a Brahmin go hungry, this will be the biggest curse. After a few minutes, I decided to step out because it came on my self-respect now. As soon as I stepped out, the Brahmin held my wrist tightly and I could see that he wasn’t wearing the orange robes anymore, He had 10 heads, was tall and dark and wore a king’s clothes.
At first, I couldn’t recognize him.
RAVANA! I saw him in my Swayamvar. Before I could speak anything, He dragged me to his Vehicle. I screamed as loud as I could but there was so sign of Ram or Lakshman.
Before I could realize anything, I was in the air, flying on Ravana’s vehicle, my wrist was hurting now, it had turned red.
Suddenly a bird I could recognize, named Jatayu came to save me, there was a fight between Jatayu and Ravana.
However, Ravana with the help of his sword, pierced Jatayu’s wing due to which he lost his balance and fell down. I felt so sorry for him, the last thing that I could think of so that Ram could know where I am was through my ornaments. One by one as we moved further, I threw my each ornament on the ground.
I had committed a big mistake.
An Unyielding Faith
Ravan and I descended from the chariot, him leading and me following.
As I kept my first foot on the soil of Lanka, I became conscious and remembered what sin I had just committed.
My want for that deer, I don’t even know if that deer war real or just a conspiracy of Ravan.
Maybe a conspiracy because that’s what my gut says. I saw hundreds of Rakshasas waiting for Ravana as if they had faith that he would get me.
I felt odd as everybody was staring at me.
Lanka was beautiful, made of gold. Pure gold. But this is not where I belong.
I belong to my swami Ram.
He must be regretting listening to me. I hope he is safe, and Lakshman? I hope he is safe too.
In my stubbornness I forgot that he was not only my brother in-law but also my favorite sister Urmila’s husband. Maybe I have put them both in trouble. God, please take care of them.
Ravan went back to the court, a few rakshasis came to me and held my hands.
Before they could take me to the chambers, I protested. I didn’t want to enter the court, chamber was not even an option.
A beautiful lady, wearing a crown, dark in complexion, tall and lean walked towards me.
“Come with me, I am Mandodari, The Queen of Lanka, Ravan’s first wife”
I could see disappointment in her eyes, I don’t think she supported Ravan in kidnapping me. She looked sad yet angry.
Before she could speak more, I yelled by cutting her off.
“I refuse, I love only my husband Ram. And I am loyal to him, I don’t need Ravan. Do what you want to but I am never entering that palace.”
By hearing that yell, Ravan arrived.
“Accept your fate Sita, you were destined to marry me. And I won’t hurt you in any way! I rather want to win your heart. I can go against your will like I did to many other women, but you stay close to my heart and I don’t want you to suffer”
“The step that you have taken by kidnapping me has made me suffer enough. But don’t you worry Dashanan, I have full confidence that my husband Ram, will come and take me back from this hell. And hereby, I curse you and your entire lineage. When Ram comes for Vengeance, this entire kingdom will be full of deaths and burnings. Only vultures will be here to attend the dead.”
Mandodari had tears in her eyes.
“You have insulted me! Ravan! You have no idea what I could do to you”
“Show! Show me, I am waiting.”
Ravan with extreme anger, Left.
The sun had set and every second, I could see more and more Rakshasas.
A Rakshasi came to me and took me to Ashoka Vatika, beneath a tree. In captivity, days and nights blurred for me. Some of this was my own disorientation and some was rakshasa magic which kept me from seeing the sun.
One day, while I was simply sitting in meditation. I heard someone chanting, ‘Ram Ram’ at first it thought it must be a joke. But the chanting continued for hours.
It broke my concentration, as I opened my eyes in curiosity, I saw a monkey. I have never seen a monkey here ever before. It looked so harmless. I realized that the monkey was chanting my swami’s name.
It came near me and said with tears in his eyes
“I am so blessed to see you mother, but here in such a pain. It kills me to see you like this. I am your devotee, Hanuman. And I have come here on the command of your husband and my lord, Ram”
He took out a ring and gave it to me.
It was the ring that my father had given to Ram, on our wedding.
I felt wonderful. Like WONDERFUL.
Hanuman made me hear the whole story of how he met Ram and how he could find me. I felt so good hearing that Ram and Lakshman were safe.
Before he left, I gave him my forehead ornament the Chudamani, as an evidence to make Ram believe that Hanuman met me and I am safe as well.
After he left, I tried to sleep but hearing the news of my beloved husband. I felt excited. Soon I smelt something burning and could hear the crashes. People were screaming. I knew, this was something that Hanuman must have done.
Love's Triumph
The war between Ram and Ravan went on for days and every time I used to see Dashanan leaving for the war, I used to curse him!
Despite being called Mahadev's bhakt and despite having knowledge of all ved and puran how can a man be so selfish and arrogant to treat a woman like that?
Just to take revenge of what Lakshman did to Surpankha or the way he felt embarrassed at my swayamvar?
Having a wife like Mandodari is a boon but treating her in a way like no woman should be treated is heartbreaking to see.
But I know this pain is going to end soon, Raghav will end it for me, he will defeat Lankapati and take me back with him. I hope Lakshman is safe too, I don't even know how many times I will have to apologize to Urmila.
Days passed, and Dashanan was defeated! I was in a fever of impatience to meet Ram, but Vibheeshan who liked to do things properly asked me to do take a bath and dress up the way the wife of a victor should, as commanded by Ram.
He knew I won't enter the palace, so he asked the dasis to bring all that I needed to the Asoka grave.
I allowed them to bathe me in perfumed water and wash my hair, l allowed them to oil my hair and braid it in the best way it can. I didn't want to meet my swami in smelly rags, matted hair and skin full of dust and eyes of tears instead I wanted my loved one to see me at my best!
