Kamba Ramayana. A study 04

Sage Vishwaamitra had achieved his purpose by bringing Rama to Mithila. As Kambar says: 'The world was glad and the gods leaped with joy. For was not the union of Rama with Sita to be the cause of the deliverance of the worlds from the tyranny of Rakshasas?'

Dasharatha was invited to Mithila and the marriage was celebrated amidst festivities and rejoicing.

 V Ramayana dwells on many events in Balakaanda. I guess Kambar would have narrated them as well.  I could go back to the original Ramayana later or read Kamba Ramayana. There are interesting stories about Rishyasringa who was brought up by a misogynist father/sage and Ahalya whose tryst with god Indra, who disguised himself as her husband Gautama, was discovered by her angry husband and was turned into stone. Wonder why he decided that she would be released from her curse when Rama visited their ashram years later? In epics there is always a reason, no ambiguity!

We studied Balakaanda in my middle school years. While we were duly impressed by the heroics of the two brothers, my memory of the other stories is rather vague. I was under the impression that Ahalya was innocent and Indra was to be blamed! It is possible that the book glossed over the story. However, the story tellers, through the ages, had a field day with her story. So many variations!

Ravi Verma's painting of Ahalya

I had thought Rama was not aware that he was an avataar and wondered about the impact of Ahalya's story on young prince who was at an impressionable age! It does explain to some extent his suspicions about Sita's chastity later on. But his role in releasing Ahalya from a curse changes that. Now he knows that he is someone special. It is possible that he still does not know he is an avataar!

Anyway, Aiyer moves forward with the story, 'The scene changes. The rosy hues of the morning last but a few minutes. Soon the basest clouds ride with ugly rack on the celestial face of the sun. ....Great things have to be done for the world by Rama and great things have never been achieved from on a bed of down.'