Asian Art Museum Storyteller Amit Pendyal tells a story from the Rama epic of the battle between the demon Kumbhakarna and the monkeys with the use of artworks from the museum’s collection.

Asian Art Museum Storyteller Miriam Mills tells the story of the abduction of Sita from the Rama epic with the use of artworks in the museum’s collection.

For many centuries learned scholars have recited or read aloud texts of the Rama epic for the benefit of pious listeners, and still do so today. Hear this text recited by Dr. Robert P. Goldman, Catherine and William L. Magistretti Distinguished Professor of South and Southeast Asian Studies, University of California, Berkeley.

For many centuries learned scholars have recited or read aloud texts of the Rama epic for the benefit of pious listeners, and still do so today. Hear this text recited by Dr. Robert P. Goldman, Catherine and William L. Magistretti Distinguished Professor of South and Southeast Asian Studies, University of California, Berkeley.

Rama and Sita ascend the throne amid celebration.

In this excerpt from a Javanese (Indonesian) classical dance-drama, Sita protests her innocence to Rama but he chillingly rejects her.

In this part of a Cambodian classical dance-drama, Sita weeps when Rama refuses to believe that she has been perfectly faithful to him. She insists that she undergo a trial by fire to prove herself. The fire (represented by dancers holding candles) surrounds her.

In this part of a Cambodian classical dance-drama, Sita appeals her innocence once more and the flames subside. She, Rama and Lakshmana, united once more, dance in celebration. Cavorting monkeys carry the props off stage.

In this episode, Rama and Ravana engage in their final cataclysmic struggle, an aerial battle watched by Rama’s forces, Sita with her demoness guards, and the gods themselves. Hails of powerful arrows fired by both Rama and Ravana are ineffective. Rama is advised to loose a divine magical arrow. It multiplies itself and strikes explosively into Ravana, killing him at long last.

In this Thai classical dance-drama we see one-on-one combat between Rama and Ravana surrounded by their troops. This battle, though, is not the final one.