Travels in India (Tavernier) 120.2

120.2

In this gross and pitiable ignorance the idolaters, like the ancient pagans, regard their gods as men, and even bestow wives upon them, thinking that they love the same things as those in which men take pleasure. Thus they regard their Rama as a great deity on account of the wonders which they believe that he performed during his life. The following are the fables which they relate regarding him, as I have learnt from the most accomplished among their Brahmins:— Rama was the son of a powerful Raja, who called himself Deseret, and the most virtuous of many children which he had by two legitimate wives. He was particularly beloved by his father, who had destined him to be his successor. The mother of Rama having died, the other wife of the Raja, who possessed entire control over her husband, induced him to drive Rama and his brother Lakshman from his house and territories ; this was done, and by the exclusion of these two brothers, the son of this other wife was declared to be heir to the Raja. Rama and his brother having then received an order to depart, obeyed the command of their father, and as they were about to leave, Rama went to bid farewell to his wife Sita, whom these idolaters regard as a goddess. She was unwilling to part from him, and protested that she would follow him everywhere, and so they all three left the house of the Raja, to seek their fortunes.