Week 7 Storytelling: Rama's Plan Revealed

Rama was reaching the end of his journey through the forest, this meant he would finally have to kill Ravana in order to move on with his plan. He had used this journey as an excuse to putting off the execution of his great plan, it had begun to haunt him. Everyday he thought to himself about if he was really capable of taking over all of the land for him selves and returning to take over all of the heavens as well. However, he had finally come to terms with it and understood that it was time to execute his final steps of his great plan.

Rama went to Ravana and waged a great final battle with the god. He wanted this battle to be the one that was so great it was talked about for ages to come. He cut all of the heads from the body of Ravana and continued to defeat his great opponent until he was finally dead. This great death marked the beginning of Rama's take over. He could now return to the throne and remove his brother from power. He and Sita returned to rule the great city as their return was greeted by a tremendous festival though the streets. This festival was all to celebrate the return of Rama, the great ruler of all the land.

Rama knew he had one last part of his plan that he must carry out to gain the full trust of all the people and to be considered the most powerful leader of all time. However, this last part of his plan was the toughest. It was so tough it took him over ten thousand years to act out the plan. The reason it was so hard was that he was forced to get rid of Sita in order to be the sole recipient of all praise. He sent Sita, who he had come to admire after their great journey, to a small island where only he and very few of his trusted friends knew she was. The reason for this was that she was finally pregnant, he only needed her to have the children so they could be returned to him and she could be left to die alone.

With Sita now out of the picture, his only job was to wait for the children to be returned so that he could force the city to worship the ground they walked upon and he would be able to leave the city to them in very few years. As soon as these years had passed, he left the children the throne, knowing he would always have absolute command over them once he took full control over the heavens. Rama now went to his close friends and killed all but two of them, Lakshmana and Hanuman, who had been part of the plan all along. The plan called for them to return to the heavens with Rama. One would rule the earth from the heavens, while the other would be first in line behind Rama in commanding the heavens.

Rama, Hanuman, and Lakshmana headed to the shores where they would depart from the lands and head for the heavens. As soon as they entered the sea, their souls headed directly up to the gates of the heaven. They were met by the great gate-keeper it appeared, however the man who appeared immediately transformed into the great Ravana. A battle broke out directly outside the gates of heaven. Ravana destroyed the souls of Lakshmana and Hanuman, with no resistance from Rama. However, the two then embraced each other. Ravana said to Rama, "I have been awaiting your arrival for nearly ten thousand years brother, I am glad we may now rule all of the lands and heavens together". Rama hugged his brother and whispered in his ear, "I will rule the heavens, as you will only rule the underworld". He then drove a great sword through the heart of Ravana, forcing his soul to the underworld where he would rule but never be able to escape.

Ravana awaiting Rama at the gates to the heavens

Source: Wikipedia

Author's Note: Over many of the past storytelling projects I have told many great tales about Rama and his defeat of Ravana. Although I strongly admire the character of Rama, I felt as if doing something a little bit different with this story. I wanted Rama to appear as a very confident, strong character but maybe not so morally strong. This story focuses more on his personal interests instead of his interests in saving the people. It may seem very farfetched but that is what I was hoping to create, as well as the fact that this great plan was his intention from the very beginning. Obviously there were many great changes to the story but overall I wanted to include most of the original characters and keep it as relatable to Buck as possible.

Bibliography:

• Buck, William (1973). Mahabharata.  

Reading Diary B: Rama's Return

Rama's return tot he throne is where we left off in the first part of the reading this week and it is where the second part of the reading picks up. Rama must make sure the Bharata knows he is coming so that he does not follow through with his plans to kill himself. In order to do so, Rama sends always trustworthy Hanuman ahead of him to announce his return to Bharata. Bharat is so excited that he starts crying tears of joy and greets Rama with his sandals upon his return. Rama eventually sends home everyone who had accompanied him on his journey. He and Sita rewarded all of this who had played an important role in their safety.

Although everything seemed to be running smoothly after the return of Rama and Sita, many years later things began to change. Rama started listening to the rumbling of the common people that he should not have taken Sita back after she lived with Ravana and now that she was preagnant. Rama then sends her with Lakshmana to the Ganges. Lakshmana does not agree but he knows he must follow through with Rama's command. Lakshmana leaves Sita upon the shores of the Ganges. Sita while there gives birth to Kusha and Lava.

Rama plans a great festival and invites Sita's father, Janaka. Rama eventually realizes the two boys are really his sons during the festival. The entire time he had just placed a gold statue of Sita next to him in his place. When Sita is finally allowed to plead for her innocence from Rama, Rama makes it to where if she is innocent she will go with Bhumi into the ground. After the disappearance, Rama continues to rule. Kala then goes as a hermit and requests a meeting with Rama, however if anyone interrupts they will die. Lakshmana interrupts the meeting so he must go to the river to die. Rama then begins his journey out of Ayodhya. Along the way Hanuman opens his flesh to reveal that his bones carry the name of Rama on them. Rama gives him his ring which bears the name Rama. Rama then jumps into the Sarayu river followed closely by his loyal friends and followers. The souls of all of the dead then ascend upward to heaven where they are greeted by Chitraratha.

