Week 4 Story: The Adventures of Dolpha, Lakship and Shellita

Image Source. My story focused on Shellita being stolen by Waveana in the middle of the night and the hunt for her. It features Shellita's spouse, Dolpha and his brother Lakship. 

Long ago, there was a mermaid and a dolphin who was exiled from the mermaids Kingdom. While swimming through the reefs one day the dolphin named Dolpha, found his brother resting on the ocean floor.

“Lakship, what are you doing here?” asked Dolpha.

“Brother! I have been searching for you for days, bad news has hit the kingdom. Father has passed away and mother sent me to look for you”

Dolpha and his mermaid spouse, Shellita, grieved over the news Lakship had just given to them. Lakship decided that there was no use to go back to the kingdom and decided to stay with Dolpha. They roamed around the ocean floor looking for the next warm coral reef to stay in for the night. One night, as they were sleeping, Shellita heard a rustling through the seaweed. Shellita awoke from her slumber and went to investigate what had made the loud noise as Dolpha and Lakship stayed sound asleep. Shellita was met with a whale who tried talking her into leaving Dolpha as he would not be the right man for her. When Shellita decided to stay loyal to Dolpha the whale became enraged and scooped her up under his large fins and kidnapped her in the dark of the night. The stingray named Rayu saw the whale take Shellita and immediately swam away to find Dolpha and Lakship to relay the news.

“Lakship! Dolpha! It’s Shellita, she is in trouble!”

Dolpha and Lakship awoke in terror screaming at Rayu to tell them everything he saw.

“It’s the whale Waveana, he has stolen Shellita! He tried to seduce her into becoming his wife and she denied him, making him steal her away. Quick! Follow her before it becomes too late”

Rayu showed Dolpha and Lakship the way in which Shellita was stolen in the night and they hurriedly followed after her. Dolpha quickly approached the land of Swordelleya and found the King Swordfish, Sanduman, to have him and his army of swordfish help fight Waveana and return Shellita to him. Sanduman decided to transform himself into a small clown fish to go and investigate where Shellita was in Waveana’s mansion. He, within minutes, found Waveana fast asleep with an empty space beside him. He continued to look throughout he mansion in hopes Shellita could return home and he and Dolpha would be reunited at last…

Author’s Note: I was inspired to take the story from the Ramayana to retell the moment where Sita was stolen by Ravana in the middle of the night. I thought putting a twist of the characters being in the ocean would be fun and exciting to write. Originally, I tried to retell a different part of the Ramayana story and ended up thinking this story made a better fit for an under the sea theme. I loved this section of the Ramayana and find that there a lot of ways this story can be retold.

Bibliography:

Author: Sister Nivedita

Title: Hanuman in Lakna 

Link: Link to story

Reading Notes: PDE Ramayana, Part D

Image Information. After the many obstacles, Rama has faced he is now reunited with Sita and is crowned King.

Rama and his army try to get across the ocean to Lanka by firing a fiery dart across the ocean to dry it up. The King of the Ocean rose above the ocean and made Nala construct a bridge for them to get across. Rama arrives at Lanka and is enraged. Ravana sends spies out in the shape of monkeys however they urge him to surrender Sita. Ravana tries to tell Sita that Rama died and his head was going to be brought in and Sita wanted to die next to Rama too. In the midst of telling Sita the news, Ravana was called out to war and Sita knew she had been lied to. Garuda tries to heal Rama’s soldiers. Ravana’s best solider was his brother Kumbhakarna, an incredibly powerful demon. Brahama made it to where Kumbhakarna sleeps for six months and is allowed to be woken up for one day. Ravana’s soldiers tried to awaken him. Kumbhakarna ate then began to defeat Hanuman and stole Sugriva, however, Rama sent flaming arrows that severed he hear. Another enemy, Indrajit, enters the battle and Hanuman tries to save the army. Ravana tries to use Indrajit to trick Rama into thinking Sita has been killed on the battlefield, but Vibhishana tells Rama it is a lie and they begin to plan an ambush and kill Indrajit. Ravana grieves for Indrajit and vows revenge. Ravana tries to kill Lakshmana with a dart and it pierces Lakshmana making Hanuman go get the healer to save him. Rama becomes happy when his brother escapes death. The Gods have been watching the battle and Indra decides to take a chariot to help Rama. They have him the chariot and the royal bow to defeat Ravana. Agastya came to help Rama and finally Rama used a flaming splendor of Brahma to kill Ravana. Ravana’s wife mourns his death and Ravana’s funeral takes place. Sita and Rama are finally reunited. Rama is still upset that Sita was with another man and therefore tests her. Sita goes into a fire to show she was not touched by Ravana and Rama takes her back. Sita and Rama go back in Ravana’s chariot talking about the memories and places they had been when in exile. Rama reunites with his brother just before his 14-year exile time is up. Rama becomes king since his exile is over. When Sita comes back into the kingdom the people were wary of her intentions and Rama finally gave in and exiled her. Time went on and Sita took hermitage with Valmiki. Sita and Rama’s sons both found Rama and Rama made a messenger make Sita promise in front of the people that she was pure. As she was renouncing that she was innocent the heavens took Sita and Rama was heavy-hearted. After Rama’s brother departs too, Rama decides it’s his time to go and urges Sugriva’s army to follow but Hanuman states he is supposed to live forever. Rama departs becoming Vishnu again.

My favorite part of the story was the battle and Rama saving Sita. I think this would be the focus of my story this week because it is an interesting plot and also has a major twist at the end.

Bibliography:

Author: Donald A. McKenzie

Title: Valmiki's Hermitage

Link: Link to story

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