Nine Ideal Indian Women: Sita, Promila, and Shakuntala: A&B


Sita:
  • The King-Farmer is called "Rishi" which is also the name of the narrator of my storybook, so that's cool
  • He finds a baby girl in a pitcher and adopts her
    • Kind of neat because he gives her the power to pass on his name
  • The King then has three more daughters by his queen, Sita is the most beautiful
  • Sita and Rama make eye contact and it is love at first sight
  • Sita's sisters marry Rama's brother in a record breaking four-way wedding
  • Sita's father tells Rama to "guard his treasure well and never forsake her"
    • King Janaka has a sinking feeling that Sita will not be happy 
      • This is an interesting tidbit that isn't included in the previous readings of Sita and Rama's love story
  • Sita was the center of Rama's life. The author says they had one life and one soul
  • Fast forward to Ravana disguising himself as a yogi and tricking/stealing Sita
    • Sita is terrified and begs to be let go
  • The normal events happen and Sita is exiled
    • She begs to Mother Earth to embrace her as she has never known a mother's love
    • Rama begs for Sita to come back and promises to never treat her cruelly again
  • Rama grieves by saying that Sita's death his his fault (it is) and that he should forever be known only as Sita's husband
I like this version because it emphasizes Sita's viewpoints and feelings. I like that she is more relatable here. You can better understand the intense love/betrayal that she feels at the hands of Rama 

Promila:
  • She is a princess married to Indrajit, the son of Ravana
  • Her story happens during the same time as Rama and Sita's
  • Indrajit and Promila live a secluded life in "paradise"
  • Indrajit learns of the war against Rama that befell his brother and feels guilty for his life of luxury
  • Indrajit leaves for war and Promila is miserable at home, she decides to go after him
  • She dresses as a knight and is allowed to go to her husband
  • Promila and Indrajit actually have a really cute relationship
  • Indrajit is ambushed in the temple after trying to pray to the fire god, Agni. He is betrayed by his uncle
  • Promila sacrifices herself at the funeral pyre
Sakuntala:
  • Sakuntala is abandoned and raised in a monastery
    • Of course she is beautiful
  • A passing king sees her, falls in love, and marries her
  • She is so enamored by her marriage that she does not offer an old hermit food and he curses her  so that her husband will not remember her unless she provides a token of their marriage
  • She loses the ring, her husband doesn't remember her, and she is exiled by her adoptive father
  • The king sees the ring in a fish and remembers his wife
  • Eventually the pair is reunited
    Sakuntala as she leaves the hermitage. Source.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Introduction to a "Foodie"

Image
Hi, my name is Haley. Here's the serious stuff: This is me at the Sequoia National Park in CA this summer I am a senior studying Biology with a minor in Religious Studies. I really love learning and Biology allows me to use more analytical parts of my brain while Religious Studies allows for some creativity. Together, I believe these two areas of study provide a well-rounded balance of coursework that keeps me busy and engaged. That being said, my favorite learning experiences in college haven't come from classes, they've come from my involvement with the Ronnie K. Irani Center for the Creation of Economic Wealth. This is an internship program that uses problem-solving tactics to consult with companies around the country. This internship has taught me professionalism and how to work with a team. This summer I had the opportunity to work with Nalco Champion as an Engineering & Sales intern! I had a blast and was able to spend my summer in California. Here
Read more

Week 13 Story: The Palace Dogs

Image
In a great and splendid palace, belonging to mighty king, there lived two palace dogs. They were the king’s beloved companions. In the presence of their master, they were loving and obedient. When the master was not around, their character reversed and they became mischievous, pestilent things.  One night, a thunderstorm broke across the sky. The bright flashes of lightning and loud cracks of thunder filled the palace dogs with a wild passion. They broke from their collars and leashes and ran into the night. They ran throughout the royal gardens, taking special care to roll and stomp in the largest mud puddles. They bit off roses from their bush and muddied all of the fountains. In their furious frolic, they arrived at the idea to storm the throne room. The dogs ran teeth gnashing, paws muddied, and mind frenzied through the palace into the majestic court room of the king. They rolled on the rugs, tore down the tapestries, and chewed on the arm of the throne. When the room was prope
Read more