Storytelling for Week 4: The Wandering Woman

One day King Rama was forced to put his wife, Sita, into exile. She was sent deep into the forest and left to fend for herself. She had been dropped off from a boat on the side of a river, without knowing of her whereabouts. Sita is internally panicked and thinks to herself, "What am I possibly going to do now? I have no one to protect me, I have to find food and water, and somehow need to make shelter". This was also a hard time emotionally for Sita, considering her beloved husband had just kicked her to the curb like dust. As she rummages through the woods in fury and fear, she happens to run into a man to seemed to have quickly popped out of the bushes. This scared Sita half to death as she exclaimed, "Oh my goodness! Who goes there?". The man whom she happens to run into goes by the name of Valmiki, and responds to her gasp with a sincere apology, "I am so sorry ma'am, I had no intent on scaring you.". Sita, who isn't quite sure what to make of the situation says, "Who are you and why have you come to me?", and Valmiki responds by saying, "I happen to have seen you wandering through the forest, looking a little lost, so I thought I would come offer you some help". Not quite convinced, Sita says, "I am not lost, I am simply going for a walk, I do not need any help. I am an independent woman, capable of taking care of herself". Valmiki could see right through her facade, but understood that she was just scared. He said, "Okay, I will leave you be. I was only offering some help", as he walks away. As soon as he turns around to walk away, Sita knew she had made a mistake by turning down his help, so she calls out to him, "Wait! Don't leave! Please, I really do need your help. I have been sent into exile, and left to fend for myself". Valmiki was quick to turn around and offer her his condolences. "If you follow me, I will take you to our town. You can reside there for as long as you wish, we will make sure you have food, water, shelter and lots of laughs!" Sita was immediately relieved, and knew she made the right decision by accepting Valmiki's help. She then followed his steps to the town, hoping for a fresh start.

Image Information: Valmiki finds Sita. Wikipedia

Author's Note: I choose to retell the story of when Valmiki finds Sita abandoned in the forest. I chose to add in some dialogue and to change it up a little bit in order to make it my own. Although I changed it up, I wanted to keep it along the same story line and for it to have the same backstory.

Buck, William. (1976). Ramayana: King Rama's Way.

Week 4: Reading Diary B - The Journey Continues

Reading Diary Pg. 60-109
The Ramayana by William Buck

• Dasaratha decides to make Rama his successor and have him carry out his legacy as king. He king of does this behind his other son's backs, and in the end it comes around to get him. This is a similarity to what happened in Narayana's version of the Ramayana. One of Dasaratha's wives, Kaikeyi is convinced that this is a terrible mistake, and uses her two wishes that the king owes her to make her son, Bharata his successor, and to put Rama in exile. He has no choice but to fulfill her wishes. Rama is told about his exile, and does not resist. This is a true show of his character, and how the author is wanting him to be betrayed as. 
• Sita and Lakshmana plan to go into exile together with Rama, and as they try to leave, the people of Ayodhya are determined to keep them from leaving. They make the river rise, blocking them in and forcing them to stay through the night. 
• When they begin their journey into exile and enter the forest they run into Guha, the Hunter King. He immediately runs to Rama with open arms and big huge saying, "Oh Rama, Rama! Now you are an outcast like me! You look more outlandish than I remembered you!" (p. 72). He whistled and men came out from behind trees bearing all sorts of hot, steaming food! Later that night he goes on to tell them all the story of how he rejected Shiva's priests, and kicked her statue every single day. When he later died, Shiva rescued him because Shive considered him his most devoted follower. 
• Guha then goes on to tell them another story of when Kaikeyi had used her power to get Dasharatha to teach her the language of animals, even though he was to guard that knowledge with him own life. One Dasaratha had figured out what was going on, he knew he had made a mistake and did not have to do what she had demanded of him. 
• As Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana continue their journey, they meet sage Bharadwaja who convinces them to stay Chitratuka, where they choose to reside and Lakshmana builds them a beautiful house.  
• As the reading comes to an end, Dasharatha is told of Rama's departure. He dies the next day. His last thoughts were of a time he had accidentally killed a young boy in the forest, and he sees a connection between the death of that boy and the loss of his son.
• I really enjoy picking out the similarities and differences between the two versions of the Ramayana. For me, this version is easier to follow since I already have knowledge of the story and can focus more on what is happening, instead of just getting the characters distinguished. Although, very similar, I can point out differences here and there.

Week 4: Reading Diary A - The Story of the Ramayana

Reading Diary pg. 1-59
The Ramayana by William Buck

Characters

Valmiki - lived inside of an anthill because of unsuccessful attempts to find friendship, happiness and hope. Was convinced by Narada to save Sita, who was exiled by Rama because of gossip, and welcomed her into their town. Valmiki became a poet, and tells the story of Rama to Rama and Sita's twin boys, Kusha and Lava.

Kusha and Lava - Sons of Rama and Sita. Memorized the poem that Valmiki has to them by heart and sing it at a festival in the forest, in which Rama attends, not knowing that the two boys are his own.

King Dasaratha - King of Ayodhya. Had no son, but greatly longed for one to inherit his kingdom. He says, "Brahmana, I always long for a son. I can find no happiness without him, therefore make a sacrifice with fire, to please the gods" (p. 8). Calls Vasistha, who grants him sons.

Vasistha - Dasaratha's priest who performs a sacrifice so that Dasaratha can obtain sons.

Indra - King of Heaven

Ravana - Demon King

Vishnu - Soul of the Universe

Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana, Shatrughna - Dasaratha's four sons

Vishwamitra - Tells the story of Ravana to Dasaratha

Notes

• Ayodhya is described as being "filled with warriors, like a mountain cave filled with lions; her warriors were impatient and deadly to foes" (p. 8). They kept the city safe. The city was also known for its abundance of food, wood, and water. 
• Vasistha performs a sacrifice, and calls down Indra, the King of Heaven, who is not happy to be called, because he is unable to beat Ravana in battle.
• No amount of power by the gods can defeat Ravana. Indra goes to Lord Vishnu, trying to convince him to become incarnate as a human in order to defeat Ravana. He already has become in human form. 
• 16 years later, Vishwamitra arrives at the palace looking for help with his battles with the rakshasas. The baby Sukesha had three sons: Mali, Sumaili, and Malyavan
• They went to Vishwakarma, the architect gods, and asked for a home to be built. Lanka was made. Vishnu attacked and killed Mali. 
• Ravana married Mandodari, and had a son Meghanada (Indrajit)
• Ravana challenges Yama, the god of death, who surrendered to him. Surya and Chandra surrendered to him as well. 
• Ravana then attacked Amaravati, Indra's heaven, who slammed the gates of heaven to keep Ravana from coming in.
• In Mithila, Rama's strength allows him to break the bow of Shiva and he is able to wed Sita, Janaka's daughter. They marry and are brought back to Ayodhya. 
• Vishwamirta, ultimately wants Rama's help in defeating Ravana. Dasaratha agrees to allow Rama and Lakshmama to go with him. He becomes a mentor to the boys.
• On their journey, they travel to Mithilia, where Rama restores Ahalya.
• Rama's strength allows him to break the bow of Shiva, which gives him permission to marry Janaka's daughter, Sita. They travel back to Ayodhya.