Reading Notes: PDE Ramayana Part C

Ramayana and Lakshmana set out to find Sugriva to have him help Rama find Sita. Hanuman was sent by Sugriva to find out what the strangers were coming for, and when Rama made the connection of who Hanuman really was, was overjoyed. Lakshmana explained the situation his brother was in and because it was so similar to Sugriva’s, Hanuman said Sugriva was sure to help Rama find his wife, Sita.

Sugriva begins by telling how the fight broke out between him and his older brother Vali. Vali was fighting with a demon and followed the enemy into a hole telling Sugriva to watch the front of it. A year had gone by and Sugriva had assumed that Vali was dead and returned back home. Vali, however, had not died and had a hard time getting out of the hole because Sugriva had filled it. Vali was very angry and took away Sugriva’s wife.

Sugriva asked Rama to help him challenge his brother and Rama agreed. Vali hears about the fight and his wife urges him not to go fight Rama. Vali does not listen and heads out to fight. The fight begins and Rama hides in the bushes to kill Vali with a fatal arrow. Vali’s wife Tara and Sugriva cry over their brother’s death and Sugriva becomes head of the kingdom.

Sugriva states that he will help Rama find Sita at the end of the rainy season. The season ends and Sugriva sends his monkeys to search for Sita. After months of searching for Sita Jatayu’s brother tells the monkeys they are going the right way because Sita is in Lanka.

Sampati tells the story about how growing up Jatayu and him shared a nest, and as they grew older they began to get too big for the nest. They began to fly out of the nest and both flew to the ground. They thought death was upon them however they were granted the opportunity to be given them wings back someday by Nishakara.

After Sampati told his story, they decide that they need to confirm that Lanka is holding Sita. Hanuman goes into the city of Lanka and enters Ravana’s room to find only him sleeping with no Sita insight. He began to think that Sita would not sleep with Ravana and continued to look throughout the palace. Hanuman finds Sita in the midst of trees with people guarding her. Ravana awakens and goes to find Sita to try to persuade her into becoming his husband and leaving Rama. Hanuman approached Sita in secret offering to take her away however she refused unless it was by Rama himself. Sita says Ravana gives her 2 months to live and gives Hanuman a jewel to bring back to Rama. Hanuman becomes captured and is brought to Ravana. Hanuman is captured and brought in front of Ravana. Hanuman admits his mission and Ravana becomes angry and decides to light Hanuman’s tail on fire. Sita prays that his tail does not burn him, therefore, Hanuman’s tail becomes cold and he cannot feel the fire. He then lights Lanka on fire and promises Sita that Rama will return for her. Hanuman returns with his army and then Rama and everyone else marches toward Lanka. Ravana decides to fight Rama’s army. Ravana’s brother Vibhishana does not want to fight with Rama and joins him as an ally.

Image Source. The story that I was interested in most was the story of Sugriva. I thought this could be incorporated into my story this week.

The story that I drew the most inspiration from was the story of Sugriva and his brother. I thought this story was very entertaining and had a lot of parallels with Rama's. I think this could make for an interesting story this week. I also loved the story of Rama setting out to rescue Sita.


Bibliography:
Author: Sister Nivedita
Title: The March on Lanka
Link: Link to story