Relationships in the Ramayana: Styles Brainstorm

Topic. My Storybook will involve the various relationships in the Ramayana. My aim is to have a few different couples'/duo's stories being told through a modern-reality show framework. I would want to focus on Sita/Rama, Rama's brothers and their wives form Janaka's family, and Dasharatha and this 3 wives. I want to include the sections of the Ramayana that talk about Rama and his brothers marrying the women from the Janaka family (in chapter 12). I also want to include the various situations involving Rama and Sita (in chapters 73, 74, and 78). Lastly, I'd like discuss the relationships with Dasharatha and his wives (in chapters 15 and 16). There are are endless amount of resources I can use to read about the scenes in the Ramayana that I want to include in my storybook. I can utilize the ever-helpful Ramayana PDE with its links and images. I can also watch the Ramayana Animated Movie if I'd like to watch the actual scenes from the Ramayana. I can also use a retelling of the Ramayana from Hathi Trust to read another version of the story and the scenes I want to focus on. I chose these specific couples and chapters because they have so much potential to be retold and revamped.

Bibliography.
1. Ramayana, The Epic of Rama, Prince of India by Romesh Dutt (1899). Web Source: Ramayana PDE
2. Myths of the HIndus and Buddhists by Sister Nivedita (1914). Web Source: Ramayana PDE
3. Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie (1913). Web Source: Ramayana PDE
4. The Ramayan of Valkimi translated to English by Ralph T. H. Griffith (1895). Web Source: Hathi Trust

Possible Styles:

Myself as a host (narrator). This is a definite option for my Storybook. Since I want to do something relating the Ramayana to a modern sort of reality show, I could write as if I were the host presenting the couples' stories to the audience. I could leave room in my story for the characters themselves to have dialogue and such. It would be a nice way to present my stories because we are all used to watching shows on TV with the host leading the show and the characters providing input every now and then. Behind the scenes interviews could also be a great way for the characters to portray their personalities to the audience.

Other characters as storytellers. This option would simply eliminate the need for a host. The Storybook could be told through the characters themselves and they could share all their own feelings and views on certain situations through "episodes." It could also be that characters not in the epic could give their own views on the Ramayana couples and how they would react if they observed the same scenes that were in the epic. This would provide the story with more varied views from characters of different backgrounds.

Therapy Session. This could be a type of style for the Storybook where all the characters of the Ramayana have free reign to vent about and discuss all that has happened to them. It is a way for all the characters' feelings to be portrayed and for the audience to see how everyone felt in the various important scenes in the epic. This is also an interesting style because it could help provide a resolution to the characters. This could provide us as readers with some closure to all the missing pieces throughout the Ramayana.

Bedtime Story. This is a slightly different style than the ones above. I could write it in a way where someone in a reality show (Kardashians, Real Housewives, etc.) is reading the epic and discussing it with their own friends or family. This would be a good way to see how others may react to reading the stories about all the couples and families in the epic. With this style, I can be super creative in imagining how a celebrity would react to reading the Ramayana and what they would comment on certain situations.

Dasharatha's sons and their brides (Wikimedia Commons).

Storytelling for Week 3: Ramayana [PDE]

Author's Note. My story will cover events in the Ramayana following Rama's defeat of Ravana. Contrary to what I expected, Rama and Sita did not have a wonderful, loving reunion. Instead, Rama was worried about honor, asking Sita to state her innocence (since she had been residing in the same place as another man--Ravana, after she was kidnapped). After she proves her innocence, Rama and Sita were able to reunite. After some time, Rama is crowned king and once more has to worry about honor and eventually exiles Sita. I decided to write a scenario where Rama goes to a therapist to tell all about the recent events and how that had made him feel. This therapy session will take place after Sita's exile and before her eventual return. I decided to use this sort of writing style with the goal of giving an in-depth look of how Rama might have felt after Sita was exiled. I chose the image below because it really shows Sita’s sadness. It reflects how Sita might have felt after Rama banished her from Ayodhya. Her face shows her pain and loneliness so it adds a touch of emotion to the story, showing what Rama might be picturing in his head after her departure. It essentially sets the tone of the story, with Rama having to overcome and come to terms with his decisions.

