Reading Part A (Week 3)

Reading Notes 

1.     King Dashartha
-King of Koshala (capital is Ayodhya) and it was beautiful and lush
-It was full of happy and prosperous people
-Dasharatha was of the “Solar Race” and very powerful, but sad because none of his 3 queens gave him a son
2.     Dashartha’s Sons
-The king’s chief wife, Kaushalya, helps him conduct a horse sacrifice, and the god promised the queen that she would have 4 sons
-Performed on the Sarayu River, then the queen slew the horse while people chanted mantras
-portions of the flesh were given to the fire, then the king gave the Brahmins
3.     Rama: Avatar of Vishnu
-The god Vishnu agreed to come to earth in the form of an avatar: Rama in order to defeat Ravana, the demon, (he cannot be defeated by a god)
-The other gods traveled with Indra to the heaven of Brahma
-Ravana made Yama, the god of death, his slave and put the sun and moon under subjection
-Vishnu The Preserver is the lord of the Universe and lives in the Ocean of Milk
-Vishnu said he will deliver all the minor gods and go to earth in 4 parts: the 4 sons of Dashartha and Kaushayla
-Rama was the most beautiful and most loved
4.     Vishvamitra
-Vishvamitra was a great rishi and lved in a hermitage (earned the status of brahmarishi from the gods)
-Dashartha welcomed him and promised him a gift, but cast him out when he found out Rama was required for a terrible thing
-Then Dashartha allowed Rama and his brothers out with Vishvamitra on a journey
5.     Thataka
-This is a woman who lived in a terrible jungle
-Rama challenged her and she began throwing boulders
-Rama cut off her arms, but she became invisible
-Rama shot an arrow and killed Thataka and celestial weapons were given to Rama
6.     Bhagiratha and Ganga
-Sagara, king os Ayodhya, had 2 wives and no children
- Finally a Brahmin granted his boon for him to have a son
-The king ordered a horse sacrifice but the horse was stolen
-The king burned the thief, Kapila
-Sagara sent his grandson Anshumat to go after the princes, but only found the hashed of 60,000 princes
-Ganga became arrogant and Shiva cursed her to wander in the tangles of his hair
-Ganga entered the underworld were the ashes were, and caused their spirits to go to heaven
7.     Ahalya
-a poem or song about the story so far for Rama
8.     Sita
-Rama and brother walking the streets and saw many princes and beautiful women
-Sita, the king’s daughter was sitting at a stream with Rama
-She saw Rama and wanted to leave him and go to the palace, and he fell in love with her.
9.     King Janaka
-King of Mithila, Welcomed Rama and Vishwamitra
-Rama bowed and he gave her his daughter, Sita, to marry
10. Rama Wins Sita
-He won her by breaking his bow
-the rest is a song or poem about Rama breaking the bow
11. Parashurama
-A strange figure appeared and had 3 white lines on his head
-He recognized Rama as a warrior because he drew the bow of Vishnu
12. Rama and Sita’s Wedding
-Royally decorated, and Sita was beautiful
-Rama’s brother married another princess (Sita’s sister)
13. Rama the Heir Apparent
-Dashartha ready for Rama to take the throne
-the royal advisors accepted the request
14. Manthara and Kaikeyi
-Manthara HATED Rama (slave and nurse), Rama  didn’t like her as a baby
-She was promised two boons and will use them to defeat Rama
15. Kaikeyi and Dashartha
-Kaikeyi was one of King D’s wives
-She was found weeping and hurt
-Dashartha grants her boons and mourned because of her
16. Rama is Banished
-Kaikeyi Summoned Rama and had to banish him because of Maharajah
-The king was brokenhearted about this
17. Rama Goes into Exile
-He left Sita but promised he would return. But Sita and his brother went with him
18. Crossing the River
-They prayed to Ganga and made their hair into locks
-They vowed to protect each other
19. Dashartha’s Karma
-When he was young, he went hunting and killed a young hermit
20. Dshartha’s Death

-he was doomed from his youth and finally died after Rama was banished

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