Masculinity In Rama, King Of Ayodhya

One of the most divisive issues in ancient India has been the cosmic-conflict between gender. However, masculinity has always been the dominate force. Rama, King of Ayodhya in the Ramayana, fails in his patidharma due to toxic-masculinity overshadowing his dharma. While kings and husbands are not completely incompatible and both work to advance dharma, the differences amidst them outweighs the similarities. Therefore, someone who is a king cannot be a good husband, because a husband is valued for his loyalty and protectiveness while a king is valued for his valor and authority.

In ancient India, there is an importance placed on every male’s head. This can be seen through notions of patrilineal descent and the position of householder being

Yet, they are valued mostly for their valor. Rama demonstrates this in Sita’s Ramayana, after he destroys Ravana in Lanka. Rama says to Sita that he did not fight the war for her, but to redeem his own honor (Arni 2011). Kings are also valued for their authority; they are expected to speak and be heard. An example of valued authority is when Rama is banished to the forest for fourteen years, he dismissed all the men and women and asked them to return to the city. However, there were a group of genderless individuals that did not feel they applied to this demand and stayed in place until Rama’s return from vanavas, thus illustrating the importance of authority in a king (Narrain

In the first instance, it was after he released her from Ravana, and assumed Ravana had defiled her virtue. Although Rama did not break any laws or any social contract, rejecting his wife in this way means Rama is insecure and does not trust Sita’s word. This illustrates Rama’s inability to be a good husband, due to his lack of understanding and his desire to uphold his virtues in front of the city of Lanka. Yet, he is proven wrong by the Goddess of Fire, Agni, when Sita attempts to prove her innocence via trial by fire (Narayan 2006). In the second instance, after Agni has already proven Sita’s virtue, Rama rejects her again, because she becomes pregnant after they are reunited and this raises suspicion among the citizens. Sita’s willingness to sacrifice herself in the name of virtue speaks on behalf of her purity. However, Rama’s unwillingness to accept Sita due to his loyalty to his kingdom makes him a better king than a husband, and not both (Narayan 2006).

Interestingly, Rama contradicts himself. The rejection of Sita is harsh, however, Rama assists Sugriva in the return of Tara, Sugriva’s wife. Rama states, “it is not customary to admit back to the normal married fold a woman who has resided all alone in a stranger’s house,” yet, Rama seems perfectly content in killing Valin, Sugriva’s brother, in order to return Tara (Arni 2011). Not only does this make Rama an inadequate husband, but inconsistent in his beliefs. He will