Reading Notes | PDE Ramayana Part C

Again, I will be summarizing each story into a few bullet points and/or sentences.

Sugriva and Hanuman
-Rama and Lakshmana go on a search for Sugriva
-Sugriva = monkey king living in exile
-They meet Hanuman = monkey god, who becomes Rama's most devote follower

Sugriva's Story
-Tell's the story of his quarrel with Vali (his elder brother)
-Vali took away Sugriva's wife because he thought that Sugriva was trying to trap him inside the enemy
~would be a good story to re-write~

Sugriva and Vali
-Tara = chief wife of king Vali
-She knows that Sugriva is one of Rama's allys and doesn't want Vali to fight him

(Sugriva and Vali. Web Source: Wikimedia).

Vali's Death

-one of the most controversial scenes in Ramayana!

-Rama hides in an ambush and kills Vali in a (supposedly) very dishonorable way

King Sugriva

-Tara and Sugriva grieve Vali's death

Rainy Season

-Sugriva is now king

-Agrees to help Rama find Sita after the rainy season is over

-Rama has to sit and wait, but he finds this very difficult

The Armies

-At the end of the rainy season, Sugriva had made no plan of action, so Rama sends Lakshmana to speak with him

-Sugriva then sends four armies of monkeys and bears to find Sita

Sampati

-Sampati = Jatayu's brother 

-Jatayu is the bird who tried to defend Sita from Ravana

-He guides/directs Hanuman and his army as they travel south, which Sampati says is the right direction

-Ravana has taken Sita to Lanka

Sampati and Jatayu

-Sampati's wings are burnt and the other animals are curious as to how he travels

-Sampati tells the story of when he and Jatayu flew too high

Hanuman's Leap

-Hanuman must make a jump

-To encourage him, they tell the story of his birth and the powers he possesses

(the wind god had blessed him)

-As he jumps, Hanuman encounters a fierce rakshasi who tries to kill him

Hanuman in Lanka

-Hanumnan is in Lanka and searches for Sita

-While he finds Ravana in his bedroom, Sita is nowhere to be found

Ashoka Grove

-Hanuman finds Sita under an ashoka tree with rakshasis guarding her

Sita and Ravana

-Hanuman hides in a tree

-Ravana tries to convince Sita to leave Rama and marry him instead

-She refuses and Ravana gives her two months to agree or he will kill her

Hanuman and Sita

-The first time Hanuman and Sita meet

-Refuses to allow Hanuman to carry her away

Hanuman Captured

-Indrajit = Ravana's mighty son

-Indrajit and rakshasis fight and capture Hanuman and take him to Ravana

Hanuman and Ravana

-Ravana's advisors debate what to do with Hanuman

-Ravana chooses to light his tail on fire 

The Burning of Lanka

-Hanuman is afraid that Sita is not safe

The March on Lanka

-Hanuman and his army return to King Sugriva and Rama

-It is now time for them to start their march, but Rama is afraid of the rakshasis

Ravana's Court

-Ravana's advisors debate if they should give Sita back to Rama

-Ravana's advisors are also ready to go to war against Rama and Sugriva's armies

Vibhishana

-Vibhishana = Ravana's younger brother

-He urges Ravana to return Sita to Rama, which Ravana does not like

-He leaves to become an ally to Rama

Bibliography: PDE Ramayana