Reading Notes Ramayana (PDE), Part C (Week 4, Part A)

Rama feeds Hanuman on Wikimedia

I decided to take notes on the Ramayana slightly differently for parts C and D than I did with parts A and B. Here, I haven’t separated my notes into the sections that the online reading has. I have tried to pick more important events to note here, as well as important names to remember. I noted the use of poems throughout the Ramayana in my last set of notes. I noticed this time that occasionally poems will have a paragraph or two before them explaining the action that is about to take place. This is a good way to both get the context and plot to come across clearly, as well as using poetry for a lyrical effect. Also, in the section on Sampati recalling his history, I liked that it was from his perspective. Writing one large story from different perspectives allows the reader to more easily identify with certain characters. After Sampati had finished speaking, there was a paragraph bringing the reader back to the current time and explaining the action that took place immediately afterward. The “story within a story” effect is useful in explaining events in the past without detracting from the story at hand.

Sugriva - monkey king in exile with monkey followers

Hanuman - Son of wind God who can transform into monkey, one of Sugriva’s followers who will become Rama’s follower

Sugriva hopes to regain his kingdom and find his wife with Rama’s help

Rama looking for Sugriva’s help - the two are parallels

Vali - elder brother of Sugriva who forced him into exile

Tara - chief wife of Vali who does not want him to fight Sugriva and Rama

“Sugriva and Vali” is a lengthy poem in which Tara acts as voice of reason and asks Sugriva not to fight

Rama aids Sugriva in defeating Vali, but in a dishonorable way that has sparked a lot of discussion. Some justify his actions, while some say that it is not Rama’s character.

“Vali’s Death” is another long poem

Alluding to Indra battling Vritra while the brothers fight

“King Sugriva” is a poem in which both Tara and Sugriva mourn Vali’s death

Sugriva is king and can now aid Rama

“Rainy Season” is a poem in which Rama laments having to wait until the end of the rainy season to find Sita

Angad - son of Vali

Jambavan - king of bears

At the end of the rainy season, Sugriva send armies in four directions to find Sita, including monkeys and bears

“The Armies” begins with a paragraph explaining context, then finishes as a lengthy poem, many lands are names

Jatayu - bird who had tried to save Sita from being kidnapped by Ravana

Sampati - Jatayu’s brother, his winged are burnt and he cannot fly, lives in the south of India

Rama learns from Sampati that Sita is in Lanka

“Sampati and Jatayu” is told from Sampati’s perspective

The end of Sampati’s story is a paragraph of action that took place after his story is finished

Hanuman had been struck by a bolt of Indra’s. Hanuman’s father, the Wind God, began to destroy heaven and earth. Brahma gave Hanuman gift of being invulnerable to appease Wind God.

Hanuman leaps across ocean to find Sita

Lanka compared to a woman

Sita is found in a garden surrounded by rakshasis

“The Ashoka Grove” begins with a paragraph describing the various hideous appearances of the rakshasis, then continues into a poem.

Ravana has many heads

Sita compared to bright moon, “deer among dogs”, “flame obscured by smoke”

Sita will not allow Hanuman to carry her away b/c he is a male

“Hanuman and Sita” begins with two paragraphs, then ends in a poem

Indrajit - Ravana’s son who captures Hanuman

Hanuman is captured and has his tail lit on fire by Ravana, burns the city

Hanuman, Rama, and Sugriva march on Lanka

Rama is afraid of the magical rakshasas

Vajradanshtra and Vajrahanu - two of Ravana’s advisors

Vibhishana - younger brother of Ravana who opposes war and sides with Rama

Ramayana. Public Domain Edition, Web. Link