Reading Notes | PDE Ramayana Part B

To continue my notes on the Ramayana, I decided to keep writing notes in a bullet point, concise style. This made it easier for me to remember what happened rather than clutter my notes with details that may confuse me later.

Bharata Returns

• While Dasharatha was dying/died and Rama was exiled, Bharata was not at home
• Upon returning, he finds out about all of this
• He mourns over the loss
• Bharata vows to never become heir and seeks to find Rama

The Funeral

• He performs the rites at Dasharatha's funeral 

Rama and Bharata

• Bharata enters the forrest to seek Rama
• Bharata tries to get Rama to come back to Ayodhya and take the throne, but Rama refuses and states he will stay in the jungle, so Rama decides to stay as well.

The Sandals

• Because Rama refuses to leave, Bharata gave Rama a new pair of sandals 
• After receiving the sandals, Rama returns them so that Bharata can guard them on the throne back in Ayodhya

Anasuya

• Wife of the sage Atri
• One of the many ashrams they visit
• Sita tells Atri the story of her birth 

Viradha

• demon that cannot be hurt by a sharp weapon
• Actually Tumburu 
• Rama and Lakshmana have to battle him to save Sita, whom Viradha captured
• Since he cant be hurt by their weapons, Rama and Lakshmana dig a pit

Agastya

• Second sage met in the forest; one of the most famous rishis
• Agastya gives Rama more weapons
• "Shining dart of Brahma" that is always accurate

Shurpanakha and Rama

• Shurpanakha = Rakshasa(i), Ravana's sister, falls in love with Rama and seduces Lakshmana
• Rama does not reciprocate the feelings
• Shurpanakha attempts revenge on Rama and Sita

Lakshmana and Shurpanakha

• This is when Shurpanakha truly plans revenge
• Khara = brother of Shurpanakha
• Khara calls upon brother to assemble an army to kill Rama

Battle with Khara

• Rama sends Lakshmana to protect Sita in a hidden cave while he battles demons
• Rama slew both Dushana (brother of Khara) and the entire demon army 
• Also killed Khara with a flaming sword

Ravana

• Ravana = King of Lanka
• Shurpanakha goes to tell him of the deaths due to Rama
• Ravana seeks revenge

Maricha

• Thataka's son that escaped death
• Ravana seeks Maricha's help
• They plan to capture Sita
• Maricha became a golden deer to search the land for Sita and Rama

Golden Deer

• The "golden deer" aka Maricha enchants Sita

The Chase

• Rama chases the golden deer and kills it
• Maricha transforms out of the deer and imitates Rama's voice to lure in Lakshmana and Sita then dies
• Lakshmana goes to retrieve Rama

(The Chase. Web Source: Wikimedia).

Ravana and Sita

• Sita is left alone
• Ravana transforms into the sage of the forest

Jatayu and Ravana

• Jatayu = bird keeping watch over Rama, Sita and Lakshmana
• Battles Ravana to save Sita
• Ravana carries Sita but drops her jewelry to lead Rama
• We realize that the gods' plans are working
• To destroy Ravana by a human avatar (Rama!)

Sita in Lanka

• Ravana forces Sita to come with her
• He cannot touch her because of a Brahma's curse
• Instead, he tries to seduce Sita but it does not work

Rama and Jatayu

• Lakshmana finds Rama in the forest 
• Jatayu informs them of what has happened with Sita

Kabandha

• Disguised as a black demon that is huge
• He informs them about the whereabouts of Sita

Shabari

• Shabari = awaiting Rama and Lakshmana, old woman 
• She had been waiting for Rama, so now she asks for him to perform her funeral rites

Bibliography: PDE Ramayana