Week 7 Reading Diary B: End of Buck's Ramayana

The final battle took place where Ravana eventually died. Rama finds Sita and discovers her innocence. Part A for this week ended with Rama’s coronation where Hanuman and many monkeys came to watch.  Part B starts off with the journey to Ayodhya where Rama shows Sita the place that him and Hanuman first met. I found this to be very sweet because it shows how much Rama values Hanuman as a friend as well. I love seeing friendships that have reciprocity. Rama finally returns to Ayodhya where Bharata puts his shoes on him that he had promised to save for him so long ago. Many years later, Sita wants to go visit that Ganges river because she is pregnant. Apparently there had been many bad things said about her and it got under Rama’s skin. The people were talking about how they think he was stupid for taking her back even after she had been with Ravana. Despite the fact that it was proven she was loyal to him, he decided to have her abandoned at the Ganges river. I am truly shocked that he did this because it seems so out of his character. I thought it was a bit of a downer on how Buck ended his version of Rama and Sita. The end of Buck’s story talked about Hanuman ripping open his flesh that bore Rama’s name. This finally explained to me why so many pictures of Hanuman have Rama and Sita embedded on his chest. One can only dream to have such a strong, loyal friend as Hanuman. 

Photo of Hanuman found online

Week 6 Storytelling: Hanuman Goes to Lanka

Soon after I was granted eternal life I found some jewelry laying on the ground. I had never seen anything like it before. Once I heard that Rama’s wife was missing I thought the jewelry could be hers so I brought it to him immediately. He was so grateful and I could see the pain in his eyes because he missed Sita. I was instantly  in awe with him. There are very few people on this earth that get to experience true love and he needed help finding his one true love. I knew that he was going to become my best friend. I chose to forever become loyal to him. He informed me that he was sending out a search party for Sita while he held down the fort so I offered to help; little did I know I would soon lead the party.

As we prepared for our departure the night before, I had to introduce myself to everyone. Some were kind, others were weirded out that a monkey was joining. Overall, I felt good about making the decision and slept well for the next day.

The next morning we headed for Sita. We ran into a man named Sampati and he told us that he had seen Sita with Rama overhead flying to Lanka. We decided to take a vote on who was to go across the sea, since there was no bridge for all of us to go. I guess the troops like me more than I’d thought because they all voted for me! I want to make Rama proud and show him my loyalty.

As I crossed the sea, I had a chance to rest on the mountain Mainaka. She was very nice and told me stories as she served me lunch. After that, I had to face the sea demon that was protecting the island. She was vicious but I was able to penetrate her aorta and kill her. Nothing will get in the way of me finding Sita!!!

I finally arrived at the island and realized I needed to disguise myself because no one there has ever seen a flying monkey before. I changed into the shape of a cat because I saw one walk by. It was very different viewing the world from that close to the ground. I’m not sure that I would enjoy being a cat for all of eternity. Eventually Lanka found out that it was me and she was convinced that I was fulfilling the curse of Ravana. I found Sita and made sure she knew I was working for Rama. She gave me something to show Rama when I returned with the news.

Photo of Hanuman found online.

Author's Note: I chose to write from Hanuman's point of view because he is such a loyal friend and follower of Rama. I thought it would be interesting to hear why he loves Rama so much and what he endures on his journey through land and sea to find Sita. 

Bibliography:

Buck, William (1976). Ramayana: King Rama's Way. 

Week 6 Reading Diary B: War in Lanka

This episode is all about the war between Ravana and Rama. It begins with Rama building a bridge to cross over the sea to Lanka. The Water King assures him this can be done. Vibhishana makes Ravana mad and so he ends up becoming allies with Rama. Once again, Ravana tries to perform magic tricks on Sita. He had his magicians create an illusion that looked like Rama had been killed. Sita was distraught but someone unaware of the trap came in and announced Rama’s arrival to Lanka so the trick failed.  Sita realized that Rama was still alive and there to rescue her from Ravana. Rama sends a messenger to speak with Ravana but he is outraged and only wants war (typical for his personality).  

