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| Picture of the comic book Rama: Retold From the Ramayana Image Source: Blogspot |
The reading guide for this comic can be found HERE.
- Rama, Laxmana, Bharata, and Shatrughna are the sons of Dasharatha, who rules over the city of Ayodhya.
- Rama's mother was Queen Kaushalya
- Bharata's mother was Queen Kaikeyi
- Laxmana and Shatrughna were born from Queen Sumitra.
- The skill Rama has with his bow and arrow gained him a reputation across the land
- This drew the attention of Sage Vishwamitra
- Demons have been disturbing him during his prayers
- With their father's permission, the brothers were allowed to venture out with Vishwamitra to help him tackle the demons who have been disturbing him.
- In the jungle they see the demoness Takata.
- After a long battle she was defeated by Rama.
- After her death, more and more demons came to battle
- Rama's sea of arrows slayed them all
- After a few days it was decided that they would go see the swayamvara of Princess Sita, daughter of Raja Janaka
- King Janaka proclaimed that whomsoever succeeded in stringing Shiva's bow will win his daughter's hand in marriage.
- A great number of men attempted but failed
- Rama lifted the bow with ease and broke it with his great strength.
- Princess Sita was very pleased that Rama won her hand
- The news of Rama's upcoming nuptials reached his home city of Ayodhya and his father had a great procession arrive to see the marriage to Sita
- After a while, Rama's father felt it was time to hand over his kingdom to Rama, for he was getting too old.
- Everyone was happy except Queen Kaikeyi's maid Manthara, who decided to put dangerous idea's in Kaikeyi's head making her turn on Rama.
- She now believed the crown should go to HER son instead of Rama, for fear that Rama will convert he into a slave
- Kaikeyi recalled that the King promised her two wishes and she thought that she should use them to have the King exile Rama into the forest for 14 years and make her son Bharata King in his place
- After seeing he dismay the King asked Kaikeyi why she was so upset
- Kaikeyi made her wishes clear to the king
- The king fell to the ground in agony, hurt by Kaikeyi's wishes
- Rama heard of his father's (really Kaikeyi's wishes) and promised to honor them with out a doubt.
- Sita and Laxmana came with Rama during his 14 year exile.
- Back home in Ayodhya, Dasharatha died remembering his son Rama.
- Bharata was was his uncle's when this all happened and demanded his mother tell him all that happened
- Kaikeyi spills the beans and Bharata is VERY upset. Sets out to find Rama and try to fix the mess that his mother made
- Bharata brings an entourage with him to try to convince Rama to come back.
- Rama refused t break his promise to his father.
- Bharata states he cannot rule the kingdom is Rama refuses to come back. He takes Rama's sandals so they may represent him while he is gone in exile
- After this, a beautiful woman named Shoorpanakha saw Rama and sought to marry him and win his love
- Rama kindly refused and stated that he was married, but offered up his brother.
- Shoorpanakha transformed into a horrible demon and rushed to attack Sita
- Laxmana chopped off he nose and ears in Sita's defense
- Shoorpanakha ran to her cousins, Khar and Dooshan for help.
- They came with an army of demons but were easily defeated
- Later Shoorpanakha came to Ravana, the ten headed demon king of Lanka, her brother for help
- Ravana had his uncle morph into a golden deer to lure Rama away from Sita so he may kidnap her.
- The plan worked and Sita asked Rama for the golden deer. The deer assumed a human voice and faked being Rama calling out for Laxmana's help.
- The plan worked, with Ravana coming to kidnap Sita after Laxmana went off to "help" Rama.
- Sita cried out for help and Jatayu, the vulture, came to help her. He was struck down by Ravana and found by Rama
- Rama found Surgreeva, brother of the monkey king Vali, and his minister Hanuman.
- Rama promised that with their aid in finding Sita, he would help Surgreeva overthrow his brother Vali, who has stolen his wife.
- Rama killed Vali and Surgreeva was now on the throne
- Surgreeva commanded Hanuman to go search for Sita; Rama gives him a ring to give to Sita so she will know who sent Hanuman
- Hanuman eventually found Sita and gave her the ring. Hanuman explained that Rama would be coming for her soon.
- Before leaving Hanuman killed demons and brought to the attention of Ravana that Rama would be coming to proclaim his bride
- They tried to set fire to his tail but he escaped, after using the burning tale to set fire to Lanka.
- Rama came to Lanka with a huge army of monkeys, bears, and others. Rama ended up defeating Rama and taking back Sita
- Previously Rama sent Hanuman to speak with Ravana about returning Sita and making peace. Ravana obviously refused, which lead to his downfall.
- After this, Rama was to rule over Lanka and went back to his home city to rule as well.
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