Week 6 Story: Never to Question

Ah, the handsome lad is finally here.

I knew the day I had met his father, the son would come sooner or later. Years have gone by, but it is alright I am the Goddess Ganga. Shantanu is here, life sure does know how to make things right. Let me tell you he is the sweetest of all the lads, he comes up to me and asks if he may be of any help to me. The son of a millionaire, asking me? My cafe is tiny, so I choose to do things by myself, sure it takes some time, but each drink is made with love and care. Shantanu leaves after having chai, but says he will be back tomorrow.

Right on the dot at 3pm Shantanu walk in orders a chai and sits down, reads the newspaper and leaves again. Saying again, that he'll be back tomorrow. Days and weeks go by and we have fallen into a routine. I always have his chai ready as soon as he walk in the door, I don't know how much longer he will wait to ask me to marry him, time is running out.

One day, Shantanu doesn't come in and I can't help, but wonder if something has happened to him. For the past three months he has been coming in everyday...

Just as I was about to call the police a few hours later he walks in soaked head to toe with flowers and a ring. "Marry me?" Shantanu asks. I can only marry you on one condition, you shall never question my actions and the day you do, I shall have to leave. "I promise not to, all I want is for you to marry me."

Fast forward one year and we have our first child, the greatest sorrow of a mother is to let her child go, and that is what I am having to do to fulfill the curse of the previous life. It was cruel of me to ask Shantanu not to question my actions, but what can I do, I am bound by duty. With each child that I must let go in the river, I see Shantanu hanging on by a thin thread trying to control his urge to ask me why I am drowning our children. It is getting harder for me to see the longing in his eyes, but he doesn't know about the curse of the previous life that these eight children must fulfill.

Shantanu was doing so good, but he finally broke down today. He asked why I have been drowning the children in the river nearby, I tell him these eight kids are the eight gods, Vasus, who are being punished for stealing Vashishtha's cow by being incarnated in human form. :Leaving my sweet husband behind might have been more harder than anything else in my life, but I know soon I shall be back because our eighth child shall be left in the care of Shantanu, once he is older.

For now I shall remain across the country at my other cafe. Until I see you again Shantanu...

Author's Note: So the original story is what the Mahabharata opens up with. In that the King of Hatinapura asks the beautiful girl he meets by the river, during his hunt to marry her. She does on the condition that he is not to question her actions, the day he does she shall be gone. Each child that is born Goddess Ganga drowns each one, until the eighth one. King questions as to why she is drowning the children in the river, she tells him that the eight kids are the eight gods, Vasus, who are being punished for stealing Vashishtha's cow by being incarnated in human form. Soon the wife disappears, but returns years later with the grown child to return him to his father. The baby is grown to be known as Bhima.

Goddess Ganga with eighth child on the riverbanks, followed by King Shantanu

Bibliography. Mahabharata by R.K. Narayan, online pdf.

Reading Notes 7.2 Mahabharata, Part D

Final leg of the Mahabharata:

Krishna's Attempt

• Yudi wants to plea one last time to prevent war
• Dhritara becomes informed that Krishna is coming as an emissary and wants to throw a lavish reception 
• Vidura tells that Krishna doesn't want the reception he only wants justice and peace
• Duryo plans to take Krishna captive
• Krishna updates Kunti of her sons
• Duryo's mom, Gandhari tries to change Duryo's plans - fail
• Duryo realizes he can't capture Krishna once he manifests into his divine form
• Before leaving Krishna speaks with Karna about Karna's parentage and urges him to abandon Duryo, but Karna says NO
• Karna promises Kunti that'll he'll spare her 4 sons and attack only Arjuna

War

• Krishna advises to make Dhrishtadyumna, Draupadi's brother commander of Yudi's troops
• Bhishma is commander of Duryo's troops
• Battlefield = Kurukshetra
• Arjuna not fond of the fact that he is to fight is guru, Drona
• Krishna reminds Arjuna of Bhagavad- Gita saying of duty and detachment
• Krishna manifests to cosmic being 
• Arjuna ready to fight

