Reading Notes: Tiny Tales for Ramayana Part A

 

Ravana and Sita (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

As I was reading the Tiny Tales, I described each story with some adjectives/expression. I will talk about some characters that made an impression on me. Ravana was the first one: I used “anger issues” and “violent” for him. In the numerous stories he is in it, Ravana seems to be always angry and want to fight everyone possible. He is also insistent, rape someone and a cannibal. However, he is a soldier, so it is maybe required for him to be like that. He also appeared to Shiva’s troubadour which is kind of a paradox: he is violent but at the mercy of Shiva. It’s understandable since Shiva is a supreme being, a god venerated by all.

The next character that caught my attention was Brahma: the supreme being grant wishes/boons. He is the god of creation so it is logic that he is the one who create wishes. He is like the genie in Aladdin. Thanks to him, many where supposedly invincible like Dashagriva, making invincible weapons for Meghanada or even make Vaishravana, protector of the wealth. Most of the time, boons are asked by men who is seeking power. They want to be powerful because they are greedy: it reminds me of the patriarchy.

Finally, Sita was the third one. She is the reincarnation of Vedavati, a beautiful woman who was dedicated to Vishnu. Ravana attacked her and she killed herself by doing the promise that Ravana will be killed by her. Then Sita is born. I wrote “worthy” for her because she is able to lift Shiva bow. It’s like only the worthy one can move, as Mjölnir to Thor. She is intended to marry Rama: her father want her to marry him because he seems to like him? However, Sita and Rama met and they fall in love instantly, it’s love at first sight: are they soulmate? 

 

Bibliography: Tiny Tales from the Ramayana by Laura Gibbs