Reading Notes: Ramayana Part A
During week 3, I was unable to complete the Ramayana Reading Part A, but I got a quick update from a friend and just decided to continue on with the rest of the reading. For the first reading this week, I decided to go back and take notes on the parts I missed. I tried to separate the major plot points for later reference.
Notes:
- The Ramayana begins in the life of Dasharatha, King of the Kohala kingdom, living in the kingdom's capital, Ayodha. While the kingdom was prosperous and happy, the King was given no heirs from his 3 wives.
- The King decides to perform a ritual to the gods, and after a long year of preparation and a successful ceremony, the gods blessed his first wife Kaushalya with a son, his second wife Kaikeyi with a son, and his third wife Sumitra with two sons. They were named Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana, and Shatrughna respectively.
- Meanwhile, the gods were having trouble controlling the demon king Ravana. He had become too powerful after performing many rituals to the gods and receiving powers from them. Vishnu decided to assume the form of a human to defeat Ravana, being born as Rama.
- Vishvamitra, a friend of the King asked Rama and Lakshmana to stop a demon terrorizing his temples. This task proved to be the beginning of Rama's many acts of heroism. From this, Rama gained his first few celestial weapons, and we discover how where he puts them (I was wondering this while reading the rest of the Ramayana!) saying "When I have need of you, I will think of you, and then you will wait upon me."
- After Rama's success, he stays with his brother for a while, listening to tales from Vishvamitra. During a day out, Rama and Sita see each other and are immediately stricken. As a daughter of King Janaka, Rama has to complete a test of strength to win her. He succeeds no problem, gaining another celestial weapon. When the two of them marry, Sita's sisters are also matched with Rama's brothers.
- In the last portion of this reading section, we see the beginning of this exile. Rama is forced to leave for 14 years. Lakshmana and Sita refuse to let him go alone, freely deciding to join him in exile. During the beginning, Lakshmana and Rama decide to put their hair in locks like forest hermits, to keep it manageable. Without any of his sons, King Dasharatha dies of grief.
"Ramayana Part A" by Donald A. Mackenzie, from Indian Myth and Legend. Web source
Notes:
- The Ramayana begins in the life of Dasharatha, King of the Kohala kingdom, living in the kingdom's capital, Ayodha. While the kingdom was prosperous and happy, the King was given no heirs from his 3 wives.
- The King decides to perform a ritual to the gods, and after a long year of preparation and a successful ceremony, the gods blessed his first wife Kaushalya with a son, his second wife Kaikeyi with a son, and his third wife Sumitra with two sons. They were named Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana, and Shatrughna respectively.
- Meanwhile, the gods were having trouble controlling the demon king Ravana. He had become too powerful after performing many rituals to the gods and receiving powers from them. Vishnu decided to assume the form of a human to defeat Ravana, being born as Rama.
- Vishvamitra, a friend of the King asked Rama and Lakshmana to stop a demon terrorizing his temples. This task proved to be the beginning of Rama's many acts of heroism. From this, Rama gained his first few celestial weapons, and we discover how where he puts them (I was wondering this while reading the rest of the Ramayana!) saying "When I have need of you, I will think of you, and then you will wait upon me."
- After Rama's success, he stays with his brother for a while, listening to tales from Vishvamitra. During a day out, Rama and Sita see each other and are immediately stricken. As a daughter of King Janaka, Rama has to complete a test of strength to win her. He succeeds no problem, gaining another celestial weapon. When the two of them marry, Sita's sisters are also matched with Rama's brothers.
Rama and Sita's Wedding
- Even though everyone loves Rama, an angry maid convinced Kaikeyi to force the King to not make Rama heir. Kaikeyi uses an old debt as leverage and Rama is forced into exile.- In the last portion of this reading section, we see the beginning of this exile. Rama is forced to leave for 14 years. Lakshmana and Sita refuse to let him go alone, freely deciding to join him in exile. During the beginning, Lakshmana and Rama decide to put their hair in locks like forest hermits, to keep it manageable. Without any of his sons, King Dasharatha dies of grief.
"Ramayana Part A" by Donald A. Mackenzie, from Indian Myth and Legend. Web source
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