Week 5 Reading Notes: The DIvine Archer (Part A)
Unlike before, this story start off with the birth of the four sons, not before. Even as a baby Rama already has powers
There is more exposition on Rama meeting Sita in this version. After love at first sight, it takes him time to actually be able to snap the bow to win Sita's hand in marriage.
After a small outrage, Rama is awarded for his success with the bow of Vishnu. Parashurama who awards him is also an avatar of Vishnu.
All four of the sons are married with their father there.
Same as the other version, Rama is forced into exile after Bharata's mother forces Dasharatha to make him king instead of Rama.
Losing Rama was a curse all along, and that helps set Dasharatha's mind at ease in his death.
Bharata comes home to a dead father and is angry at his mother, so he tries and fails to get Rama to return. He places Rama's sandals at the throne for him to return to years down the road.
Whereas before, the main trio seemed much more mobile, in this version, after Rama receives his weapons, Lakshmana builds them a house.
Shurpanakaha, a demon, falls in love with Rama who turns her to his brother who then mutilates her. In anger, she sends a demon army who are defeated by the brothers.
Her brother is Ravana, who devises a plan to kidnap Sita with rakshasa shapeshifting powers.
Lakshmana tries to stand his ground, but cannot overcome Sita's urges for him to go help Rama.
In their absence, Ravana steal Sita, nearly kills Jatayu, the king of vultures who tried to stop him, and carries Sita away.
Jatayu is able to inform the brothers of what just happened.
Now we meet Sugriva and Hanuman who found Sita's scarf and are willing to help Rama at quite the cost. Rama needs to help Sugriva regain control of land his brother now has, but this alliance turns out to be very very strong.
When reading the PDE version, I had always assumed the "monkeys" were some mythical creature like the king of vultures and others we have seen. I did not realize they were referring to tribal people!
Bibliography: The Divine Archer by F.J. Gould
There is more exposition on Rama meeting Sita in this version. After love at first sight, it takes him time to actually be able to snap the bow to win Sita's hand in marriage.
After a small outrage, Rama is awarded for his success with the bow of Vishnu. Parashurama who awards him is also an avatar of Vishnu.
All four of the sons are married with their father there.
Same as the other version, Rama is forced into exile after Bharata's mother forces Dasharatha to make him king instead of Rama.
Losing Rama was a curse all along, and that helps set Dasharatha's mind at ease in his death.
Bharata comes home to a dead father and is angry at his mother, so he tries and fails to get Rama to return. He places Rama's sandals at the throne for him to return to years down the road.
Whereas before, the main trio seemed much more mobile, in this version, after Rama receives his weapons, Lakshmana builds them a house.
Shurpanakaha, a demon, falls in love with Rama who turns her to his brother who then mutilates her. In anger, she sends a demon army who are defeated by the brothers.
Her brother is Ravana, who devises a plan to kidnap Sita with rakshasa shapeshifting powers.
Lakshmana tries to stand his ground, but cannot overcome Sita's urges for him to go help Rama.
In their absence, Ravana steal Sita, nearly kills Jatayu, the king of vultures who tried to stop him, and carries Sita away.
Jatayu is able to inform the brothers of what just happened.
Now we meet Sugriva and Hanuman who found Sita's scarf and are willing to help Rama at quite the cost. Rama needs to help Sugriva regain control of land his brother now has, but this alliance turns out to be very very strong.
When reading the PDE version, I had always assumed the "monkeys" were some mythical creature like the king of vultures and others we have seen. I did not realize they were referring to tribal people!
Bibliography: The Divine Archer by F.J. Gould
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| The author, F.J. Gould |
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