Hari Om everyone,
We started the class with Om, opening prayer and started on our chapters.
Chapter 24
Sugriva sees Rama and Laksmana and is worried that Vali has sent them. Hanuman, Sugriva's minster, son of Vayu (wind god), offers to find out who they are. He is delighted to meet Rama and Laksmana and tells them why Sugriva is hiding. Rama tells Hanuman that he is in fact looking for Sugriva. Hanuman carries them on his shoulder and brings them to Sugriva.
Sugriva tells them how he was forced to leave his wife and kingdom to his brother, Vali. Vali is the king of the vanaras and resides in Kiskindha. One day, a raksasa named Dunduni challenges the sea god and the Himalaya to fight him. But they guide the raksasa to the great warrior, Vali. Vali fights with Dunduni and kills him. He hurls Dunduni with great force. Vali is cursed by Matanga risi when Dunduni's blood falls on Matanga risi's asrama. The risi curses Vali that he will die if he ever sets foot on Rsyamuka mountain so Vali avoids the mountain.
Dunduni's brother, Mayavi, comes to fight with Vali. Vali tells Sugriva to guard the cave while he goes inside the cave to kill Mayavi. Sugriva hears a scream from the cave and thinks that Vali has died. Sugriva closes the cave and tells the people in Kiskindha that Vali is dead. Sugriva takes over the kingdom.
However, Vali is not dead. He comes back to see Sugriva on the throne. He is angry and banishes Sugriva. Sugriva goes to the Rsyamuka mountain to live.
We see the differences in the brothers Rama/Laksmana and Sugriva/Vali. There is mutual love in the brothers, but trouble weakens the bond between Sugriva and Vali. Vali's anger leads to his own ruin. Rama, however, is not angry at Bharata. Bharata refuses the throne, while Sugriva is pleased to take the throne.
Chapter 25
Sugriva tells Rama that the vanaras had seen Ravana and Sita flying through the sky. Sugriva gives Rama the bundle of jewels that she had thrown to the vanaras to help Rama find her. Sugriva reassures Rama that he will help him to find Sita. Rama pledges to help Sugriva get his kingdom back.
Sugriva is worried about how strong Vali is and if Rama can fight him. Rama flicks Dunduni's skeleton with his toe and the body flies miles away. Sugriva is not convinced still. Vali had done the same when Dunduni was in flesh. Then, Rama shoots his arrow to a faraway tree. The arrow pierces six other trees, lands on the ground, and returns to Rama. Sugriva realizes Rama's strength.
Rama tells Sugriva to go to the palace and challenge Vali to a fight. Then Rama will kill him. Sugriva goes to Vali and they start fighting. Rama cannot tell them both apart. Sugriva is weakened, comes back to the forest, and asks Rama why he did not kill him. Rama tells Sugriva that he cannot tell them apart. He asks Sugriva to wear a garland. Once again, Sugriva challenges Vali. As they are fighting, Rama shoots his arrow from behind the tree and the arrow hits Vali's chest. Vali is shocked. He asks Rama if that is just? Rama replies that he is following his Dharma, giving Sugriva back the kingdom. Rama asks Vali is that not what he does when he goes hunting. Vali is glad that he has been killed by Rama's hand. Vali gives Indra's necklace to Sugriva for protection. He asks Sugriva to protect his wife and his son, Angada.
Sugriva leads a life of excess in the kingdom. Rama and Laksmana pass the monsoon season in the cave. They are getting impatient that their 14 years are almost over. Rama asks Laksmana to go and remind Sugriva of his promise, but he asks Laksmana not to hurt Sugriva. Hanuman also goes to Sugriva to remind him that he is not fulfilling his promise to Rama. Sugriva asks Hanuman to bring all of the vanaras to Kiskindha. Hanuman hurries to assemble everyone.
Laksmana arrives at the palace very angry. He is soothed by Angada. But Laksmana draws the string to his arrow. The noise pierces through the palace. Sugriva realizes his mistakes and goes to Rama and asks for his forgiveness.
Bhajan- kids enjoyed singing Rama bhajans, khate bhi Ram kaho (page 145 in My Prayers)
Game- we played zip-zap-zop
Next class is Sunday, April 7th.
With Guru's blessings
Saratha and Kavitha
