Reading Notes: PDE Ramayana, Section D

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For this reading, I decided to focus more on the final battle between Ravana and the demons of Lanka and Rama with his band of monkeys. The battle was very complex with many characters and many complicated deaths; to summarize the epic climax to the Ramayana, I decided to make note of the specific details from the battle that really struck out to me.

In addition, I thought I might highlight Ravana's perspective of the battle and his kingdom of Lanka. After reading a little more about Ravana, I discovered that, while in most places he is viewed as a symbol of evil, in Sri Lanka today he is actually celebrated as a great king. Despite being a demon, Ravana was actually a noble king who ruled his people diligently and faithfully. His people actually loved and respected him! That is.... until Ravana makes the grave mistake of kidnapping Sita. As soon as he brought her back to Lanka, Ravana and his kingdom experienced many omens, indicating to all of them that the end was near. Only then did the people begin to dislike their king.

It's important also to remember that despite Ravana kidnapping Sita, he never actually touched her, and he kept her in the most beautiful palace garden, guarded by female demons and served the finest food, although Sita didn't eat it. This shows Ravana's noble character, something that is often overlooked when considering his rage and anger toward Rama and the monkeys.

Painting of Ravana holding all kinds of weapons

Characters: Rama, Hanuman, Ravana, Lakshmana, Indrajit, Kumbhakarna, Jambavan, Garuda

  • Rama and the monkeys come to the outskirts of the city and the monkeys begin wreaking havoc
  • Indrajit comes and fires arrows at Rama and Lakshmana, leaving the mortally wounded
  • Indrajit goes back to the kingdom and informs Ravana that they are dead; Ravana is overjoyed
  • While the monkeys are mourning, Garuda (the vehicle of the god Vishnu) flies to Rama and Lakshmana and spreads his wings over them, which heals their wounds
  • Ravana is enraged again, and he personally goes to fight Rama
  • Rama actually overpowers him here; Ravana drops his weapons, awaiting death; Rama takes pity and tells Ravana to come back tomorrow with fresh weapons
    • NOTE: I REALLY like this detail! Rama doesn't want to kill a poor helpless man; he wants Ravana to die an epic death :)
  • Ravana returns back to his kingdom, dejected; he orders Kumbhakarna (his giant demon brother) to go fight the monkeys; Kumbhakarna takes handfuls of monkeys and eats them
  • Rama shoots Kumbhakarna's limbs off and kills him; Ravana is again devastated
  • Indrajit, Ravana's other brother, reassures him and goes to the battlefield; he again goes and knocks Rama and Lakshmana (along with all the monkeys) unconscious
  • Jambavan, Vibhishana, and Hanuman remain conscious; Jambavan orders Hanuman to carry a MOUNTAIN of herbs from the Himalayas back to Rama to heal everyone
  • Indrajit resumes the battle and is killed finally by Lakshmana standing on Hanuman's shoulder
  • Ravana finally takes the battlefield, to avenge all of his dead siblings; Rama tries shooting Ravana's heads but they just grow back
  • Finally, Rama shoots Ravana in the chest with the Brahmastra; the great Ravana has finally died
  • Vibhishana is crowned the new king of Lanka
Bibliography: 
M. Dutt, R. Dutt, Gould, Griffith, Hodgson, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Oman, Richardson, and Ryder, PDE Ramayana, Link.
Wikipedia article on Ravana, Link.

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