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.
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| 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