Rama and his followers at the Sarayu River

Source: Wikipedia

Reading Diary A: Ravana and Rama

In the first part of this week's reading we got to hear a lot about Ravana. Ravana has learned form Shuka about the feeling of despair that has taken over the people of Lanka. Raven then decides to go out dancing underneath the stars. While he is dancing under the stars he creates a wind storm. Ravana is threatened by time, also Kala, but Ravana does not acknowledge the threat. The next issue we learn about is the final battle between Rama and Ravana. Rama attacks Ravana and cuts all of his heads off. However, all of Ravana's heads grow back. Indra had sent Matali to help him but Ravana maces Matali. Luckily, Rama is able revive him. Rama and Ravana then start battling each other on foot. Ravana then disguises himself as Indra, this paralyzes Rama. However, the Indra disguise does not fool Matali. Rama then slays Ravana. We then are introduced to Buck's own personal addition of the letter written from Ravana to Rama. The letter reveals that Ravana tells Rama to go and get Sita back. Rama then has to hurry back in order to prevent Bharata from killing himself as he had vowed to do if Rama did not return in time. 

Rama's welcome home 

Image Source: Commons

Reading Diary A:

This week I chose to continue reading Buck's Ramayana. We left off last week after Sita had been abducted by Ravana and taken by him to Lanka. Then all of the monkeys get together and decide that they need to send Hanuman to Lanka to rescue Sita. Hanuman then makes his way to Lanka, along the way, he encounters the sea demon Sinhika. Sinhika is a female rakshasa or rakshasi who swallows Hanuman. Hanuman manages to escape by crushing Sinhika's heart and then escaping out of her ear. Hanuman then finally arrives at Lanka and changes into a cat so that he is able to roam freely. Hanuman tries to roam everywhere in search of Sita, but is not able to find her anywhere. He even looks in Ravana's bedroom but realizes that it is just Ravana's wives and there is no Sita. He decides to give up on his search until his father, the god of wind, forces Hanuman to the ashoka grove. Ravana then visits Sita at the ashoka grove and attempts to seduce her, however, she knows not to give into Ravana. The guards begin to have conversations about killing Sita and eating her. Hanuman finally reaches out to Sita, and although she does not believe him at first she finally becomes convinced and sends Hanuman off with a message for Rama. Hanuman decides that when he is leaving he needs to cause a destruction in Lanka. He terrorizes the land and causes mass chaos. Hanuman is captured and almost killed, however, he is able to escape and set fire to all of Lanka. He does so without harming Sita and tells her that Rama will soon be coming for her.

Hanuman finding Sita

Source: Wikipedia

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Reading Diary B: Search for Sita

Part B of this week’s reading starts back with where it left us regarding Sita and Rama’s journey through the forest. Sita and Rama are busy dealing with Ravana. Ravana now has Maricha working with him as he sends him to Rama as a golden deer. Sita then encourages Rama to chase the deer, however, when he kills the deer it cries out in Rama’s voice, which startles Sita. Lakshmana goes in search of Rama, but during this time Ravana appears in front of Sita in his elderly disguise. As soon as Ravana ditches his disguise he grasps Sita and takes her away against her will, obviously. Luckily, Sita lets her jewelry fall off to where the two monkeys are in hope of their realization of the situation. We then learn that Ravana cannot rape Sita because his heads would explode if he committed rape due to the curse that had been placed upon him. Therefore, Ravana captured Sita and must convince her to give into him willfully. Rama and Lakshmana return to find that Sita is gone. Luckily, they get sent in the right direction as they start to discover clues ultimately leading to the monkeys. Hanuman then is the one who takes Rama and Lakshmana to Sugriva, who reveals Sita’s discovered jewelry. All of the monkeys go out in massive search parties looking for Sita to lead her back to Rama and Lakshmana. They leave us with the squad who went to the south that has encountered Swayamprabha, she is in charge of the underground world. They are down there for about a month, but they refuse to quit and emerge from the cave ready to continue their search.

Sugriva

Source: Wikipedia

Reading Diary A: The adventure into the forest

The second section of Buck’s Ramayana opens with Kausalya awaking to find Dasharatha is now dead. Instantly they must have people go seek Bharata since Rama has been exiled and Dasharatha is now dead. Although Bharata does not approve of the decision his mother has made he is shocked to find out that he is now king. Bharata decides that he must immediately go and find Rama and convince him to come back to inherit the throne. Rama informs Bharata that he cannot return because he has to finish the fourteen-year sentence of the exile. Bharata does not want to take the throne but eventually agrees as long as he can take Rama’s sandals back to place on the throne as a reminder that he is ruling only until Rama is able to return and claim his throne back. The story skips ahead into the last summer of Rama’s exile as he is headed for the Dandaka forest where Ravana rules. Agastya stops them before they head into the forest to prepare them and give Rama a better bow as they prepare to enter into the forest. As they enter the forest Shurpanakha, Ravana’s sister, attacks Sita and proposes to Rama. She then storms off and informs the demons what has happened, they then launch an entire attack on Rama, however, Rama and Lakshmana defeat the entire demon army and Ravana is beginning to take notice of Rama and Sita. Ravana decides that he must take Sita for himself instead of Rama having her. We are then introduced to Maricha, Ravana’s uncle, and learn that Ravana and his uncle are planning to capture Sita.  

Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana

Source: Wikipedia

Storytelling: Week 4, Rama and Sita's Journey

            Rama was sitting alone awaiting the decision of his father regarding who would be king. However, he knew what the answer would be, and he was fully prepared to handle the situation. His bigger worry was how his father would handle it and how Sita, his love, would handle it. His father came to him in tears, and could not even form words when trying to explain to his son what he was forced to decide. Rama, however, knew the decision and explained to his father that he fully understood what was going and he should not be upset but instead enjoy the decision as Rama would enjoy his time away. Rama then had to focus on how he would explain to Sita that he had been expelled from the city in favor of his brother to take over the throne and that he, Rama, must go to the forest for fourteen years.

            Rama went to Sita; she seemed excited to hear about his father’s decision as she was sure he would be chose as the heir. Sita exclaimed, “Rama! Did your father inform you of his decision yet?” Rama did not seem so excited as he said his father had. Rama then answered, “Yes, he informed me just now and we must start gathering our things immediately”. This confused Sita, “Are we going to have to move into your father’s living quarters so quick? I am not ready to move all my things”. Rama then had to inform her, “Sita we will not be moving to the living quarters of the king but instead my brother has been chosen as king and I must go live in the forest for the next fourteen years. You are welcome to join me but I understand of course if you would like to remain here”. Sita was in shock, she could not believe what she was hearing, but after digesting the news she immediately informed Rama she would be going with him wherever he went even if it was to the forest for fourteen years.

            There next step was to figure out what all they needed and then what to do with everything they must get rid of, so Sita decided they would gather all their things and give them away to people of the city who needed them since they no longer would. They walked the streets together giving things away one by one. However, people were not well receiving of these gifts, as they were furious at the announcement of the king’s decision. Rama tried best he could to give everyone hope and reassurance that everything would be okay and he would be returning before anyone would notice he had left. When they had finally given away everything they owned they returned to tell Rama’s family goodbye before they departed.

            They returned to talk with Rama’s father and inform him that everything would be okay. Rama continued to tell his father that no one should be held responsible for this and everything would take care of itself over time. Rama had finally convinced his father and told everyone farewell except for one person he had not seen all day, his brother, the newly crowned heir to their father’s thrown. He knew his brother was not one to be out celebrating or boasting so he went in search of him. When he finally found him his brother was in tears, he did not want Rama to leave, in fact he wanted Rama to be king. He exclaimed what had happened with his mother and explained it was not his father’s fault. He did not know that Rama knew all of this already. Rama exclaimed that he and Sita must leave; therefore, they said their goodbyes and headed out to the forest. After he left the city changed forever, and it was just the next morning that everyone awoke to find Rama’s father dead. The kingdom would not be able to have Rama for another fourteen years.

Author's Note: For this story I just wanted to tell the story of what happened behind the scenes when Rama left with Sita. I also wanted to focus on the fact that he was the only person in the entire city who seemed to stay calm among all of the chaos surrounding the situation. The ability of him to have the ability to stay calm and know that this was part of the plan or that this was the best for him, Sita, and everyone else. Also, I think it is important that this would be the most important point in Sita and Rama's relationship as they journeyed off into the forest together. Since I have really enjoyed Rama's character, the inspiration was simply just another way to tell part of Rama's story and to portray him in a positive light as a very strong character. 

Bibliography:

• Narayan, R. K. (1972) The Ramayana.
• Buck, William (1976). Ramayana: King Rama's Way. 

Rama and Sita during their first night in the forest

Source: Wikipedia

Week 4: Reading Diary B

Part B of this week’s reading in Buck picks up with Rama being exiled into the forest for fourteen years by Kaikeyi in favor of Bharata to be king. Rama without objection gathers Sita and they head off into the forest after giving away all of their possessions. Rama appears to be one of the only people accepting of the situation, including his own father Dasharatha whom he has to persuade to not be angry with Kaikeyi. The citizens of Kosala as well attempt to follow Rama into the forest. Theelders of Ayodhya, however, raised the river in order to block Rama’s path. Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana meet the sage Bharadwaja who convinces them to build a house in Chitrakuta. Lakshmana builds the entire house for them so that they have a place to stay. Back in town after Rama and Sita venture into the forest with Lakshmana, Dasharatha realizes he did not have to do what Kaikeyi asked of him but it was too late. Dasharatha thenis reminded of his time when he accidentally killed a boy in the forest, the next morning Kausalya find Dasharatha dead.

Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana with Bharadwaja

Source: Wikipedia