End of Bhishma

• Dhrishtadyumna attempts to kill Drona, to avenge father's humiliation...Drona escapes
• Arjuna begs Krishna not to slay Bhishma, even though he was mad at Bhishma for attacking Krishna
• Ghatotkacha, demon son of Bhima and Hidimba, arrives
• Amba, reincarnated as Shikhandin, recognized by Bhishma 
• Bhishma can't attack Shikhandin..thus he dies when Arjuna shoots at Bhishma from behind
• Karna takes place of Bhishma 
• Drona = commander of Druyo's army
• attempts to capture Yudi and somehow make Arjuna go away from battlefield
• Arjuna is lead away..Abhi tricked 
• Abhi breaks enemy formation, but doesn't know how to escape..killed by Jayadratha, Druyo's brother-in-law
• Arjuna vows to kill Jaya before next day is over
• Jaya hides all days, but he thinks sun is setting, because of Krishna's illusion
• Arjuna slays Jaya in daylight
• Karna kills Ghatotkachka with an invincible weapon

Bloody Massacre

• Krishna tells of how to kill Drona, through his son Ashwatthaman
• Bhima kills Ashwatthaman the elephant and shouts, " I have killed Ashwatthaman!"
• Drona asks Yudi if it's true, he says yes...but under his breath whispers Ashwatthaman the elephant...
• Drona paralyzed with dispair at losing his son, beheaded by Dhrishtadyumna while in his trance
• Bhima kills Duhshasana, Druyo's bro...drinks his blood
• Karna gets killed by Arjuna, Karna forgets the mantra for utilizing his Brahmastra weapon
• Shalya made commander after Karna's death
• Yudi kills him
• Sahadeva kills Shakuni
• Druyo hides out at the bottom of the lake, emerges and wounds Bhima on his thigh
• Druyo says Krishna killed all of the warriors via deceit...Krishna says no it was karma

In despair

• Battle is over, Pandavas back in Hastinapura
• Dhritara is furious at Bhima, wants to kill him, squashed the statue Krishna had erected thinking it was the real Bhima
• Gandhari curses Krishna
• Pandavas, Vidura, Sanjaya, Dhritara, and women perform rituals for dead
• Yudi tell sage Narada that he feels no joy over this victory
• Narada tells Yudi of the curses Karna held
• Karna's guru Parashurama cursed him for having deceived him 
• he made him forget the important mantra for the weapon at a crucial time
• Karna once killed hermit's cow
• hermit's curse caused the chariot wheel to be swallowed by mother nature
• Yudi would rather be a begger, wanted to make Arjuna King...finally relented and accepted Yudi became king
• Yudi visits dying Bhishma who tells him about kingship and dies
• Yudi cremates on shores of Ganges
• Dhritara, Gandhari, and Kunti live in forest now
• Krishna's people destroy themselves, Dwarka under water
• Krishna's feet mistaken for birds gets him killed
• One by one Pandavas dies, Yudi is left
• Yudi goes to heaven in his bodily form
• Parikshit, child of Abhi, grows to be king, continuing Pandava line

Krishna on the battlefield

Bibliography. Mahabharata by R.K. Narayan, online pdf.

Reading Notes 7.1 Mahabharata, Part C

Hey all! This is the second half of the Mahabharata.

Plans Backfire

• Dhritara always knows what the Pandavas are up to
• knows about Arjuna's weapons
• Duryo plans to humiliate the Pandavas, at Shakuni's urging
• Gods send a gandharva who provkes Duryo and take him captive, saved by Pandavas

Lake

• Pandavas sought out by bhramin to retrieve his staff and kindling used for sacrificial fires. 
• deer can't be caught
• one by one brothers stop at a lake to drink some water, but before they can drink they are to answer a few questions 
• Nakula ignores the fact that he is to answer questions as does Sahadeva, and Bhima
• Yud answers and survives
• test from father, Yama, Dharma
• Brothers come back to life and get the gift of unrecognizability for 13th year

King Virata

• all five are living in disguise in King Virata's court
• Yudi = king's companion, plays dice
• Bhima = cook
• Nakula = stable boy
• Sahadeva = cowherd
• Arjuna = Brihannala = eunuch in women's quarters
• Draupadi = Sairandhri = haridresser of Queen Sudeshna
• Draupadi is raped by queen's brother, Kichaka, she tells Bhima to avenge her
• Bhima squeezes Kichaka to death
• king and queen alarmed, want to send Draupadi away...she begs for permission to remain at court to finish her remaining days of exile

