Ramayana Reading Notes D


Ramayana pg. 130-153

Across The Sea:

 Vibishana meets with Rama after leaving Ravana. He warns Rama of Ravana's plans and pleads to help Rama. Hanuman tells Rama that he can trust Vibishana as he is one of the most pious and righteous man in Lanka. Also, he helped Hanuman when Ravana was about to kill him in Lanka for burning down the city. Vibishana and Rama draw up a plan to attack Lanka. Rama prayed and fasted for seven days. Then he asked the sea to give him passage towards Lanka. Rama, Hanuman, and the rest of the army built a bridge across the sea by filling it with pebbles and rocks.

 The Siege of Lanka:

 As the fight between Rama's and Ravana's armies began, Ravana started to lose more of his army day by day. He decides to send spies into Rama's army and even tries to manipulate Sita in order to prevent her from reuniting with Rama. However, none of his efforts work. Then, Rama tries to convince Sita that Rama and Lakshmana were dead by sedating them. Sita believes Ravana and tries to kill herself, but Ravana's concubine tells her that it was all a trick.

In another fight with Rama, Ravana becomes injured and Rama tells him to rest and fight with the next day. This was the first time that Ravana had accepted humiliation. Kumbakarna, Ravana's brother is awoken and told about Ravana's fight with Rama. Kumbakarna vows to defeat Rama for humiliating Ravana. However, Rama severs Kumbakarna's head, killing him.

Rama and Ravana in Battle:

 Ravana decides to fight Rama by himself. He straps on his armor and the gods send Rama a chariot to defeat Ravana with. Ravana begins to string and shoot thousands of arrows upon Rama, but Rama is able to deflect every arrow. Ravana sends several weapons towards Rama, but Rama chants mantras that would protect him.

Ravana becomes infuriated that the gods supporting a human. Eventually, Ravana becomes weak and Rama sends the brahmasthra towards Ravana. He aims the weapon towards Ravana's heart as Ravana's weakness was found in his heart. This kills Ravana and it is the end of the battle.

Interlude:
                                                           Image Details: Sita's trial by fire, Source: Wikimedia

 Rama asks Hanuman to fetch Sita. Sita meets Rama, but Rama does not seem very happy to see her. He explains to her that he only rescued her to uphold his family's name. He tells her that he cannot accept her as she spent many day's in a stranger's house. Rama tells Sita that their relationship was over and that she was free to leave. Sita becomes heartbroken and tells Lakshmana to build a fire. Hesitantly, Lakshmana builds a fire and Sita jumps in it, performing an "agni pariksha." Sita rises from the fire and Rama reunites with her, overjoyed that her integrity was still intact.

The Coronation:

                                           Image Details: Rama's Court, Source: flickr 

Rama explains to the readers that he made Sita perform the "agni pariksha" because he wanted to prove to the rest of the world that Sita was pure. Dasaratha comes back from heaven and reunites with Rama. Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana return to Ayodha and is crowned king.

Bibliography: R.K. Narayan, "The Ramayana: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic" 1972.

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