Reading Notes: PDE Ramayana, Part C
This week, I'm only writing on the parts that stood out to me, because Hanuman, the monkey himself, has arrived. But as before, I'm taking down my notes as I'm reading through, to get my immediate thoughts. And as before, this is from the PDE Ramayana by Valmiki.
It seems like Vali is...kind of justified? He was fighting a beast in a hole, but instead of helping him, Sugriva just watched...for a year, then closed the hole with a mountain. Surely if he was that strong, he could have just gone into the hole and helped Vali. I can see Vali's point of view, and to me, it seems a little more righteous. If I had barely escaped a life-or-death situation, found a mountaintop blocking my way out, broke through that, all to find that my brother was now ruling over my kingdom, I mean, yeah I would be angry, too! Even though his wife pleaded for him not to fight because of Rama, a man has his pride, you know?
Hmm...I'm not sure how to feel about Rama ambushing the fight. It seems unfair and underhanded, especially for one who is supposed to be the incarnation of righteousness and uprightness. He basically slew a guy after he was weakened from having an intense fight. With his brother! Think of not just the physical trauma but the emotional trauma! Not to mention he had a wife that is now a widow. Kind of despicable there, Rama. I'm keeping an eye out now.
Hanuman! What a beast. I remember watching a Thai film back when I was young about a powerful monkey, that had split into seven (or so) forms. Then, when he was trapped in a cauldron, the seven forms merged into one super powerful white form. My memory is really fuzzy about it, and those were the only parts I kind of remember, but could that have been Hanuman as depicted in the Ramakien? Despite trying to find it online, I could never find it.
Maybe, subconsciously, that's where my fascination for Hanuman comes from? We'll find out, I guess.
Until the next post,
Smith
It seems like Vali is...kind of justified? He was fighting a beast in a hole, but instead of helping him, Sugriva just watched...for a year, then closed the hole with a mountain. Surely if he was that strong, he could have just gone into the hole and helped Vali. I can see Vali's point of view, and to me, it seems a little more righteous. If I had barely escaped a life-or-death situation, found a mountaintop blocking my way out, broke through that, all to find that my brother was now ruling over my kingdom, I mean, yeah I would be angry, too! Even though his wife pleaded for him not to fight because of Rama, a man has his pride, you know?
(killing of Vali, from Wikipedia)
Hmm...I'm not sure how to feel about Rama ambushing the fight. It seems unfair and underhanded, especially for one who is supposed to be the incarnation of righteousness and uprightness. He basically slew a guy after he was weakened from having an intense fight. With his brother! Think of not just the physical trauma but the emotional trauma! Not to mention he had a wife that is now a widow. Kind of despicable there, Rama. I'm keeping an eye out now.
Hanuman! What a beast. I remember watching a Thai film back when I was young about a powerful monkey, that had split into seven (or so) forms. Then, when he was trapped in a cauldron, the seven forms merged into one super powerful white form. My memory is really fuzzy about it, and those were the only parts I kind of remember, but could that have been Hanuman as depicted in the Ramakien? Despite trying to find it online, I could never find it.
Maybe, subconsciously, that's where my fascination for Hanuman comes from? We'll find out, I guess.
Until the next post,
Smith
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