Battle

• Kichaka's death makes Duryo suspicious 
• Susharman, ally of Duryo, is very happy says that they attack Virata and steal his cattle
• Sush takes King Virata, but Bhima rescues king and captures Sush
• Prince Uttara (son of King Virata) hears of raid and goes into battle taking Brihannala as his charioteer
• Prince is terrified, Arjuna says to take over reigns and he'll fight
• god given weapons to Pandavas are called upon
• Arjuna tells prince to not reveal his aka Brihannala's ID 
• Arjuna shoots arrows which fall at Drona's feet 
• Karna withdraws
• King Virata happy about son's vistory 
• King accidentally draws blood of Yudi in moment of anger via thrown dice
• discovers Pandavas true identity 
• King apologizes to Yudi, gives his daughter Uttara to Arjuna and Subhadra's son Abhimanyu

War Preparation

• Krishna and Balarama attend wedding of Uttara and Abhi
• Krishna wants to send a messenger to Duryo to request 1/2 the kingdom for Pandavas
• Satyaki, Krishna's charioteer says to prep for war against Duryo
• Duryo and Arjuna both go to Krishna for help...
• Krishna tells one will get him and the other will get his million soldiers 
• Duryo = soldiers 
• Arjuna = Krishna
• Shalya serves as Duryo's general because of promise

Hastinapura

• Pandavas want peace..small request 5 villages, one for each of the brothers
• message sent via Snajaya 
• Sanjaya urges Dhritara to not support Duryo
• Vidura pleads to Dhitara to make Yudi heir...Dhitara want's to, but he can't bring himself to do it because he still has a son who has his blood in him
• Duryo says he can beat the Pandavas since he's got a bigger army
• Karna gets Brahmastra from Parashurama 
• Bhishma enrages Karna, making Karna state that he won't fight as long as Bhishma is on the field
• Gandhari denounces war and actions of son, Duryo
• Vyasa tells Dhritara that the war is not going help them

Brihannala (Arjuna) and Prince Uttara as driver

Bibliography. Mahabharata by R.K. Narayan, online pdf.

Reading Notes 6.2 Mahabharata, Part B

Mahabharata Continued..

New House

• Duryodhana finds out Pandavas are still alive
• Dhritarashtra doesn't hate Pandavas as his son Duryodhana does
• Bhishma and Vidura tell Duryodhana it would be good to make peace with the Pandavas
• Karna says Bhishma and Vidura are traitors 
• this confuses Dhritarashtra
• Dhrita sends Vidura to the Pandavas to bring them back to Hastinapura
• gives Pandavas part of kingdom
• Pandavas build a city, Indraprastha 
• Sage Narada visits the Pandavas and warns them of potential conflicts with 5 brothers sharing 1 wife
• Arjuna walk in on Yudishthira during the year Draupadi was Yud's wife
• exiled for 12 years
• while in exile marries Ulupi, a naga princess
• and Subhadra, sister of Krishna

New King

• Yudishthira = king of Indraprashtha
• Krishna in attendance
• Duryodhana and his maternal uncle, Shakuni attend
• Duryodhana is very jealous of Indraprashtha
• Uncle advises to leave the Pandavas alone
• they possess many gifts of the gods along with weapons
• ie Gandiva bow, gift of Agni to Arjuna for helping burn Khandava forest
• Maya saved from fire...hall with illusions built
• Pandavas and Draupadi laugh at Druyo, for being fooled by the illusion...enrages Druyo

Revenge

• Shakuni suggest game of dice to exact revenge
• Vyasa visits Pandavas and warns of the bad omens that he sees
• Dhritara builds rival hall, the Crystal Palace
• Vidura sent to invite Pandavas to Crystal Palace for game of dice...
• Yudi can't refuse as a warrior...Pandavas got to Hastinapura

Gambling

• Yudi gambles away everything he has, including himself, his brothers, and his wife
• Duryo sends his brother, Duhshasana to fetch Draupadi...she says she can't come because she's on her period
• She's still dragged to the hall
• Karna orders Pandavas to take off their princely robes 
• Duryo orders Duhshasana to undress Draupadi....she prays to Krishna for help
• each sari is replaced with another one
• Bhima promises to exact revenge in Duryo 
• Duryo continues to harass Draupadi
• Dhritara gives Draupadi a wish:
• 1st: she asks Yudi to be set freee
• 2nd: she asks for the other 4 brothers to be set free
• 3rd: she doesn't ask for one - declines
• Dhritara gives the Pandavas' there possessions and sends them back to Indraprashtha

