Week 2: Narayan's Ramayana (pp. 1-89)Assignments - Reading Guide A - Reading Guide B - Ramayana Resources |
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Your Reading B for this week is Narayan's Ramayana, pp.
53-89. You might want to read over the previous
reading guide to remind yourself of what has happened so far.
p.
53. Rama's Exile. The people are distraught over Rama's exile,
and Lakshmana is enraged, although Rama urges him to be calm. Both Lakshmana and Sita insist
on accompanying Rama into exile. Sumantra supplies
them with a chariot that they can use. Crowds of people follow Rama, but he
manages to slip away from them in the night. When Sumantra returns with news
of Rama's final departure into the forest, Daśaratha dies.
p. 59. Bharata. Bharata is away at the home of his grandfather, Aśwapati, during these tumultuous events in Ayodhya. Messengers are sent to Bharata telling him to return immediately, but without giving the reason why. When he returns, Kaikeyi informs him of Daśaratha's death and Rama's exile. Bharata is outraged by her plans to make him king. Bharata follows Rama to Chitrakuta, begging him to return. Rama insists on fulfilling his exile, so Bharata takes Rama's sandals back with him and places them on the throne. Bharata then rules as regent in Nandigram, a village outside of Ayodhya. He refuses to enter Ayodhya again until Rama's return.
p.
65. Forest Life.
Rama moves deeper into the forest in order to escape the crowds. Rama, Sita,
and Lakshmana visit sages in their ashrams. On one of these visits, Anasuya,
the wife of the sage Atri,
gives her jewelry to Sita. While in their exile, they encounter the great bird Jatayu,
a friend of Daśaratha. Jatayu offers them his protection. Eventually they
reach Panchavati on
the banks of the Godavari river.
p.
67. Ravana's Sister. While in the forest, Rama's meets
a beautiful woman who says her name is Kamavalli. She admits that she is the
sister of Ravana,
but insists that she has rejected the demon way of life. She declares her love
for Rama and her desire to marry him. Kamavalli's real name is Śurpanakha.
Śurpanakha decides to get rid of her rival Sita, but as she is stalking Sita,
Lakshmana captures her. Although he does not kill her, Lakshmana mutilates
Śurpanakha, cutting off her nose, ears, and breasts. Śurpanakha goes to Kara,
Ravana's step-brother, who commands the armies of demons in the forest. Kara
and his forces attack Rama but are defeated. Śurpanakha flees to her brother
Ravana in Lanka.
p.
77. Ravana in Lanka. Even the gods and the gurus of the
gods are made into servants in Ravana's court in Lanka.
For example, Vayu,
the god of wind, is put in charge of sweeping; Agni,
the god of fire, has to light the lamps, and so on. Ravana is outraged when
he sees how Śurpanakha has been mutiliated. Ravana then falls madly in love
with Sita based on Śurpanakha's description of her.
p.
84. Ravana and Maricha. In order to abduct Sita, Ravana
enlists the aid of his uncle Maricha.
You already read how Rama killed Maricha's mother Thataka.
Maricha is now leading a life of meditation and does not want to participate
in Ravana's plot, but Ravana will not take "no" for an answer. Maricha
disguises himself as a golden deer which captivates Sita. Sita begs Rama to
capture the deer for her. Reluctantly, Rama goes chasing the deer through the
forest. When Rama finally shoots the deer, the dying Maricha calls for help
using Rama's voice. Sita becomes distraught, thinking that Rama is in trouble.
She compels Lakshmana to go after Rama, leaving Sita alone
and unguarded.
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