Week 7 Reading Diary B: Sita's banishment

Recap from section A. Rama cuts of Ravana’s heads but they grow back. Rama is eventually able to slay Ravana. After Ravana’s death, Shuka brings a from Ravana to Rama. He tells Rama to take Sita back. Hanuman is then sent to tell Sita of the victory! When Hanuman finds Sita, she is dressed in royal garments. Rama orders Vibhishana to bring her to the assembly. Agni testifies to her innocence.

Ramas exile is almost up so he sends word with Hanuman to Bharata to announce their arrival. Bharata weeps tears of joy. After 10,000 years Sita becomes pregnant. After hearing of gossip, that people cannot believe Rama allowed Sita back in his house after she lived with Ravana. He tells Lakshmana to take Sita to the Ganges and abandon her there. Sumantra believes the banishment is a result of karma.

Sita is left on the shore of the Ganges. Once Valmiki takes her into his hermitage, she gives birth to her two sons, Kusha and Lava. Valmiki teaches the boys the song of Ramayana and has them sing a part of it every day at Rama’s public festival. Rama has a golden statue standing in Sita’s place. Once a day the boys sing a part of the Ramayana and the people are enchanted by it. Rama realizes the boys are his sons, Valmiki tells him that Sita has been living with him for twelve years.  Sita goes to Rama and requests to prove her innocence. Mother earth takes Sita and vanishes below ground. Rama rules for a thousand more years after her disappearance. Laksmana dies. Then Rama gives Hanuman the ring that bears his name. He then goes to the Sarayu river and jumps in.

(Screen shot: Rama jumping in river) 

Storytelling Week 6: Hanuman the cat

When I entered, Rama was pacing the floor; he was waiting for me. He looked up, saw me and stopped. He said nothing and I began to tell him how I found Sita.

 After shape-shifting into a cat, I wandered the dark streets of Lanka for some time. I was disoriented and confused about my new body. I finally found a dark alley where I could rest. Hopefully after a quick nap I would feel more like myself. I curled up in the corner and quickly drifted into a deep slumber.

(Personal Photo January 2015: What I pictured Hanuman to look like as a cat)

After several hours, I was startled awake by someone yelling “Shoo, scat, get out of here!” Disoriented and confused, I looked around; it had to be me he was yelling at. Why was he yelling at me? There was no one else in sight. It had to be me. Unless he just enjoyed yelling and did this daily as a way to release stress. Nope, it was totally me he was yelling at. Appalled I thought, "Doesn’t he know I am Hanuman!" I took a step and tried to speak, but all that came out was a meow. I tried again. “MEOWWW!” Shocked, I shook my head, while the rakshasas continued to yell. Then it occurred to me that I was a cat! I meowed again, let out a hiss and ran out of the alley. Hissing is weird and made my throat itchy.

Figuring out how to move this new body was an odd thing; it’s like my tail had a mind of its own. Not to mention my voice, all I could do was….meow. I then realized I was starving, as my belly rumbled. Food, where to find food?! The garbage was really my only option. Back to the alley; there I saw a garbage can. Which way had I come? I had been walking aimlessly trying to sort through my thoughts.  I stopped and decided I had just made one big circle, so I continued… and I was right. The alley I had run from was right around the corner. Luckily the rakshasas that yelled at me was gone. I could eat in peace.

I found some edible things, and soon my hunger was conquered. All of a sudden I had the urge to lick my paws…and before I knew it…I was LICKING MY PAWS! That body was so weird. Mental note: avoid shape shifting into a cat. Once I finished cleaning my paws and face, I went back to the corner where I could see both ends of the alley. I had to avoid as many people as possible if I was going to accomplish the task at hand. I decided to rest there for the night; I would save Sita in the morning. As I curled up, my tail kept twitching. It wouldn’t stop! I finally laid my paw on top of it to keep it still. As I drifted off to sleep, my throat started making this weird noise…. then I thought.... am I purring?!
Rama laughed and said..."Get on with the important part of the story!"

