The Ramayana is a great epic of the Hindus. The epical narrative with its many stories, anecdotes and incidents explains how man has fallen from his state of peace and bliss to his limited existence of sorrow and misery and how he regains his original bliss.

As the story goes King Dasaratha lived in Ayodhya with his three queens Kausalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi. They lived a life of peace and contentment. Dasaratha means a man who has controlled his ten senses. The three wives represent the three mental qualities or gunas namely sattwa, rajas and tamas. To a self-controlled man the three gunas are at his service. In contrast a man who has no control over his senses is victimised by his own gunas. Lord Rama was born into such a house of peace and contentment. Sita was married to Rama.

Rama represents the Atman, the supreme Self and Sita the ego, the individual. As long as Sita's attention was on Rama she was ever blissful be it in the luxuries of the palace or the exigencies of the jungle. Similarly if man's attention and interest are upon the inner Self and not the illusory enchantment of the world he would remain ever peaceful and happy whether he be placed in a state of prosperity of poverty.

The beautiful golden deer that enchants Sita represents the senses and desire. Having fallen prey to this enchantment, Sita quickly realise her folly. She refuses thereafter to be taken in by sensual gratifications offered to her by Ravana her abductor. She undergoes austerities and is one pointed in her devotion to the Self (Rama) throughout her stay at Ravanas palace and so also later when she is rescued by Rama. Eventually Rama and Sita ruled over their kingdom in a glorious reign. This signifies that an individual must be cleansed of all his desires before he reaches realization of his Self.