- Dasharatha - King of Koshala
- Father of Rama, Lakshmana
- Sacrificed a horse (Ashwamedha) to have 4 sons with his wives
- Janaka - King of Mithila
- Father of Sita
- Ravana - Monarch of rakshasas
- Gods and demons made powerless to Ravana by Brahma
- Vishnu - Located in Ocean of Milk
- Vishvamitra - Status was brahmarishi
- Sita - Avatar of the goddess Lakshmi
- Rama - Avatar of the god Vishnu
- Janaka - King of Mithila
- Father of Sita
- Parashurama - Avatar of Vishnu
- Guha - King of Nishadha
Setting/Architecture/Engineering:
- Ayodhya - Capital of Koshala
- Big streets
- Palace of Dasharatha was fortified with walls
- Palace of Sita's father
- Lake that was very clear/reflective (a looking-glass) with smooth stone steps
- Filled with flowers, fruits, etc.
Plot:
- Minor gods want out of control of Ravana, ask Vishnu, located in the Ocean of Milk, to help
- Vishnu divides himself into four parts to be born to Dasharatha
- Rama and Lakshmana go with Vishvamitra to help preserve his rituals from Ravana's attacks
- Gifted celestial weapons
- Travel to the hermitage and slay many rakshasas
- Vishvamitra tells story of Ganga River to Rama
- Rama is told story of Ahalya
- Cursed by husband after Indra, a god, tricked her into falling in love with him by disguising himself as Gautama, Ahalya's husband
- She became invisible and the curse would be lifted when Rama visited the hermitage
- Rama and Lakshmana go into the town where Vishvamitra lives and wandered the streets
- Go to king's garden and pick flowers
- Rama meets Sita and they fall in love
- Rama must be able to string Shiva's bow to marry Sita
- Rama succeeds, gets Sita
- He breaks Shiva's bow
- Parashurama tells Rama he must string Vishnu's bow to be forgiven
- Rama and his 3 brothers all marry Janaka's daughters
- Dasharatha decides he wants Rama to be king
- Manthara disproved - she was the nurse of Prince Bharata that Rama hit as a kid
- Manthara convinced Kaikeyi, mother of Bharata, that Bharata deserves the throne and she should tell Dasharatha he owes her two favors
- Kaikeyi demands Dasharatha make Bharata king and banish Rama for 14 years or she will drink poison
- Dasharatha is not happy but does as she asks
- Rama is told that he is being banished and Bharata will be king
- Rama is not concerned with the banishment and willingly leaves
- Sita and Lakshmana decide to go into the jungle with Rama after much protest from Rama
- Guha took care of the horses and gave paste for their hair to live like hermits
- Sita prayed to Ganga for safe return in exchange for offerings when they return
- Dasharatha had accidentally killed a hermit's son
- He was cursed to have a son taken from him
- Dasharatha died of grief because Rama was dead
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| Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana being banished to the rainforest. Image from Wikipedia |
Bibliography:
Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie
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