Round 2

• Duryo requests for the Pandavas to be invited again
• Gandhari, mom, says to Dhritara to not to invite the brothers, too late
• Yudi accepts, higher stakes
• 13 years of exile...12 years in poverty, 1 year in disguise
• Yudi loses, brothers in exile
• Vidura to take care of Kunti
• Pandavas got to Ganga
• followers requested to go back home, but they stay
• Yudi prays to Surya, given a copper bowl with an endless supply of food
• Shakuni, Duryo, and Karna want to attack Pandavas
• Vyasa urges not to

Weapons

• Krishna tells Yudi that Duryo and allies will be punished
• Draupadi can't believe Yudi would let his enemies off so easliy
• Vyasa assures Yudi that his enemies will be slain in battle, Vyasa teaches Yudi a mantra to get weapons for gods
• Yudi teaches Arjuna
• Arjuna goes to Vindhya mtns to meditate...Pashupata from Shiva
• goes to Amaravati, city of Indra..gandharva teaches Arjuna music and dance
• an apsara falls in love with Arjuna (Urvashi) but he rejects her advances 
• she curses him to live as an eunuch among females, but Indra is impressed with his self-control
• tells Arjuna this curse will soon become a blessing
• Arjuna back with his brothers

The blessing of Krishna to Draupadi

Bibliography. Mahabharata by R.K. Narayan, online pdf.

Reading Notes 6.1 Mahabharata, Part A

Welcome back y'all! This week is the Mahabharata by R.K Narayana.

Let me start off by saying, my dad was actually telling me the opening over winter break and explaining its significance one day.

Shantanu

• king of Hastinapura
• convinces a woman he meets by the river to marry him
• she marries on one condition that he never question her and the day he does she will leave
• they get married and child after child is born, she drowns each newborn into the river
• ah, the king breaks and asks his wife why she is drowning the children
• wife explains that these 8 kids are the eight gods, Vasus, who are being punished for stealing Vashishtha's cow by being incarnated in human form
• wife disappears with eighth child and later returns him to king when he is grown 
• baby = Bhishma
• Falls in love again with Satyavati, fisherman's daughter
• some stipulations...dad won't approve since there is already a successor to the throne of Shantanu
• Bhishma gives up the right and says he won't even have kids to help his dad at a chance for love
• S & S have 2 kids, Chtrangada (becomes king soon dies) and Vichitravurya (too young so Bhishma = regent)
• Bhishma brings all 3 girls from the swayamvara for Vich, but Amba had promised herself to king of Shalwa
• Amba get rejected by King of Shalwa bc of she having lived in another's man's house
• Amba vows revenge
• Ambika and Ambalika marry Vich

Satyavati's First born 

• Vich dies without leaving an heir, Satyavati tells Bhishma to sleep w/ Vich's widows
• Bhishma says NO, can't break his vow
• Satyavati says the person who slept with her (rishi named Parashara), originally changed her from smelling like a fish to always having a floral smell
• from that union child is Vyasa, who has a repelling appearance
• Sleeps with Ambika
• see closes her eyes, son, Dhritarashtra, is born blind
• Sleeps with Ambalika
• she's pale at time of union, baby is pale
• baby = Pandu
• Ambalika has her servant sleep with him...servant like him 
• baby = Vidura = flawless

Struggles for Kids

• Dhritarashtra marries Gandhari, who covers her eyes to share husband's blindness
• has 100 kids = Karuavas
• eldest = Duryodhana
• Pandu marries Kunti and Madri
• cursed by deer who were having sex and Pandu had shot them
• deer = celestial being in disguise
• Curse = Pandu will die while making love
• Kunti has mantras for getting kids
• gift for her kindness from Sage Durvasa
• 1st child with Surya, she put Karna in a basket and put it in the river (rescued and raised by charioteer and wife)
• Pandu wants son so uses Kunti's ability
• Yama --> Yudhishthira
• Vayu --> Bhima 
• Indra --> Arjuna
• Ashwins --> Sahadeva and Nakula 
• 5 sons of Pandu = Pandavas
• can't resist his passion for Madri, he dies, Madri climbs his funeral pyre
• Kunti left to raise kids

