Reading Notes: PDE Ramayana, Part A
From the Public Domain Edition of the Ramayana, by Valmiki.
Note: these comments were taken in real time, as I was reading through.
The introductory descriptions of King Dasharatha and Koshala (Kosala?) reminded me of Asgard, especially as depicted in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Towering palaces, decorated temples, just a scene that inspires awe. And sitting on top of it all, a king. In the MCU, and in Norse mythology in general, this was Odin.
After the Ashwamedha, it describes a grand oblation that several of the major Hindu gods attend. It seems like Indian mythology is quite influential and has pervaded other modern cultures, especially in Japanese culture, to my surprise. For example, Indra is depicted as the elder brother of Asura, both of whom are sons of a great sage in the manga, Naruto. The two are bitter rivals, and their rivalry, passed down through the generations, could be seen as a type of the rivalry the gods led by Indra, and the Asuras. Interestingly though, in Naruto, the roles are seemingly swapped. The representatives of Indra are portrayed as those under the "curse of hatred" while those under Asura are characterized as being those that believe love is the key to peace.
Another two names I recognize: Agni and Soma. These two are also in a manga, called Black Butler (Japanese: Kuroshitsuji). Soma is an Indian prince and Agni is his butler, both visiting England. Soma, a carefree prince who lives in luxury, is protected by the loyal Agni, who was saved from poverty by Soma. Recently, Agni sacrificed himself to hide/save his master from some with murderous intent. Soma, heartbroken, is left to wander alone, with only the ashes of his precious butler left. Near the end, he is mugged and the vase carrying the ashes is nearly broken. He avenges this act by (implied) killing his muggers, signaling a complete personality change from the carefree prince. It ends on a cliffhanger with the caption - "People, and reality, drive Soma onto the path of the goddess Kali..." The normally calm and untroubled moon inherits the spirit of the goddess of vengeance/justice. It really gets your blood boiling.
I like how the qualification to marry Sita is to string a bow. Granted, not even the gods could bend it, and Rama ended up breaking it, but still. Couldn't there have been a more practical test?
Parashurama also has a bow that needs to be strung. Nice.
Manthara sounds like the serpent/Satan that tempted Adam and Eve. Kaiyeki, totally content with having Prince Rama crowned, yet at the questioning of Manthara, a seed of doubt and jealousy is sown, causing a great downfall. She should have sought further counsel, as Dasharatha did when he was deciding who to be heir, instead of listening individually to the provocations of Manthara.
Note: these comments were taken in real time, as I was reading through.
(Asgard, conceptual; taken from Flickr)
After the Ashwamedha, it describes a grand oblation that several of the major Hindu gods attend. It seems like Indian mythology is quite influential and has pervaded other modern cultures, especially in Japanese culture, to my surprise. For example, Indra is depicted as the elder brother of Asura, both of whom are sons of a great sage in the manga, Naruto. The two are bitter rivals, and their rivalry, passed down through the generations, could be seen as a type of the rivalry the gods led by Indra, and the Asuras. Interestingly though, in Naruto, the roles are seemingly swapped. The representatives of Indra are portrayed as those under the "curse of hatred" while those under Asura are characterized as being those that believe love is the key to peace.
Another two names I recognize: Agni and Soma. These two are also in a manga, called Black Butler (Japanese: Kuroshitsuji). Soma is an Indian prince and Agni is his butler, both visiting England. Soma, a carefree prince who lives in luxury, is protected by the loyal Agni, who was saved from poverty by Soma. Recently, Agni sacrificed himself to hide/save his master from some with murderous intent. Soma, heartbroken, is left to wander alone, with only the ashes of his precious butler left. Near the end, he is mugged and the vase carrying the ashes is nearly broken. He avenges this act by (implied) killing his muggers, signaling a complete personality change from the carefree prince. It ends on a cliffhanger with the caption - "People, and reality, drive Soma onto the path of the goddess Kali..." The normally calm and untroubled moon inherits the spirit of the goddess of vengeance/justice. It really gets your blood boiling.
I like how the qualification to marry Sita is to string a bow. Granted, not even the gods could bend it, and Rama ended up breaking it, but still. Couldn't there have been a more practical test?
Parashurama also has a bow that needs to be strung. Nice.
Manthara sounds like the serpent/Satan that tempted Adam and Eve. Kaiyeki, totally content with having Prince Rama crowned, yet at the questioning of Manthara, a seed of doubt and jealousy is sown, causing a great downfall. She should have sought further counsel, as Dasharatha did when he was deciding who to be heir, instead of listening individually to the provocations of Manthara.
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