Reading Notes: Ramayana, Part A
Two Kingdoms:
1) Koshala, ruled by Dasharatha (father of Rama).
2) Mithila, ruled by Janaka (father of Sita).
- Capital of Koshala was Ayodhya (very grand, noble place)
- Dasharatha (Solar Race) dwelt in palace that was well guarded
- Two family priests: Vashishtha and Vamadeva
- Dasharatha's three queens: Kaushalya, Kaikeyi, and Sumitra.
- Dasharatha wanted to perform the Ashwamedha (horse sacrifice) so the gods would grant him an heir that would perpetuate his race (solar race).
- Horse let loose on the night of a full moon during the month of Choitro.
- A brahmin followed the horse, and after wandering for a year, the horse returned.
- Many rajahs (rulers) attended the ceremony which took place on the bank of the Sarayu river.
- Kaushalya (chief queen) slew the horse, and brahmins chanted mantras.
- The other queens sat beside the horse and gave portions of the flesh to the fire.
- The gods promised four sons would be born to Dasharatha.
- Vishnu declared that he would divide himself and be born as the four sons of Dasharatha.
- Kaushalya of Rama, Kaikeyi of Bharata, and Sumitra of Lakshmana and Shatrughna.
- Vishvamitra had the status of brahmarishi
- Rama and Lakshmana set out with Vishvamitra
- The sons were led to a jungle haunted by Thataka, mother of Maricha.
- Rama cut off both arms, and Lakshmana her nose and ears.
- She went invisible but continued to hail stones at the men.
- Going off of sound alone, Rama shot a bow that killed her.
- A band of rakshasas led by Maricha attacked the men, Rama thought of his celestial weapons, and defeated them all.
- The sons were in the Garden of the king when they met Sita (love at first site).
- Sita prayed at the house of the goddess Bhavani
- Janaka is told by Vishvamitra who the men are and tells him they desire the bow of Shiva.
- The king explains that anyone who can bend the weapon can have his daughter Sita in marriage.
- Rama took the bow and effortlessly bent it until it snapped and shook the earth.
- Same thing happened again when they asked Rama to bend the bow of Rudra
- A bull-like man appeared with a bow and axe over his shoulder. Three white lines on his brow showed that he worshiped the god Shiva.
- He was angry someone had broken Shiva's bow.
- He challenged Rama to bend the bow of Vishnu, and of course, Rama was able to.
- Rama and Sita get married and have a very decorated wedding, along with three other couples.
- Dasharatha seeks approval from council to allow Rama to take over ruling.
- They agree and give the king reasons why Rama would be a good ruler.
- Manthara, the old nurse of Prince Bharata, hated Rama.
- She had offended Rama as a child, and he smote her.
- Manthara tells Kaikeyi that Rama will slay Bharata, or will at least become the slave of him.
- Manthara tells Kaikeyi that the king granted her two wishes and that she should use them to ensure her son doesn't end up killed by Rama.
- She wishes that her son be installed as Yuvarajah, and that Rama be banished for 14 years.
- Not understanding, the king begged her to asked for different boons.
- She said either you grant me my wishes or I drink poison this very night.
- He grants her the wishes, but rejects her and Bharata forever.
- When she tells Rama the awful boons she wished for, he is unmoved and follows the wishes.
- Rama tells Sita, and she says shes going to the Jungle with him.
- Rama tells her to wait for him because he doesn't want to see her suffer.
- She refused to be separated from him.
- Lakshmana also pleaded to accompany him, because he didn't want to be left behind.
- Rama, his brother, and Sita went to the palace to get Rama's raiment of bark.
- They made it the the river where Guha, king of Nishadha, fed their horses and kept guard of them over night.
- Sita prayed to Ganga for a safe return after 14 years.
- Dasharatha had killed a young hermit when he was younger and this is Karma.
- Dasharatha died of grief.
Bibliography: Ramayana, Part A. Public Domain Edition.
