Reading Notes: PDE Ramayana, Part A

People

King Dasharatha

Tone: Calm

Setting: Palace

• King of Koshala
• Father of Rama
• Has 3 wives 

1. Kaushalya - chief queen
• Mother of Rama
2. Kaikeyi
• Mother of Bharata
3. Sumitra
• Mother of Lakshmana & Shatrughna

Traits: Honest, Humble

Dasaratha's Sons

Tone: Happy,  Exciting

Dasharatha performed a horse sacrifice with his wives in hopes of having a son to rule the kingdom in the future.

• Four sons (all of them are Vishnu)

1. Rama
2. Bharata
3. Lakshmana
4. Shatrughna

💭 Rama and Lakshmana are a team that slays demons. 

Avatar of Vishnu

Tone: Happy, Determined, Joyful 

Vishnu comes to earth in the form of a human (Rama) to defeat Ravana because he can only be defeated by a human or a monkey.

• Divided himself into four sons

Vishvamrita

Setting: Palace & Nature

Rama and his brothers are now young men.

• Sage requested Rama and Lakshmana to battle demons

It is evident that Rama's father adores him because he was hesitant to send Rama to battle the demons but because he had made a promise he had no choice but to grant Vishvamrita the favor. 

Maricha & Subahu were disturbing his sacrifices.

• Ravana's minions

Thataka

Tone: Suspenseful

Setting: Jungle 

• Female demon 
• Mother of Maricha

Rama uses a bow to fight her but does not kill her because she is a female. He only injures her and cuts her ears and nose with the bow and became invisible. Rama finally kills her. 

Spirits of Rama's weapons appear after being summoned by Vishvamitra. When Rama thinks of them they will appear. 

Tone: Peaceful

Rama makes his journey to a grove with his brother when all of a sudden they're ambushed by Marisha and a bunch of demons.

Tone: Serious, Suspenseful

Rama's weapons appear and they battle the demons almost like superheroes or vigilantes.  

Bhagiratha and Ganga

Vishvamitra is telling the story to Rama

King Sagara has two wives but no kids. He performs a horse sacrifice and has a son. 

Indra

• demon takes away horse 

Bhagiratha continued the sacrifice after his father passes away and is finally granted a boon. The Brahma asks Shiva for help.

Ahalya

Ahalya is the wife of a sage named Gautama. She was tricked by Indra who disguised himself as her her husband which the REAL Gautama furious. He was so mad that he cursed her and made her invisible until Rama breaks it (which he eventually does)

💭 It sounds like she knew the disguise wasn't her husband but that is still unclear. The story doesn't really explain it from her perspective. 

After Rama breaks the spell, Ahalya is purified and Gautama takes her back and they go to Mithila.

Sita

• She is shy and quiet

Tone: Curious, Dreamy, Sentimental 

Attribute: Imagery, Narrative

Setting: King's Garden 

Rama and Lakshmana go to explore Mithila and meet Sita.

Rama and Sita experience love at first sight. 

Sita goes to pray to Bhavani to marry Rama and a flower garland falls at Sita's feet.

• Garland symbolizes marriage

King Janaka

• King of Mithila
• Father of Sita

In order to marry Sita, a man must be able to bend Shiva's bow. 

• Shiva's bow could symbolize how strong the love between Rama and Sita really is. 

Rama Wins Sita

Tone: Auspicious 

Rama and Sita's wedding is planned. 

Parashurama

• Avatar of Vishnu
• Sage
• Worships Shiva
• Aggressive
• Choice of weapon is an axe

Tone: Aggressive 

Attributes: Imagery, Narrative, Dialogue

He has three white lines on his forehead. 

• symbolize worshipper of Shiva 

Parashurama is angry that Rama broke the bow.  He wants to see Rama's strength for himself and ties his hands together. Once he realizes that Rama is strong, he accepts him. 

Wedding

Tone: Excited, Auspicious, Sentimental 

Attributes: Imagery, Narrative

A ceremony is performed for the wedding where they go around the Agni (fire).  Rama's brothers find wives in Janaka's family and also get married. 

Rama the Heir Apparent

Tone: Serious , Intense, Solemn

Dasharatha must decide which son gets to rule the kingdom. He gathers councils, other kings, army leaders, etc. to discuss his decision. 

• Rama is the oldest.
• He is strong, virtuous, humble, and honest.

Manthara and Kaikeyi

Tone: Scornful 

Attributes: Imagery, Dialogue, Narrative

Manthara is a Kaikeyi's servant and hates Rama because he hit her when he was a child . He had hit her because she had offended him. She convinces Kaikeyi that once Rama becomes king, he will exile her son Bharata. She helps Kaikeyi plan Rama's exile. 

• Her physical description reflects her character. 

When Dasharatha had gone to help Indra to battle against the demons, he almost died but was saved by Kaikeyi. Afterwards he granted her two wishes. 

💭 The story does not mention what Manthara had said to offend Rama. 

Kaikeyi

Tone: Demanding

She pretends to be upset and demands her two wishes: 

1. Make Bharata king

2. Exile Rama for 14 years

She threatens to die by drinking poison if she's not granted these wishes. Dashartha is furious and insults her.

Tone: Angry, Bitter

He disowns Kaikeyi and Bharata.

Rama Is Banished

Tone: Happy

Setting: Town is decorated in celebration of Rama becoming king. 

Rama is summoned to the palace and told to go into exile.

Tone: Sadness, Solemn, Grief, Pain

Rama Goes Into Exile

King Dasharatha grieving for exiling Rama
Source: Wikimedia Commons

Tone: Grief, Sadness, Bittersweet

Setting: People are mourning the departure of Rama. Rama tells Sita the news and she insists on going into exile with him.  Soldiers are ready to go with him but because of Kaikeyi's protests Rama refuses to let them go with him.  She also demanded that he take off his royal clothing and wear bark instead. Lakshmana and Sita were also going to change but Dasharatha points out that only Rama has been commanded into exile.

Crossing the River

Setting: Forest 

Overview: Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana arrive at the forest and talk about everything that has happened. Rama is grieving. Lakshmana partially blames his father for giving into Kaikeyi's wishes. 

Dasharatha's Karma

Tone: Sorrowful

Setting: Palace

Overview: Dasharatha is dying and remembers his past sin and realizes he is getting back his karma. He was out hunting once and thought he shot an animal but ended up killing a young boy instead. Although he was forgiven by the boy, his parents were not so forgiving.  They told him the only way he will cleanse himself is when he dies and then both parents jump into their son's fire during the funeral and die.

Dasharatha's Death

Setting: Only two of his wives are present in the palace as he is dying. 

Attributes: First Person 

Dasharatha explains his karma. 

Rama's mother confronts her husband and tells her that he broke his promise to his people while fulfilling Kaikeyi's promise. 

Bibliography: PDE Ramayana Part A