Extra Credit Reading Notes: Ramayana, Part D

Reading Notes: Ramayana, Part D

(Rama and Lakshmana kill Ravana, Source: British Museum)

Source: The prose portion comes from Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie (1913), and the verse portion comes from Ramayana, The Epic of Rama, Prince of India, condensed into English verse by Romesh Dutt (1899).
Rama kills Ravana, which was what the gods intended. 

Source: Ramayana, The Epic of Rama, Prince of India, condensed into English verse by Romesh Dutt (1899).
Mandodari was Ravana's chief wife. She was mourning Ravana's death along with many other rakshasas. 

Source: Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists by Sister Nivedita (1914).
"Sita looked on Rama sadly, like a deer" there is a lot of imagery involving deer surrounding Sita. Past lives influence future rebirths, so it is possible Sita's past lives had something to do with deer. The deer tend to be in a negative context, like when the rakshasa took the form of a golden deer to trick Sita, and here where she is described as a sad deer. 
"I have wiped away the insult to our family and to myself" a karmic duty.
"I have avenged his evil deed" this is action is against karma since you aren't supposed to avenge things that happen since everything is a result of a previous karmic action.  

Source: Ramayana, The Epic of Rama, Prince of India, condensed into English verse by Romesh Dutt (1899).
A brief summary of events in Rama's journey. This could be used in my storybook retold focusing on the karma of each event.

Source: Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie (1913).
"the sorrows of Sita", people doubted Sita's virtue and had Rama banish her. Rama was troubled that he had to kill Ravana. As a consequence of exiling Sita, Rama had to battle with his own sons (Kusha and Lava, twins) who didn't know that he was their father. 

Source: Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists by Sister Nivedita (1914).
The twins sing a song that tells the Ramayana. 
"Sita is blameless and pure, and for her virtue she has gone to the abode of nagas, but thou shalt be with her in Heaven."

Source: Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists by Sister Nivedita (1914).
Lakshmana was lifted to heaven by Indra. Rama joined him. 

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