Epic Summary
Family Tree
Happy Ending
- Rama, Lakshman, and the monkeys build a causeway from India to Lanka, they battle Ravana and his brothers and kill them
- Rama frees Sita and after she proves her purity through a fire ordeal, they return to Ayodhya and Rama becomes king
- His rule, Ram-rajya, is an ideal time when everyone does his or her dharma and "fathers never have to light the funeral pyres for their sons."
- Dasharatha:
- King of Aydohya
- Has 3 wives and 4 sons
- Rama, Bharata, and twins, Lakshman and Shatrughna
Joseph Campbell
The Ordinary World
Rama lives in the Kingdom with his family
Monkey Business
Sita Chooses A Husband
The Call To Adventure
- Sita is the daughter of a neighboring ruler
- Swayamvara ceremony- Sita chooses Rama
- When Rama can't find Sita, a band of monkeys offers to help him find her
- Hanuman, the general of the monkey band, flies to Lanka (because his father is the wind), finds Sita, and comforts her
- Ravana's men capture Hanuman and light his tail on fire, but he uses his burning tail to set the houses of Lanka ablaze then flies back to Rama
In a struggle over the crown, Rama and Sita are exiled into the forest with their brother.
The Ressurection
Refusal of the Call
Sita walks through fire and proves her purity, resolving the last conflict that holds Rama back.
Bharata tries to convince Rama to come back to the kingdom and rule as the rightful king, but Rama refuses.
Return with the Elixr
Meeting with a Mentor
Rama and Sita return to Ayodhya, and Rama’s rule provides a “golden age” for the people.
There is no specific mentor, but this can be a specific moment where the hero reaches within him to find the courage and strength to go on his journey.
Kaikeyi's Deceit
Trouble In Paradise
- Rama's faher decides to give his throne to Rama, his eldest son
- Bharata's mother takes Dasharatha up on an old oath
- Dasharatha is forced to agree to banish Rama for fourteen years and crown Bharata
- The aforementioned princess runs back home to her brother Ravana, ruler of Lanka, and tells him about how beautiful Sita is (he has a weakness for women)
- Ravana disguises himself as a holy man begging alms, abducts Sita, and carries her back to Lanka
The Reward
Rama wins the fight against Ravanna and rescues Sita.
Crossing the Threshold
At the end of Act One, the hero commits to leaving the Ordinary World and entering a new region or condition with unfamiliar rules and values, represented by Rama's full transition into life in the forest.
The Road Back
The battle is over, and Rama can now return with Sita.
Tests, Allies, & Enemies
The rakshasa princess tries to seduce Rama, but his brother wounds her and chases her away. Hanuman and his army of monkeys aid Rama. Rama and his brother also defeat evil creatures who disturb their mediation.
Forest Adventures
Rama's Banishment
- They live happily in the forest and destroy rakshasas (evil creatures) there
- A rakshasa princess tries to seduce Rama, but Lakshmana wounds her and drives her off
- Rama goes into the forest, and Sita and Lakshman accompany him
- Bharata does not want to become king this way and begs Rama to come back
- Rama refuses to go against his father's orders, so Bharata brings Rama's sandals and puts them on the throne
Approach
Hanuman returns and tells Rama of Sita’s whereabouts. They prepare to fight Ravanna and rescue her.
The Ordeal
Rama and his allies battle against Lanka and Ravanna.
Elise Barbin, Olivia Guidry, Laurie Lyon, Sandra Nguyen, Angel Williams
Ramayana
Traditions
Background
Tenants of Hinduism
Hero
Facts
- Hero: a figure of imposing stature, of national or international importance, and of great historical or legendary significance
- Rama is the king of Aydohya
- Lives his whole life with dharma
- "Be as Rama/Sita," (WWJD) he's the perfect son/husband/guy that all Indian children are told to model themselves after
- extended formal speeches by the main characters
- frequent use of the EPIC SIMILE
- page 737 saying "with eyes like the petals of a lotus"
- page 741 saying "it dazzled like a huge gem stone"
Ramayana Holidays
- Dussehra: 14 day festival in October,
- Commemorates siege of Lanka and Rama's victory over Ravana (the demon king of Lanka)
- Divali: October-November
- Festival of Lights
- Celebrates Rama and Sita's return home
- Brahman: world soul
- Atman: human soul
- Moksha: liberation of human soul into Brahman
- Reincarnation: rebirth, have to go through cycle to achieve moksha
- Karma: good come from good, bad from bad
- Dharma: doing the duty of your caste
- Avatar: human version of god
- Mono-polytheism: one supreme being is composed of more gods and goddesses
Old Hinduism vs. New Hinduism
Old Hinduism
- Focused heavily on caste system, ritualistic sacrifice
- Only helpful for Brahmin (priests) and those high in the caste system
Action
Setting
Vast in scope, covering great nations, the world, or the universe
New Hinduism
- Consists of deeds of great valor or requiring superhuman courage
- Rama strings and breaks the bow that no other man could string, winning Sita’s heart
- All of the characters follow their dharma
- Dasharatha decides to give the throne to Rama so that he can seek moksha
- Rama obeys his father without question when he is banished
- Bharata refuses to rule, and rules instead in Rama’s place
- Lakshman goes with Rama into the forest so he may serve him
- Sita goes into the forest with Rama to be a good wife
- Sita maintains her purity while captured by Ravana
- While Rama rules, everyone fulfills their dharma
Supernatural Forces
- supernatural forces interest themselves in the action and intervene
- Ravana, 10-headed ruler of Lanka (devil figure)
- Rakshasa – evil creatures
- Magical golden deer
- Monkeys, whose leader is Hanuman, son of the Wind
- New Hinduism: more accessible, in response to challenges of Buddhism and Islam
- Poems preached that anyone can make spiritual progress, not just Brahmins, by performing their dharma,
- Mahabharata (Bhagavad Gita) , Ramayana
- Began leaning more towards god worship and away from glorifying the Brahmin
Works Cited
http://www.worldtechfun.com/files/Lord-Rama/lord-shri-ram-chandra-ji-shiva-ramayana.jpg
http://www.mythome.org/RamaSummary.html
http://holidayindia.net/package/dussehra-festival/
http://www.learnnc.org/lp/multimedia/2606
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20031025/chd.htm
http://decodehindumythology.blogspot.com/2012/11/rama-history-behind-legend.html
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24869?msg=welcome_stranger
http://briancroxall.pbworks.com/w/page/8178684/20090915-930%20The%20Ramayana%2C%20day%201%20%28Group%206%29
Strayer, Robert W. Ways Of The World: A Brief Global History. Boston, MA : Bedford/St. Martin's, 2009. Print.