The Earthbound Abduction: Ravana's Unique Predicament in Kamban's Ramayana A Curse That Changed the Abduction The abduction of Sita stands as one of the most pivotal moments in the Ramayana, setting in motion the great war between Rama and Ravana. While Valmiki's Sanskrit Ramayana describes Ravana physically carrying Sita away in his aerial chariot, the Tamil Kamba Ramayana by the medieval poet Kamban presents a remarkably different and theologically significant version of this event. In Kamban's retelling, Ravana cannot touch Sita directly due to a curse, forcing him to devise an ingenious solution that speaks volumes about dharma, consent, and the limitations even powerful beings face when bound by cosmic law. According to the Kamba Ramayana, Ravana had been cursed that he could not touch any woman without her explicit consent. This curse stemmed from an earlier incident where Ravana had violated a woman, and the resulting curse would ultimately play a role in his ...