Asian Art Museum storytellers tell a version of the Rama epic at the museum with the use of artworks in the exhibition, The Rama Epic, Hero, Heroine, Ally, Foe, and the Asian Art Museum’s collection.

An introduction to the Rama epic produced for the Asian Art Museum by filmmaker and cultural historian Benoy K. Behl, featuring performances from across South and Southeast Asia.

This story starts at 6:30 minutes: Rama Comforts Sita. Ravana orders the demon Maricha to take the form of a deer to lure Rama away from Sita; Maricha changes form. The deer entices Sita; she asks Rama to hunt it. Rama hits the deer, which changes back into the form of the demon Maricha; Rama defeats him, but only after he has pretended to be Rama calling for help. Sita asks Lakshmana to go see about Rama; he is hesitant, but agrees. Before he leaves Sita he uses an arrow to draw a magic protective circle around her. After Lakshmana leaves, Ravana comes on the scene and takes the form of a holy man to trick Sita into letting down her guard. Ravana is able to grab Sita and carry her off. Lakshmana finds Rama unhurt. Meanwhile, the heroic bird Jatayus tries to rescue Sita from Ravana’s clutches. Ravana attack him with a huge sword and deals a mortal blow. After Ravana has gotten away with Sita, Rama and Lakshmana come upon the dying Jatayus, who tells them that Sita has been abducted. Jatayus dies and Rama carries away his body for funeral rites. Now Rama and Hanuman meet for the first time and Hanuman goes in search of Sita. He finds her, introduces himself. Convincing her that he truly is Rama’s messenger, he assures her that Rama is coming to rescue her. Hanuman battled demons sent to capture him. He allows himself to be caught and is brought before a gloating Ravana. Ravana orders that Hanuman be set on fire. Hanuman frees himself, and while aflame, jumps across the city setting everything ablaze.

Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana are in exile in the forest. Ravana concocts a plan to send demons in the form of golden deer to lure Rama away from Sita. The golden deer cavort; Sita asks Rama to hunt for one. Rama chases and hits the deer. Before it dies it imitates Rama’s voice to call for help. Sita asks Lakshmana to go see about Rama; he is hesitant, but agrees. Before he leaves Sita he draws his dagger to draw a magic protective circle around her. After Lakshmana leaves, Ravana comes on the scene and takes the form of a holy man to trick Sita into letting down her guard. Ravana is able to grab Sita and carry her off. Meanwhile, the heroic bird Jatayus tries to rescue Sita from Ravana’s clutches. Ravana attack him with a huge sword and deals a mortal blow. After Ravana has gotten away with Sita, Rama and Lakshmana come upon the dying Jatayus, who tells them that Sita has been abducted. Monkeys appear and Hanuman enters. Then we are in Ravana’s court when Sita is brought in. A beautiful demoness is sympathetic to Sita. Ravana tries sweet-talking and threatening Sita into submitting to him. Soon Hanuman appears and convinces Sita that he truly is Rama’s messenger by giving her Rama’s ring. Demons enter and are overcome by Hanuman. Rama and Lakshmana appear; Rama battles and defeats Ravana. Hanuman leads Sita in from her captivity. She and Rama are reunited.

In this Thai classical dance-drama, Ravana in the form of a holy man, then in his demonic form, seizes Sita.

This Burmese classical dance-drama depicts Rama seizing Sita.

Rama and Sita ascend the throne amid celebration.

After her integrity is questioned yet again, Sita calls on her mother the Earth to receive her. Many years later, Rama enters a river, ending his earthly life. He is reabsorbed into the god Vishnu, and his followers and the other gods look on as he returns to heaven.

An excerpt from Sita’s Daughters, a dance piece choreographed and performed by acclaimed artist Mallika Sarabhai.

Asian Art Museum Storyteller Leta Bushyhead tellls a story from the Rama epic about the Hindu god Vishnu’s gatekeepers, Jaya and Vijaya, with the use of artworks in the museum’s collection.