Reading Notes: Ramayana, Part C

Child Hanuman reaches for the Sun thinking it is a fruit, Wikicommons

Ramayana Reading Notes:

• Rama and Lakshmana are in the river country when they encounter Hanuman disguised as a beggar, but since Rama is able to see through the disguise they greet each other and become acquainted after some questioning. I think that this is a nice point in the story since it exemplifies the good that is Rama and how he is able to see through the maya that is the disguise.
• Surgiva the monkey chief was the one that originally sent Hanuman. It is also ironic to note that Surgiva is in the same situation as Rama, his wife was torn from him and he was exiled too.
• Surgiva shares his tale of how he trapped his brother in a hole with a mountain, because he believed that his brother died after not returning for one year and seeing blood come from the hole. Surgiva's brother did eventually return and he was rightfully mad so he kicked him out and now he governs over the monkeys.
• The imagery used in the first few stories is very vivid in describing the details and feeling of the characters
• Rama returns to the kingdom with Surgiva and fights a battle and wins and places Surgiva back in the throne
• Despite having helped Surgiva regain his royalty Rama is still exiled and is not permitted entrance into a city so he sits calmly in a forest outside with Lakshmana. Rama is still heartbroken that he is without Sita but is hopeful that his deed in reinstating Surgiva as king will help sway favor in getting help to return Sita. Most of the text in this passage is relayed in dialog and it is very flowery and powerful.
• Rama is fair, but the lack of actions of Surgiva really make him and he sends Lakshmana to threaten him with death because he is not holding up his end of the promise. Death appears to be the ultimate motivator since Surgiva sends out apes and bears in search for Sita. I think it is very interesting that bears were sent, I was not familiar with bears playing a role in Hindu stories.
• The apes and bears finally find Jatayu, who informs them that they are along the right path to finding Sita, as she is on the island of Lanka. Jatayu also tells the story of how his wings were burnt off and it is very similar to the story of Apollo flying too close to the sun, I wonder if there are other parallels
• Hanuman had the ability to clear the ocean, but just had to believe in himself
• Hanuman is quiet sneaky as he is able to find Ravana sleeping and then eventually Sita. 
• Sita is so faithful to Rama that she refuses to touch Hanuman despite it meaning her potential saving
• Hanuman is captured and his tail is set a fire by Ravana as Hanuman is an envoy and death would be unjust, kind of ironic that there is justice despite he is the demon king.
• Hanuman is able to escape with the help of a prayer from Sita, and it is worth noting that his flight back is described like a "winged mountain."
• They prepare for war on both sides, but uncharacteristic of Rama is worried of Ravana's magician son.
• Surprising to me is that Ravana's brother suggests that they return Sita to Rama in order to avoid war. Ravana surprisingly is not very happy about this and banishes his own brother from Lanka, where he then joins up with Rama