Epics of India Fall 2020

  The Divine Archer   by F.J. Gould (1911) Jormungandr from NorthernPaganism      Now there I was said the crab to other marine animals. Everyone looked at him with wide eyes as he described the incredible events that happened before his very eyes.      Standing on rocky outcrop in the middle of the sea the crab was searching for food on rocks when all of a sudden he felt a sudden gust of air that blew him into the water. Making his way onto the rock he saw Hanuman who had just landed onto another a rock not too far away. Hanuman was making his journey to Lanka to find Sita. He used his superhuman strength to jump, but it was more like flying as he could cover hundreds of miles in a single leap.      As he was about to make his next leap, a giant snake's head appeared out of the water. The head of the snake was at least six feet tall and could swallow a man whole and its body coiled into the water and reached back almost a mile long...

The Divine Archer   by F.J. Gould (1911) Rama and Ravana Hanuman goes to Lanka where Ravana is holding Sita. During her capture Sita has denied Ravana's advances and stays true to Rama.  Hanuman gives Sita Rama's ring which proves that Rama is coming to save her.  Ravana's guards capture Hanuman but he starts a fire throughout the city. Rama attacks Lanka and manages to slay Ravana with the help of Indra's chariot and weapons.  To prove that Sita was loyal to Rama she walks to a fire unscathed which she does and Rama is satisfied. However, many of Rama's subjects do not believe this so she is exiled to a sage. While in exile Sita gives birth to twins.  These twins stop a horse sacrifice that Rama performs and they are re-united through this.  Sita proves her innocence by a throne appearing for her in the palace and goes down into the earth.

The Divine Archer by F.J. Gould (1911) Birth of Dasharatha's Sons This is a much more concise version of the Ramayana, but still highlights many of the key points. However, we do not get to see the dialogue between characters which enriches the story.  Rama is born to King Dasharatha, and has three other half-brothers. Rama wins Sita's hand by bending Shiva's bow and strings Vishni's bow with ease. Due to his great feats Rama is going to be declared as Dasharatha's successor, but Bharata's mother stops this so Bharata can be king.  This ruins her relationship with Bharata after Dasharatha dies because of the grief that he feels for exiling Rama for 14 years. While Rama is exiled Sita and Lakshmana join him and they defeat many rakshakas. After mutilating Shurpanakha, her brother Ravana steals Sita. This means Rama and his friends have to go find her and bring her back.