Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Reading Notes: Narayan's Ramayana Section D

Title: The Ramayana: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic
Author: Kamban / R. K. Narayan
Year: 1972


- Hanuman observes Ravana's wife Mandodari, thinking it is Sita. He gets very upset because he thinks Sita has succumbed to Ravana and is enjoying her new life while Rama is miserable. This could be Sita, or Mandodari could help Hanuman/Rama rescue Sita because she wants the attention of Ravana back. Or she could try to trick/trap Rama in order to get back in Ravana's good graces.

- Hanuman allowed himself to be captured by Ravana's army, had is tail set on fire, escaped from his captivity, and set the entire city on fire. It seems that he did almost everything except rescue Sita....

- Ravana has a meeting with his brothers and army chiefs. He asks them how the monkey was able to burn down their city, why he wasn't captured, and how they will deal with Rama/monkeys/etc.
He gets a variety of feedback, some saying to go find the monkeys and Rama and defeat them, some saying to let them come to Lanka and defeat them there. His younger brother, Vibishana, advises him to release Sita and change his ways before his meets his end. Ravana eventually banishes him....Vibishana seeks asylum with Rama and is eventually granted it.
So much can be done here...I can go many opposite ways with Ravana, such as him listening to Vibishana, making peace with Rama. Rama and his army could have Vibishana killed for "being a spy." Vibishana could actually be a spy, leading to Rama's defeat, or near defeat.

- Rama couldn't figure out how to cross the sea at first, but eventually was able to get a passage built. Hanuman could have easily made himself massive, as he did the first time, and carried the army across. 

- Rama and Lakshmana laid on the battlefield after being shot with poison arrows. They could have easily been captured or killed during this time. 

- Rama made every effort to save Ravana by allowing him to change his mind, which he never did. He could have shown the same mercy for everyone else that he killed mercilessly. 

- After Rama killed Ravana, all of the evil qualities that had plagued Ravana had melted away and showed him in pristine form. This can be incorporated into my story, but probably without Ravana dying. 

Rama and Ravana do Battle
Image Author: Unknown
Image Source: The Hindu




Geography:
Section A
- Kosala (country)
- Ayodhya (capital of Kosala)
- Anga
- Sidhasrama
- Mithila City

- Sarayu River
- Ganges River

- Himalayas
- Mount Saila

- Amravati (fabulous city was Indra's or Alkapuri of Kubera?)

Section B
- Kekaya (where Aswapathi's palace is - 8 days ride from Ayodhya)
- Chitrakuta
- Nandigram (small village on the outskirts of Ayodhya) 
- Panchvati
- Lanka 

- Dandaka Forest 

- Godavari River

- Mount Kailas
- Meru Mountain

Section C
Mountainous forest region of Kiskinda
Vidarbha

Charuvala (mountain)
Mount Matanga
Vindhya (mountain peaks)
Hemakuta Mountains
Thiruvengadam (holiest mountain)
Mahendra (mountain)

Narmanda River


Section D

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