Reading Diary B - Week 3

Hanuman

·         Takes his giant form and crosses the ocean into Lanka, first notices the neglected women of Ravana.

·         Finds Mandodari and mistakes her for Sita, not Ravana’s wife.

·         Sita is near suicide, but Hanuman convinces her that Rama will come.

·         Before he leaves Lanka, he destroys and damages much of the retreat and the city.

Ravana’s council

·         Ravana is prophesied to die through the hands of a monkey and is not protected from human attack

·         Ravana ignores all warnings of his councilmen, citing no fear of anyone, especially humans

Vibishana

·         Ravana’s brother, exiles himself unto the camp of Rama. He is vouched for by Hanuman when everyone is considering rejecting him from Rama’s group

·         Advises Rama of the armies of Lanka.

·         Rama finally crosses the ocean once a bridge is built

Ravana

·         Attempts to convince Sita that Rama has been killed with a fake head, receives word that he can still be saved if he gives Sita up now.

·         Indrajit tells him of poison darts that will soon take out Rama, but Rama and Lakshmana do not die because of the help of another great eagle.

·         Ravana nearly suffers immediate defeat at the hands of Rama’s army, but Rama allows him to recharge his army overnight – Ravana must dutifully accept

·         He relies on his sleepy Kumbarkna brother to save the battle. Kumbarkna does tons of damage to the army but is no match for Rama

·         Ravana is devastated, but Indrajit insists he is still invincible.

·         Indrajit is killed by Lakshmana

Ravana vs Rama

·         Seeing the destruction of Lanka, Ravana decides to once again take on the battle himself, and admits either Sita or his own wife will be widowed in the end.

·         Mahodara-- the giant – decides to attack Rama directly against Ravana’s wishes. Rama ended his life immediately. Despite Rama’s efforts to convince Ravana not to fight, Ravana only became more incensed

·         Ravana realizes that the gods have put their support behind the mortal

·         The battle goes from arrow shoot-off to asthra showdown between them.

·         Ravana is defeated once Rama attacks him directly in the heart, where his is more vulnerable. His death shows Rama the purity of soul underneath all of the evil

Resolutions

·         Sita is not trusted until she goes through a trial of fire. She passes.

·         Dasharatha comes back to earth to grant Rama a wish. Rama wishes for him to understand Kaikeyl and Bharata. Rama is made happy once everyone is forgiven

·         Rama returns after his 14 years to become king of Ayodya.