Maricha

In the Ramayana, the earlier of the two
great Indian epics, Maricha is the uncle
of Ravana, the demon-king of Lanka
who is the epic’s antagonist. After
Ravana’s sister Shurpanakha has been
insulted and mutilated by Rama and
Lakshmana, the epic’s protagonists,
Ravana decides to take revenge by
abducting Rama’s wife, Sita. He enlists
Maricha’s help to kidnap Sita. Maricha
takes the form of a golden deer. When
Sita sees the deer, she asks Rama to kill it
for her. Rama pursues the deer into the
forest, giving Lakshmana strict instructions to stay with Sita no matter what
happens. Rama pursues the deer some
distance from their home and finally
gets close enough to shoot it.
With his dying breath, Maricha cries
out Lakshmana’s name in a voice that
sounds like Rama’s, intending to draw
Lakshmana away and leave Sita unprotected. Given his orders, Lakshmana is
at first unwilling to leave. He finally
leaves when Sita, in an uncharacteristic
display of suspicion and anger, accuses
Lakshmana of withholding help to
Rama because he wants to have her to
himself. At this unjust allegation,
Lakshmana is spurred into action.
Before he leaves he draws a magical
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Maricha
protective circle around Sita, instructing
her that no harm can befall her as long
as she stays in the circle. Ravana, in the
form of an old ascetic, approaches Sita,
begging for alms. Out of respect for an
ascetic, Sita steps out of the circle to
offer the alms. Ravana reveals his true
form and carries her away.