Extra Credit Reading: Ramayana PD pt. i

- Rama and Sita children of separate kingdoms

- Ashwameda= horse sacrifice

- done so that Dasharatha could gain son

- he ended up being gifted with 4 sons, twins and two separate kids

- Rama was Vishnu born as a human to defeat Ravana

- Vishvamitra asks for aid of Rama and Lakshmana 

- Dasharatha says yes but is sad to let Rama go 

- Rama seems to be a fan favorite 

- Rama and Lakshmana slay Maricha (reluctantly) 

- gains celestial weapons ( like Percy's pen thinking of weapon caused it to appear) 

- Rama with his weapons launched Maricha hundreds of miles out to sea and threw the fire weapon at Subahu which then consumed him 

- Vishvamitra told Rama a little story of the goddess Ganga coming to earth from heaven to a place 

called Sagar Island

- Rama is told about Gautama and Ahalya and his arrival will end her curse for accidentally sleeping with Indra

- Sita is the avatar or human version of Lakshmi which is Vishnu's consort in heaven

- Rama and Lakshmana take a little walk around the city and Rama gets a glanace at SIta

- this is where both of them fall in love with each other

- in order to marry Sita , Rama must weald Shiva's bow

- Rama of course was able to bend it as they are obviously soulmates

- Rama is given another test in which he succeeds, lie I said earlier it is true love DUH

- The brothers of Rama are not so lonely anymore as the find wives in the city and members of Jannaka's family

- Dasharatha had to decide who would take the throne and it was decided that he would like to see Rama on top

- Manthara the nurse of Bharata depsided Rama and was so angry that he would be taking the throne

- She began to get Bharata's mom against Rama and willing him into exile with the 2 boon the king had promised her

- Kaikeyi demands that Dasharatha send Rama into exile while making their son Bharata his heir

- Before he is crowned Rama is told to meet with the king and one of the queens

- His father is so sad that he has to do this to his favorite son

- Queen Kaikeyi told him that he has been banished for twice 7 years so I assume 14 years while his brother takes the throne instead

- Rama is not phased and obeys this command

- Rama and Sita and Lakshmana went together and let Dasharatha that they would all go into exile

- They were all told to strip into bark, but Sita cried because she was only ever in nice clothes

- It was revealed that Sita and Lakshmana could keep their wares

- Baharta did not know that Rama was exiled nor his father's passing

- Bahrata heard the news and was upset and mad at Manthara and vowed tp never sit on the throne tat belonged to Rama

Image source: Rama

Sources used: M. Dutt, R. Dutt, Gould, Griffith, Hodgson, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Oman, Richardson, and Ryder.