Week 7: Storytelling || Rama and Sita return

“AH, Rama, you have finally returned to us!!!” screamed the crowd that welcomed and awaited Rama as he approached the throne. He saw his sandals that his brother, Bharata, claimed from him 14 long years ago. It seemed like an eternity ago.

Rama approached his brother Bharata who was so overwhelmed with joy that he could hardly speak complete sentences. He said, “Rama, Rama, Rama, you are our one and only true king! Come, sit, let me place your sandals on your feet once again.” Rama sits on the steps next to the throne. Still, he has spoken no words. Bharata begins to tie the sandals back onto Rama’s calloused, dirty feet but, noticing how filthy they were, requests that he be able to wash them. Rama nods and Bharata proceeds to wash them and then tie the sandals onto his clean feet.

“We must plan the coronation!!” shouts Bharata, so loud that everyone in the village would hear.

Meanwhile, Sugriva and Hanuman decide that Rama would just absolutely love to have water from every river in the world, so Sugriva delegates this mission to Hanuman. Hanuman begins his expedition to each and every river, collecting one drop from each. This only took one day with the aid of the Time gods. Hanuman becomes very excited to see how appreciative Rama will be of his gift.

When Rama and Sita were on their adventure of 14 years, they realized that it was only polite to bring back gifts for their friends upon their return. Shortly before they began their journey back to where they started, they made a few stops and bartered with the little cash they had with them to gain some presents for the buddies.

Sita gave a pearl necklace to Hanuman, one that she paid for with three bags of salt. Rama honored Sugriva with many presents, including one that he collected while in battle with Ravana: one of his heads. Rama was kind of messed up like that after the battle.

Rama and Sita, still in love and as beautiful as ever, approached the throne together and sat on it as one hundred of their closest followers bowed down at them and begged to be able to kiss their feet. Rama looked at Sita, eyes full of love and joy, Sita responded with a knowing nod of all of their troubles and their adventurse, they kissed each other in front of the entire assembly--- the first time a public display of affection had ensued!! But then Rama said to Sita, “We need to talk”....

Coronation, Source: Wikipedia

Author’s note: I decided to replay the return of Rama and Sita in a light hearted fashion, almost making fun of the extreme actions taken upon their arrival. I thought it was pretty funny and I hope you did too!

Works Cited:

Buck, William (1976). Ramayana: King Rama's Way.

Week 7: Reading Diary B || the last reading

I really liked all of the symbolism throughout the end of this story. My favorite aspect of this last reading was how everything started to come full circle. As with Rama’s sandals that Bharata had placed on the throne to hold Rama’s spot in hopes for his return. The way Buck narrated it was much more satisfying than the way Narayan did.

As with Narayan’s version, I still do not understand why Rama banishes Sita. Throughout both stories all we read of is the strong love shared between them and it seems as though its unbreakable. Maybe Rama just did not want to start out his dynasty as king with the idea of having a wife who has betrayed his honor by possibly banging other guys (Ravana).

Anyways, Rama bans Sita, and she tried to kill herself and Rama just does not budge? It just confuses me how he could love her so much throughout everything, I mean, risks his life and the lives of others just to retrieve her from Ravanas capture, but now he does not want her anymore? Seems a little over the top to me.

Then Kala and Rama have a meeting where anyone who was not invited and attempts to intrude upon them must die? A bit extreme, but okay Rama. Do the people who intruded and then had to die know of the consequences of intrusion? Was there a sign on the door or anything?

So then Hanuman shows how loyal he is by opening his chest and showing that Rama’s name is inscribed on his bones….. And then they all go to heaven……

Week 7: Pinterest Widget Tech Tip

Follow Mary Shallcross's board Portfolio on Pinterest.

Week 7: Famous Last Words

Through reading and commenting on other students blog assignments and what they have completed of their storybooks I have noticed that we have a lot of really terrific writers! So many of my peers storybook introductions are impressive. I really enjoyed reading the ones where you really wanted to know what was going to happen next. I specifically remember one person who came up with the idea to create a hair salon where the ladies of the books we have read come to gossip! I would never have thought of something like that!

My other classes are going pretty well so far. I had a really rough week a couple of weeks ago where I had three huge, difficult exams over a three day period. It was not fun. But I did pretty well on them so I am happy! Some of my classes require a lot of busy work, which is something that I just do not enjoy because I feel like you do not really learn or benefit from it besides easy points. I like this class because the points are relatively simple to earn, but I wish that there was not an assignment due every day. That is a little overwhelming sometimes but the extra credit really really helps! I love that there is so much extra credit in this class. It is really a great idea for online classes because, even though the same responsibility is there on the student to “attend” class and complete every assignment, its nice to have a little cushion every once in a while when its crunch time in other classes! That saved my butt a when I had those exams so close together.

Other than classes, I just became a member of a social sorority on campus and I am over-the-moon excited about that. Also, I find out soon if I will be accepted to be a big sister in the Big Brother Big Sister organization, so thats pretty great too!

PS:
OU TX is in 11 days!

Painted on campus! Source: Wikipedia