Tara is the daughter of the monkey physician Sushena in Ramayana. Some sources describe
Tara as an apsara (celestial nymph) who rises from the churning of the milky ocean. She
marries Vali, the king of vanarraaj Kishkinda and bears him a son named Angada. Vali and
Tara are a happy family until King Vali goes to fight a deadly battle with a demon residing
inside a dark cave and does not return. For the sake of the kingdom and the welfare of the
missing king’s family, Vali’s twin, Sugveer is advised by the elders in the kingdom to marry
Tara and father his brother’s child. A few years later however, King Vali, assumed to be dead,
suddenly surfaces and accuses Tara of betrayal and his brother Sugveer of treachery.
King Vali challenges King Sugveer to a duel where Sugveer wins because he is supported by
Lord Ram. Tara had warned Vali that this would happen. In some versions of the epic, Tara
curses Lord Ram for the death of her husband “You will find Sita but lose her again”. In other
versions of the epic, Tara is instrumental in reconciling Rama with Sugriva and pacifying an
angry Lakshman determined to destroy Kishkinda in retribution for Sugriva’s perceived
treachery. Tara’s intelligence, presence of mind, courage and devotion to her husband Vali is
praised. She is extolled as one of the panchakanya (five women), the recital of whose names
is believed to dispel sin.
To be continued