New King

• Kunti and Pandavas are back to Hastinapura, where Dhritarashtra is king
• he raises his kids and the Pandavas together 
• Duryodhana has a jealous/resentful streak
• tries to drown Bhima in a river
• Drona = boys guru
• trains them with his own son, Ashwatthaman
• Arjuna awarded secret weapon because of being the only one focused enough to pass it.
• saves Drona from crocodile
• recog publicly
• Karna arrives to challenge Arjuna.. Kunti recognizes Karna
• Guru Kripa asks Karna about parents to determine if royal lineage
• Duryodhana and Karna alias, makes him king of Anga
• Drona tells pupils to capture King Drupada, who had betrayed Drona
• Drona keeps 1/2 of King D's kingdom and gives 1/2 back

Fire

• Dhritarashtra names Yudhishthira as successor
• but his popularity among the people is a bit worrisome
• Duryodhana tells his dad to exile the boys
• sends Yudhishthira to Varanavata
• Purochana builds house of oil, resin, and straw for it to easily be a victim of a fire
• House of Joy for the Pandavas
• Pandavas are smart, escape through an underground tunnel

Hide...

• In the forest 
• Bhima and Hidimbi, sister of a rakshasa that Bhima killed, have a kid named Ghatotkacha
• Kunti and Pandavas travel in the forest away from Hastinapura 
• Pandavas in disguise as brahmins 
• begging...Kunti divides the gatherings of the day
• Bhima battles Baka (a rakshasa)
• shocks everyone...how can a brahmin defeat a savage beast?

Draupadi's Bachelorette

• King Drupada holds a swayamvara for daughter Draupadi
• Guests:
• Pandavas 
• Krishna and brother Balarama
• Karna and Duryodhana
• Arjuna (one of the Pandavas) strings the bow
• Kunti says the 5 must share Draupadi 
• King is shocked that his daughter will have 5 husbands
• Vyasa explains about Draupadi's previous birth as Nalayani 
• she was married to a sage
• sage slept with her in guise of 5 different men
• she prayed to Ishvara to give the 5 husband in her next life (in the form of Pandavas)

Pandavas Escaping the fire

Bibliography. Mahabharata by R.K. Narayan, online pdf.

Week 5 Story: Sita

This is told from the perspective of Sita:

     Finally after 14 years we are back home. Let me tell you the journey and the forest was all fine, the only part that made everything rocky was Ravan taking me to Lanka. Even though I completed the test of fidelity, mine and Ram's relationship is not what is was like before. I can hear the whispers of the people throughout the kingdom who are questioning my faithfulness to Ram along with his availability to reign after taking a woman back who has lived in Ravan's palace. I must do everything in my power to protect Ram's honor and image in the eye of the people. Ma Kaushalya calls upon me, Ma Kaushalya senses that I am pregnant, but does not mention it. I ask for advise from Ma K about what to do, Ma K advises" do not listen to the people, you must trust Ram to make the right decision. She also mentions that Ram loves me very much."
     The next day Ram decrees that I am exiled to the forest, I understand why he has to make this decision and I do not blame him. He is the love of my life and I will do as he says, because I know in the future we will be reunited. Ram has no knowledge of my pregnancy, knowing this information would have clouded his judgement.
     Forest hello again...who knew I would be back so soon? I had thought if would have been mulitple years. Life is very unpredictable, I must search for a place to live. Thank the gods and goddesses, Sage Valmiki lives in this forest, here I can be able to stay without worry.
     It has been 18 years living in the forest now, the boys, Lav and Kush are looking more and more like their father. Who knew they would serve as a constant reminder of who lives far away. Life has not been easy, but luckily Sage Valmiki has been instrumental in helping raise and teach the boys. Unexpectedly Sage Valmiki, tells me that he is taking the boys to a feast. I wonder what feast it could be, but I must listen carefully to as to who is hosting this feast. They come home the later that days only to return again the next day from the feast. Sage Valmiki tells me that I am to accompany them to Ayodhya in the morning...
     I am ecstatic, my dream is finally coming true, Ram and I shall be reunited. As I enter the kingdom I notice the people, Ram with the boys, everyone is so happy, how will I be able to go back to Ram without upsetting the people. I love Ram too much to put him through any form of humiliation, I must leave forever. O Mother of Earth, if you believe in my fidelity, you shall take me into you. As the ground covers over again I can feel Ram's eyes searching for me as Sage Valmiki had informed earlier that Ram was anxiously awaiting my arrival. I shall soften the ground under those who shall walk barefoot from under here.

