Reading Notes: Ramayana Part B
Bharata Returns:
Source. Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie (1913).
Bharata earned some major karma points for telling Shatrughna to not kill Manthara, and also for not taking the throne and looking for Rama instead.
Rama and Bharata:
Source. Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie (1913).
The intro about the brothers meeting in the jungle could be the beginning of a scary story.
The Sandals:
Source. Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie (1913).
It is interesting that a pair of shoes are so important in this story. They are described as "decked with gold". The story seems to personify the sandals and indicate that they rule instead of Bharata, which was interesting to me.
(Embellished Padukas, Source: Wikipedia)
Viradha:
Source. The Ramayana, translated by Manmatha Nath Dutt (1891 and following).
This is definitely a scary story that could be used in a supernatural themed retelling.
At the end of the story, when Viradha couldn't be killed, they dug a pit and threw Viradha in it and the rakshasa "attained heaven" but this could be good for another story if Viradha was still alive and evil and someone else stumbled upon him in a pit.
The rakshasa in this story, Viradha, is described as:
Shurpanakha and Rama:
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).
Shurpanakha reminds me of a mythical siren who lures and hypnotizes men then kills them.
The rakshasi, Shurpanakha, is described as:
Lakshmana and Shurpanakha:
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).
Dandakaranya was the specific jungle they were in. It sounds like a forest from inception because everything could be an illusion put on by rakshasas. Khara the rakshasa sent 14 rakshasas but Rama killed them with celestial arrows. Khara called 14,000 rakshasas after that, which Rama also defeats.
Shurpanakha and Ravana:
Source. The Iliad of the East: The Ramayana, by Frederika Richardson Macdonald (1886).
Ravana says rakshasas prefers to torture their enemies instead of kill them. He has a gashed distorted face.
The Golden Deer:
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).
Another time there is a reference to gold, "golden carpet," "skin of lustre," "coat of starry radiance".
Ravana and Sita:
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).
Ravana described as having 10 heads 20 arms and a vast body.
Jatayu and Ravana:
Source. Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists by Sister Nivedita (1914).
Ravana has yellow eyes that turn red when angry. Sita described as shining like golden lighting and a cloth of gold upon a sable elephant. She cast down jewels and her golden veil.
Sita in Lanka:
Source. Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie (1913).
Ravana raped a nymph, so he is cursed and can't have nonconsensual sexual relations ever again.
- emitting tremendous roars
- hollow eyes
- huge face
- frightful
- deformed belly
- disgusting
- dreadful
- misshapen
- a horrible sight
- clad in a tiger-skin
- besmeared with fat
- covered in blood
- piercing animals with his iron spear
- feeds on flesh of ascetics
- drinks blood
- Couldn't be killed by arrows or sword wounds
Shurpanakha and Rama:
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).
Shurpanakha reminds me of a mythical siren who lures and hypnotizes men then kills them.
The rakshasi, Shurpanakha, is described as:
- misshapen
- ughly
- harsh voice
- unpleasant
- capable of love
- shapeshifter
- brother of Ravana
Lakshmana and Shurpanakha:
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).
Dandakaranya was the specific jungle they were in. It sounds like a forest from inception because everything could be an illusion put on by rakshasas. Khara the rakshasa sent 14 rakshasas but Rama killed them with celestial arrows. Khara called 14,000 rakshasas after that, which Rama also defeats.
Shurpanakha and Ravana:
Source. The Iliad of the East: The Ramayana, by Frederika Richardson Macdonald (1886).
Ravana says rakshasas prefers to torture their enemies instead of kill them. He has a gashed distorted face.
The Golden Deer:
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).
Another time there is a reference to gold, "golden carpet," "skin of lustre," "coat of starry radiance".
Ravana and Sita:
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).
Ravana described as having 10 heads 20 arms and a vast body.
Jatayu and Ravana:
Source. Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists by Sister Nivedita (1914).
Ravana has yellow eyes that turn red when angry. Sita described as shining like golden lighting and a cloth of gold upon a sable elephant. She cast down jewels and her golden veil.
Sita in Lanka:
Source. Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie (1913).
Ravana raped a nymph, so he is cursed and can't have nonconsensual sexual relations ever again.
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