By Any Other Ending: The Alternate Versions of the Ramayana
The Ramayana... Same Story, 300 Versions
The epic poem of the Ramayana is more than just a piece of literature to the people of
In the original version of the poem, Rama rescues his wife Sita from the evil king Ravana, who abducted her, but then he must banish her because she may be impure. Rama has retaken his rightful throne, but the people of the kingdom express doubts about Sita's virtuousness and accuse her of fidelity after years of living in the home of a man she is not married to. Of course, Sita is the ideal Hindu wife and devoted to Rama, so she rejected all of Ravana's advances. To prove her faithfulness, she subjects herself to a trial by fire--literally. Sita jumps into roaring flames and escapes unscathed, proving she is pure. Then, some stories say that Rama still banishes her, and Sita goes off to live in a hermitage and bear Rama's twin sons. Eventually she is swallowed up by the earth after she and Rama reconcile. This is the 'saddest' version, but in other twists on the story, Rama immediately accepts Sita after her agni pariksha (the purity test in the fire) and the two of them live happily ever after. Some versions change the story further by eliminating the trial in fire completely, and as soon as Rama rescues Sita, the two of them become king and queen and, again, live happily ever after.
So why are there all of these different versions of the Ramayana? Why do some end in tragedy, with the lovers separated forever, while some end happily, with the couple ruling over a utopian paradise? The answer is globalization. Originally, Rama banishes Sita because it is his dharma to be a good king, and therefore his primary duty is to his people. Though Rama loves Sita deeply, he is willing to give her up to be a good Hindu and fulfill his dharma, putting his subject's desires before his own. This was in keeping with the values of Indian society at the time. And of course, a wife's virtue was extremely important in India, important enough that even the most faithful husband like Rama would be forced by custom to leave if his wife was only even thought to be unfaithful.
Nowadays, things are slowly changing in India. With modernization comes the more Western ideas of true love (not arranged marriages) and happily-ever-afters. As the next generation of Indians are introduced to stories from other cultures which do not incorporate their culture's Hindu values, the more modern, happy versions of the Ramayana become more popular. Children like hearing the happier versions better, and with women gaining more rights and respect in every culture, the banishment plot line is no longer so widely agreed with.
The reason our group chose this topic was because we were surprised at how many different versions of the Ramayana there are (about 300!) and how each one tells the same story, but with a different twist. The best part about this story, and perhaps the reason why it has endured and become such a cultural fixation, is that how it is interpreted and what it teaches is up to the reader. You can take what you want out of the Ramayana, and you can practically make up your own version! This story's versatility, as well as the fact that it has such lovable characters and universally applicable themes (despite its Hindu underscores), make it an excellent story, and a fascinating epic, no matter which Ramayana you prefer.
- Allison Moody
No, This is How it Goes...
One day at an Indian-American household...
Girl: OMG! Mom!
Mother: What is it?
Girl: I just read this story, the Ramayana, at school and it was so good!
Mother: Really now? I never figured you would like a classic like the Ramayana...
Girl: Classic? Whatever. Anyways... I really liked the ending...
Mother: Is that so? I thought you would not appreciate that either. Oh, the beauty of Sita's actions...
Girl: Beautiful? That wouldn't be my word to describe it... it's more like... cool. I mean, she defeated Ravana and she was the one who saved Rama!
Mother: Wait, what?
Girl: Sita defeated Ravana, saved Rama... it's cool?
Mother: I heard what you said, but that is not how the story ended...
Girl: What do you mean?
Mother: The Ramayana I read growing up had a completely different ending. First, Rama saved Sita and they went home, but after that, a man questioned Sita's virtue...
Girl: But she refused all of Ravana's advances!
Mother: True, but they did not know that and in their eyes Sita had been living with a man other than her husband for quite some time.
Girl: Psh.
Mother: To prove her innocence and loyalty to Rama, Sita threw herself in a fire, but she did not burn for the gods rescued her and announced her innocence to everyone. Though, this was not enough for Sita still had lived in another man's home and Rama banished her to keep up appearances. Still, Sita respected his wishes as his wife and subject and left without complaint.
Girl: That's horrible!
Mother: Maybe so, but there is a beauty to it. Rama chose the people, India, over Sita, his love and Sita respected this -- loyal to her husband always.
Girl: I guess so, but that is such an old way of thinking. Nowadays, women are more independent -- they don't always need saving or husbands. I think that is what my version shows -- a more modern way.
Mother: I think so, too. And my version reflects the traditional India.
Girl: Definitely. I have one question though...
Mother: What is it?
Girl: Since I finished my version, can I borrow your's?
Mother: Of course.
- Anne Diffenderfer
Two Endings, Two Pictures
In this ending, Rama accepts Sita back after she proves her purity and they live happily ever after.
In this ending, Rama banishes Sita even after she proves her purity.
- Birte Ann
Group members
- Birte Ann
- Anne Diffenderfer
- Allison Moody
Sources
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