While the monkeys are celebrating, Rama shows Sita the
meeting place of him and Hanuman as well as the body of Jatayu. Bharata is ecstatic
at the return of his brother. Rama rewards Sugriva and the monkeys for their
loyalty and their help.
10,000 years pass – and Sita is pregnant – Rama orders his
brother to abandon Sita (karma, a curse).
Fast forward to Sita’s abandonment (p. 399). The Ganges are
coaxing Sita into their waters, but Valmiki comes to save her. She gives birth
to Kusha and Lava in Valmiki’s village. She was entranced before he saved her.
The Festival is probably my favorite part of this section. “…once
on a summer night that was neither hot nor cold, he spoke with Lakshmana, and
said, “I will declare a great public festival, a happy gathering somewhere in
the countryside, a peaceful celebration that will be long remembered and a year’s
giving of gifts to all the world.”
Because his heart hurt because of Sita, he decided not to
invite her despite Lakshmana’s attempts. The festival was a thanksgiving for
good fortune. It was a yearlong festival and everyone came – even the holy
saints and hermits dwelling apart from men. Everyone accepted this invitation.
Sita attempts to prove her innocence, but Mother Earth takes
her underground for a thousand years.
Time and Rama meet (time, or Kala, comes to Ayodhya dressed
as a hermit).
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