Week 4 Story: The Truth Behind Sugriva's Banishment

Two fighting brothers, Vali and Sugriva. Source: Wikimedia Commons. 

Surya, the God of Sun had two sons: Sugriva, and his elder power-hungry brother, Vali. Over their young years, Vali grew increasingly jealous of the charming and handsome Sugriva, who women always desired. Vali thought to himself, “They will surely desire me once I am the King!” Soon enough, upon the end of Surya’s reign, Vali was overjoyed to rule the kingdom of Kishkindha. Sugriva, during this time, fell in love with the beautiful Ruma. However, Ruma’s father did not approve of Sugriva for his daughter but actually favored unmarried Vali, whose prediction became a reality.

Sugriva begged Vali not to accept the offering to wed Ruma, the woman he adored. Vali refused and exclaimed, “Finally! I have everything and you are just left with your looks!” The heartbroken Sugriva prayed and prayed that a miracle of some sort would prevent the marriage between Vali and Ruma.

One day, a vicious demon attacked Vali and dragged him to the underworld. Vali was attacked by a vicious demon who dragged him to the underworld. Vali created an opening so that he would be able to return to Kishkindha once he defeated the demon.

Vali instructed Sugriva to prevent anyone from closing this entrance. The loyal Sugriva dedicated an entire year of standing guard until the piercing cries and pools of blood gushing out of the underworld’s mouth petrified Sugriva. The ear-splitting weeping resembled the voice of Vali and Sugriva assumed the demon killed him his brother. Sugriva suddenly realized maybe Vali’s death was the power of the gods listening to his prayer to prevent his brother’s marriage to his beloved Ruma. The news of Vali's death devastated Sugriva, who prayed for her brother's broken marriage Ruma without any malicious intent. After avidly attempting to call after Vali, no response followed, and Sugriva closed the opening he had been guarding and announced that Vali had perished.

Upon arrival, as disheartened as he was, Sugriva was still madly in love with Ruma and presumed since he was expected to succeed Vali in possession of Kishkindha, this served as validation for the two to finally wed each other.

It appears that Vali had actually not deceased but was successful in the battle against the demon. However, Sugriva horribly trapped Vali by closing the only means of departing the underworld. Vali assumed Sugriva acted this way purposefully in order to take possession of Kishkindha and of course, Ruma.

Spiteful Vali worked tirelessly to escape and eventually returned to Kishkindha, revealing an untruly exaggerated story of Sugriva’s intended torture to leave his own brother imprisoned in the underworld. Although Sugriva humbly yet unsuccessfully tried to explain himself, the entire kingdom was stunned to hear his despicable plot, even Ruma, who was hopelessly persuaded by Vali that Sugriva was in fact, evil. Thereafter, Vali banished Sugriva from Kishkindha.

Author’s Note

Source. Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie.
My story mostly follows the original plot. Ruma was Sugriva’s wife. Vali accused Sugriva of betrayal, abducted Ruma, and banished Sugriva, who becomes the monkey king.

I chose to add a background story to provide more of an explanation for Vali’s persistent efforts to banish Sugriva. I figured making this a three-way love triangle, between Vali, Ruma, and Sugriva, might do the trick. I decided to leave Tara, who later marries Sugriva, out of the story because I wanted to focus on how his first love was taken away from him due to what could have just been a misunderstanding. Sugriva’s intentions were non-malicious. By making it seem like Sugriva had betrayed Vali, the entire kingdom agreed to banishing him, which was the same ending in the original story.