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Vanamālā attempting suicide
Together, the blessed trio passed many hamlets, villages, cities and reached a forest : by then the rainy-season had set in. They decided to take a prolonged halt of four months in that jungle. Long journey during the rainy season is taboo. The prolonged sojourn of ascetics at one place during the rains is called caturmāsa. The trio stopped beneath a gigantic tree. When a diety named Ibhakarna, residing on this treem, saw the handsome and luminious contours of Rama, he was terrified and decided to inform his master Gokirna about the arrival of strangers. Gokirna diety possessed Avadhigyan. He knew, who the virtuous and valiant strangers really were.
Saying this, she hanged herself. Lakşmana, at once climbed the tree and brought her down. He rebuked her gently, "O brave āryan lady, you will tarnish the reputation of your father by committing such a rash and cowardly act. Haven't you learnt that suicide is the greatest of all sins. All your life you desired to marry Lakşmaņa, and now you are set to end your life when he is near you."
The city built by diety Gokirņa
By using his mysterious powers, the diety built a big city which measured eight miles in length six miles in breadth, in one night. He named this new city "Ramapuri". He appeared before Rama and requested him to spend caturmāsa at Ramapuri. Rama honoured his request and made Ramapuri his abode for the four months of rain. After the caturmāsa, they set for a further journey. Gokirna diety gifted a Svayamprabha necklace to Rama; and a pair of earrings, inlayed with jewels, to Laksmana. Sita was gifted an exotic crest-jewel and a string instrument called Vina.
The trio then passed through forest and reached the outskirts of Vijayanagara, ruled by King Mahidhara. His wife's name was Indrani. They had a daughter called Vanamalā. She had heard stories extoling Lakşmana, his handsomeness and his valour, since her childhood. Heart in heart, she resolved to marry Laksmana. King Mahidhara had heard about the ascetic vows of Dasaratha and exile of Rama, Lakşmana and Sita. He felt sorry for the royal trio.
When King Mahidhara realised that marriage between his daughter Vanamala and Laksmana was impossible, he decided to marry her to Prince Surendra of Candranagara. For young Vanamala, the idea of marrying any other man, besides Laksmana, was worth death. She decided to end her life. In the dark night, she stealthily stepped out of the palace and reached the outskirts of Vijayanagara. She tied one end of her upper cloth like a noose around her neck, and the other to the branch of a banyan tree. Rāma and Sita were fast asleep under the tree, but Laksmana was wide awake.
Vanamālā prayed, "O Gods residing in this forest. Since childhood, I dreamt of marrying Lakşmana, the son of King Dasaratha, but now, || believe that my dream will not be fulfilled. I have decided to end my meaningless existence by embracing untimely death. Grant me a boon that may Laksmana be my husband in all my next lives"
Next morning, Laksmana narrated everything that transpired in the night, to Rama. King Mahidhara reached the outskirts of Vijayanagar when he didn't find Vanamālā. When he saw Rāma and Laksmana dressed up like hermits, he thought that they were thieves. Without thinking twice, he attacked them. When he saw the valiant youths defending themselves, he at once realised that they were not ordinary men. He stopped the fight and asked them who they were. When he came to know that the youths whom he misunderstood to be thieves were in fact the progeny of the great Dasaratha, he folded his hands and apologised. He then invited them to his palace and entertained them lavishly. Later, he requested Rāma to grant Lakşmana a consent to marry Princess Vanamalā.
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