| Sugriva is an important character in the epic Ramayana. He was the ruler of the monkey kingdom, Kishkindha, and a key ally of Lord Rama in his quest to rescue his wife, Sita, from the demon king Ravana. Sugriva and his brother Vali were sons of the king of the monkeys, Riksharaja. Due to a misunderstanding, Vali banished Sugriva from the kingdom and also took Sugriva's wife, Ruma, as his own. Sugriva, along with his minister Hanuman, took refuge on the mountain Rishyamukha, as Vali was cursed not to be able to set foot on it. When Rama and his brother Lakshmana were searching for Sita, they came across Sugriva and Hanuman. Hanuman, recognizing Rama as an avatar of Lord Vishnu, convinced Sugriva to form an alliance with him. Sugriva told Rama about his plight, and Rama promised to kill Vali and restore Sugriva's honor and kingdom in return for Sugriva's help in finding Sita. Rama, true to his word, killed Vali in a duel and crowned Sugriva as the king of Kishkindha. Sugriva, in turn, ordered his vast army of monkeys to help Rama in his search for Sita. They found out that Sita was in Lanka, the kingdom of Ravana. Sugriva's army, led by Hanuman, built a bridge across the ocean to Lanka. In the ensuing war, Rama killed Ravana and rescued Sita. Sugriva's army played a crucial role in Rama's victory. After the war, Rama returned to Ayodhya and was crowned king. Sugriva returned to Kishkindha and ruled his kingdom wisely and justly, always remembering his friendship with Rama. Thus, the story of Sugriva in the Ramayana is a tale of friendship, loyalty, and the triumph of good over evil. It shows how alliances can be formed in the most unlikely of circumstances and how they can lead to the achievement of a common goal. |