Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Reading Notes: The Indian Story Book, Part A


Intro to the Story Book. Source


The Indian Story Book, retold by Richard Wilson, link to the online reading


  • The city of Ayodhya seemed like a happy place, plenty of food and water, sweet music, workmen rejoicing in their skills
  • King Dasaratha did not have a son to succeed him
  • To get a son, Dasaratha would have to do a horse sacrifice
  • There were 4 sons born to King Dasaratha
  • "Bears and monkeys useful to him in work" said a holy man
  • King Mithila had a lovely daughter named Sita
  • Arrangements were made between Rama and Sita to be married
  • Dasartha eventually started to grow old and wanted to hand the kingdom over to Rama
  • Rama went into voluntary exile
  • Rama came to the borders of the great forest through which the sacred Ganges flows, this is where the chariot left him and returned to the kingdom
  • Bharata, the king's other son, was put on the throne with the passing of his father
  • Bharata wanted Rama to be the king
  • Rama could not return, but he let Bharata take his sandles back to Ayodhya
  • Rama went alone into the forest with his bow and was met with a great shower of arrows, rocks, trees, clubs, darts. and loops of rope
  • Luckily, Rama was skilled with the bow, Rama came out victorious
  • The Rakshahsa transformed a demon, Maricha, into a beautiful golden deer with silver and horns sets of jewels
  • Sita was so fascinated by the deer that she told Rama to go capture it
  • The monkey king is called Sugriva
  • Sugriva's immediate attendants were Nala, Nila, Tara, and Hanuman, Son of the Wind
  • Hanuman went to go and comfort Sita for Rama

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