This final episode in the Ramayana focuses on closing what has been opened in the previous entries. We open with Rama and his army closing on Lanka and needing to get across to the kingdom. Garuda comes to heal the army of Rama - who've been injured by Ravana's son Indrajit. There are numerous attempts at psychological warfare by both Ravana and Indrajit, but ultimately Lakshmana kills Indrajit, causing Ravana to ride to battle to slay Lakshmana. Rama uses his brahma-weapon and kills Ravana. Mandodari mourns the loss of her husband Ravana. We then turn to Rama and Sita, whose story doesn't come to a head as we've expected. Rama comes to Sita and puts her down, saying that since she's been living with another man for too long, and as the king of Ayodhya he can't take someone who's been loose as his bride. Sita, upon hearing this, insists of her purity and requests a funeral pyre to prove her faith - calling Agni to hear her. We see Sita enter the fire and hear her torment, the gods come down and speak to Rama clarifying his position. Rama takes Sita back to Ayodhya in Ravana's chariot. Rama returns just in time to prevent Bharata's suicide. Rama is coronated. Some time passes, then Sita goes into exile, Lakshmana fades into Heaven, and Rama decides his time is past as well - returning to heaven as Vishnu.
There's less of an emphasis on cosmic balance or weird theoretical extensions, rather we see more about resolution. This entry is centered on closing what's been opened, and the filling of the prophesied arcs.
Photo Credit:
Rama and Lakshmana fight Ravana | Augustus Franks
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