This reading starts with the abduction of Sita by Ravana. Sita thought she heard Rama in danger and sent Lakshmana after him. Lakshmana did not want to leave her, but among her stubborn request he left her vulnerable to strangers. Ravana had approached her disguised as a kermit. He was taken with her beauty and decided to reward his sister Ahalya with his kingdom. This to me is a display of good Karma for Ahalya, in which she believes she did something good for her brother and in return is getting a reward. Sita, being very loyal to Rama, was speaking of him with Ravana which makes Ravana mad causing his disguise to wear off. A scared Sita realized who he was and had all the hope in the world that Rama would save her and destroy Ravana. Ravana would be cursed if he touched a woman so he lifted her by digging on the ground she stood and left with her in a chariot.
Jatayu, the great eagle that was friends with Dasaratha, saw the danger Sita was in and went to save her. After attempts to block Ravana and create a storm, Jatayu was struck by him and started to die. His last dying act was to reach Rama and Lakshmana to tell them what happened. This showed a theme of loyalty to not only Rama and Lakshmana from when he promised them protection in the beginning, but also loyalty to his late friend, Dasaratha, to protect his sons and all who were involved with them.
The next chapter was said to be the most controversial of the book. It takes place in Kiskinda which is a monkey kingdom. Rama is not misled by the disguises used and infiltrates the kingdom to earn their trust. Sugreeva and Hanuman are the two beings Rama and Lakshmana meet. Sugreeva and his brother, Vali, have a long history and story. Vali was rewarded with strength by the gods. Mayavi, a demon, came to destroy them, but saw Vali's strength and retreated. Vali wanted to annihilate him so he followed him into a tunnel. He was gone for 28 months so the counsel on the kingdom convinced Sugreeva to block off the tunnel in fear that Mayavi had killed Vali and would return. Little did then know that Vali had killed Mayavi and was trapped in the tunnel. Vali escaped and returned to the kingdom mad at Sugreeva and assuming he had tried to get rid of him to take over the kingdom. Vali took back the kingdom while also taking Sugreeva's wife for himself. Upon hearing this story, Rama was sympathetic for Sugreeva and formed an alliance with him. This chapter further paints Rama out to be a very loyal and trustworthy person for all creatures that meet him and entrust their stories and lives in him.
Dundubi was a monster that Vali had slayed and left his bones atop Mount Matanga. Vali was cursed by Sage Matanga that he could not step foot onto the mountain or he would blow up in fragments.
Sita's jewelry, that she dropped in Kiskinda, makes Rama sad at how he failed to protect her furthering the character of Rama of how he is a respectable man.
Rama would first help Sugreeva slay Vali then they would find Sita. Sugreeva drew Vali to him for a battle. Vali, ready to go, was delayed as his wife, Tara, had a bad feeling about it. She had heard that Rama was there and worried that Rama would hurt Vali. Vali did not listen and went to Sugreeva. They fought and eventually, Rama shoots Vali with his arrow. This surprises Vali because he did not know who could possibly kill him. He tries to guilt Rama in which Rama explains that this is Karma for Vali for everything he has done to Sugreeva.
Sugreeva is crowned to rule the kingdom and Rama sent him to gather an army to find Sita during the rainy season. Rama expected to meet at the end of the season with Sugreeva's army. During the season, Rama thought of Sita and more guilt built up in him. At the end of the rainy season, Rama sent Lakshmana to see what the delay was. Tara took charge and spoke with Lakshmana. Sugreeva has indulged in too much pleasures and luxuries that he was sorry for his behavior. He went to explain himself to Rama in which Rama forgave him.
Hanuman and Angada and their army were sent south to search for Sita. They had 30 days to search, but they failed to find her in time. Jatayu's brother, Sampathi, told them he had seen Sita with Ravana heading to Lanka. Hanuman is the only one who can become big enough to cross the water so he grows in order to find Sita.
Bibliography: Narayan, R.K. The Ramayana: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic. Penguin Books, 2006.
Jatayu, the great eagle that was friends with Dasaratha, saw the danger Sita was in and went to save her. After attempts to block Ravana and create a storm, Jatayu was struck by him and started to die. His last dying act was to reach Rama and Lakshmana to tell them what happened. This showed a theme of loyalty to not only Rama and Lakshmana from when he promised them protection in the beginning, but also loyalty to his late friend, Dasaratha, to protect his sons and all who were involved with them.
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| (Jatayu Earth Centre; Source: Wikipedia) |
The next chapter was said to be the most controversial of the book. It takes place in Kiskinda which is a monkey kingdom. Rama is not misled by the disguises used and infiltrates the kingdom to earn their trust. Sugreeva and Hanuman are the two beings Rama and Lakshmana meet. Sugreeva and his brother, Vali, have a long history and story. Vali was rewarded with strength by the gods. Mayavi, a demon, came to destroy them, but saw Vali's strength and retreated. Vali wanted to annihilate him so he followed him into a tunnel. He was gone for 28 months so the counsel on the kingdom convinced Sugreeva to block off the tunnel in fear that Mayavi had killed Vali and would return. Little did then know that Vali had killed Mayavi and was trapped in the tunnel. Vali escaped and returned to the kingdom mad at Sugreeva and assuming he had tried to get rid of him to take over the kingdom. Vali took back the kingdom while also taking Sugreeva's wife for himself. Upon hearing this story, Rama was sympathetic for Sugreeva and formed an alliance with him. This chapter further paints Rama out to be a very loyal and trustworthy person for all creatures that meet him and entrust their stories and lives in him.
Dundubi was a monster that Vali had slayed and left his bones atop Mount Matanga. Vali was cursed by Sage Matanga that he could not step foot onto the mountain or he would blow up in fragments.
Sita's jewelry, that she dropped in Kiskinda, makes Rama sad at how he failed to protect her furthering the character of Rama of how he is a respectable man.
Rama would first help Sugreeva slay Vali then they would find Sita. Sugreeva drew Vali to him for a battle. Vali, ready to go, was delayed as his wife, Tara, had a bad feeling about it. She had heard that Rama was there and worried that Rama would hurt Vali. Vali did not listen and went to Sugreeva. They fought and eventually, Rama shoots Vali with his arrow. This surprises Vali because he did not know who could possibly kill him. He tries to guilt Rama in which Rama explains that this is Karma for Vali for everything he has done to Sugreeva.
 |
| (Vali dying; Source: Wikimedia) |
Sugreeva is crowned to rule the kingdom and Rama sent him to gather an army to find Sita during the rainy season. Rama expected to meet at the end of the season with Sugreeva's army. During the season, Rama thought of Sita and more guilt built up in him. At the end of the rainy season, Rama sent Lakshmana to see what the delay was. Tara took charge and spoke with Lakshmana. Sugreeva has indulged in too much pleasures and luxuries that he was sorry for his behavior. He went to explain himself to Rama in which Rama forgave him.
Hanuman and Angada and their army were sent south to search for Sita. They had 30 days to search, but they failed to find her in time. Jatayu's brother, Sampathi, told them he had seen Sita with Ravana heading to Lanka. Hanuman is the only one who can become big enough to cross the water so he grows in order to find Sita.
 |
| (Sampathi finds Hanuman, Angada, and their army; Source: Wikimedia) |
Bibliography: Narayan, R.K. The Ramayana: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic. Penguin Books, 2006.
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