Week 6: Reading Diary A - The Search for Sita

Reading Diary Pg. 219-270
The Ramayana by William Buck

This reading begins with Hanuman telling the story of Sita's abduction to Jambavan. During this time, a new character is introduced. Jatayu's brother, Sampati, overhears the part of the story where Jatayu was involved, and unfortunately killed. Sampati is still grieving his brother, but remarks that he had actually seen Ravana flying over to Lanka. Lanka is a town that is across the ocean, and therefore hard to reach. Sita's search team decides that Hanuman should be the one to jump across the ocean to reach Lanka, since he is a monkey.

As Hanuman leaps across the ocean, he encounters some obstacles. He becomes tired and lands on the mountain Mainaka, which has been hiding under the ocean from Indra for years, and rises to give Hanuman a rest. As he almost finished his leap, the female rakshasa Sinhika rose up and swallowed Hanuman, but he was able to escape by crushing her heart and escaping through her ear.

When Hanuman finally makes it to Lanka, he realizes that he needs to find a way to navigate through the city without being seen so he disguises as a cat. That way he could walk throughout Lanka without being questioned. He makes his way to Ravana's bedroom, where he finds all of his wives. He did not find Sita there. Vayu, the god of wind, directs him towards the ashoka grove, where he would then find Sita.

While Sita is in the ashoka grove, Ravana comes to see her, trying to seduce her and get her to voluntarily admit to want him. Ravana is no longer allowed to rape women, so in order for him to love Sita, she needs to initiate it. Sita ignores Ravana, so he gets angry and walks away. When Sita is alone, Hanuman calls to her and speaks of Rama. She immediately weeps. She gives Hanuman a message to send back to Rama.

As Hanuman leaves Lanka, he decides to make some trouble in the town. Ravana is furious and orders for his head to be chopped off by his brother, Vibhishana. He refuses to chop his head off so Ravana ordered for him to set his tail on fire. He does but Hanuman breaks free and sets the entire town of Lanka on fire. Hanuman checks on Sita, and tells her that Rama will be back for her.