Ravana sends demons to attack at night but they are killed. He next sends his giant brother who is eventually killed by Rama. He then asks his son for help. It continuously amazes me how selfish Ravana is in how he will send all of his loved ones out to battle for him but he won’t do it himself. Rama sends someone to get medicine from the Himalaya mountains and this is how Sita knew that Rama was still alive with the help of Hanuman of course. This episode ends with Ravana finally realizing that all the people he sent to battle have been killed. He knows now that he must go battle Rama himself.

Photo of Ravana's younger brother who was defeated by Rama. Photo found online. 

Week 6 Reading Diary A: Hanuman in Lanka

The first episode for this week starts off with Hanuman coming to find Sita. The monkeys decide that he is the one to go to Lanka. This journey is much more detailed in Buck’s version of the Ramayana. Hanuman rests on a mountain while journeying to Lanka. He also gets swallowed by a demon, but he escaped from her by crushing her heart. When Hanuman arrived to Lanka he is approached by lanka herself. Lanka realizes this is Ravana’s curse coming to him finally. Hanuman discovered that Ravana was still trying to seduce Sita; luckily she was still loyal to Rama!

Hanuman finally finds Sita in the ashoka grove where he tells her about his alliance with Rama. She gave Hanuman a gift to give to Rama when he returned. Before Hanuman leaves Lanka, he goes a little crazy and destroys gardens and such. Ravana captured Hanuman where he ordered to set his tail on fire. Once he did, Hanuman escaped and flew away where he set Lanka on fire! He finally returns to Rama where he informs him of Sita’s safety. At the end of this episode they party a bit.

This is a photo of Hanuman crossing the sea to get to Lanka. He first had to pass through the Demon that was protecting the island. Photo found online.

Comment Wall

Leave comments here

Week 5 Reading Diary B: Abduction of Sita

In the beginning of part B for Week 5, Sita is abducted by Ravana.  I did not understand why he had not forced himself on her before, but I now understand that it is because of his curse. This makes a lot more sense now because Ravana definitely seems like the kind of character that would force himself upon a woman no matter what. So now I understand why Ravana has been trying to woo Sita into liking him—so she will give in and he can bed her.

Here we see the forces setting up with Hanuman and Sugriva to go find Sita. This is where all of the build up happens because it is exciting to know that there is an army of men and Hanuman that are about to set out to find Rama’s love. Rama gave Hanuman Sita’s ring so that when he found her, she will know that it is someone she can trust. In here, we see symbolism with the ring that Rama gives to Hanuman because a ring is a symbol for eternity. I did not catch that in Narayan’s Ramayana.  The episode ends with them finding Swayamprabha in the underground world.  Although they end up staying there for a month, they are now more determined than ever to go find Sita. Again, I am continuously amazed at the loyalty shown by Hanuman.

I chose to post a photo that showed Hanuman with Rama and the earth in the background. Also, his chest shows Rama and Sita, because his heart and loyalty remains with them. I love that he is on what looks like clouds or heaven. 

Photo of Hanuman found online

Week 5 Reading Diary A: Rama in the Forest

Today’s episode is setting the stage for Sita’s kidnapping. In here, I learned that Kaikeyi was one of Dasharatha’s wives, specifically Bharata’s mother. I was unaware of that when reading the Ramayana from last week. Bharata goes to convince Rama to come back, but of course he is reluctant to return to Ayodhya. Again it is mentioned in Buck's version that Bharata set Rama's shoes on his throne while he was gone. This version of the Ramayana gives  bit more detail of the life of Rama in the forest. It talks about the fourteenth summer so I am wondering how long his exile is supposed to last. I also like that his version of the Ramayana gives more detail into why Ravana kidnapped Sita. It tells the same story but I think the details are much easier to understand.  The readings from part A this week were not very long! Beginning with part B will be the beginning of the abduction of Sita.

Photo found online of Bharata asking Rama for his footwear