Reading Diary B: A Divine Archer by Gould

1. The Search for Sita

Rama kills Vali with an arrow after Sugriva struggles fighting with Vali. Hanuman leads a search party for Sita and Rama gives Hanuman his ring to present as a token of his love for Sita. Awe, how romantic! This version really skips over the part where Hanuman jumps over the monster in order to get to Lanka. However, it does give us the monster's name, Surasa.

2. Lanka on Fire

Ravana wants to put Hanuman to death, but due to protesting, he settles for setting Hanuman's tail on fire. Remember that Hanuman is a monkey, so he has a tail. Hanuman forces his tail to grow as large as possible, which causes the whole city of Lanka to get caught on fire. Hanuman goes back to Sita and she presents him with a jewel to take to Rama as a token of her love. Awe, how romantic again!

("Hanuman and Sita in the Ashtonga Grove" Image Source: Wikipedia Commons)

3. The Battle Begins

After the fire, everyone in Lanka fears Rama for his power. The queen attempts to persuade Ravana out of going to war, but Ravana is a prideful man. Rama heads to Lanka in order to end this once and for all. Rama attacks the entire first day, but grows tired, so Lakshamana takes over the battle the next day. Indrajit, Ravana's son, wounds Lakshamana and Hanuman is sent to find an herb to heal him in the Himalayas. 

4. The War Ends

The gods are watching the battle and Indra wants to aid Rama, so he sends his chariot to help Rama win the last battle. Rama uses Indra's weapons that were sent down with the chariot to kill Ravana and put an end to the chaos. Rama insists on testing Sita's loyalty when he sees her and places her in a fire. She emerges from the fire unharmed and Rama gratefully accepts her once again? Why did he stick her in the fire to begin with? He loves her?! 

5. Sita and the Twins

Rama banishes Sita when they return home because the people continue to gossip about her loyalty even after the grand fire test. Again, what?! A hermit finds Sita and has her stay with him. She gives birth to two twin boys while in his care and she raises them. Years later, a horse sacrifice, hosted by Rama, draws attention from all over the country. Sita's boys go into town and they recite the story of Rama and Rama hears them. Valmiki, the hermit, reveals to Rama that they are in fact, his sons (they even look like him) and Rama arranges for Sita to come and visit him.

Divine Archer Ramayana