Hanuman Nataka (critical study)
by Nurima Yeasmin | 2015 | 41,386 words
This page relates ‘Hanuman-Nataka, Act 3 (Summary)’ of the English study on the Hanuman-nataka written by Shri Damodara Mishra in the 11th century. The Hanumannataka is a Mahanataka—a fourteen-act Sanskrit drama dealing with the story of Rama and Hanumat (Hanuman) and presents the events in the lifes of Rama, Sita, Ravana and Hanuman (the son of Anjana and Vayu—the God of the Winds) based on the Ramayana story.
Hanuman-Nāṭaka, Act 3 (Summary)
The 3rd Act is mainly descriptive, dealing with the agitation of Kaikeyī, the exile of Rāma, the sorrow of the people and relatives, Bharata’s rebuking his mother, the residence at Pañcavaṭī and the departure of the two brothers in chase of the false deer.
At the beginning of the Act there is found that the time for Rāma to carry out the words of his father came nearer. At that time the light of the sun became dark.[1] Kaikeyī said to Daśaratha to make Bharata the king of Ayodhyā and further said that Sītā bore some evil marks for which there happened some unnatural events. So for the sake of keeping peace, Sītā should be sent to forest with Rāma.[2] Rāma, Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa went to the forest and their father Daśaratha died in the pangs of separation.[3] They arrived at Pañcavaṭī and Lakṣmaṇa said that this place is good for their house.[4] They were living there very happily. One day Rāvaṇa sent a golden deer in front of Sītā[5] and Sītā felt a longing to have that deer. This deer was actually not a deer rather Mārīca in disguise. Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa went out to kill the deer.[6] The 3rd Act comes to an end here. This Act is called the Mārīcāgamana.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
[2]:
[3]:
[4]:
[5]: