The first one entitled, ‘Rama Bantu’ or ‘Slave of Rama’ refers to an episode from the Ramayana, wherein the monkey army cannot cross the Indian Ocean when they reach it in their search for Mother Sita after her abduction. Then Jambavantha invokes Hanuman’s inner strength enabling him to cross the ocean and reach Lanka. After locating Sita, Hanuman hands her Lord Rama’s ring and gets from Sita her Cudamani or the crest jewel to be given to Lord Rama. The narrative went on to recount the capture of Hanuman by Indrajit and ends by recounting how Hanuman burnt down Lanka after his tail was set on fire.
The second katha ‘Lava Kusa’ recounts the birth of Lava and Kusa to mother Sita in Sage Valmiki’s ashram in the forest, after she was banished from the kingdom due to a washer man’s intemperate comment. Lava and Kusa capture the horse when Lord Rama decides to conduct the Ashvameda Yagna. In the ensuing fight Lava and Kusa defeat both Rama and Lakshmana. A furious Hanuman is pacified when Lava and Kusa sing Lord Rama’s glory. The narrative ends with Mother Sita restoring Lava and Kusa to their father and then disappearing back into Mother Earth from which she had emerged.