RAMAYANA AND DEWI SHITA

Assalamualaikum wr wb, Hello fellows. Before I tell you a story, I would like to introduce myself first.
My name is Natali Putri Humala from twelve science seven, and here I am to tell you a story about a
famous Indonesian lover.

Who doesn't love romantic stories? a story that will make you feel the euphoria of falling in love. If
Greece has the love god Eros and the beautiful Psyche, in Indonesia, we have the Ramayana and the
Goddess Shita. Shita is the adopted daughter of King Janaka. When Shita grew up, Janaka held a
competition to find the right partner for his daughter. The competition was to do archery with a very
heavy arrow which was given by The God Shiva, and was won by Rama, a prince from the Kingdom of
Kosala. After marriage, Sita lived with her husband in Ayodhya.

Their love story does not end there. After marriage, there are many problems that test the sincerity of
their love. During the change of the Kingdom's government, Rama as the eldest son of 4 brothers
(Ramayana, Bharata, and the twins Laksamana and Satrugna) will definitely replace the power of his
father -Dasarata-. However, Rama's stepmother -Kaikeyi- did not let that happen. She wanted her
biological son, Bharata, to become the King of Kosala. Kaikeyi also urged Dasarata to throw Rama into
the forest for 14 years.

Sita faithfully follows Rama's journey, as well as Rama's younger brother, named Laksmana. What
about his twin, Satrugna? sadly satrugna felt that he was closer to Bharata, than to Rama. The three left
the Ayodhya palace to start life in the jungle. In the wilderness and mountains, they interacted with
many brahmins so they increased their knowledge and intelligence. They also associate with the
Wanaras who are the incarnations of the half-ape-humans.

One day, the giant army of the Alengka kingdom was crushed by Rama because they liked to disturb the
Brahmins. Ravana, the king of the giant nation also took revenge, assisted by his maid named Marica.
At first Marica disguised herself as a deer with golden hair and appeared in front of Rama's hut.
Witnessing the beauty of the deer, Sita became interested and wanted to own it. Sita continues to urge
Rama to get the deer. Rama, who loved his wife so much, finally chased and tried to catch the deer.
Suddenly, Rama screamed in the distance. Sita also told Laksmana to follow her husband. However,
Laksmana was sure that the deer was a giant incarnation that imitated Rama's screams. Sita was angry to
hear Laksmana's answer, how could Laksamana have such a bad thought at a crucial time like this? Sita
also accused her sister-in-law of having bad intentions towards Rama.

Laksamana, who was offended by Sita's accusation, immediately left to prove his words. Before leaving,
he first created a magical fence in the form of a protective line surrounding the hut where Sita was
waiting. After Laksmana's departure, appeared an old brahmin who was thirsty and asked for a drink.
However, he could not enter the hut because it was blocked by the magical fence.

Sita felt pity and stretched out her hand to give the old brahmin something to drink. Suddenly the
brahmin grabbed Sita's arm and took her away. The Brahmin turns out to be Ravana who intends to
marry Shita in his Alengka Kingdom. He carried Sita's body and flew in the air. But luckilly she had
dropped her jewelry on the ground as a clue to Rama.Arriving at the palace of the Alengka Kingdom,
Sita was imprisoned in a strangely beautiful garden, named Asoka Park. Around her were placed giants
with ugly faces and evil but stupid behavior. While being held in the Alengka palace, Sita always
prayed and hoped that Rama would come to get her.

After finding Sita's ring in the forest, Rama started to search for Sita. He faced many obstacles and
challenges, but with the help of the Wanara and Wibisana, Ravana's own brother, Rama was able defeat
the Alengka kingdom. After Ravana's death, Rama also ordered Hanoman (one of the Wanara) to enter
the palace to pick up Sita. As evidence, Hanoman handed over to Sita her own ring which she had
thrown away in the forest when Ravana kidnapped her. Shita decided to take a bath and cleanse herself
before meeting Rama.

After bathing and washing, Sita met Rama. Apparently Rama had doubts about Sita's chastity because
his wife had lived in the enemy's palace for quite a long time. Realizing this, Sita ordered Laksmana to
collect as much firewood as possible and make a bonfire. Soon Sita jumped into the fire. Rama is
shocked and worried about what Shita is doing. But on the other hand he had doubts about his wife's
chastity, so he waited a few minutes after Shita threw helf into the fire. From within the fire suddenly
Lord Brahma and Lord Agni appeared while raising Sita's body alive. This proves Sita's purity.

Rama was very relieved and grateful for what had been proven. Now Shita is back in the arms of her
husband. At the end of the story, Rama and Shita have 2 twins named Lawa and Kusa. The five of them
(along with Laksamana) lived peacefully and happily in the forest, until Bharata (the new king of
Ayodhya) asked them all to return to the palace and live happily together.

Written by
Natali Putri Humala
XII MIPA 7 (22)