Week 4 Reading Diary A: The story of the Rakshasa and Rama's Youth

Week 4 Reading Diary A: The story of the Rakshasa and Rama's Youth

This writing style of Buck is much different than that of Narayan. I enjoyed reading about Valmiki and how he came to write the Ramayana. I was amazed how he meditated for so many years that ants built a hill around him. Valmiki wrote a poem about the tale of Rama, and it inspired everyone that heard it. Buck then moves from Valmiki going straight into the tale of the gods and Rakshasa.

Valmiki in an anthill

The history behind the Rakshasa is very interesting, and more details about Ravana, and the conflict with the gods was great to read. I enjoyed learning how the Rakshasa came to be, and was surprised seeing that they started out as good natured creatures. After they were given the glorious city of Lanka they began devouring innocent humans, which led to great conflict. Vishnu attacked and wiped out many Rakshasa, and the survivors fled to the underworld. Finally Ravana was born. Hearing how he came to be, and came to obtain his powers was cool to read, and it quickly brought him to power as the ruler of Lanka. I was confused by Brahmas decision to grant Ravana invincibility from gods, rakshasa and yakshas! Why would he give a creature that was so violently inclined such great powers? After receiving these powers Ravana went on to terrorize all of mankind and the gods! It makes perfect sense why Brahma decided to help Indra devise a plan to destroy Ravana and the Rakshasa.

Ravana in his throne in Lanka

When the story about Rama finally begins I was disappointed to find much of the stories I enjoyed in Narayans retelling were either absent or lacking details. The story of Thataka being killed wasn't even mentioned, and the battle that took place while Viswamitra performed a sacrifice was very brief and not very detailed. Even the scene in which Rama and Sita first see each other seemed watered down to me, as well as the wedding. I still enjoyed reading this, especially the deeper stories about the gods and demons, and I hope that as the book goes on it gives more detailed accounts of Rama and his endeavors as well!