Week 5: Reading Diary B

In this part of the Ramayana, Ravana convinces his uncle, Maricha, to help him abduct Sita. So Maricha transforms into a golden deer and appears in front of Sita. Sita thinking it is the most beautiful thing ever; she wants it and sends Rama after it. Sita gets worried and sends Lakshmana to go help her husband, Rama. When she is by herself, Ravana comes in front of her disguised as an old man. He grabs her and is running away, trying to get back to the South. When Jatayu sees what is going on, he goes to go help Sita, but after fighting with Ravana, Ravana finally wins and cuts off Jatayu's wings.

Sita learns that Ravana had been cursed by Vaishravana's son, Nalakubara, to have his head explode if he ever raped another women. She learns this from Indra, who had brought her food in Lanka.

When Rama and Lakshmana return, they see Jatayu and he tells them what had happened before he dies. Hearing all of this, Rama and Lakshmana decide to head south and go find Sita and win her back. When they are heading south, they come across Savari, who tells them all about Vali, Sugriva, and Sugriva's best friend, Hanuman. She tells them all the details of their lives unto the point of who their parents are, how they obtain the powers they had, etc. She also tells them about the fight between the two brothers, Vali and Sugriva. Sugriva had trapped Vali in a cave under the impression the Vali might have been dead since he didn't appear for a really long time and this was the cause that Sugriva had been exiled from his kingdom. Rama hearing this goes to Sugriva and Hanuman and helps Sugriva fight and kill Vali. Seeing what had happened, Vali feels bad because of his anger and tells his son, Angada to help Rama.

Sugriva thanks Rama and tells him that they will continue the search for Sita as soon as the rainy season is over. He becomes very happy with recent power he has achieved and starts drinking all the time because he could and so when Hanuman comes to him after the rainy season he finds Sugriva drunk and have forgotten about his promise to Rama. Hanuman reminds him and gets him sober and they go meet Rama. Sugriva sends an army full of his men including Hanuman, Angada, and Jambavan, the king of bears in search of Sita. The men come to their one month deadline and still don't have anything, making them stressed. They knew that if they returned everyone would be disappointed with them.