Author's Note: So in the Divine Archer by F.J. Gould, the narrative closes with Sita being exiled by Ram upon return to the Ayodhya due to the people's talk. Sita never argues, she lives in the forest in the ashram of Sage Valmiki. There she gives birth to twin boys, Lav and Kush. After many years Ram has a feast where Valmiki and takes the boys and the boys display their talent through the harping and singing of the Ramayana. They come back the next day, where Valmiki tells Ram that the boys are indeed his sons and if he would like to Sita he shall bring her to Ram. Ram says yes, so the next day is when Sita is closer to the kingdom and notices the happiness of all and the father and sons, and calls upon the mother of earth to take her is she holds her earlier statement true.

Bibliography: The Divine Archer by F.J. Gould. Online pdf.

Luv and Kush learning the verses of the Ramayana from Sage Valmiki

Reading Notes 5.2 Ramayana, Part B

Welcome back!

In this post I am continuing on a short version of the Ramayana called the The Divine Archer, by F.J. Gould.

Bibliography: The Divine Archer by F.J. Gould. Online pdf.

Sita, Oh Sita Where are you?:

• Search for Sita continues
• Sugriva fights Vali, Vali's death by Ram's arrow
• Monsoon season is over, search resumes...Ram give Hanu his ring to give to Sita
• Brother of Jatayu, Sampati is encountered...informs them that Sita is in Lanka...Hanuman jumps the water
• water has a monster named Surasa

Hanuman welcome to Lanka:

• Vibhishana, Ravan's brother, loyal to Ram, makes Hanuman aware of Sita's location, the Ashoka grove
• Hanuman witnesses the encounter between Ravan and Sita as well as the one between Sita and the lady demons (rakshasis)
• Ring is delivered
• tells Sita that Ram is coming...Lanka gets crushed by Hanu

Lanka is in flames:

• Ravan wants to kill Hanu, but Vib says N
• instead Ravan sets Hanu's tail on fire, which in turn causes Lanka to be in flames bc Hanu keeps making his tail grow larger
• Sita gives Hanu jewelry to give Ram

War it is:

• Rakshasas afraid of Ram
• Mandodari, wife of Ravan tries to stop him from fighting Ram... no avail
• Kumbhakarna and Vib try also no luck...
• Vib leaves Lanka to fight alongside Ram

Ram in Lanka:

• Ocean god tells Ram to build a bridge to cross the ocean...his army does it with various materials 
• main engineers monkeys: Nala and Nila 
• Ram knocks Ravan's crown with an arrow..While Ravan is in court 
• the arrow returns to Ram

Battle:

• fighting lasts all day...Laksh gets injured by Indrajit (Meghnad), Ravan's son the next day
• Next day, Kumbhakarna attacks in his drunken state
• killed by Ram's rain of arrows
• Days of battle ensue
• God Indra sends his chariot to Rama in addition to weapons
• Ram kills Ravan, Queen grieves
• Hanu brings Sita to Ram..Ram tells Sita has to prove fidelity
• Sita passes fire test
• Vib marries Mandodari
• Ram, Laksh, Sita, and Hanu mount an air chariot led by swans and fly to Ayodhya
• In this version a winged genie takes the news of Ram's approach to Bharat
• the nation is rejoicing

Sita's Exile:

• people talk of how Ram shouldn't be keeping Sita after she has spent time in Ravan's Palace
• Sita is sent away to the forest..find shelter under Sait Valmiki 
• becomes mother of twin boys (Lava and Kusa)
• Ram tells Laksh that it's time to prove his power, sends black horse and anyone who touches the horse Laksh has permission to start war
• Feast brings people from everywhere including Saint Valmiki with the twins who recite verses of the Ramayana 
• Ram wants to give them gold for their beautiful work...they won't accept it
• asked who taught the twin, twins respond Valmiki
• Next boys come back, sing and harp more verses
• Ram learns from Valmiki that they're his sons
• Valmiki offers to bring Sita next day

Sita opens the ground:

• Sita comes next day see all the people, Ram on the throne, the boys with Ram 
• Sita requests Mother Earth and again declares her fidelity, asking the goddess Bhumi to take her if she if true to Ram
• Golden throne comes out of the throne, Sita takes a seat and is taken into the ground, leaving Ram and the boys behind 

Hanuman fighting Surasa

Reading Notes 5.1 Ramayana, Part A

Hey all!

