Week 4: Reading Diary A (The beginning of Ramayana + the Hindu Deities)

Buck's Ramayana
Pages 1 – 59

• Sauti is explaining to Saunaka how Valmiki wrote the Ramayana in beautiful poetry.
• Valmiki searched the Earth for happiness and friendship, but finding none, he secluded himself within a forest and sat still for years without moving.
• "Away with the worlds. where a little pleasure costs a lot of pain." -Valmiki
• Narada calls Valmiki out from under the anthill in order to help Sita, Rama's wife. 
• Sita has lived as Rama's Queen for nearly ten thousand years.
• She was exiled by Rama because his people were talking against her... what could have happened? *Story*
• Bird hunter shot a bird and killed it and then died from being cursed by Valmiki.
• Valmiki over the years taught the tale of Rama, almost till the present, to Rama's two boys, Kusa and Lava who memorized it and sung the verses.
• Kusa and Lava sang bits of Rama's story at the festival for a year as Rama listened, wondering who these boys were.
• The story of Rama from before he was even born was then told:
• On the banks of Sarayu River is Ayodhya—royal capital of Kosala. 
• "Heaven is fair, Ayodhya is fairer."
• Dasaratha ruled this fair kingdom but had no sons and was getting old—sixty thousand years.
• Enter Indra (in heaven above) - he heard Vasistha's call (who was singing spellbinding mantra and pouring offering in sacrificial fire in order to call Indra).
• Indra was not happy about this.
• Indra had just fought the Battle of Heaven against Demon King Ravana. He had been captured though, because he lost the battle.
• Indrajit freed him (after capturing him)... Brahma had arranged that.
• The Gods, in order to defeat Ravana, allowed the birth through a man (that being the son of Dasaratha).
• Vishwamitra  comes to court.
• Ravana was undefeatable, but unfortunately he didn't ask to be protected from humans (as we will find out later).
• Kartavirya, king of Haihayas—he brought down Ravana when Ravana tried to attack him. 
• God of death = Yama (also was challenged by Ravana)
• Meanwhile, Rama has reached court of Janaka and marries his daughter Sita (also an incarnation).

Interesting depiction of the Hindu Gods

Source: marvunapp