Reading Notes: The Divine Archer, part II

Reading Week 05: The Divine Archer Part II

The Cover of the Novel
https://www.amazon.in/Divine-Archer-Founded-Ramayana-Mahabharata/dp/1164212788

Characters:

Rama

Lady Sita

Bhavani, goddess

King Janak

Lakshman

King Dasa-ratha

Visva-mitra the good hermit

Setting:

The garden near the palace

City of Videha

Plot: Rama declares his love for Sita as they meet eyes. The princess remained silent. The maids recommended they go back to the palace, and the princess agreed. She decided to stop at the home of the goddess Bhavani and pray about the encounter she had just witnessed. A garland then fell among her, proof her prayer was heard. The princes told the guru what had happened. Rama remained in love with Sita. The trial of bows then took place and Sita came to watch. Rama was getting many brownie points from those in the crowd living in the countryside. All the kings came up and mounted the platform and none succeeded. King Janak was very upset. He believed from this experience that there truly were no more real men left. He wanted to end the time. The hermit said to get rama up there. Lakshman prayed this bow striking would hold the whole earth, remembering her vision of Rama as a child. The bow he held bent over all the sky. The crashing that happened shook the earth and all that lived in it. So many celebrated and so many kings grabbed their own bows to do harm to Rama. Suddenly, a tall dark man came out from the sky. The hermit appeared very upset because the bow of the god Siva had indeed been broken! Many threats were made. The hermit saw only one way, have Rama shoot the bow. He grabbed the loose bow and it immediately became strong. Celebration spilled over all the city, mostly because the marriage of Rama and Sita were to take place. Many people came near and far to bring gifts and offer their blessings. The procession was adorning. King Dasa-ratha was apart and so were the two noble sons and the good hermit Visva-mitra. On the day of the wedding, the bride and bridegroom walked hand in hand round the altar three times. So much happiness and love around. This party lasted many days and King of Ayodhya and his four sons and the four brides went home, to bring home also 25,000 chariots, 10,000 elephants, wagons of gold and jewels, buffalos and cows beyond counting. The sky begot flowers. The sacred kettle-drums rolled.

Bibliography: The Divine Archer, founded on the Indian epic of the Ramayana, Gould, Frederick James, 1855-1938

Link: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc2.ark:/13960/t0wp9vr87;view=2up;seq=14