This week I am reading a short version of the Ramayana called the The Divine Archer, by F.J. Gould.

Bibliography: The Divine Archer by F.J. Gould. Online pdf.

The Birth:

• story begins with the celebrations taking place because the birth of four princes in Ayodhya
• King D has three wives..Kaykeyi, Sumitra, Kaushalya
• 4 sons Ram, Laksh, Bharat, Shatrughna 
• Ram completely different, soles of his feet = magic signs = thunderbolt, flag, and goad
• Kaushalya sees Ram transform in to a comic being and become a baby again 
• Sons grown, go thru the rituals of Janoi, instruction under guru
• Ram learns vedas quickly

Vishvamithra:

• wise hermit seeks Ram from King D to help in war to defeat the demons
• King is reluctant...finally agrees, says Laksh won't be able to stay w/o Ram 
• Demons are fought, they arrive the river Ganges
• In this the city of King Janaka is Videha
• FIRST SPOTTING OF SITA!!!

Ram & Sita:

• Love at first site
• Sita prays to Ma Bhavani about Ram, while Ram is also restless about Sita
• Indian version of Bachelorette... Bend Shiva's bow for the hand of Sita
• Vishvam gives the OK to Ram, it snaps under his strength

Parashurama:

• demands to know who broke Shiv's bow, when rival suitors start to gang up on Rama
• Laksh tells theat Ram snappe
• Parashu gives ram the bow of god Vishnu and Ram easily strings the bow, earning the respect of Parashu

Wedding:

• King D and fam are in King J's palace 
• other 3 brothers also get married, all on the same day
• back to Ayodhya

Crown Jewel:

• King D wants to make Ram King
• Guru (Vashishtha) says get it done soon/quickly
• Manthara, evil servant of Kaykeyi stirs the pot and adds poison to Kaykeyi's head. 
• manipulates Kaykeyi into thinking Bharat should be crowned not Ram
• Kaykeyi uses her 2 promises to have Ram exiled and Bharat become king
• King D is devastated by the departure of Ram 
• Sita and Laksh are adamant that they will join Ram

Exile:

• people, plants, and animals all seemed to feel the loss of the prince 
• the three slept under a tree , mounted a chariot in the night and traveled to the river Ganges 
• Crowd of people with gifts, fruits, etc
• an old ferryman helps the three cross the river
• Hermit Valmiki guides them to live on a hill called Chitrakuta
• Charioteer back in Ayodhya give King D and update

Death:

• King D says this current situation is because of a curse he had received long ago when he had gone hunting and accidentally killed a boy by mistake who was filling water for his blind parents...thought the boy was an elephant...
• tells Kaushalya the story and King D dies

Bharat is back:

• Bharat is very mad at Kaykeyi for what she has done
• after funeral, Bharat goes out in search of Ram to try to bring him back
• Ram tells Bharat that he cannot refuse father's command, Bharat goes back home with Ram's shoes, tells not going to take throne though

Agastya:

• gives Ram rare gifts
• urges Ram to move his living to Panchavati forest, where the Godaveri stream runs

Visitors:

• Panchavati forest belongs to Rakshas, Khara, Dushan & Shurpanakha 
• She likes Ram, but he says he's already got a wife but Laksh is single, Laksh tells her NO
• Shurpan is enraged
• Rakshas army comes to take Sita
• Army annihilated by Ram, remaining Rakshas inform Ravan of what happened

Ravan:

• Ravan requests help of Maricha to become a golden deer to kidnap Sita
• Sita sees the deer, wants the fleece of the golden deer
• Ram goes after deer, Laksh stays
• Sita hears the Ram's cry (actually Maricha) and sends Laksh
• Laksh bound by duty says he can't
• Sita forces him to go
• Ravan in form of an old hermit comes and introduces himself as the king of Rakshas
• Ravan takes her, Jatayu fights to get Sita back, but his wings are slashed by Ravan
• Ram asks Laksh why he came
• Brothers find Jatayu (informs bros that Ravan has taken Sita) and perform funeral rites

