Reading Notes: Tiny Tales Ramayana, Part D

 

Reading Notes: Tiny Tales Ramayana, Part D

Ravana wakes up his brother Kumbhakarna, who sleeps every day of the year except for one day. If he is woken up too early, he will also die the very same day. Rama shot many arrows at Kumbhakarna, and he eventually died. Indrajit launches his Brahmastra at the two brothers and laughs in defeat. Hanuman brings the Rishabha Mountain to them and they are revived by the sanjivani herb. Lakshmana killed Indrajit with his arrow with such force that his head flew all the way to Ravana’s foot. Rama kills Taranisen, who had Rama’s name tattooed all over him except for his teeth. He later found out that that was Vibhishana’s son.

Ravana tried to seek help from Kali, but with his interrupted meditation by his wife he received no boons. Rama and Ravana battle each other, and Rama aims his arrow directly at Ravana’s navel – where his immortal pot is hidden. Vibhishana goes to get Sita and brings her back to Rama. Rama feels that Sita has been unfaithful by being in another mans house. To prove her faithfulness, Sita jumps into a fire – which doesn’t burn her. Some believe that Maya-Sita – her look alike entered the fire and Sita only appeared after she was brunt. Rama was offered a boon by Indra – and he wishes that all the monkey and bear soldiers be revived.

Sita enters the fire - Maya Sita from Wikipedia

Rama goes home and is crowned as King of Ayodhya. Sita and Rama are expecting a baby and they are elated. Ranakar was a robber and a murderer to support his family. One day he ran into Narada the rishi who helped open his eyes. He realized his mistakes and became Valmiki, the rishi. Narada and Valmiki met again. Narada than tells him the story of Rama – in which later Valmiki composes the epic of Ramayana. Narada says that Hanuman’s version is better. Hanuman swallows his version so that Valmiki is happy.

Rama sends Sita to Valmiki as he feels she has been unfaithful. Lakshmana takes Sita to the forest and says that Rama would not want to see her again. Sita lives with Valmiki and his family. She gives birth to twins: Kusha and Lava. Shatrughna, Rama’s brother, hears the twins singing a song devoted to Rama about his life. Valmiki and the twins go to Ayodhya to perform the song to Rama. Rama realized that theses are his own sons, and requests that Sita come to Ayodhya. Sita proves her innocence this time by letting the earth goddess Bhumi take her. Sita disappeared and Rama was left with their two sons. Lava and Kusha ruled Ayodhya.

Rama never remarried, instead he made statues of her to be by his side during rituals. In his next life as Krishna, these statues would be his gopis. Lakshmana beheaded himself for letting Durvasa in. Rama grieved his brother’s loss and he departed from Ayodhya. Meanwhile, Hanuman found Rama’s ring – meaning he was about to depart from Ayodhya. Tenalirama recites the Ramayana. As Shiva sat on Mount Kailash, he hears the world shake – Ravana is born, the world shook again – Ravana is dead.

Bibliography: Tiny Tales from the Ramayana from Laura Gibbs