Sita, after being exiled (Wellcome Images).

~Valmiki's Therapist Office~

Valmiki walks into his neat office, seeing Rama nervously pacing around the floor. 

"Good afternoon, Rama. How are you today?"

"Oh, Valmiki! I did not hear you come in. I'm well. I guess as good as I can be with everything that's happened."

"I see. Rama, why don't you have a seat and we can discuss all the events that have occurred recently," suggests Valmiki.

Rama, deep in thought, walks toward the chaise lounge and slowly lowers himself to a comfortable position with his hands behind his head and his feet propped up on a pillow. He takes a deep breath, his mind racing with all the occurrences of the past few weeks, months, years. He needs to talk to someone and is very thankful to have Valmiki to confide in.

Valmiki goes swiftly to his chair, gets out his notepad, and slowly turns to Rama. "It seems there is a lot on your mind, Rama. I want you to feel comfortable here. Do not hold anything back and just let your thoughts flow. Where would you like to start?"

Rama ponders this question for a bit. He hesitates, not knowing where to begin, with all the struggles he's endured to survive, the various battles he's had to fight, and the separations he's had to endure. This is the first time he's been able to catch his breath. The first time he's really gotten to take a moment and contemplate his life and what has brought him to this point: Kaikeyi's grudge against him many, many years ago which resulted in her asking the favor of Dasharatha to order Rama's exile; the exile which turned into 14 long years away from his home of Aydohya where he had to leave his family, his people, and his countrymen. He had to endure and fight endless battles against tough enemies. He had times of hopelessness where he didn't know when and if he'd ever see Sita again. Sita. His dear, dear Sita. That was where he needed to start. Because that was his biggest regret. Letting Sita go. 

Rama sat up quickly, "Valmiki. Do you believe I'm a bad person. I banished my own wife from our home. I regret it every day. Do you think I'm a terrible person, Valmiki?"

Valmiki watched with pity as Rama's eyes, almost begging for him to contradict his questions, began welling with tears. "Rama. It is not that you are bad. You have simply been mislead. You let the thoughts and assumptions of others take precedence over your better judgement. You know the kind of woman Sita is. You know she wouldn't dare let a man touch a hair on her body. She would rather die than be thought of as unfaithful. She loves you more than the world, Rama. But you forgot that, didn't you?"

Rama, with his head bowed, could not say anything for a few minutes. Valmiki was right. His beautiful wife was the most caring person he'd ever come across in his life. The one who always made sure he had eaten his meals, even before she thought of her own hunger. The one who made sure he always stated motivated even on the darkest of days. The one who would risk her life if it meant saving his. And how had he repaid her love? He was ashamed to even answer that question. One thing was certain. He was nothing without Sita. He did not know if he could ever forgive himself for letting other people's judgements and assumptions push him to follow what they deemed the obvious course of action. He should have stood up and defended his Sita. His loyal, loyal Sita. 

Rama finally lifted his head, took a deep breath and said, "you know Valmiki, I always prided myself on my loyalty, my way of thinking, my strength. But I failed Sita in every one of those aspects. I was far from loyal when I abandoned her. I was far from thinking straight when I believed she would be better off separated from me. I was the weakest man to have ever lived to think I couldn't refute others' false accusations. I failed her. I failed the one person I never wanted to disappoint. The only way I can show my sincere and utter repentance is to beg on my knees for her forgiveness and her return to Ayodhya. I do not know if she will find it in her heart to forgive me, but I can't give up on her. I can't."

Valmiki observed the mighty Rama faltering to find words to express his feelings. This king of kings was at his weakest. "Rama, I think you know what to do now. It has taken a while for you to realize your mistakes against Sita, but you have at last. You did it, Rama. Go find your Sita and show her how regretful you are. She has been through a lot; a simply 'sorry' is not going to heal those wounds she's suffered from your hurtful words. But as you said, you can't give up. Show her just how much she means to you, Rama."

