Reading Diary A Week 4

This week we read Buck's Ramayana. For part A, I will outline important parts from pages 1-59.

Important Characters:
1. Vishnu: Vishnu is considered to be the Soul of the Universe. Basically, Vishnu is present in every aspect of the universe.
2. Kusha and Lava: Sons of Rama and Sita. Rama does not know that the kids are his, though.
3. Valmiki: He is a poet who tells poems to Rama's kids. Saves Sita after she was sent into exile by Rama.
4. Ravana: King of the Demons.
5. King Dasaratha: He is the King of Ayodhya who is initially sonless. He wants to have a son so that he can inherit the Kingdom of Ayodhya.
6. Shatrughna, Lakshmana, Rama, and Bharata: King Dasaratha's four sons.
7. Indra: King of Heaven.


Important Notes:
-Ayodhya is a city filled with abundances and is protected well.
-Ravana is the King of the Demons and brings malice to Ayodhya.
-Indra cannot defeat Ravana. At one point in the story, Indra is summoned from heaven by a priest of Dasaratha. He does not defeat Ravana.
-Indra asks Vishnu for help defeating Ravana.
-Indra is already in human form.
-Ravana attacks many other people. But most importantly he attacks Indra's heaven (Amaravati).
-Back on earth, Rama marries Sita and they settle into Ayodhya.
-Rama is asked for help by Vishwamirta in defeating Ravana. Dasaratha allows Rama to leave.
-Rama is very strong and he breaks to bow of Shiva.