Reading Notes: Narayan's Ramayana, Part D

Notes:

• Hanuman crossed the ocean to Lanka and then shrunk back to his regular size. He sees Sita depressed and was about to kill herself until he showed up. 

1. He gave Sita the ring from Rama and she gave him her one piece jewelry she had saved.
2. Hanuman then turns large and destroys the Ashoka Vana.

• Hanuman lets Indrajit, Ravana's son to capture him to take him to Ravana. 

1. Hanuman told Ravana that Rama advises him to surrender.
2. Ravana's brother, Vibhishana, persuades his brother to not kill Hanuman. 
3. Ravana sets Hanuman's tail on fire and burns Lanka to the ground.
4. Maya, architect of the gods, rebuilds the city.

• Vibhishana insists that humans are a dangerous threat.

1. He reminds Ravana that he is not protected against the humans and advises him ton release Sita.
2. Ravana rejects his advice cause he doesn't believe in curses and tells his brother to leave or he'll be killed.

• Vibhishana crosses the ocean to seek asylum with Rama.

1. Rama treats him as the ruler of Lanka in exile.
2. Vibhishana gives Rama advice about how to attack Lanka.

• Rama orders the sea of god to help his armies cross the water to Lanka and to evaporate all the water in the sea. 

1. The sea let Rama build the bridge with the help of men, monkeys, squirrels, and all kinds of animals.

• Ravana sent out spies disguised as monkeys.

1. Angada goes to Ravana as an envoy and destroys the palace tower.
2. Rama orders to attack on Lanka.
3. Indrajit used poison darts that made Rama and Lakshmana faint in the battlefield.
4. Garuda, the great bird who is the vehicle of the god Vishnu, breaks power of their poison dart.
5. Rama wounds Ravana and shatters his crown.

• Kumbakarna, famous for deep sleep, is awakened.

1. Kumbakarna promises to defeat Rama, but rebukes Ravana for having been driven by lust.
2. He then kills and swalows thousands of the monkeys.
3. Rama finally kills Kumbakarna.
4. Indrajit creates a phantom version of Sita and then kills her.
5. Lakshmana finally kills Indrajit.
6. Ravana tells the giant Mahodara to attack Lakshmana, but Mahodara attacks Rama instead and is destroyed.

• Ravana sees Rama as a mere mortal.

1. Ravana pierce Matali's heart.
2. Rama is able to revive him and uses mantra to destroy Ravana's trident, his most dangerous weapon.
3. Each time Rama chops off Ravana's head, it grows back.
4. Ravan finally faint's from weakness.
5. Rama then sends his Brahma-astra into Ravana's heart and dies.
6. Rama orders a funeral for Ravana.

• Rama sends Hanuman to get Sita back, but refuses to bring her back to his house.

1. Sita builds a fire and jumps into it, declaring she was untouched by Ravana.
2. Agni, the god of fire, helps Sita out of the fire to Rama. 
3. Rama says the test was to show Sita's purity.
4. Everyone was shocked that he did that to her and Brahma reminids Rama of his devine nature.
5. Shiva sends Dasharatha down to earth to see if Rama needs to grant any wishes.
6. Rama feels a great sense of peace.

• After 14 years of exile, Rama returned to Ayodhya.

1. Bharata is awaiting him at Nandigram and was about to kill himself if Rama doesn't return.
2. Rama took Sita and many others with him in the Pushpaka Vimana chariot.
3. Rama sends Bharata to announce his arrival.
4. Rama replaced his forest clothes to his royal garments.
5. Hanuman, Sugriva, and the gods came to Rama's coronation in human form.

• This story ended with the return of Rama to Ayodhya.

Bibliography: Narayans Ramayana.

Sita Goes Through "Agnipareeksha," Link Text.