Reading Notes: Kumbhakarna, Part D

Kumbhakarna versus the Apes. Source: Wikimedia. 

Kumbhakarna

from Indian Myth and Legend by Donald. A Mackenzie

• Plot: The desperate rakshashas are trying to awaken the mightiest demon of all, Kumbhakarna. Men danced and shouted and blew trumpets right by the demon but he never woke. He was ran over by elephants but never woke. But when he was caressed by women, he suddenly woke up and screamed in rage about why we was woken up so early. He was informed about the situation by the rakshashas and he became ready to devour the apes. When the apes saw him, they are ran away in panic but Sugriva rallied them all back and they began to fight. Kumbhakarna beat Hanuman, and devoured the other apes. However, he was beheaded in the end by Rama. 
• For some reason, the fact that Kumbhakarna slept a lot reminds me of a bear in hibernation. I could write a story as Kumbhakarna depicted as a bear and the rakshasas are evil humans who try to use him in a war against the good humans. 

Readings Notes: Sita and Ravana, Part C

Sita and Ravana 

from Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists bu Sister Nivedita

Sita at Ashoka Woods. Source: Wikimedia.

• Plot: Hanuman sees someone looking weak and thin on the stairs of a marble palace and comes to the conclusion that it is Sita. He gets happy thinking that he finally found her. Ravana wakes and goes to the Ashoka wood with his train of women. He goes to Sita and tries to woo her but to no avail. Sita profusely rejects him and tells him he's going to die by Rama's hands. Ravana in his rage says that he will give a two-month term and if she didn't yield by then, he would torture and slay her. He leaves with his wives and a scared Sita creeps into the foot of the Ashoka tree where Hanuman is hiding.
• Strong points: the figurative language used through the chapter.
• The way Hanuman describes how Sita looks. "Weak and thin as if with fasting, sighing for heavy grief" and "guarded by horrid rakshashis, like a deer among the dogs or a shining flame obscured by smoke." 
• I also liked how the way the wives followed Ravana is described. "Followed their heroic husband like lightings followed a cloud."
• For my story, I could write this whole chapter in the other character, Sita's, point of view. I think I could use some figurative language in my story, especially when describing how Ravana would look like when he was trying to woo her and when he was in his rage.