Reading Notes: Ramayana, Part B

Rama and Lakshmana seated on Kabandha's arms, about to sever them, WikiCommons

Ramayana Reading Notes:
  • The death of Dasharatha brings a lot of hate to the kingdom and ultimately leads to anger towards Kaikeyi, she is thrown on the ground but is spared as she is a woman
  • Dasharatha is given a proper pyre funeral, everyone weeped
  • Life is extinguished when we die, and the food used in the funeral is selfish by priest that want to feast as they do not serve the dead
  • Rama disagrees with the above statement, and the heart of the man is judged
  • Gold sandals are given to Rama by his brother, but he does not keep them. The sandals are then guarded by his brother on the ground and they are treated as royal authority. They are shaded with an umbrella on the outskirts of town. If Rama does not return the brother will throw himself in a pyre
  • Stars circle the Lord of Night, Sita is given precious gems by the Lord
  • Rama, Prince of Righteous Fame
  • Rakshasa, Viradha by name, has a boon that makes him unable to die from wounds from weapons, he picks up Sita and decrees that Sita will be his wife and that he will drink Rama's blood.
  • Since the Rakshasa can't be slain by weapons, they dig a hole and throw him in to die
  • Upon Viradha's death he is returned to his true form and lifted from the curse that could only be broken by Rama, ascends to heaven
  • The hermit forest is Sita's home
  • There is some nice rhymes schemes describing Sita's situation
  • Shurpanakha assumes the shape of a beautiful woman
  • There is a plot to devour Sita, so Rama and Shurpanakha can roam
  • Rama and Lamshanaka cuts off Shurpanakha's limbs, she flees and gets the help of their brothers, 14 Rakshasas go to capture but are all slain
  • They now call for 14,000 Rakshasas to kill Rama
  • The sun is swallowed an eclipse is made
  • Dushana is slain by Rama and the army is dispersed, another shot is made and the war is won, Sita embraces Rama
  • The conquest of Rama is shared between the Rakshasas and they are supremely angered
  • The Rakshasas plot to torture Sita to get to Rama
  • Maricha assumed the shape of extravagant deer to get Sita's attention, it was the color of the rainbow, also lined with gold and silver
  • Rama grabs his bow to hunt the deer
  • Rama and Sita are careful of the deer as they are wearily that it is a trick by a demon
  • Sita claims that she can not live without Rama when he disappears
  • Rakshas capture Sita and carry her off in a chariot, all while Sita cries for Rama
  • Rama is slain, but Sita lives
  • Sita refuses to love Ravana, the Demon King, Ravana threatens Sita with death if she does not change her mind after seeing sights that are set to melt her heart
  • Rama is revived but is filled with sorrow as he has lost Sita
  • Rama wanders aimlessly to find his lover, it is very poetic
  • Rama comes across the Vulture King as he is dying, but is able to find where Sita went to
  • Kabandha is fought by the brothers and burned to be release from his form and reveals that Ravana is on the island of Lanka and is the King of Rakshasas
  • A celestial being resigns here body to the pyre for Rama
  • There is lots of sacrifice for Rama

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