RAMA AND SHINTA
Wherever you go in this world, you will always find a legendary story of romance. That includes the tales of Romeo and Juliet, as well as Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. In the epic of Ramayana, you can also find one such story. The two lovers are Rama and Shinta. The story that originated in India traveled down the Silk Road all the way into Java. Of course, adjustments to the story occurred as it made its way from one country to another, adapting to the cultural climate of every location it passes.
The story begins when a prince named Rama enters a contest in a neighboring kingdom. The prize: Princess Shinta's hand in marriage. With ease, Rama wins. He then brings Shinta home and marries her. The king, Rama's father, is overjoyed by the turn of events. He hopes to pass the kingdom down to Rama. However, the queen, Rama's step-mother, does not share the king's joy. She rejects the idea of making Rama the crown prince, as the king once promised the queen that it would be her son with him who would become the next king. As a result, Rama and Shinta are exiled into the woods.
The trials of the two lovers do not end there. In the woods, a giant name Rahwana or Dasamuka, taken by Shinta's beauty, falls in love with her. He then kidnaps her and brings her to his dominion. Rama is enraged when he finds out, and he raises an army to save his beloved. A great war occurs. In the end, Rama comes out victorious. Upon being reunited with Shinta, Rama begins to have doubts regarding Shinta's 'purity', as he fears that the giant has laid his hands on her. To dismiss her husband's doubts, Shinta sets herself on fire. As the fire subsides, Shinta remains, and she comes out unscathed.
By: Tomi Firdaus
Translated by: Nurani Salikha