Reading Notes Ramayana (PDE), Part D (Week 4, Part B)

Sitas Exile by Raja Ravi Varma on Wikimedia

Here, I have listed important names and events in the last section of the Ramayana. I was more than surprised by the ending, and am left wondering about Rama’s actions. Why go through war in order to rescue your wife only to accuse her of infidelity? I was disappointed that Sita felt the need to prove this to Rama by calling on the Fire-God. Then, when they are back in the kingdom and there is still talk that perhaps Sita was unfaithful, Rama agrees to banish her. I would have thought that this long, famous story would have a happy ending, especially after all the help that Rama received from various gods and animals. Sita’s story ends up being one of sorrow rather of joy. Her ending should be joyous after the ordeal of being kidnapped. Really, Sita was abandoned by the one who she put so much faith into save her, and so this tale is a tragedy.

Relating to the writing style, I mentioned in my last section of notes that I appreciate alternating between prose and poetry. This method gives certain sections of the Ramayana a more lyrical feel. I attempted writing a poem on Dasharatha’s death for last week’s story. Poetry is useful when trying to accent the emotional aspect of an event, such as Ravana’s chief wife mourning for him.

Rama makes sacrifices for God of Ocean to aid him and his armies to get to Lanka, God cannot help him

Rama is to call on Nila, son of Vishwakarman, divine artisan, to construct a bridge

Ravana has powers of illusion, tries to lie to Sita, but she knows Rama is alive

Garuda - great-winged mount of God Indra

Nagapasha - serpent-weapon

Rama and Lakshmana saved by birds who are enemies of snakes

Kumbhakarna - Ravana’s demon warrior brother who was sentenced to sleep for six months after every meal by Brahma, killed by Rama

Indrajit uses Brahmastra, brahma-weapon

Indrajit makes a sacrifice to Fire-God to defeat Rama and his brother

Himalaya - king of mountains

Indrajit = master of illusions

Lakshmana kills Indrajit

“Ravana’s Lament” begins with two paragraphs of context, then is a poem

Lakshmana is almost slain in battle, Hanuman is sent to a certain mountain for herb to bring him out of coma

Indra sends his chariot to aid Rama

Matali - Indra’s charioteer

Agastya - sage that Rama had met in forest, offers advice to Rama

Rama defeats Ravana with Brahmastra, which is what gods had wanted the whole time

Mandodari - Ravana’s chief wife

Rama claims that Sita is tainted and that she must choose a home with Bharata, Lakshmana, Sugriva, or Vibhishana

Sita calls upon Fire-God, Agni to prove her fidelity

“Pushpaka” is a poem in which Rama recalls his journey in exile the last fourteen years

Rama returns to save Bharata from committing suicide in his absence in the Bharat Milap scene. There is a Hindu festival for this reunion today. “Rama and Bharata” is composed of three paragraphs, then a poem

Rama is king

Rama bans Sita into exile with Valmiki, and she has two sons, Lava and Kusha

King Janaka had found Sita in a furrow in the ground

The sons sing of Rama’s journeys in a poem that is the Ramayana

Lakshmana is taken into heaven by gods, and Rama decides to go as well, returning into Vishnu

Ramayana. Public Domain Edition, Web. Link