Discuss the symbolic significance of the Aranya Kanda of Ramayana.
Answers
Answer: Aranya Kanda (Aranya Kandam) narrates the tale of the forest life of Ram, Lakshman and Sita. Aranya Kandam also narrates regarding Sita’s abduction by the demon King Ravana.
Explanation:
Surpanakha in Aranya Kanda : Valmiki Ramayana Story
Ram, Sita and Lakshmana visited southward along the banks of river Godavari, at Panchavati they built cottage and lived there. One day Surpanakha te sister of the rakshas-king Ravan of Lanka approached Ram, Sita and Laksman. She immediately fell in love with Rama. Ram declined her advances explaining that he was already married and advised that she should approach Laksman. However, Laksman also declined her advances. Surpanakha felt insulted in being rejected and tried to hurt Sita. Laksman took hold of his sword and chops off Surpanakha’s ear lobes and nose. Feeling humiliated, Surpanakha left the forest and went to her brothers Kher, Dusana and Trisira and narrated her story. She wanted Kher to take revenge of her insult. Kher in order to please his sister sent fourteen rakshas and with their weaponry to kill Ram.The fourteen rakshas arrived at Ram’s cottage along with Shurpanakha. Ram warned the rakshas but they waged a war with Ram. Ram used one gandharva missile and many other arrows in which Ram destructed all of their weaponry and eliminated all of them. Seeing this defeat Surpanakha rushed back to her brother to report the defeat.
Kher confronted Ram showing all his expertise in warfare. When the demon Kher charged at Ram, Ram killed him with his all-powerful arrow. All three brothers were killed by Ram.
Surpanakha was greatly upset and visited Ravan in Lanka. On hearing the killing of his cousins, Ravan sought the help of his old friend Mericha, a rakshas. Ravan hatched a plot and asked Mericha to disguise himself as a golden deer, so that Ravan would kidnap Sita. Mericha was apprehensive, however, he thought that he would definitely die either way since Ravan would kill him in rage for refusing him. Ravan and Marich immediately left for Ram’s forest abode.
The Symbolic significance of Aranya Kanda of Ramayan:
- Aranya kanda(Aranya Kandam) narrates the "Tale of the forest life of Rama,Lakshmana and Sita." This kanda also tells us about Sita's abduction by the demon King Ravana.
- In this kaanda, we also come across the "Golden Deer(Story of Sita)." This is the Story where sita gets abducted by demon king Ravana.This abduction was done because Suparnakha(Ravana's sister) demanded to take revenge on Both Rama and Lakshmana as they rejected her and Lakshmana out of anger chops-off her ear lobes and nose.