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