As the story goes, the Rama and Shinta love epic began from a simple question by Walmiki to his friend Narada about a tale of one the kindest and wisest hero he knew. “Rama the king of Ayodya” he replied. Amazed by the story, Walmiki started to meditate and wrote the story of Ramayana.
The story of love that begins from a man’s desire to fulfill his wife request’s to capture a golden deer. The beast transfigured from Marica, one the followers of Rahwana king of Alengka who adores Shinta. There you can see how materialistic a woman can be. Golden deer oh my dear.
In a bid to fulfill Shinta’s wish, Rama sought the golden deer and left his beloved Shinta alone in the forest. While successfully putting an arrow and targeting it to the golden deer. However, suddenly the deer transfigured back into a giant and the a war between Ayodya and Alengka was inevitable. As Shinta was left alone in the forest, Rahwana managed to kidnap her and brought her to his palace.
Many parties got involved in this war. Jatayu, the giant bird who died while trying to release Shinta from Rahwana. Hanoman, the white monkey managed to release himself after being tied up and burnt alive. He finally succeeds to burn Alengka using the fire from his own body.
Knowing Alengka is ruined and Rahwana’s son Indrajit died, Rama attacked Alengka and finally killed Rahwana with his heirloom arrow. Anyway, Rama is not that mighty after all I guess. Imagine if Hanoman were no there to help Rama.
After the death of Rahwana, Hanoman takes Shinta to meet Rama. But Rama refused her because he thinks that she is not purified anymore. Shinta was disappointed and to prove her being faithful to her husband she went into a fire and burnt herself. Because of her holiness, and God of fire's help Shinta was not burnt and remained safe. That made Rama happy and finally accepted her to be his wife again.
Reading may surely not be enough to know the glory of this love epic. So, better enjoy this epic performed at in Prambanan temple. My advice, see the performance during dry season. Imagine, more than 250 dancers with all their nice Javanese costumes, dancing and performing the love epic and Prambanan temple as the backdrop under the full moon light. If you visit Yogyakarta during the wet season, you still can see the performance in Trimurti in door stage in Prambanan temple complex. Have more serene atmosphere enjoy the puppet show on Ramayana at Sonobudoyo Museum Yogyakarta. As I can share you some of the pictures I took from the puppet show.
As Brahma admires Walmiki works on Ramayana, he said “As long as the mountains stand, as long as the rivers are on the earth, so long will in this world the song of Ramayana continue to live”. I guess so does love.
