Rama meets Sugreeva
In most artistic representations of Ramayana, especially in the temple art of southern India, the event of Rama meeting Sugreeva is well represented. The reason could be that it is one of the turning points in the story - it is with the help of Sugreeva's monkey army that Rama defeats Ravana to bring Sita back. At the same time, this event, as narrated below, has sparked many philosophical debates.
Sugreeva was exiled by force from Kishkinda by his powerful brother Vali due to a misunderstanding. Afraid of his life, Sugreeva was hiding from his brother on a hill called Rishyamukha. When he saw Rama and Lakshmana nearing his kingdom near the Pampa lake, Sugreeva got anxious, suspecting that his estranged brother Vali might have sent them. Sugreeva's able assistant Hanuman volunteered to learn about the two approaching men who had dressed like ascetics but carried weapons and had the physique of warriors.
Soon, assured that Rama and Lakshmana were not mercenaries sent by his brother, Sugreeva welcomed them into his province. When Sugreeva assured Rama that he would lend his army to find Sita, Rama promised Sugreeva that he would kill his brother Vali for him and make him the King of Kishkinda. When Sugreeva hesitated that Rama may not be competent enough to kill Vali, Rama demonstrated his prowess in archery. He shot an arrow through the seven Sala trees in line and returned to his quiver. Though this is a highly popular event among the sculptors of the Hoysala temples, it is not carved in Aralaguppe.
The battle of Vali and Sugreeva
With Rama on his side, Sugreeva invited Vali for a duel. Rama then shot Vali from behind a bush. This event is quite debated questioning Rama's action of killing a warrior in stealth. However, poet Valmiki, anticipating this dilemma, has tried explaining Rama's act by creating a dialogue between the dying Vali and Rama. Here when Vali questioned Rama why he had killed him when he had inflicted no harm to him, Rama explained to him that it was his sins that got him killed. Here are the verses that capture the debate between Vali and Rama.
Image description: Vali and Sugreeva engaged in wrestling, and Rama is shooting an arrow hiding from Vali's sight.
Sugreeva's coronation
Once Vali was no more, Sugreeva got coronated as the king of Kishkinda, and Rama ensured that Vali's son Angada was the prince, the heir to the throne. However, Rama could not attend the coronation since, during the period of exile, he could not visit any cities and had to be confined to the woods.
Image description: Seated next to one another are Sugreeva and Angada. The one to the left of Sugreeva could be Tara, the queen. Tara, the wife of Vali, marries Sugreeva after her husband's death and is coronated as the queen of Kishkinda.
Hanuman meets Sita in Ashokavana
In the Kishkinda Kanda section of Ramayana, sections (called sargas) 40,41,42 and 43 give details of Jambu Dweeba, the ancient name for India. Sugreeva sent troops to India's north, south, east, and west under different leaders to find Sita. He explained the topography of the land they would visit each group. This is the first detailed account of the geography of India and the neighbouring regions.
Hanuman, who went south, found Sita in Lanka in a wooded area called Ashokavana surrounded by demonesses guarding her. He handed Sita the ring Rama had given him to gain her trust. The rest of Ramayana is the war of Rama and Ravana; surprisingly, these events are not carved on the walls of Aralaguppe.
Image description: Hanuman is standing before Sita with folded hands. There are demonesses with mighty weapons all around Sita, sitting under a tree.
