Reading Notes: Ramayana, Part C

Reading Notes: Ramayana, Part C

Lanka:

Many of the stories from these readings took place in Lanka, which is modern day Sri Lanka. Previous stories mention Ravana, the rakshasa, being the king of Lanka. The Ravana article says that Ravana was born in Bisrakh though. 

• The Armies. [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).]
• Sampati. [Source:Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists by Sister Nivedita (1914).]
• Hanuman's Leap. [Source: Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists by Sister Nivedita (1914).]
• Hanuman in Lanka. [Source: Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists by Sister Nivedita (1914).]
• The rest of the stories through Vibhishana take place in Lanka. [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).]

(Geographical location of Sri Lanka, Source: Wikipedia) 

Sampati and Jatayu:

Source: The Iliad of the East: The Ramayana, by Frederika Richardson Macdonald (1870).

Sampati earned some major karma points for risking his life to save his brothers. The story calls him a "noble Bird". This was a really pitiful story since Sampati is a wingless bird with really no purpose. 

Hanuman's Leap:

Source: Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists by Sister Nivedita (1914).

Surasa is a rakshasi that tries to devour Hanuman. She seems to live in the sea.

The Burning of Lanka:

Source: Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists by Sister Nivedita (1914).

I like the metaphor of light defeating darkness when Hanuman's tail caught on fire and he used it to kill many rakshasas.