Week 2: Storytelling Once Upon a Time...

(Image information: Rama and Sita, image from wikipedia)

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess named Sita. She lived a happy life in the palace with her friends, and her father loved her very much. Although she loved her kingdom, family, and friends, she had never known romantic love. She was refreshingly innocent, and her beauty was as radiant as the sun after a cloudy morning. The princess was unmarried, but not because of a lack of suitors. Although many impressive suitors had visited the palace, seeking her hand in marriage, she had not married. This was because her father treasured her as his special gift from the gods, and he would only allow his precious daughter to be married to a worthy man. He owned a bow that was once used by the god Shiva, and he decreed that a man may only marry his daughter if he could handle the imposing bow correctly. So far, none had succeeded.

One day, Sita was with her friends, and, as usual, she was the center of attention. Her gracious manner and lightheartedness caused everyone to be merry as they played games to amuse themselves. By accident or perhaps fate, she happened to glance up and froze as if she were struck by lightning. She could see the most magnificent man she had ever laid her eyes on. He was like a god among men, but what really arrested her were his eyes. They were staring directly at her with the pride and admiration like other men had, but unlike other men, there was also humility and kindness in his eyes. However, soon, too soon, he walked on. Sita felt limp. Her attendants caught her as she swooned, and they carried their beloved princess away.

For what felt like eons, Sita remained in a despondent state. Nothing could bring back her contagious smile. She moaned about feeling feverish, and every little thing assaulted her senses. Her maids and friends could do nothing to help her state of mind. She was consumed by the mysterious man she had seen. How could such perfection exist, and why did he go so quickly? Little did Sita know, she was in love.

Later, one of Sita's attendants and close friends skipped into Sita's bedchamber, singing loudly and clapping. Sita groaned and looked grumpily at her maid. In her time of utter desolation, how was her maid able to get drunk and come into her chamber acting thus? One look at her maid's eyes, and Sita knew something monumental had happened. She barely understood her maid's words, for the loud pounding of her heart drowned out anything else. A man had finally proved himself worthy, and Sita was going to marry him! She wondered, dared to hope, if the man she had seen earlier might be her future husband. The way she was feeling only strengthened her conviction: If it was not he, she would end her life!

Two people, one shared life... Call it fate, destiny, chance, or true love. Sita only knew she had met the person she would stay loyal to the rest of her life. The whole kingdom came alive for the wedding preparations. Generosity abounded as a match that seemed to be made by the gods themselves was to be reality. Sita paid no mind to the preparations. She was like a parched person searching for water in the desert; she could not be whole until she was reunited with her man, who she learned was Prince Rama. The time came for her to meet him again, and neither Sita nor Rama were distracted by the pomp and bright colors around them. They only had eyes for each other. For Rama was Sita's, and Sita was Rama's.

And they lived happily ever after... or did they?

Author's Note: The love story of Rama and Sita from the Ramayana is so passionate, and it seems at first to read like a fairy tale. Life is rarely as perfect as any Disney movie, and this is true in the relationship of Rama and Sita.  However, the first part of the story is very true to the traditional story of a man and woman falling in love. A princess is locked in her palace without love, a handsome man arrives, they fall in love, and their union is perfection. I tried to condense the story while adding some small details that may have been in the story if it were a fairy tale.

Bibliography:
Narayan, R. K. (1972) The Ramayana.