Reading Notes: Ramayana, Part A

 

Scenes from the Ramayana
early 20th century
(British Museum)

Reading Notes: 

• Ravana's dad- Brahmin
• Ravana's original name- Dashagriva
• Ravana asked for protection from almost everyone but humans
• Vibhishana asked to uphold dharma
• Kumbhakarana asked for sleep (tricked by Saraswati)
• Shiva gave Dashagriva the name Ravana
• Shiva gave Ravana his moon sword- Chandrahasa when Ravana played Veena for him made out of his body.
• Mandodari- frog turned into a double of Parvati by Brahma
• Ravana's 1st child: Meghanada
• Meghanada captured Indra. 
• Brahma gave him invincible weapons in return for Indra. 
• Meghanada named Indrajit by Brahma. 
• Vidyutjiv (husband of Surpnakha) swallowed Ravana. Got killed by Surpnakha later.
• Vaishravana- half brother of Ravana. Named Kubera. Lord of Yakshas & protector of wealth. Lived in Lanka.
• Ravana sent Prahasta to ask for Lanka, Kubera gave it away happily. 
• Ravana vs Yama. Yama is winning. Brahma appears. Stopped Yama. Ravana declared himself the god of death. 
• Ravana kills Kubera's messenger. 
• Kubera lost but didn't die. 
• Ravana got Kubera's flying chariot.
• Ravana raped Rambha (Kubera's son's wife).
• Vedavati dedicated to Vishnu. Cursed Ravana. Reborn as Sita.
• Pulastya (mind-born son of Brahma)
• Kartavirya- thousand-armed king. Stronger than Ravana. Spares his life cause Pulastya pleaded.
• Vali: monkey king. Flew away with Ravana (lol). Vali and Ravana became friends later. 
• Ravana defeated Anaranya (Rama's ancestor). Anaranya cursed Ravana that an avenger will rise from  Ayodhya.
• Dashratha's first child- Shanta. His wives- Kaushalya, Kaikeyi, Sumitra. 
• Vibhandaka (a forest rishi)'s semen was eaten by a doe and Rishyashringa was born. Rishyashringa was born.
• Rishyashringa had never seen a woman before.
• Rama is Vishnu's avatar.
• Kaushalya- Rama. Kaikeyi- Bharata. Sumitra- Lakshamana, Shatrughna. 
• Rama displayed cosmic form in front of Kaushalaya. Kaushalaya asked to forget and so she did.
• Kaikeyi saves Dashratha. He grants two boons. 
• Dashratha shot Sharavana Kumar by accident. Sharavana's father cursed him to lose a son.
• Ram & Lakshamana went with Vishvamitra to find Rakshasas. 
• Tataka- most vicious rakshasi attacking Vishvamitra's ashram. Once a yaksha. Her husband killed by Rishi Agastya. She and her sons attack all rishis now.
• Vishvamitra gave Rama deadly weapons and taught him how to use them. Rama was hesitant to kill a woman but ultimately killed her.
• Rama shot Maricha (survived) and Lakshmana killed Subahu (sons of Tataka).
• Ahalya- most beautiful woman created by Brahma. Gautama's wife. Indra disguised himself and slept with her. Gautama cursed both. Indra became impotent and Ahalya became a stone. Dust from Rama's feet liberated her. Gautama forgave her. Indra got Ram's testicles???
• Sita rose from the earth. She lift the Shiva's bow easily. 
• Ravana lifted the bow but got pinned to the ground. Sita came to the rescue. 
• Sita fell for Rama, and vice versa. It was love at first sight. 
• Rama effortlessly lifted the bow and married Sita. 
• Rama's brothers married Sita's sisters. Lakshmana to Urmila. Mandavi to Bharata. Shrutakirti to Shatrughna.

Source: Tiny Tales of the Ramayana by Laura Gibbs