Reading Notes | PDE Ramayana Part A

For these notes, I decided to outline the important, overall plot progressions from each of the stories. Along with that, I wanted to describe the characters as I went. Because the names can be confusing, i made sure to keep note of who was who, so that I can reference these notes in the future! I also enjoyed listening to Professor Gibbs's recordings on SoundCloud as I read. It helped me keep a steady pace and not get distracted.

King Dasharatha

• Ruler of Koshala kingdom (in Ayodhya)
• King in the solar dynasty
• Story describes the surroundings in Ayodhya
• Mighty and powerful, yet he was full of sorrow because he had no sons born to him from any of his three queens

Dasharatha's Sons

• Performed the horse sacrifice (Ashwamedha) in hopes that the Gods would grant him an heir (son)
• Kaushalya (chief queen) slew the horse
• After offering the horse to the gods, the gods promised four sons to Dasharatha

Avatar

• Drama in heaven
• Needed to defeat Ravana, King of Rakshasas
• Because Ravana could not be defeated by gods, Vishnu became born on earth as Rama
• Sons:
• Kaushalya of Rama
• Kaikeyi of Bharata
• Sumitra of Lakshmana and Shatrughna

Vishvamitra

• Vishvamitra (rishi) wants Rama and Lakshmana to hep him battle the evil demons (rakshasa) who are messing up the sacrifices

Thataka

• missahpen and horrible female rakshasa
• Rama battles Thataka - killed her 
• Celestial weapons granted/appeared for Rama and help him to attack all other demons including Thataka's son

Ganga

• Vishwamitra told Rama and Lakshmana many stories about sages and rishis
• This one was about the Gange goddess

Ahalya

• Story about sage Gautama and his wife Ahalya and how Indra tricked Ahalya and Gautama seeks revenge

Sita

• Avatar of the goddess Lakshmi; King Janaka's ddaughter
• Rama falls in love with Sita

Janaka

• King of Mithila, father of Sita
• King Janaka held a competition for all suitors of his daughter
• The rajah that could bend the mighty bow would be rewarded his daughter's hand in marriage

Rama Wins Sita

• Rama was able to bend the bow and received Sita

Parashurama

• Also an avatar of Vishnu, tall and looked like a bull
• Came to see who had broken the bow
• Tests Rama to draw the bow of Vishnu and Rama was able to do it

Wedding

• Rama and Sita are wed
• Rama's brothers also find and marry wives from Janaka's family, so all four sons marry

(The Wedding of the Four Sons. Web Source: Wikimedia)

Heir Apparent

• Dasharatha decides that he needs a new ruler to replace him
• He must choose between his four sons
• Goes into great description of Rama
• Forgiving, honest, mighty bowman, skilled in music, easy to approach, self-controlled, very beloved of all

Manthara

• Kaikeyi = mother of Bharata 
• Manthara = servant in Kaikeyi's house
• Manthara hated Rama because of a childhood event and did not want him to become the heir to the throne
• Wants Kaikeyi to exile Rama

Kaikeyi and Dasharatha

• Because Manthara convinced Kaikeyi to force Rama into exile, Kaikeyi makes Dasharatha exile Rama 
• Kaikeyi threatens to poison herself if Dasharatha does not grant her request
• He is exiled into the jungle for fourteen years, and she requests Bharata become the heir 

Rama is Banished

• Rama agrees without hesitation to be exiled because he wants to honor his father's vow

Exile

• Rama had announced he would venture into the jungle alone
• However, Sita and Lakshmana join him in persistence
• Rama refused any help in the jungle even though his father wanted to grant him soldiers and goods
• Rama, not Sita or Lakshmana, had to remove all royal garments

The River

• The three leave Ayodhya for exile
• Rama and Lakshmana change their hair into matted locks and they pray to Ganga, the river goddess vowing to worship her
• The chose to walk Lakshmana, Sita, then Rama last

Karma

• Dasharatha, as he was dying, remembered a curse he had received which would cause him to lose his son
• This curse is a result of karma from him killing another's son
• He fears that as Rama makes his exiled journey, he will be killed

Dasharatha's Death

• As Dasharatha dies, no sons are by his side
• Bharata and Shatrughna are in the kingdom of Kaikeyi's father
• There was tension between Kaushalya and Dasharatha

Bibliography: PDE Ramayana