Ramayana reading notes A

Nila Ramayana :Wikipedia

Prologue:
Kosala capital is Ayodhya, and is extremely large and lively. The beloved king Dasaratha was childless and summoned Sage Vasishtha. They requested help from the god Vishnu. Dasaratha’s wives, Kausalya and Kaikeyi, gave birth to Rama and Bharatha. While his third wife, Sumithra, gave birth to Lakshmana and Sathrugna. Rama is an avatar of Vishnu and meant to help stop Ravana.

Rama’s Initiation:
Sage Viswamithra is a king and conqueror, who was dreaded. He requests the king to let Rama join his on a yanga. The king is torn by this request, but eventually allows Rama to go with his brother Lakshmana. They travel through a desert.

THATAKA’S STORY:
Suketha is a demigod of great valor, might, and purity. She married Sunda and had two sons, Mareecha and Subahu. Agasthya cursed Sunda for destroying her land. Suketha was cursred and become a demon, which devourers all life in the desert. Rama killed the demon Suketha with an arrow to the throat. Viswamithra then taught Rama weapon techniques at behest of the gods.

MAHABALI’S STORY:
Vishnu took birth in a brahmin family as a tiny man. He defeated Manabili and pressed him into the netherworld with his foot.

GANGA’S STORY:
Sakara wanted to perform a horse sacrifice. Any territory the horse went unchallenged would become part of Sakara’s king. The horse was abducted by Indra, who was wary of Sakara plan. Kapila as hiding the horse was tormented by Sakara’s sons, when they found him. Kapila killed all the sons except Bhahiratha, who is one who brought down the Ganga River with the help of Shiva after praying for ten thousand years.

AHALYA’S STORY:
Brahma created a perfect women Ahalya. Sage Gautama raised and groomed the girl to marry him. Indra tricked Brahma into leaving early for prayer and assumed the form of Brahma to make love to Analya. Indra was curse with female genitalia covering his body and Ahalya was turned to stone. Indra female gentalia become an eye and Ahalya was destoned by Rama.

THE WEDDING:
Rama falls in love at first site to Sita, who he first noticed on the palace balcony. King Janaka told Rama that he could merry his daughter, if he strings the bow that belongs to Shiva. It was a big bow. Rama does string the bow and he marries Sita.

TWO PROMISES REVIVED:
Dasharatha needs to choose a successor as he will die soon. He of course names his first son Rama and the assembly was pleased. Kooni goes to Kaikeyi, mother of Bharata, and played into her fear to stop the crowning of Rama. Dasharatha is told by Kaikeyi to give the throne to her son and exile Rama for fourteen years. The king feels he has no choice but to agree as he owns her two promises. Rama is ordered into excel and obeys. Bharatha is furious at his mother for what she has done. Bharatha went to go find Rama. Rama wishing to follow his fathers order tell Bharatha to be king. Bharatha agrees to be king, but only for fourteen years.

• Citation: Narayan, R. K., & Kampar, . (2006). The Ramayana: A shortened modern prose version of the Indian                 epic (suggested by the Tamil version of Kamban). New York: Penguin Books.