Author's note:I chose to tell this story from Hanuman's inner thoughts while he was a cat. This story was really fun to write. Once I decided to write about Hanuman being a cat, I spent some time observing my own cats. They are very agile and light on their feet yet have this spunky little attitude that is each their own. Sometimes sassy, and sometimes with an I couldn't-care-less attitude. Can you imagine being able to shape shift into another creature and having to relearn how to move your body?! In my opinion this is not something that would come naturally; you would have to adjust and move differently as a shape shifter in a different body. I wanted to pinpoint that aspect in my version of Hanuman's story.  I also tried to make it seem like he was doing things as a stray cat would in a place it had never been because he was wandering the streets of Lanka. I really had a fun time writing this story and I hope that shows through in the way I wrote the storyline. This story is taken from Buck, William (1976). Ramayana: King Rama's Way. 

Week 6 Reading Diary B: Building the bridge

Important parts from Section A: Jatayu is dead after trying to save Sita. Hanuman leaps to Lanka and changes into a cat. Sita defies Ravanas advances. Sita gives Hanuman a message for Rama. Hanuman causes trouble in Lanka.

(Screenshot: Hanuman and Sita)

Rama curses the ocean, and with the help of the monkeys they build a bridge to Lanka. Ravana sends two demon spies to spy on Rama and his army. They are dectected by Vibhishana because they took the form of monkeys.

I did not understand the whole thunder tooth/magician thing that happened. But I know that Sita was getting info on what Ravana was planning from Trijata. Trijata hears rumors of Ramas death, and tries to assure Sita this is not the case. Luckily Trijata remembers that the Pushpaka chariot cannot carry a widow, the the battlefield is only an illusion and Rama can’t be dead. Hanuman is then seen bearing he mountain, which can only be explained by his love for Rama. Which explains why he can accomplish great feats.

They try to trick Hanuman with the image of a dead Sita. They pretend to kill her in front of Hanuman. Which is only an illusion. Lastly Ravanas’ son is killed by Lakshmana after a long battle. Agastya’s arrow is the one that slays Indrajit.. Ravana decides to go to war.

I really enjoyed this different view of the stories I am familiar with. I liked that Sampati was included in this story after learning of his brothers death.

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Storytelling Week 5: Jatayu battles Ravana

Dear Sampati,

As you know we are at our best when we are together. We are stronger and more alert. Don’t worry; I am going to be okay. I am in the care of monkeys, they are very caring and nurturing.  You see, I tried to fight of Ravana. I know, I know…It was stupid to take him on alone. I thought I could take him. I was just trying to protect Sita.

Here’s what happened. Ravana goes to Sita disguised as an old man. Of course Sita welcomed him because to turn away an elderly person is just not a kind thing to do. We all know our beloved Sita has a kind heart. Anyways, sneaky old man Ravana praised Sitas beauty, and then he revealed his true form. I witnessed all of this and knew I had to stop him and quickly. With little to no plan of attack, I swooped down from the sky to a nearby tree. Just as I landed Ravana already had Sita in his grasp. I had to use my surroundings to help me win this fight. I bounced off the tree and spread my massive wings and as I flew by I gave a good hard flap as I passes Ravana, he wasn’t expecting it. It knocked him to his feet and Sita fell with him but was able to regain her balance and move away from Ravana. I knew then it wasn’t going to be easy. Ravana had a strength that was only met by that of the Gods.  I knew I had to get him off his feet for me to win. I swooped down again, but he was expecting it. I grabbed a stick and tried again. As I flew by the stick connected with Ravana but not enough to knock him over. Holding onto the stick I aimed for his head, but he pulled a sword out of nowhere. As I swooped, he swung, to avoid a blow to my talons I had to release the stick and fly upward. I then decided if I could latch onto him with my talons, I would be able to have an upper edge. Well as I went for him, he used his sword and with one long swipe he struck my wing. I was fatally wounded, my wing no longer attached to my body. I fell to the ground in so much pain. Ravana then grabbed Sita and took off. That’s when the monkeys found me….and I think they have a piece of Sitas jewelry that she dropped.

(Screenshot)

Again, don’t worry! I will be okay, and home in no time.

Sincerely Jatayu

Authors Note: I wanted to write this story in the form of a letter because I felt Jatayu would need to warn his brother of his injury. I felt as though the brothers had a close bond and that because they were not together for this battle it needed a full play by play of everything that happened. This in adaption from the story Buck, William (1976). Ramayana: King Rama's Way.