The solar
dynasty was Dasaratha’s family’s rule
Rama’s
brothers are Vishnu’s tools and all the other gods are coming as monkeys to
defeat Ravana
Sage Risha
Sringa is the only one who can do the right yagna to give the king sons
Kausala—Rama,
Kaikeyi—Bharatha, Sumithra—Lakshmana and Sathrugna
Rama cared
about the people of Ayodhya
Viswamithra
hates all reference to him being king (wants to just be known as a Brahma
Rishi), is not offended by not given a proper sendoff
A Brahma
Rishi is kind of like a monk, from what I can tell
“A seed that
sprouts at the foot of its parent tree remains stunted until it is
transplanted.” –Viswamithra
Dasaratha
really didn’t want to let his sons go with Viswamithra
Serpents large
enough for elephants to seek shade in their jaws in the desert
“Viswamithra…transmitted
to them [the boys] mentally two mantras.”
Does he have psychic powers?
“When they
meditated on and recited these incantations, the arid atmosphere was
transformed for the rest of their passage and they felt as if they were wading
through a cool stream with a southern summer breeze blowing on their faces.” powerful
mantras, magic
The desert
is so terrible because of Thataka
“Just as the
presence of a little loba (meanness) dries up and disfigures a whole human personality,
so does the presence of this monster [Thataka] turn into desert a region which
was once fertile.”
“Her
strength, ruthlessness, appearance, rule her out of that category [womanhood],”
“A woman of demoniac tendencies loses all consideration to be treated as a
woman”—Viswamithra
Vishnu dwarf
made a deal with Mahabali, then grew and took control of earth and the heavens
and pressed Mahabali into the netherworld
Thataka’s
sons tried to seek revenge during the yagna, but Rama destroyed them; the other
demons fled
“We attain a
full understanding only when we are aware of the divine and other associations
of every piece of ground we tread on. Otherwise it would be like the passage of
a blind man through illuminated halls and gardens. That is the reason why I
have explained to you the story of every place we have passed through.”—Viswamithra
Washing in
the Ganges or dumping someone’s ashes there gives someone salvation
People live
a really long time (30,000+ years)
The oceans
were created by the trenches made in search of the horse being filled by the
Ganges
The city is
described and “as if to welcome a royal bridegroom-to-be” foreshadows the
wedding
Everyone in
Mithila is rich
Sita is distressed
after seeing Rama
All the
earth and all the gods celebrated Rama’s use of the bow
The author
talks a lot about breasts
Viswamithra leaves
them after the wedding
Dasaratha
fears that something bad will happen to prevent Rama from becoming his
successor
“one in Rama’s
position should count five mothers: the
one who has borne him, a stepmother, a father’s sister, an elder brother’s wife,
and the wife of the guru—all these have equal rank as mother”—Kaikeyi, happy at
the news of Rama’s coming coronation
Kaikeyi
asked for her two wishes in the room of anger
“You [Kaikeyi]
are no longer my wife, and your son shall not be entitled to cremate me when I
die”—Dasaratha
“I take back
my word to Kaikeyi.”—Dasaratha, not wanting Rama to leave
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