Rama and Rob the baby squirrel - How the squirrel got it's stripes.

An adaptation of the Hindu tale Rama and the squirrel...
featuring Rob the baby palm squirrel!

Many years ago the 10 headed demon king Ravana kidnapped Sita, the wife of Lord Rama and took her to the island of Lanka.


To rescue her Rama visited the temples and the mountains to enlist the help of the bears and monkeys of the Varana army.


Shouting with excitement, and happy to be helping Rama, the monkeys and bears ran around, looking for the biggest stones they could find. They carried huge boulders, and even hills, on their shoulders, and dropped them into the ocean to build a bridge.

Then Rob, a baby squirrel, had an idea. He started collecting small pebbles lying on the shore, and dropped them into the ocean. But after a while, he was too tired to even carry those tiny pebbles. He took a nap.

Whilst he was asleep he had a dream about how he could help.

When he woke he ran to the beach and rolled in the sand, he then ran to the water and washed himself. He ran back to the shore and rolled again, and more sand got stuck to him. Again he ran to the water to wash himself. The small grains of sand which stuck to his body were all he could contribute to the enormous task of building a bridge across the ocean but he was happy to be helping.

However, Rob rushing to and fro on the shore was now getting in the way of the monkeys who were carrying huge boulders, and they started shouting at him, asking him to get out of the way.

The monkeys laughed out aloud, and shouted, “Of what use are these tiny grains of sand, which can scarcely be seen among the huge boulders and hills we are bringing. Get out of the way and let us do our work!”

Rob was unperturbed, and continued rolling in the sand and washing it into the sea.

 Finally one of the monkeys, picked up Rob in anger and flung him far away from the shore.

Rama, who was watching this, caught Rob before he fell.

Rama then addressed the other animals  

“you are brave and strong, and are doing a wonderful job bringing all these huge boulders and stones from far and dropping them in the ocean. But did you notice that it is the tiny pebbles and stones brought by this small squirrel and some of the other smaller creatures which are filling the small gaps left between the huge stones? they bind the whole structure and make it strong? Yet you scold this small creature and fling him away in anger!”

Hearing this, the big animals were ashamed and embarrassed, they lowered their heads.

Rama continued, “Always remember, however small, every task is important and everyone who makes an effort should be appreciated!”

Rama then turned to Rob and said softly, “My dear squirrel, I am sorry for the hurt caused to you by my army, and thank you for the help you have rendered to me. Please go and continue your work happily.”

Saying this, he gently stroked Rob's back with his fingers, and three lines appeared where Lord Rama's fingers had touched it.

This is how Rob the palm squirrel got the 3 stripes on his back, as a blessing from Lord Rama, to remind us that everyone has a role to play and every contribution should be appreciated.