Week 3 Story: Thataka's Fate In A Different Way

As Rama and Viswamithra are on their journey to perform the special ceremonies they come upon a desert. Rama has never seen something so bare and un-full of life. That is when Viswamithra proceeds to tell Rama about a past demigod that was taken of her powers and left here to live by herself. This is the story of Thataka and how the land she lives on is no longer the land that everyone once known.

“This place has been doomed by the asuras that once was a demigod”, said Viswamithra, “she has taken her anger out for having her sons taken from her what has now been a long time”.

Rama proceeds to ask, “why was her sons taken from her.”

Viswamithra went on to say, “Her sons left great damage to this land and others lands that are sacred to most, but they did not care.”

The sons of Thataka did not care what damage they are caused to the land they just found pleasure in it and everything else that could cause the most damage to the land. So that is when Agasthya came forth and took their demigod powers away and cursed them to live the lives of the asuras. The sons quickly left and went on to seek the life and protection from the super demons and Thataka was left all by herself no husband and no sons to keep her company. So, Thataka stayed on and quickly started to take her anger out on anything brought beauty or life to the land that is now the desert.

“Since the land is bare and full of no life does Thataka still live on this land”, says Rama.

“Yes, she is of an ugly sight….”, started to say Viswamithra.

Before Viswamithra could finish his thought there was the sounds of rumbling grounds beneath the earth that sat under Rama’s feet and before Rama appeared Thataka. Thataka as usual was not in the best of moods and was ready to take on Rama and Viswamithra as they are the first people, she has seen come the land in some time.

“Rama as part of your learning through out this trip it time to kill Thataka and give this land back so it can once again become a great scene”, said Viswamithra.

Rama at this point was very stunned and froze in place because he knew that she once was a great woman and he couldn’t hurt a woman that is not how he was raised. Viswamithra knew this was case and he relished on the thought of how to convince Rama to end the life of Thataka because it needed to be done. The difference between Rama and Viswamithra on this adventure that they both have partaken, is they both have a different sense of what must be done. Rama confused and not knowing how to handle this situation because he does not want to harm a woman, especially a woman that has lost all that she had once loved.

Rama stood tall and looked Thataka in the eyes and said, “I will not end your life here today on this bare and unhappy land that once use to be great and full of life.”

Instead Rama called upon the other demigods that had been watching from above to come and listen to what he has to offer for Thataka. Rama looks to the gods and says, “I wish for Thataka to not be killed but to live a life where she has to correct all things wrong that her family has once did.”

The demigods from above seemed very interested in what Rama was saying and Viswamithra was standing next to him looking very confused trying to read ahead Rama’s thoughts to figure out what he was planning.

Rama said to Thataka, “I rid you of your asuras curse and you will become a demigod once again, you will not be able to leave the land that we are on now and you will only have powers to make this land flourish like it once was.”

So, Rama instead of killing Thataka like Viswamithra wanted him to give Thataka a chance to rid her wrongs and make the land the place it uses to be. To further help Thataka tend to the land he also called for her sons to return and help their mother since it was them that had made her this way. Rama left only condition and that was that Thataka and her two sons would only have the power to do good and at the chance they try anything different they would be sent underground back with the demons and lost forever.

Representation of Thataka
Source: Hindu Devotional Blog

Authors Note: I’m not sure how well this story turned out, but I hope it at least is okay read. I took the story about Thataka from “The Ramayana” and it is in the first part of the book where Rama and Viswamithra are on their journey. In actual story it does start out pretty much how it is told above in the story that I wrote. However, Rama does not talk to the other demigods and throughout the journey Rama never challenges what Viswamithra wants him to do in the actual story. So, instead of having Rama kill Thataka like in the original, I decided to change that to where Rama is more kindhearted person towards Thataka and gives her a second chance. I almost kind of wrote it the story line of the Te Ka in the Disney movie Moana (Yes, I have watched Moana, I am big Disney fan I watch all the movies that they put out).

Bibliography: R.K. Narayan, “The Ramayana”, Book. Source to online PDF