Reading Notes: PDE Ramayana, Part A

Vishvamitra: 

+Rishi goes to ask for a boon from the Dasharatha, but Ravana's henchmen mess up his sacrifices. Rama is able to stop the demons.
+Rama and his brother seem to go on a quest/training ritual (sacrificial rights)
+I'm interested in the rakshasas that cause trouble for Vishvamitra. 

Thataka: 

Jungle!! Haunted by rakshasa woman.
This story would be interesting from the rakshasa's point of view.
+This is lowkey her home-they barge in and attack her.
She has a mother--Maricha
Demon's name is Thataka- she is misshapen (how?) and ruins the country
She throws boulders!
Arms cut off by Rama
Nose/ears cut off by Lakshmana
She puts up a fight tho! rains rocks down on the brothers.
Maybe she has something going on with Vishvamitra?
Killed by an arrow (Rama)
Mom tries to avenge her.
The mom is killed :/
Rama gets magic weapons
Should I make Thataka evil, and tell the same story? Or make her misunderstood?
+Maybe I could add in something about Manthara? Maybe they teamed up to take down Rama

Manthara:

+Hates Rama
+Was nurse for Prince Bharata--slave of Kaikeyi
+Hump-back/misshapen
+She mentions the JUNGLE
+Tries to turn Kaikeyi against Rama (it works lol)
+Kaikeyi is owed some boons- off they go to deceive the king!
+Smart and persuasive

+Rama is banished :/ boi, bye. Back to the jungle
+Dasharatha follows Kaikeyi's demands, but rejects her and her son forever!

Description of jungle from Rama: 

"Rama spoke of the perils of the jungle, which was full of wild beasts and venomous reptiles, where food was scarce and, when found, bitter to taste, where they would find no home and would have to lie on the bare ground, and where they would suffer greatly from heat and cold, from tempest and rains."


From: Rama Goes Into Exile from Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie.


Image Info: 
"Rama with a squirrel" 
Part of Public Domain, found on Wikimedia 




Other Stories I Used:


"Vishvamitra" from Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists by Sister Nivedita

"Thataka" from Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie

"Manthara and Kaikeyi" from Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie

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