I stepped into the decorated palanquin, curtained with silk, that Vibheeshan had readied, and we were on our way.
We were heading to the seashore because Ram wanted to meet me there. Throughout the journey from the Palace to the seashore, I had goosebumps just by thinking about meeting my beloved swami.
A cheer rose up as soon as my palanquin was seen, it had been years since I have ever been in such a crowd!
I could hear people chanting SitaRamSitaRamSitaRam
loudly, and I knew, the arc of my life was changing its direction. I wanted to forget all that happened with me in a past few years but at that point all that I could think about was
RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM
Then, there was the moment. I stepped out from the palanquin and finally. Saw. The love of my life. My heaven. My bliss. My saviour. My swami. Ram.
He was sitting there, but did not move. I knew there were a thousand eyes on me but all I cared about at that moment was RAGHU. I walked towards him and he stood up, I saw the pain in his eyes, the pain of suffering and I knew how much he'd miss me.
I bowed and touched his feet, I looked up but Ram didn't move, I didn't care about any thing at that moment but him. I tried to touch his hands but he took a step back and crossed his arms. A piece of me broke from inside.
"I have rescued you now Seeta, you may go wherever you like" Ram said.
"wh-what do you mean swami" I asked shivering.
"My duty was to rescue you, now that my duty is fulfilled,
you can now go wherever you want to"
"I of course want to be with you swami, you're my husband"
"Maithili" he took a pause.
"I won't be able to take you back, you have stayed in the palace for years now, no one knows what kind of a relation you must have with-"
With tears in my eyes, I didn't let him complete his sentence
"So, this is the kind of trust you have on me?" With fury in my voice, I continued.
"If you don't trust me, you can ask any person in Lanka or even Hanuman who saw me in depths of my sorrow. I never set a foot inside the palace of Lanka. Never responded to whatever Ravan said. Didn't let anyone touch me. I refused to eat or drink even a droplet of water, so that I wouldn't be beholden by him in anyway.
Only today, when I was asked by Vibheeshan to follow the protocol, I only wore tree bark"
"What you say may well be true. But your words are not proof enough! I cannot bring back a queen whose purity will be questioned by the citizens of our own kingdom"
Ram said in iron voice.
"How can you treat me with such contempt?" I said, sobbing.
"How can you have so little regard for womankind? Ravana overpowered and abducted me, but I was forever faithful to you, and I will prove it."
I asked Lakshman to build a fire.
Lakshman chanted some mantras and the fire was built.
“Dear God, demonstrate my faithfulness to all who see, do not burn me if I am right and prove that everything that I said was true and that I AM PURE and not touched by anyone"
I entered the fire with all hope. The hope that my swami shattered in me.
Even Ravan didn't insult me the way my own husband did.
Agni, the fire god himself appeared carrying me in his arms and declared my innocence. Agnidev put my hand in Ram's hand as though we were getting married again.
Ram fell on the ground with guilt and grief and cried his heart out. He then embraced me and begged for apologies and whispered his love to me.
The crowd again started cheering
SitaRamSitaRamSitaRam…………
Our Chariot in a large field outside the palace walls. I could see a silent crowd standing around us. I felt a bit lost, so many things had changed, the people around were no longer enthusiastic as they were fourteen years ago. But the worst part? I couldn’t see Urmila, Mandavi, Shrutkirti or Bharat and Shatrugn!
I couldn’t even see Hanuman! He reached here long ago even before we came.
As I was observing and finding my family members in the crowd, suddenly I could hear a horse coming near us, it felt creepy. All the soldiers around got alert and even Lakshman felt that something didn’t feel right.
But Ram laughed as if he saw something funny. The horse arrived, and guess what, it was Bharat followed by Shatrugn!
Ram and Lakshman went running towards them, they bowed and touched Ram’s feet and started talking as if they have met after a lifetime, it FELT after a lifetime though. The crowd was still silent until a monkey jumped and fell near my feet. IT WAS HANUMAN!
“Maa seeta!” he cried out of joy.
I patted his back and gave a huge smile. I almost had tears in my eyes.
He then went to Ram and touched his feet as well.
After a minute talking to Ram and brothers, Hanuman started chanting SitaRamSitaRamSitaRam and the crowd followed him.
Maa Kaushalya and Sumitra were standing near the gate of the house, ready to welcome us with shivering hands and teary eyes. It melted my heart to see them after so many years, they didn’t look a day old just that they were bent a little.
Immediately after taking a bathe, dinner was served to us, everyone was expect Lakshman and Urmila were present. I didn’t even see Urmila during the welcome ceremony, Mandavi said that she isn’t well. I asked her if I can go inside and meet her but everyone denied. It was strange. But I was too tired already, maybe she was mad at me but I knew that I could handle it, so I left that part for tomorrow.
I was having the best sleep after so many years until, I heard Ram coughing, I got worried and realized it maybe because of the dust. I immediately asked the maid to get everything cleaned and then headed to Urmila’s room.
There she was! My little sister, I could not feel anymore proud of her after hearing about her sacrifices and the nindra she took for Lakshman.
I and Lakshman prayed and asked the Goddess of sleep to allow Urmila to wake up. She slowly opened her eyes, Urmila looked at me and Lakshman with a gaze full of peace and happiness in her eyes. She threw arms around me and her husband.
“Didi, I am so happy to see you!! Swami, you have no idea how much I’ve missed you!”. She said, crying.
“Sudamini! Please bring some food, I am hungry, and I bet didi and Lakshman are too”. She shouted.
I missed my little sister SO MUCH!
Life seemed perfect now!
A Where There is Dharma, There is Victory
|| यतो धर्मस्ततो जयः ||