With a renewed sense of hope, something he had not felt in who knows how long, Rama thanked Valmiki and left the room. He stepped out onto the pebble road and knew where his feet were going to take him. His Sita. He was going to get her back. 


Bibliography. "Indian Myth and Legend" by Donald A. Mackenzie (1913). Web Source: Ramayana PDE

Week 3 Reading Diary, continued: Ramayana [PDE]

Ramayana Online: by various authors

Now, in the last twenty sections of the Ramayana, I get to see how everything works out. One character that really stood out to me was Kumbhakarna who was really depicted well as a scary demon who fed on humans, deer, and rivers of wine. He would sleep for 6 months and wake for 1 day to feast before he was overtaken by sleep once more. When the rakshasas woke him up and he was told of Rama, he feasted and then immediately went to fight Rama. I loved that despite this beast's great power, Rama still came out victorious!

Another important scene was the killing of Indrajit at the hands of Lakshmana. It was a good thing that Ravana was dissuaded from killing Sita as revenge. However, that just makes him want to get revenge for his son even more. I was so worried that Ravana had indeed killed Lakshmana but he was eventually saved by a physician!

My favorite part of this section was the ultimate battle, at last: Rama vs. Ravana. Despite the fierce Ravana's attempt to thwart his enemy, the mighty Rama comes out victorious at last. GO RAMA!!

The defeat of Ravana (Wikimedia Commons).

Following the battle, I thought I would see a loving, overjoyed, impatient Rama waiting for his Sita. I did not expect the questioning of her loyalty or wrongdoing while being in Ravana's company. In the end, Sita did prove her innocence and Rama acknowledges that, only requesting she prove herself so others don't assume Rama was "moved by desire" in reclaiming her. It was an interesting scene because it was completely not what I had in mind when I pictured their reunion.

The part of the story we were all hoping for did finally happen, though. Rama being crowned King. It was a long, tiring 14 year journey of strife and battles but Rama was able to take his rightful place as ruler of Ayodhya at long last.

I was very, very surprised at the ending of this epic, with Sita's exile, her return, the Earth taking her, and Rama's eventual departure as well.

Overall, this was such a wonderful epic filled with suspense, drama, love, struggle, and victory. I enjoyed learning about all the characters and their fascinating stories! It is a great piece of work!

Week 3 Reading Diary: Ramayana [PDE]

Ramayana Online: by various authors

Today, I began reading sections 41-60 in the Ramayana. I noticed in the first section how Sugriva's story was eerily similar to Rama's! Sugriva also had been driven out of his kingdom, his wife taken, and a brother was involved in the situation (with Sugriva, his brother kicked him out of the kingdom, while with Rama, his brother was the one chosen to take over Ayodhya). I thought these were fascinating similarities between the two characters. Throughout these sections, I really loved hearing the background stories of some of the animals that are helping to find Sita. Sampati's story of how he damaged his wings when he flew to high in the sky and the story of Jambavan and his powers were very informative to read and really helped me learn more about the character's pasts.

As I read through the last half of the sections, I kept wondering about Sita. The buildup in the story of trying to look for her and failing created some suspense that really got me impatient about whether they would be successful. Hanuman finally did find her! The descriptions of the demons guarding her were so detailed and really helped paint a picture of their grotesqueness. They were described as having a "fearsome shape; they had dogs' heads and pigs' heads and the faces of horses and buffaloes; some were of great bulk and others were dwarfish; some had but one eye and others had three eyes; the ears of some hung touching the ground; others that were hairy were the most horrible to behold." I really appreciate the parts of the story that clearly depict a scene and the characters involved.

This section ended with Ravana's brother Vibhishana, opposing the idea of not giving Sita back to Rama and deciding to ally himself with Rama. This last scene was yet another example of a brother being exiled. I'm interested that there are this many similarities between three sets of brothers!

Vibhishana decided to help Rama (Wikimedia Commons).