Week 3 Reading Diary: PDE Ramayana

PDE Ramayana Part C by Geraldine Hodgson (1903), Donald A. Mackenzie (1913), Sister Nivedita (1914), and Frederika Richardson Macdonald (1870).

We find out that Rama and Sugriva the exiled monkey king have very similar stories. Both of their wives have been taken from them and they have both been exiled from their kingdoms. Sugriva was in charge of a post at the mouth of a cave until his older brother Vali returned. Upon hearing his brother’s cry and seeing blood rush from the mouth of the cave, Sugriva assumes him to be dead and covers the mouth with a boulder to prevent the demon Vali was battling to escape. Sugriva now assuming he is the rightful heir goes home to rule his people. Little did he know that Vali conquers his enemy and escapes the cave to return home. The misunderstanding leads to Vali taking Sugriva’s wife and banishing him. Rama convinces Sugriva to challenge Vila to a fight. Vila obviously does not want to back down so they begin to fight while Rama hides in a bush. Vila has practically won the battle when Rama stands up and shoots him with the arrow that ends his life. Sugriva is appointed kind and agrees to help Rama on his quest to find Sita, but he says they must wait for the rainy season to end. Rama cannot enter any city because of his banishment so he has to wait in the woods, which he finds it hard to do. Sugriva finally sends four armies of monkeys and bears in all directions to search for Sita. One of the armies directed by Hanuman runs into Jatayu's brother Sampati who tells them where Ravana is hiding Sita. Hanuman goes to the city of Lanka alone and arrives after overcoming a couple of obstacles. He searches everywhere he thinks Sita might be held but has no luck finding her. He then goes out to a grove to think, but to his surprise he finds Sita there. He decides to watch from a distance as he can see she is guarded by Rakshasi. He then notices Ravana in a tree unsuccessfully trying to convince Sita to leave Rama and marry him. Hanuman is discovered and taken to court. Ravana lights his tail on fire as punishment for opposing him. This proves to backfire as Hanuman spreads the fire all throughout the city with Sita’s help. He then returns to Rama and Sugriva to tell them it is time to strike. All of Lanka except Ravana’s little brother Vibhishana want to fight against Rama. Vibhishana leaves the city to join Rama.

Hanuman Burning Lanka