1) Koshala, ruled by Dasharatha (father of Rama).
2) Mithila, ruled by Janaka (father of Sita).
- Capital of Koshala was Ayodhya (very grand, noble place)
- Dasharatha (Solar Race) dwelt in palace that was well guarded
- Two family priests: Vashishtha and Vamadeva
- Dasharatha's three queens: Kaushalya, Kaikeyi, and Sumitra.
- Dasharatha wanted to perform the Ashwamedha (horse sacrifice) so the gods would grant him an heir that would perpetuate his race (solar race).
- Horse let loose on the night of a full moon during the month of Choitro.
- A brahmin followed the horse, and after wandering for a year, the horse returned.
- Many rajahs (rulers) attended the ceremony which took place on the bank of the Sarayu river.
- Kaushalya (chief queen) slew the horse, and brahmins chanted mantras.
- The other queens sat beside the horse and gave portions of the flesh to the fire.
- The gods promised four sons would be born to Dasharatha.
- Vishnu declared that he would divide himself and be born as the four sons of Dasharatha.
- Kaushalya of Rama, Kaikeyi of Bharata, and Sumitra of Lakshmana and Shatrughna.
- Vishvamitra had the status of brahmarishi
- Rama and Lakshmana set out with Vishvamitra
- The sons were led to a jungle haunted by Thataka, mother of Maricha.
- Rama cut off both arms, and Lakshmana her nose and ears.
- She went invisible but continued to hail stones at the men.
- Going off of sound alone, Rama shot a bow that killed her.
- A band of rakshasas led by Maricha attacked the men, Rama thought of his celestial weapons, and defeated them all.
- The sons were in the Garden of the king when they met Sita (love at first site).
- Sita prayed at the house of the goddess Bhavani
- Janaka is told by Vishvamitra who the men are and tells him they desire the bow of Shiva.
- The king explains that anyone who can bend the weapon can have his daughter Sita in marriage.
- Rama took the bow and effortlessly bent it until it snapped and shook the earth.
- Same thing happened again when they asked Rama to bend the bow of Rudra
- A bull-like man appeared with a bow and axe over his shoulder. Three white lines on his brow showed that he worshiped the god Shiva.
- He was angry someone had broken Shiva's bow.
- He challenged Rama to bend the bow of Vishnu, and of course, Rama was able to.
- Rama and Sita get married and have a very decorated wedding, along with three other couples.
- Dasharatha seeks approval from council to allow Rama to take over ruling.
- They agree and give the king reasons why Rama would be a good ruler.
- Manthara, the old nurse of Prince Bharata, hated Rama.
- She had offended Rama as a child, and he smote her.
- Manthara tells Kaikeyi that Rama will slay Bharata, or will at least become the slave of him.
- Manthara tells Kaikeyi that the king granted her two wishes and that she should use them to ensure her son doesn't end up killed by Rama.
- She wishes that her son be installed as Yuvarajah, and that Rama be banished for 14 years.
- Not understanding, the king begged her to asked for different boons.
- She said either you grant me my wishes or I drink poison this very night.
- He grants her the wishes, but rejects her and Bharata forever.
- When she tells Rama the awful boons she wished for, he is unmoved and follows the wishes.
- Rama tells Sita, and she says shes going to the Jungle with him.
- Rama tells her to wait for him because he doesn't want to see her suffer.
- She refused to be separated from him.
- Lakshmana also pleaded to accompany him, because he didn't want to be left behind.
- Rama, his brother, and Sita went to the palace to get Rama's raiment of bark.
- They made it the the river where Guha, king of Nishadha, fed their horses and kept guard of them over night.
- Sita prayed to Ganga for a safe return after 14 years.
- Dasharatha had killed a young hermit when he was younger and this is Karma.
- Dasharatha died of grief.
Bibliography: Ramayana, Part A. Public Domain Edition.
Rama killing the demon Thataka
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