Rama, his wife, Sita, and his brother Lakshmana are exiles from their home and wanderers in a great wilderness. Rama has been cheated out of his throne and his rightful inheritance by a trick and dares not go home or seek aid for himself or his wife or brother from his people.

As the story here begins, Rama and Lakshmana return from a journey to the cottage where they have been staying and where Sita has been told to remain. But Sita is gone. Earlier she had been angry with Lakshmana because he did not go to Rama's aid when it seemed necessary. Now the men fear that her anger has led her into great danger.

This tale of Rama and Sita is taken from the best known epic of ancient India, the Ramayana, the deeds of Rama. Rama and Sita are now regarded as god and goddess by the Hindu people. Ravana who appears in the story was a ten-headed demon, a Rakshasa monster. Lanka, his home, is the island of Ceylon.

From Hero Tales From Many Lands