The search:

• In their search they come across Hanuman and Surgiva, driven away from his kingdom by brother Bali
• Hanu says lets offer the bros help..Sugriva agrees
• Sugriva presents Ram with a red scarf, that Ram recognizes as Sita's
• Ram says let's go get your kingdom back from Bali
• Bali vs Sugriva, Ram kills Bali with his divine arrow

Parashurama

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Week 4 Story: The Rakshasas of Texas Continued

Ravan coming up to Sita’s house acting like a homeless man

In the year A.D 14 the Republic of the India was coming crashing down. To begin with the president Shiv was exiled for granting powers to a villain. This villain that Shiv granted unnecessary powers to is known as Ravan. The powers that were given to Ravan were being able to disguise, fly, cruse people, and many more powers. After Shiv was exiled from his presidency, Ram and Lakshman, who are brothers took over the Republic of India and started to make it into a better place where families and individuals can spend quality time together. Ram also had just been newly married to a great looking girl who was named Sita, who became the First Lady of the India House. When Ram took office he first and foremost tries to remove Ravan’s evil powers. Ram is very unsuccessful at removing Ravan’s evil powers. Ravan eventually gets wind of this and begins to construct a master plan to get back at the man that tried to destroy him.

Few weeks after Ram takes office, Ram has to make an emergency trip to London where foreign affairs are at stake. While Ram is in London Sita is all alone with out secret service agents or anyone. Ravan gets wind of Sita being alone then believes that now is the best time to put his master plan into action. Ravan arrives to the India House disguised as a homeless man. Sita feels bad for Ravan who she thinks is a homeless man, so she accepts him with open arms into her home. After she accepts him he then revels him true self. Sita quickly realizes who has really showed up into her home then demands Ravan to leave her house immediately. While Ravan was cursing someone he hated, that person that he was cursing put a curse on Ravan. The curse that was put on Ravan was that if he touched a woman without her consent that he would die that instant...thus he pulls the ground under Sita and places it in his chariot and speeds off. An hour after Ravan kidnaps Sita, Ram returns back home. Ram quickly realizes that Sita is nowhere to be found. Ram then contacts his fellow mates to help him track down his wife. One of Ram’s mates, Jatayu, finds Ravan and Sita. Jatayu then tries to stop Ravan in his tracks and is very successful at doing so also, but Ravan utilizes one of his evil powers to try to kill off Jatayu. Ravan then carries Sita to the land of the evil which is Lanka.

Ram and Lakshman have now been looking for Sita for a good two days now. On their way to Lanka the have to pass through the land of Kiskinda which is the land of the monkeys. As the two brothers enter the monkey land they are encountered by a monkey Hanuman who is the leader of the monkey kingdom. Hanuman also had the power to disguise but he never used it in a bad way. When Hanuman went to go talk to Ram he disguised himself as a scholar, but Ram saw right through the disguise. Hanuman wanted to come and help find Ram’s wife but Ram did not think a monkey could help so he put him through a test where he had to shoot an arrow and it had to go through the 7 trees and 7 worlds and 7 seas. Hanuman passes with flying colors so then Ram then tasks Hanuman to serve as a troop to help Ram find his wife. After picking Hanuman up they are close to the land of the evil. Prior to entering Lanka Hanuman is an itsy bitsy creature who then grows to a gigantic size so he can beat Ravan up.

Author’s Note: This story is based off when Ravan hears about Sita’s great qualities and features so Ravan draws both the brothers Ram and Lakshman out of their home so Ravan can abduct Sita. In attempts to save Sita, Jatayu whips up a storm to try to take the chariot down so he can save Sita but instead Ravan tries to kill him, but Jatayu holds on to his life so he can tell Ram who took Sita. While searching for Sita, Ram comes across Hanuman who helps him find Sita and tries to bring her back home safely. Also the powers of the kingdom try to bring back home the beloved wife of Ram because the evil character  could not stand and hear of how good of a wife Ram had gotten. This time I wanted to switch things up a bit and try a new style, hope you all liked it!

Bibliography. Ramayana by N.K. Narayan, online pdf.