Reading Notes: Ramayana Part A
King Dasharatha, Donald A. Mackenzie:
There were two kingdoms, Koshala and Mithila. Koshala was ruled by King Dasharatha, the father of Rama, and Mithila was ruled by King Janaka, the father of Sita. Dashratha, despite having everything in his palace (strong soldiers, priests, protection, prosperity), he was upset because he does not have a son.
Dasharatha's Sons, Donald A. Mackenzie
Dasharatha performs Ashwamedha, a horse sacrifice, for the gods so that they can give him a boy. The sacrifice also required the wives to sit beside the horse and give portions of its body to the fire. The gods answered the ritual and promised that he would have four sons.
Rama: Avatar of Vishnu, Donald A. Mackenzie
A couple gods went to fight Ravana, so they consulted Vishnu. Vishnu then split himself into four which became the four sons of Dasharatha. Before he did, he told the gods that as a human, he will go fight Ravana and at that point the gods will join him.
Vishvamitra, Sister Nivedita
Vishvamitra visits Rama and his brothers to ask of their help for fighting the rakshasas. At first, Dasharatha did not want them to go but eventually he decided to let them go. So Rama and his brother Lakshmana went with Vishvamitra.
Thataka, Donald A. Mackenzie
Rama and crew passes a forest that has a rakshasi named Thataka. Rama killed Thataka and got celestial weapons from a mantra casted by Vishvamitra. The son of Thataka then attacks Rama and his crew but Rama killed them with his celestial weapons.
Bhagiratha and Ganga, John Campbell Oman
Vishvamita tells Rama a story about a king named Sagara that has two wives but no children. They stayed together for a hundred years so a great power had one of Sagara's wife give birth to a boy named Asamanja and the other give birth to sixty thousand sons. One day, a horse sacrifice was performed but Indra stole the horse so the sixty thousand sons went to go retrieve it. The sage Kapila was near the horse and reduced all sixty thousand sons to ash. Asamanja's son, Anshumat went to go find his uncles and instead finds a pile of ash. He was told that those uncles will only go to heaven if they are watered with the water of Ganga. Anshumat thought that was impossible so he took the horse back home. Anshumat then became king later on and was succeeded by Dilipa who wanted to lay his ancestors to rest. Dilipa's son, Bhagiratha, also wanted to do that. The gods saw his dedication and convinced Ganga to give her water to the ashes of the uncles who were then able to reach heaven.
Ahalya, Ralph T.H. Griffith
When Rama asks about an abandoned hermitage, Vishvamitra tells him the story of the sage Gautama and his beautiful wife, Ahalya. The god Indra fell in love with Ahalya and disguised himself as Gautama in order to seduce her. In some versions of the story, Ahalya was fooled by the disguise, but in other versions, she realized she was sleeping with someone who was not her husband. When Gautama found out what happened, he cursed both Indra and Ahalya. In the version of the story you will read here, he cursed Ahalya to become invisible; in other versions of the story, he cursed Ahalya to take the form of a stone. Ahalya's story is connected to Rama's own life: the arrival of Rama will end her curse, bringing her back to life.
There were two kingdoms, Koshala and Mithila. Koshala was ruled by King Dasharatha, the father of Rama, and Mithila was ruled by King Janaka, the father of Sita. Dashratha, despite having everything in his palace (strong soldiers, priests, protection, prosperity), he was upset because he does not have a son.
A compilation of Rama
Dasharatha's Sons, Donald A. Mackenzie
Dasharatha performs Ashwamedha, a horse sacrifice, for the gods so that they can give him a boy. The sacrifice also required the wives to sit beside the horse and give portions of its body to the fire. The gods answered the ritual and promised that he would have four sons.
Rama: Avatar of Vishnu, Donald A. Mackenzie
A couple gods went to fight Ravana, so they consulted Vishnu. Vishnu then split himself into four which became the four sons of Dasharatha. Before he did, he told the gods that as a human, he will go fight Ravana and at that point the gods will join him.
Vishvamitra, Sister Nivedita
Vishvamitra visits Rama and his brothers to ask of their help for fighting the rakshasas. At first, Dasharatha did not want them to go but eventually he decided to let them go. So Rama and his brother Lakshmana went with Vishvamitra.
Thataka, Donald A. Mackenzie
Rama and crew passes a forest that has a rakshasi named Thataka. Rama killed Thataka and got celestial weapons from a mantra casted by Vishvamitra. The son of Thataka then attacks Rama and his crew but Rama killed them with his celestial weapons.
Bhagiratha and Ganga, John Campbell Oman
Vishvamita tells Rama a story about a king named Sagara that has two wives but no children. They stayed together for a hundred years so a great power had one of Sagara's wife give birth to a boy named Asamanja and the other give birth to sixty thousand sons. One day, a horse sacrifice was performed but Indra stole the horse so the sixty thousand sons went to go retrieve it. The sage Kapila was near the horse and reduced all sixty thousand sons to ash. Asamanja's son, Anshumat went to go find his uncles and instead finds a pile of ash. He was told that those uncles will only go to heaven if they are watered with the water of Ganga. Anshumat thought that was impossible so he took the horse back home. Anshumat then became king later on and was succeeded by Dilipa who wanted to lay his ancestors to rest. Dilipa's son, Bhagiratha, also wanted to do that. The gods saw his dedication and convinced Ganga to give her water to the ashes of the uncles who were then able to reach heaven.
