- King of the Ocean
- Rama wants to pass over to Lanka, so he performs sacrifices to the God of Ocean...but those didn't work out
- He grabs his bow and shoots celestial arrows into the ocean, causing the earth and sea to convulse, darkness to cover the heavens, lightning and thunder, and mountains began to break into pieces.
- He grabs another fiery arrow and threatens to dry up the waters of the sea
- The King of Ocean makes his grand appearance (literally, dressed in splendour, serene, attended by shining water snakes)
- He's very polite, telling Rama reverently that according to ancient laws that he "must remain unfordable"
- Does, however, recommend that he go find Nala son of Vishwakarman (the divine artisan) to build a bridge so the armies can cross
- The King vanishes under the waves again and the heavens brightened
- Nala was called: this green vanar and his workmen constructed a causeway of rocky islands between the mainland and Lanka (to this day called "Rama's Bridge"
- Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie (link)
- The point of the entire story: The Death of Ravana
- Remember, Rama was literally born as the incarnation of Vishnu TO slay Ravana; this had been the gods' goal all along
- Rama used his bow to shoot off one of Ravana's ten heads, but another one regrew immediately, and Rama realized that wasn't going to work
- So, he takes the "flaming weapon" which Brahma had created for the protection of the gods, and threw it [shot it?] and it pierced the iron heart of the demon
- Ravana roars...falls over...dies.
- The heavens are really happy; there's celestial music and flowers fell onto the earth, and a voice declares that Rama's task is now ended
- Ravana's brother Vibhishana burns his dead brother's body and performs the funeral rights, then takes the throne as King of Lanka
- Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie (link)
 |
| Building Rama's Bridge (Dinodia Photos, link) |
No comments:
Post a Comment