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STORIES · THE RĀMĀYAṆA · Other tellings · regional retelling

Tribal puppet tellings: only Ravana's shadow was killed

Variant

In some tribal tellings Ravana cannot actually die.

Some tribal puppet recitals present Ravana worshippers who hold that Rama killed only Ravana's chaya (shadow), so he can never be killed. The recital names three curses on Rama: Brahma Hatya, Bhakta Hatya and Chaya Hatya.

Who: Ravana, Rama

Bound to

Maya Sita: the real Sita hidden in fire mirror

Places: India (tribal belts; exact group not named)

Where this comes from

• folk-oral · Deccan Herald: Tribes have their own versions

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