Thai Ramayana speeds through the wedding of Rama and Sita. However, there are a number of interesting details in Valmiki Ramayana
Rama breaks the bow of Shiva and Janaka very pleased, proposes Seetha to Rama in marriage. On the approval of Vishvamitra, Janaka sends his emissaries to Ayodhya. Dasharatha is overjoyed and refers the matter to his ministers and teachers. They unanimously agree and they travel to Mithila the next day. Dasharatha arrives at Mithila and Janaka receives him at the gate of the city with due respect. Ikshvaku's bloodline is narrated as custom demands by Vashishta. Janaka narrates his lineage. Proposals are made and agreed upon for the wedding of all the four brothers with the daughters of Janaka and his brother. Then Dasharatha proceeds with the initiatory rituals for the bridegrooms and donates cows and riches.
It appears that women are nowhere in the picture. Valmiki does not tell us whether Kausalya was consulted at any time. None of the mothers are present at the wedding. It seems that Swayamvara, the choice by the bride is not always the norm. The other three girls are married off to the brothers, a package deal as it were! Probably makes sense as the girls, cousins, could support each other in a new strange place.
The meeting of the two Avatars of Vishnu, Parashurama and 'Dasharatha' Rama, a change of guard as it were, has obviously a greater significance in the Valmiki version. Incidentally the story of Avatars is said to reflect the evolution of the species. Well worth a debate! Incidentally in both Vamana and Parashurama avatars, Vishnu chose to be a brahmin when he took a human form! It was only later as khsatriya, wonder if there was a reason or purpose behind these choices?
When Rama reached his city of Ayodhya, his father wanted to put him on the throne. But Kaikeyi, instigated by her maid-servant Kubja, was not happy. The maid bore a feeling of hostility towards Rama. In his childhood the prince had struck her hunched back in mischief, by which her hump had disappeared. But he attacked her again for fun with an arrow and her hunch reappeared.
People standing nearby began to laugh at her. She was agitated and thought, 'Oh, Rama has made me a laughing stock in front of these people'. And she kept this feeling of insult in her heart, like a thorn, and waited for her moment for revenge. The coronation of Rama provided her with that. Sometimes, even the pastime of a child, through innocence, gives rise to great problems.
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