Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Reading Notes: PDE Ramayana Part C

Characters

  • Sugriva - Monkey king sought by Rama
    • Has had his wife and kingdom stolen by his brother, Vila
  • Hanuman - Monkey god that is a devoted follower of Rama
  • Sampati - Vulture, brother of Jatayu
  • Jambavan - leader of the bears
  • Vibhishana - younger brother of Ravana

Setting

  • Kishkindha - Kingdom of Sugriva/Vali
  • Lanka - Ravana's Palace of Gold
  • Mahendra - Mountain range

Plot

  • Hanuman intercepts Rama and Lakshmana as they approach Sugriva's location
  • Sugriva tells story of Vali chasing him out of the kingdom
    • Vali chased a monster down a hole
      • Sugriva saw blood come out so he filled the hole with a mountain
    • Vali actually had slain the monster, returned to Kishkindha and exiled Sugriva
    • Rama gets Sugriva to challenge Vali for the kingdom and his wife
  • Vali's wife, Tara, begs Vali not to fight as she knows that Sugriva has returned with Rama and Lakshmana
    • Vali disregards this warning and decides to fight
    • Vali is initially winning the fight until Rama kills Vali with an arrow
      • All of the vanaras cry because Vali has died, even Sugriva
      • Hanuman comes to Kishkindha
      • All of the vanaras are awed by Rama's strength
  • Sugriva promises to help Rama find Sita, but they must wait for the rainy season to pass
    • Rama cannot enter the city with Sugriva due to his father's wish
    • Rama does not want to wait a month as he is restless
  • At end of rainy season, Sugriva still doesn't have forces together to search for Sita
    • Lakshmana entered Kishkindha to threaten to kill Sugriva if he did not aid Rama as he had promised
      • Immediately Sugriva organizes an army of monkeys and bears to search
  • Varanas cannot find Sita
    • Come across Sampati who tells the Varanas that Sita was taken to Lanka by Ravana
      • Lanka is across the ocean
  • Sampati tells story of him and Vatayu
    • Vatayu and Sampati grew up in a nest in the Himalayas
    • Sampati lost his wings because the sun burned them off
      • Nishakara says that he will regain wings someday, but only at the hands of a noble person
  • Vanaras devising a plan to ensure that Sita really is on Lanka
    • Jambavan reminded Hanuman of his birth and stories of him jumping to try to reach the sun
    • Hanuman was then convinced he could jump to Lanka and did so
    • During his jump, a rakshasi tried to eat Hanuman, but Hanuman killed the Rakshasi and finished his trip to Lanka
  • Hanuman wanders through Lanka to find Sita
    • Finds Ravana sleeping amongst his wives, but Sita is no where to be seen
    • Eventually finds Sita among ashoka trees, surrounded by rakshasis
    • Ravana tells Sita that he will kill and torture her if she does not submit to Ravana
    • Sita crawls to base of tree Hanuman is in
      • Hanuman is able to talk to Sita as she is close 
  • Initially, Sita is worried that Hanuman is actually Ravana taking Hanuman's shape, but Hanuman shows Rama's ring and Sita is assured that Hanuman is who he says he is
    • Hanuman attempts to bring Sita back to Rama, but she refuses to be touched by a man that is not Ravana
    • Sita gave Hanuman jewelry she had in her hair for him to take back
    • Sita tells Hanuman that Ravana plans to kill her within 2 months and asks if Rama will save her and kill Ravana
  • Rakshasas capture Hanuman after a fight
    • Realize Hanuman could not be killed with weapons, they use a Brahma shaft to capture Hanuman
    • Hanuman tied up more after being caught by the Brahma shaft, but other ties release the strength of the Brahma shaft
      • Hanuman remains calm as he wants to talk with Ravana
    • Ravana talks with Hanuman who tells Ravana that he needs to surrender Sita or he will be killed by Rama
      • Ravana is angered and sets Hanuman's tail on fire
        • Hanuman breaks out of the ties and burnt Lanka down after Sita prayed that the fire does not burn Hanuman
        • Hanuman talks with Sita and tells her Rama will return shortly
  • Sugriva organizes his forces to move to Mahendra
    • Need to devise a plan to cross the sea
  • Rakshasas need plan to fend off Rama and his army
    • Vajradanshtra
      • Dress up as Bharat's troops so Rama won't attack then launch an assault of arrows and spears
    • Nikumbha 
      • Will take on Hanuman and Sugriva
  • Vibhishana recommends Ravana return Sita to Rama to avoid destruction of Lanka and death of Ravana
    • Ravana is angered and casts Vibhishana away
      • Vibhishana is angered and decides to join forces with Rama
Hanuman returns to Rama after burning Lanka.
Image from Wikimedia

Sources

Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie

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