Ahalya, Ralph T.H. Griffith
When Rama asks about an abandoned hermitage, Vishvamitra tells him the story of the sage Gautama and his beautiful wife, Ahalya. The god Indra fell in love with Ahalya and disguised himself as Gautama in order to seduce her. In some versions of the story, Ahalya was fooled by the disguise, but in other versions, she realized she was sleeping with someone who was not her husband. When Gautama found out what happened, he cursed both Indra and Ahalya. In the version of the story you will read here, he cursed Ahalya to become invisible; in other versions of the story, he cursed Ahalya to take the form of a stone. Ahalya's story is connected to Rama's own life: the arrival of Rama will end her curse, bringing her back to life.
This story was a little confusing to read so I c/p'ed the summary so I can go back later and try to understand.
Sita, F.J. Gould
Essentially, Rama meets Sita and they fall in love.
King Janaka, Donald A. Mackenzie
Janaka gave a challenge to warriors. Whoever can bend the bow of the god Shiva can have Sita's hand in marriage.
Rama Wins Sita, Donald A. Mackenzie
Rama bends the bow and gets Sita's hand in marriage. Nothing really happens other than that except the dialogue was kinda hard to understand again.
Parashurama, F.J. Gould
A random hermit is upset that someone broke Shiva's bow. This hermit was a worshipper of Shiva and tried to attack the people with his axe but Rama stepped in between. The hermit gave Rama a bow of Vishnu with the string hanging lose and the instant Rama touched it, the string connected itself. Rama then gained the hermit's respect.
Rama and Sita's Wedding, Romesh Dutt
This just described Rama and Sita's wedding.
Rama the Heir Apparent, Sister Nevidita
Dasharatha originally wanted a son to be his heir but now he has four sons to decide between. He consulted his council of vassals and they all agreed that Rama should be the next heir. The king then decided that Rama will be the next heir.
Manthara and Kaikeyi, Donald A. Mackenzie
An old nurse named Manthara hated Rama and did not want him to be the next king. It turns out that Kaikeyi, one of the king's wives, saved the old king, Dasharatha, when he was injured in battle and he promised her two wishes. So Manthara told Kaikeyi to cash in those wishes.
Kaikeyi and Dasharatha, Romesh Dutt
Kaikeyi demands that her son Bharata is made the new king and Rama will be exiled for 14 years for her wishes. The king reluctantly agrees.
Rama is Banished, Donald A. Mackenzie
Rama is told that he was exiled. He questioned it at first but Kaikeyi told him the real reason. He then decided to listen to his father's command and leaves for fourteen years.
Rama Goes into Exile, Donald A. Mackenzie
Rama tells Sita that he has been exiled but she said that she will follow him. Lakshmana also decides to follow Rama and Sita.
Crossing the River, Sister Nevidita
Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana travels and talk about their feelings.
Dasharatha's Karma, Donald A. Mackenzie
Dasharatha finds a hermit who's son recently died. The hermit tells Dasharatha to kill him so he can be reunited with his son and told Dasharatha that one day he will understand and feel this same sorrow.
Dasharatha's Death, Romesh Dutt
Dasharatha dies but none of his sons were in attendance because Bharata and Shatrughna are away and Rama and Lakshmana were exiled. Dasharatha is aware of his karma on his deathbed.
Sita, F.J. Gould
Essentially, Rama meets Sita and they fall in love.
King Janaka, Donald A. Mackenzie
Janaka gave a challenge to warriors. Whoever can bend the bow of the god Shiva can have Sita's hand in marriage.
Rama Wins Sita, Donald A. Mackenzie
Rama bends the bow and gets Sita's hand in marriage. Nothing really happens other than that except the dialogue was kinda hard to understand again.
Parashurama, F.J. Gould
A random hermit is upset that someone broke Shiva's bow. This hermit was a worshipper of Shiva and tried to attack the people with his axe but Rama stepped in between. The hermit gave Rama a bow of Vishnu with the string hanging lose and the instant Rama touched it, the string connected itself. Rama then gained the hermit's respect.
Rama and Sita's Wedding, Romesh Dutt
This just described Rama and Sita's wedding.
Rama the Heir Apparent, Sister Nevidita
Dasharatha originally wanted a son to be his heir but now he has four sons to decide between. He consulted his council of vassals and they all agreed that Rama should be the next heir. The king then decided that Rama will be the next heir.
Manthara and Kaikeyi, Donald A. Mackenzie
An old nurse named Manthara hated Rama and did not want him to be the next king. It turns out that Kaikeyi, one of the king's wives, saved the old king, Dasharatha, when he was injured in battle and he promised her two wishes. So Manthara told Kaikeyi to cash in those wishes.
Kaikeyi and Dasharatha, Romesh Dutt
Kaikeyi demands that her son Bharata is made the new king and Rama will be exiled for 14 years for her wishes. The king reluctantly agrees.
Rama is Banished, Donald A. Mackenzie
Rama is told that he was exiled. He questioned it at first but Kaikeyi told him the real reason. He then decided to listen to his father's command and leaves for fourteen years.
Rama Goes into Exile, Donald A. Mackenzie
Rama tells Sita that he has been exiled but she said that she will follow him. Lakshmana also decides to follow Rama and Sita.
Crossing the River, Sister Nevidita
Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana travels and talk about their feelings.
Dasharatha's Karma, Donald A. Mackenzie
Dasharatha finds a hermit who's son recently died. The hermit tells Dasharatha to kill him so he can be reunited with his son and told Dasharatha that one day he will understand and feel this same sorrow.
Dasharatha's Death, Romesh Dutt
Dasharatha dies but none of his sons were in attendance because Bharata and Shatrughna are away and Rama and Lakshmana were exiled. Dasharatha is aware of his karma on his deathbed.
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