Reading Notes: Tiny Tales Ramayana, Part C

 

Reading Notes: Tiny Tales Ramayana, Part C

Vali would constantly bother Sugriva every day. Hanuman finally set Vali straight by threatening him. Hanuman met Rama and Lakshmana and led him to King Sugriva, who would later help them find Sita. Rama would help Sugriva by killing Vali, and Sugriva in return would help to find Sita. Rama kept to his promise and killed Vali. After this incident, Sugriva was crowned King of Kishkindha. But he had not upheld his promise to find Sita. Lakshmana was furious and decided to confront Sugriva, and he begged for forgiveness. Hanuman was sent to the south with Rama’s ring to give to Sita. 

Hanuman was the only monkey that could jump to Lanka to retrieve Sita. Jambavan helps Hanuman recall his powers. Hanuman faced many obstacles on his way to Lanka but conquered them all. Hanuman hid in the tree when he saw Ravana approach Sita and threaten her. 

She threatened to kill herself with her own hair- and hang herself. Sita thought that this was another disguise of Hanuman and did not give in. Once Hanuman reached Sita he offered the ring that Rama had given to gain her trust. Sita in return gave Hanuman her jeweled hairpin to give to Rama. She would only leave if Rama came to receive her. Ravana is informed about his son Aksha’s death decided to kill Hanuman. Ravana lights Hanuman’s tail on fire, and Hanuman sets all of Lanka on fire, except Vibhishana, Ravana’s brother’s house. Hanuman returns and gives the good news to everyone. 

He gives Sita’s hairpin to Rama and he is overjoyed. To go and rescue Sita, they must build a bridge over to Lanka. The monkey Nala was the only one capable of completing this task. He took many rocks and wrote Rama’s name on them, such that they will not sink into the ocean. 

Rama crossing the Ocean from Wikimedia Commons

As they reached halfway to Lanka, a mermaid named Suvannamaccha destroyed the bridges. But after seeing Hanuman she rebuilt them again – she would also bear their son Macchanu. Ravana’s son Indrajit attacked both Rama and Lakshmana and paralyzed them. Ravana sends Trijata, a rakshasi, to show Sita the two dead bodies. Garuda, the eagle god, healed their wounds and revived them back. Then to prepare for the war with Ravana, Rama worships Goddess Durga.

Bibliography: Tiny Tales from the Ramayana from Laura Gibbs