Reading Diary A: Public Domain Ramayana

Sugriva and Hanuman. 

• Sugriva: Monkey king now in exile 
• Hanuman: Monkey-God; Ramas most devoted follower 
• Vali: Sugriva's brother; exiled Sugriva and stole his wife
• Hanuman teams up with Sugriva, tries to recruit Rama and Lakshama who are having the same issues (exiled). 

Sugriva's Story

• Sugriva=Shane (kinda)
• Vali=Rick (kinda)
• After hearing story Rama wants to stick up for Sugriva by fighting Vali

Sugriva and Vali 

• Kishkindha=royal town where Vali rules
• Tara=Vali's wife; tries to convince Vali not to fight 
• Dramatic showdown between Vali and Sugriva
• lots of vehement back and forth between Vali and Tara

Vali's Death

• Rama sneak attacks Vali and kills him with an arrow (dishonorable) 

King Sugriva 

• mahamatras=high officials of the monkey kingdom 
• Even Sugriva is sad about his brother's death. 
• takes the throne, but with tears in his eyes

The Rainy Season

• Rama is banned from city and has to wait out rainy season
• laments his undying love her his wife he was forced away from

The Armies

• Angad= son of Vali 
• Sugriva is enjoying the benefits of being king and puts of his promise to Rama of finding Sita
• finally sends out group of bears/apes to search  

Sampati 

• Sampati=old, wise vulture 
• Figure out that Sita was taken across the sea in the south by Ravana

Sampati and Jatayu 

• Sampati and his brother race and Jatayu falls, as Sampati tries to save him his wings are burnt by the sun and ruined. Wishing he was dead, a saint then tells him he will get his wings back once he helps a person who is much nobler than him (Rama?)

Hanuman's Leap 

• Jambavan=leader of the bears allied with the monkeys in the search
• Hanuman has magical powers? Turns huge to cross the sea to rescue Sita?

Hanuman in Lanka 

• Hanuman finds Ravan but not Sita. 
• Find it strange he didn't try to kill Ravana

The Ashoka Grove

• Ashoka Grove= where Hanuman finds Sita
• surrounded by she-devil monsters

Sita and Ravana 

• Sita refuses to give up Rama for Ravana and is threatened with torture from the she-devil monsters 

Hanuman and Sita 

Hanuman Captured 

• Hanuman fights of a ton of Ravana's minions
• Finally is captured by Indrajit, Ravana's son

Hanuman and Ravana 

• Discovering why Hanuman was there, Ravan lights his tail on fire

The Burning of Lanka 

• Hanuman gets super powers again and burns the majority of Lanka without managing to kill Sita 

The Burning of Lanka: Public Domain Ramayana

The March on Lanka 

• Rama and his crew of monkeys and bears prepare to attack Lanka and retrieve Sita 

Ravana's Court 

• Ravana and his subjects/advisers are awaiting the fight with Rama with readiness 

Vibhishana 

• Vibhishana=Ravana's younger brother
• Urges Ravana to release Sita and avoid the battle with Rama 
• Ravana accuses Vibhishana of being jealous and wishing ill against him
• Banishes his brother 
• Vibhishana joins forces with Rava