The Golden Deer
In the tranquil wilderness of Panchavati, tranquility was the undercurrent of every day. The noble prince Rama, his virtuous wife Sita, and his loyal brother Lakshmana lived happily, finding joy in their simple, hermit-like existence.
One day, as the sun shone brightly, casting its golden hue on Earth, something unusual caught Sita's eye. A charming golden deer, its fur sparkling with an otherworldly glow, was grazing nearby. It was unlike any creature Sita had ever seen, and its unique beauty mesmerized her. First, she was just cherishing its beauty silently, and then, she felt a compelling desire to have it as a pet.
She called upon Rama, pointing towards the deer. Seeing the golden deer, Rama did find it unusual, but being a wise individual, he understood that forest dwellers could be deceptive. But Sita, with all her innocence and love for animals, pleaded to Rama to catch the deer alive for her as she wanted to domesticate it.
Despite Lakshmana's suspicion that the deer might be a demon in disguise, Rama agreed to Sita's request. The two brothers set out to catch the deer, asking Sita to stay inside their hut for safety.
On the other side of this tale was Ravana, the demon king of Lanka, who had a wicked plan in mind. He always had his eyes set on the beautiful Sita and was seeking opportunities to abduct her. The golden deer was no ordinary deer but Maricha, Ravana’s trusted aide, who had transformed himself on Ravana’s order.
Maricha was a clever demon with magical abilities. As the golden deer, he got Rama and Lakshmana to chase him deep into the forest, while they were unaware of the ploy. When Maricha ensured that Rama had gone deep enough into the forest, he let out a loud yell mimicking Rama’s voice, calling out for help.
Sita, in worry, ordered Lakshmana to go after Rama. With a heavy heart and worry clouding his mind, Lakshmana, before leaving, drew a protective circle around the hut instructing Sita not to step out under any circumstances.
In the absence of the brothers, Ravana disguised himself as a hermit and fooled Sita into leaving the protective circle, subsequently abducting her.
When Rama and Lakshmana returned, they found Sita missing. They immediately realized their mistake and set out to rescue her, resulting in the epic battle of Ramayana.
The story of the Golden Deer is a significant part of Indian mythology, highlighting the values of realism, the dichotomy of virtue and deception, the consequences of innocence and trust, and the strength of realization.