Week 3 Reading A: Narayan’s Ramayana

Rama attacks Thataka image is taken from the reading. Image

 This story begins with Dasharatha needing children because he has none. He also needs a human to defeat Ravana. Due to all the protection that Rvana has gained over the years  Dasharatha needed a human to defeat him. Then Vishnu agrees to become incarnate as Dasharatha’s son, Rama. Then Dasharatha obtains special rice that impregnates his four wives and has four more sons. Vishvamitra asks Rama to battle demons. Rama asked his brother, Lakshmana, to join and they defeated Thataka. Then Thataka’s son seeks revenge for his father’s death but Rama and Lakshmana defeat him as well so Vishvamitra take them to where King Janaka lives. Vishvamitra tells Rama the story of one of his ancestors, King Sakara. Rama and Sita, daughter of King Janaka of Mithila, fall in love with each other at first sight. To win Sita's hand in marriage, Rama must lift, bend, and string the enormous bow of the god Shiva, which he does, of course! Shortly after, Dasharatha realizes he is getting old, and so he decides to name Rama as his successor and he asked him while his brothers were away. But Kooni over heard and told Kaiyeki. Due to an old curse on Dasharatha he owes Kaikeyi two promises, Kaikeyi asks that Rama be sent into exile for fourteen years and that her own son, Bharata, should be crowned as Dasharatha's successor. Rama went into exile with no fuss.

Bibliography: Narayan’s Ramayana, Laura Gibbs, Story