Week 7 Storytelling: Sita in the Assembly

As Janaka walks away.. I am finally alone in the room with Rama. Oh Rama my dearly beloved.. Should I be angry with him for abandoning me while I was pregnant with his two twins? But somehow I cannot stay mad at him. Look at that handsome face... I love him.

However, the fact that he abandoned me was so heartless. How could he do this to me! Even after that fire test, he still couldn't trust me? What a coward for believing those rumors! He cared more about his reputation than loving me, but I am in love him.. oh why must I love Rama? I'll just pretend to smile so that no one sees the pain I am hiding. I will just smile.

I looked at Sumantra, Trijata, Rakshashi, and Lakshama and smiled. Then I see Hanuman all dressed in his finest clothes wearing the pearl necklace I gave him. Oh Hanuman! I couldn't help but smile so brightly. He looked at me and smiled back. His hair was brushed backed like a halo. That monkey sure knows how to make a good impression!

Finally, I looked up and there he was sitting on his throne... my love Rama. He looked at me and just stared blankly. In my mind, I was imagining Rama jumping off his throne and running towards me and then we would embrace each other ever so tightly but he didn't. He just sat there. What should I do to get his attention? Is Rama still skeptical about me living with Ravana?! It wasn't even my fault that I was kidnapped but he would never understand this! I must do something to prove my innocence once more.

Rama! Let me prove my innocence here in front of everyone! I cried. He looked at me and said "I give you permission."

In my mind.. I know that this isn't right. I have tested myself before but Rama still won't believe me. I love him so much so I have to prove my innocence. I wanted nothing more than to be with my love till the day I die, so I will call out to the Mother Earth.

"Mother Earth, if I have not been faithful to Rama, take me home and hide me!" I screamed. Then I started to hear the floor rumble and the ground was shaking vigorously like an earthquake.. She is here! Mother Earth is here!

The Beautiful Sita: Sita calling out for Mother Earth

Author's Note: I decided to make my story in Sita's perspective after her abandonment. I thought the topic of Sita in the Assembly would fit perfectly into the theme of my story. I want to focus the topic of Sita's painful feelings after Rama left her alone to raise their children. However, Sita still loves Rama and would always try to prove herself that she is innocent to win Rama back. I thought about changing the story into how much Sita hates Rama for leaving her but it wasn't really Sita. She was always loyal to Rama and is madly in love with him. So as sad as it is.. I made the story into how Sita would do anything for him to prove her innocence. She tried so hard to hide her painful feelings of the abandonment by smiling in front of everyone. She wanted to please Rama, knowing how much he cared for his reputation, she was willing to do another test just so that they could finally be together. That is all Sita ever wanted was to be together with Rama but somehow rumors and doubts had got in the way of their love. In the end, Sita does not blame Rama for leaving her although she should. Sita never once was mad at Rama.. only hurt by the fact that he would leave her.

Bibliography: William Buck Ramayana 1976

Week 7 Reading Diary B: The End of Ramayana

p. 374-432

Oh wow.. in my opinion I did not like how the book ended. I mean how could Rama abandoned Sita?! After all he went through fighting for her? He goes off and left her while she was pregnant with his two sons? Just because people are gossiping about Sita living with Ravana? It wasn't even her fault that she was kidnapped and took forever for Rama to save her. If anyone should be blamed it should be Rama! Although Sumantra believed that the result of Sita's banishment was a curse, it was still very wrong for Rama to abandoned his wife especially when she was pregnant. I thought Rama was depicted to be a hero? A self-respected man and one who truly loves Sita? I mean isn't that the reason he was fighting to get her back? Or was he more worried of how people will look at him? It seems to me Rama cared more about being king and how people value him then his love for Sita. I really can't believe Sita's abandonment is part of this book... Rama is supposed to be seen as a hero but willing to leave his wife just because of some gossip? I do not value the character of Rama and I don't think I ever had in this entire book. He was seen as a hero but the real hero of the story should be Hanuman. Ugh... this really frustrates me.. Poor Sita poor Sita.

I thought the part of Hanuman showing his loyalty to Rama was intense. I mean he had Rama's name written in his bones and thought the bracelet wasn't valued enough.. I really admire Hanuman's loyalty. Hanuman is one of the greatest characters in Indian Epics in my opinion. Throughout the whole book of Ramayana, he had done nothing wrong besides being on Rama's side every step of the way and even until the end. I thought it was a little cheap that Rama would give Hanuman the ring that he was suppose to give Sita. After Hanuman ripped his flesh with Rama's name engraved in his bones, he goes off and gives him the ring that was meant for Sita? And oh yeah that he abandoned! I have very strong feelings reading the end of this book. It is clear that I do not like Rama's character even though he is the protagonist of the whole story.

The Mother Sita: Sita

Week 7 Reading Diary A: Rama defeats Ravana

p. 325-373

This section of the book is the final battle between Rama and Ravana. Rama finally slays Ravana and now Lanka is in the hands of Vibhishana! Hanuman and Sugriva had finally battled the demons and won and Rama sends Hanuman give a message to Sita. Finally Rama and Sita are able to unite. How exciting is that?!

I thought it was kind of sad when Ravana died and Mandodari cried because she loved her husband so much. Despite of all the bad deeds Ravana had done and was willing to fight Rama till death for Sita... Mandodari still cared for him. I noticed in Indian Epics women aren't recognized for the sacrifices they made. Most of the women in the book of Ramayana showed pain and sadness in these women. They are either depicted as sad and weak or manipulative like Kaikeyi. Now Agni the fire god is about to prepare the fire test to show Sita's purity in which she had to prove her innocence to Rama.

Rama's coronation was significant in the book. It symbolized his journey and bravery in the Ramayana. I thought it was pretty intense when Rama had to rush home so that Bharata wouldn't kill himself... I mean is it really necessary to kill yourself if Rama doesn't come back in time? That just puts more pressure on Rama and what if it took him longer to defeat Ravana and he couldn't make it at the designated time, then Aroydha wouldn't have a king? Honestly, I thought that was a stupid move of Bharata pressuring Rama to come back or he will commit suicide.

I thought the Pushpaka was interesting and symbolized the arrival of Rama's victory. Everything seems to be coming together after Ravana's death. Sita is preparing for the fire test and Rama is about to be coronated. The end is near!

Sita preparing for fire test: Sita