Week 2: The Beginning of Rama's Story (Reading Diary A)

So far I've really enjoyed the story in Narayan's The Ramayana. I was very happy for the guide. This was especially helpful when there Rama and Lakshmana were travelling with the sage, Viswamithra and the story jumped between what was happening with Rama and past myths that the sage was telling the boys.

Even with the guide that part was a bit complicated. I liking the story more when it kept with the narrative of what was happening with Rama, through meeting and marrying Sita, and Rama's almost-coronation and exile.

I thought it was funny the affect that Rama and Sita had on each other after just a glance. In so many stories about 'love at first sight' the couple is almost intoxicated and giddy after seeing each other, but Sita especially had a very different reaction. Yes, she couldn't stop thinking about him but she was quite angry afterwards at him and everything else in the world. I thought that her reaction was interesting because of how different it was than other stories of similar encounters in ancient stories.

I was also very interested with Kaikeyi and her plight against Rama becoming King. It was so unfortunate for everyone involved because Kaikeyi's first response and thoughts about Rama becoming King were correct. He wouldn't have harmed or tossed out her, Bharatha, or any of his other family members. But Kaikeyi's mind was so twisted by fear when her handmaiden convinced her that Rama would harm her son and cast her out, that she became the villain. I think in the end the exile of Rama and the crowning of Bharatha is going to end badly for everyone (except Rama, Sita, and Lakshamana.) I also think that Bharatha may feel bad or be angry at his mother, as it wasn't made clear if he even would want to be king.

Dasaratha's grief over Rama. Wikimedia