Week 2: Storytelling- Love at First Sight

Ever since Sita was a little girl, she dreamed of the man she would marry.  She had always hoped for a tall, strong man with dark hair and sparkling eyes.  However, her idea of a dream man seemed less and less possible as her father set the bar really high for any guy who would want to marry her.  Her future husband would have to have the strength of one thousand men and find his way to her- it was not as if she could scour the world for the strongest man on the planet but instead, he would have to wonder into her town.  Additionally, the chances of such a man also being charming and good-looking were very slim.  However, one day, she laid her eyes upon a handsome man of beautiful stature and a body any supernatural being would want.  Sita was completely caught off guard as she could not remember the last time she had swooned over a man so much.  As Sita and Rama gazed into each other's eyes for a brief second, time seemed to stand still.  It was if the world around them seemed to melt away as they soaked up each other's gaze.  Her longing gaze was cut short as she lost sight of him.  Sita gushed to her maids, "He was so perfect- tall, broad shoulders, and kind eyes- I have never seen someone like that in my entire life!"  Her minds sweetly asked, "When will you see him again?"  Their innocent questions had pure intentions, but Sita suddenly realized she didn't even know his name, much less where he lived, and her chances of meeting him again seemed bleak.  Unfortunately, it seemed like fate would never allow them to meet again.  Sita felt ill at the thought of such a charming man being dashed away by the chaos of the world.  As she climbed into bed, she wept her heartbreak away as her maids remained oblivious to the obvious attachment she felt to a man she didn't even know.  Meanwhile, Rama met Sita's father and completed the strength challenge- a prerequisite to having his daughter's hand in marriage.  When Sita heard a man completed the feat, she could not be happy thinking about someone, other than the handsome gentleman she laid eyes on today, spending the rest of his life with her and the handsome fellow she had seen that day being betrothed to someone else.  Luck seemed to be on Sita's side and soon enough, she married the handsome man of her dreams and had a beautiful wedding.

Love and Romance

Author's Note:  I really enjoy love stories, so I wrote about how Sita and Rama fell in love.  I think it's so beautiful how when they met eyes, they were both blown away and how amazing it was they found each other once again and got married.  I wanted to convey what Sita may have been experiencing in this brief excerpt of her life and I wrote it in third person so I could include other details I may have otherwise been limited from.

Bibliography:  Narayan, R. K. (1972) The Ramayana.

Week 2: Reading Diary B

As I said before I wrote the other reading diary, I apologize if my thoughts are scattered.  I will write in my blog as I read so I may jump through the story a little bit.  For starters, I think it's sad that the king hates his wife so much for using the two wishes against his son.  I cannot blame him for being upset, but I hate to see a wedge driven into a relationship, especially that of a husband and wife.  I appreciate the fact he respected his word- that says a lot about his character.  I can't believe that the wife feels the need to exile Rama completely though- seems a bit excessive to me.  The obedience of Rama is quite commendable- he obeyed "without question."  I think it's a bit strange the wife expects the whole town to be offended if the king didn't keep his word- I bet they would see more the trickery and evil intentions by the wife misuing a wish/"boon."  I think it's sweet Sita and Lakshmana went with Rama- did Lakshmana choose to or did he have to?  Later, when Rama left Chitrakuta, I feel as if it was very sweet that he didn't want to detract from Bharatha's rule so much that he left the proximity of Ayodyha so he wouldn't be a reason people didn't listen to/respect Bharatha's rule.  Skipping forward, I think it's interesting how the sister of Ravana felt so love-sick from seeing Rama with Sita that she shut herself into a cave.  I mean, really? She's supernatural anyways- is there not a supernatural, good-looking male for her?  It's a bit crazy how supernatural beings are awestruck by the beauty of humans, and I don't understand how Ravana plans on making Sita his queen if he can't even touch her without consent.  I can't imagine he'll be able to convince her to love him and then he'll be faced with impending death.  I feel really bad for Lakshmana- the whole time he is making really good points about not following the deer and not leaving Sita and when they don't believe/listen to him.  It reminds me of somehow we, as humans, may disregard what someone has to say because the person may not seem as important, but they may make a really good point and we are too prideful or do not consider their words and may suffer as a result.  I wonder what happens to Lakshmana and hope he ends up okay in the long run.  I'm sure if Rama knew he left Sita unattended, he would be extremely upset.  I wonder why Sita felt like it was safe to let an old, creepy man into her home with all of this fishy business going on at the same time.  It's very sweet of her, but I'm not quite sure how she was not suspicious or nervous.  I can't blame her for passing out when Ravana lifted her up by carrying the soil underneath her feet, though.

Week 2: Reading Diary A- The First Part

I apologize if my thoughts are all over the place for this reading diary, but I will do my best to remain cohesive as I record my thoughts throughout the reading.  One of my first thoughts when starting this book is that it's really impressive how the sage had such "complete mastery over his bodily needs."  In today's world, whenever we want something, we can pretty much get it.  Information is instant, food is everywhere, and there's usually air conditioning close by if it's hot or a room with heating close by in the cold.  It's hard to imagine a world without the luxury of having everything at our fingertips.
Later, when Rama questioned the location of Thataka, I wonder if he asked out of fear or if he saw a challenge of finding/defeating her.  Perhaps if I read along farther I will find out...  I think it's a little crazy how he killed her so fast.  I'm surprised no one else had done it if he had done it so easily.  I also think it's interesting how Rama did not acknowledge what Viswamithra said about how Rama alone could have helped him protect the area while they performed the sacrifice.  Rama simply asked about what's to come. Jumping ahead to Ganga's story, I'm guessing that the belief system present holds to the idea that time will pass and eventually earth will end on its own without any sort of rapture or one huge natural disaster?  Later, when Ahalya turns to stone, I feel like her husband was a bit rash.  I'm glad she had a way out though.  I think it's crazy how Rama was picked/chosen for all these things and neither of his brothers had any of this "responsibility."  Why him?
For Chapter 2- "The Wedding"- how is it that there is no one in Kosala to receive charity?  Also, Sita's dad wants to suggest marriage of his daughter to Rama?  For arranged marriages, I thought it was more like the hopeful-husbands-to-be would "apply" in a way to marry the girl?  It looks like the other princes of the land tried to do so, but I wonder what about Rama made Sita's dad go so crazy for him...  Also, is a lotus flower supposed to symbolize something?  I'll have to look that up.  I want to say I've read a different epic with a lotus flower in it and it put the hero to sleep?  Another random thought- I think it's interesting they have "professional announcers."  It later says that "the couple's first meeting [was] at the conclusion of the wedding ceremonies."  Let me just say, I could not even imagine that.  I suppose couples back then honored marriage vows more regardless of whether or not they knew one another before the ceremony or not, but it would be so crazy to spend the marriage getting to know someone as opposed to getting to know someone via dating.  One of my friends may end up in a situation similar to this- her parents strongly support the culture of her home nation and are trying to get an arranged marriage for her.  Her sister already went through it and is happy with her new husband, but my friend is more like me- not really sure about the whole thing.  It's a tricky situation and for the fathers who arrange a husband for their daughters, I hope they truly get to see the kind of man the suitors are before they set up their daughters with a man for the rest of their lives.