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

Week 6 Storytelling: Hanuman the Cat

"Lanka is so beautiful! Look at the white sand and freshly green hills. This place is absolutely gorgeous and the flowers near the bright blue rivers are breathtaking! I cannot believe that Ravana lives here but I must destroy it all! Ravana had abducted my best friend's wife and now Rama is devastated over Sita's disappearance. Ravana had ruin our lives and now I must cause trouble in his kingdom, but how would I do it without being notice? I need to find a way to reach Sita first! I have to tell her that Rama is looking for her and to not lose faith in him! I need to meet her so she can tell me what to do."

"Hmm.. I know I will disguise myself as a cat! If they see me, a cat roams free at night, and may explore wherever he is curious to go. I will begin to shape-shift myself into long-haired cat!"

*transforming into a cat*
Hanuman now realizes that he has turned into a cat.

"Oh wow, look at me! Look at my tail and my fur is so long! Oh and the vision! I can see better in the dark, this is amazing! Now, no time to waste admiring my beautiful self, I must go find Sita!"

Hanuman runs as fast as he can to enter Lanka but he was eventually stopped. Hanuman started to think about what it will be like if Rama and Sita found each other. The two would be so happy and all Hanuman wanted was for Rama to be happy.

"In my head I kept thinking about Rama and Sita.. oh how happy will they be when they find each other. I am running as fast as I can.. oh wait what is that in front of me? A woman?"

"You cannot enter me you little cat!" said the dark-haired woman. "I am Lanka and ruled by the hands of Ravana!" said Lanka. She kicked Hanuman. Hanuman was furious, this woman was not going to let him enter.

I cannot believe this woman just kicked me! I have to find Sita so I'm going to punch her!

Finally I have entered into Lanka, now where is Sita? I see Pushpaka and his fly chariot but where oh where is Sita?! I know.. maybe she is in Ravana's bedroom!

As Hanuman rushes into Ravana's bedroom, he was hoping to find Sita in there but instead she was nowhere to be found. He looked at Ravana's miserable wives...

"Oh these poor women.." he said. "But where is Sita?! Where is Sita?!"

Rama and Hanuman's friendship: Best Buddies

Author's Note: I decided to make a story of Hanuman's experience as a cat. I did put a lot of dialogue and narrated a few sentences just to show Hanuman's thoughts. I thought Hanuman becoming a cat was significant in the book because he was clever enough to transform himself to get into Lanka. Hanuman knew that he would never be able to get into Ravana's lair if he remained his personal imagine so he thought a cat was a good disguise. In the book, Hanuman said a cat was able to roam free at night and can quickly move around. I decided to add some descriptions of him being a cat and how he was able to get pass Lanka. In addition to his experience, I added how important it was for him to find Sita. His mission was to find her and let her know that Rama is here to save her. Throughout the story I indicated the importance of finding Sita as well as him picturing what it wouls be like if Rama and Sita had found each other. I stated his thoughts in the beginning of the story how Rama was his best friend and the importance of their friendship. Throughout the story Hanuman was concentrated in finding Sita, he was loyal to Rama and knew what his mission was. For my picture, I noticed there were a lot of cat pictures of Hanuman and even though my story was about Hanuman as a cat I wanted to add a different picture. I found one of Rama and Hanuman and thought it was a good painting of their friendship so I chose that one instead.

Bibliography: William Buck, Ramayana 1976

Week 6 Reading Diary B: More of Buck's Ramayana

p. 270-324

Here comes Rama to the rescue! Finally after Hanuman's message and report back about Sita. Rama is angry and enraged. He wants to fight Ravana himself and bring back his love. This is another exciting and intense part of the book but now it is all about Rama. Throughout his journey to get Sita, Rama encounters a lot of problems because well Ravana is trying to stop him. So Ravana would ask help from his brothers and son to help defeat Rama and his army. Of course, all of them failed and Rama was able to win all the battles. Even Ravana's magicians and giant couldn't stop Rama.

The part of where Rama die was really intense, I mean how could he die?! He's the main character but Hanuman was able to save him and the others with medicine from the Medicine Hill. I mean.. how important is Hanuman's character? Without him everyone will still be dead and Rama would never be able to slay Ravana and get Sita back! Another important character was Ravava's good brother Vibhishana. He refused to help Ravana and tried to convince him to let Sita go but Ravana wouldn't listen and instead used his son and lost Indrajit. Poor Indrajit... I thought he was a good son for wanting to help his father fight. Although he tried to get rid of Rama and his army, he wanted to help his father. But it sure didn't stop Ravana from backing down the fight, instead he is even more angry and wants to fight Rama himself. Why doesn't Ravana just let Sita go?! He already lost his son.. but Ravana is so full of pride he cannot lose. It is pretty sad that Ravana cried when Indrajit died.. kind of revealed that Ravana has somewhat a heart? He did care for his son enough to cry about it and now he feels revengeful.

I think this is probably the most intense part of Ramayana. Rama is such a hero being able to slaughter all these demons and gods in order to get his love back, but without his friends he would have never succeed. I think that is one of the most important significance is "teamwork" without a team you can't do anything a lone. Without Hanuman and the others, Rama would never be able to slay Ravana's allies.

Killing of Indrajit: Rama slays Indrajit

Week 6 Reading Diary A: More of Buck's Ramayana

p. 219-270

This is probably one of the most interesting part of Buck's Ramayana because it focuses on the character of Hanuman. Rama had sent Hanuman to search for Sita and he had quite a few adventures while searching for Sita. First, Hanuman gets swallowed by the sea demon and what was interesting was that Hanuman was able to shape-shift into different animals. He turned himself into a cat so that he can free himself from the sea demon. The story goes on with Lanka transforming into Hanuman's character and him being able to find Sita towards the end and sends a message. Hanuman then goes and cause some problems in Ravana's household.

I thought this section of Ramayana was a spotlight for Hanuman's character. Not only did Hanuman showed his loyal friendship to Rama by helping him find Sita but he went through a lot of trouble in order to find Sita. However, the adventures Hanuman faced were interesting, he was a clever monkey, knowing that Ravana was angry for what he did in Lanka, he was able to break himself free when Ravana wanted to set his tail on fire. I also thought it was really sad when Sita cried when she saw Hanuman, she didn't think he was real because in a way she kind of lost hope Rama might be able to save her? Until she spot Hanuman, it gave her some hope back and she left Hanuman her pearl to let Rama know her whereabouts. I wished Hanuman could have figured out some way to save Sita instead of sending a message. Maybe like the two of them figure out a way to escape from Ravana's lair or like a smart plan to trick Ravana, but since the Ramayana focused on Rama. I could see the story was saved for the character of Rama and how "he" will be the one to save Sita. That was the main point of the story was Rama saving Sita.

Hanuman also tells Rama that Sita remains faithful to him and that added more suspense to the story because now Rama is more determined than ever to rescue Sita. I really liked this part of Ramayana just because it highlighted the heroic deeds of Hanuman and the book revealed what a great character he was.

Sita wants Hanuman to send a message: Hanuman

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