In Sugriva's story, I was a little confused. I think that the brother followed some evil into a cave and Sugriva waited outside the cave he entered for a year only to never hear his cries and assume his brother's death due to the presence of blood. But, Valir (the brother) had not been killed and ended up destroying his enemy. Sugriva filled the opening with the top of a mountain which led to Cali having difficulty getting out. Once he returned to Kishkinda, he refused to believe what his brother told him had happened and thought that he filled the cave to hold him prisoner allowing him to be promised the kingdom without any competition. Vali stole Sugriva's wife and banned him from the kingdom. Rama begged Sugriva to challenge his brother in battle after hearing his story.
In Sugriva and Vali, Rama became very close with Sugriva. They went to Kishkindha together to challenge Vali. Sugriva ran away in terror and pain. I find it difficult to dissect the readings done in such a poetic way. I always end up lost in the language halfway through.
In the next story, Vali's Death, things became more clear. Sugriva returned to take on Valir and they battled. In the end, Valir is killed!
In King Sugriva, Tara is saddened by the loss of Vali and Sugriva comes to reality as he sees his brother lying dead. Sugriva is then named the lord and is returned to the kingdom at last.
In The Rainy Season, I was a little confused as to what all happened. I understood that they endured a year of rain and that Rama and Lakshmana are still out of their kingdom. It seemed to me that Rama was talking about how much he misses Sita in this time. It seems as though he is falling into a depression of some sort due to his deep heartache. He wants to free Sita and get her back more than life.
In The Armies, Rama became worried as Sugriva was supposed to help him go get Sita back, but he did not seem to care as he kept drinking wine and celebrating. Lakshmana then visited Sugriva and threatened him with death for breaking his promise. At this time, armies were sent out to search for Sita.
In Sampati, after a month of searching, Sita has yet to be found. Those searching met an aged vulture named Sampati in a cave after he heard the monkey that were searching talking about his brother Jatayu. Sampati then heard their story and told them that he had seen Sita carried away by Ravana and that she was now hundred of leagues across the sea in Lanka.
In Sampati and Jatayu, it starts with Sampati reminiscing on old memories with his brother, Jatayu. They had been racing and he passed out and awoke without wings and dimmed sight. Death did not take him though. He asked the Saint why he lived and he was told that his wings would be returned once a chance of service comes along. He thinks that Rama make be the person he must be of service to. The Simians led him to the seashore to mourn the loss of Jatayu and then it seemed as though he was purified and youth had been given back to him.
In Hanuman's Leap, the monkeys regained their hope as they had some guidance. They then saddened after realizing how far Sita was and that they could not get there. The they remembered Hanuman was born in the mountains and sprang 3000 leagues with ease when young. They chose him to bound across the ocean. He climbed the mountain and prepared himself for the leap. After he left, a grim of rakshasi rose from the sea and caught him, but he dashed her and grew even better, bursting away until he saw the shore of Lanka.
(Photo from Wikipedia.)
Rayamana, Part B. Sources used: M. Dutt, R. Dutt, Gould, Griffith, Hodgson, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Oman, Richardson, and Ryder.
No comments:
Post a Comment