I really liked the poem Shabari. It sounded like a song with lyrics. I could "hear" the poem as if a singer was singing next to me. It read and heard it somewhat like a rap song. I also like the content of the poem: "I trust no cares invade thy peace,
While holy works and zeal increase;
That thou content with scanty food
All touch of ire hast long subdued;
That all thy vows are well maintained,
While peace of mind is surely gained:
That reverence of the saints who taught
The faithful heart due fruit has brought."
I really like the rhyme of this part, and it sounded like Rama was a caring god. It was a "law of duty", but it wished good will for those who follow it.
I thought it was very fascinating that Hanuman could take a shape of a beggar to disguise himself and approach strangers to find out what Sugriva wanted. It's also very interesting that monkey can be sacred and considered to be a form of god in Ramayana epic. It would be unimaginable in Biblical and Western epics that monkey could be an important figure and actually do good deeds for other creatures.
Hanuman, besides a heroic and virtuous monkey, is a clever and somewhat suspicious figure who cannot be easily fooled. Before Hanuman takes actions, he wants more facts and information and analyze them: "Then Lakshmana explained who they were, how Rama had been driven into exile, and how he himself had of his own will followed his brother in all his wanderings and troubles." I think this narrative shows who Hanuman really is and his true clever and analytical nature.
I thought it was perhaps why Hanuman is a monkey. Monkey is oftentimes considered as an animal of wisdom and cleverness.
Although it was somewhat graphic to read sentences such as "then, hearing fierce cries but no sound of his brother's voice and seeing blood issue from the mouth of the cave, Sugriva believed that Vali had been killed", I liked the overall plot of the story. There are a lot of suspicion and guessing on where about of Vali.
As the story unfolds, there is a severe, life-and-death fight between Sugriva and Vali brothers. It was sad to see the two brothers fight to death, and one had to die as a result. It was a struggle for power, and there could be only one king. Even the winner, Sugriva, felt grief when he killed his brother Vali and was wet with "unavailing tear". I thought it was interesting to read about the power struggle between Sugriva and Vali. Like other power struggles for crown in other epics, Ramayana epic was no exception. I thought this fight was unique in that the brothers didn't hold grudge or hatred against each other.
Sources used: M. Dutt, R., Dutt, Gould, Griffith, Hodgson, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Oman, Richardson, and Ryder.
While holy works and zeal increase;
That thou content with scanty food
All touch of ire hast long subdued;
That all thy vows are well maintained,
While peace of mind is surely gained:
That reverence of the saints who taught
The faithful heart due fruit has brought."
I really like the rhyme of this part, and it sounded like Rama was a caring god. It was a "law of duty", but it wished good will for those who follow it.
I thought it was very fascinating that Hanuman could take a shape of a beggar to disguise himself and approach strangers to find out what Sugriva wanted. It's also very interesting that monkey can be sacred and considered to be a form of god in Ramayana epic. It would be unimaginable in Biblical and Western epics that monkey could be an important figure and actually do good deeds for other creatures.
Hanuman, besides a heroic and virtuous monkey, is a clever and somewhat suspicious figure who cannot be easily fooled. Before Hanuman takes actions, he wants more facts and information and analyze them: "Then Lakshmana explained who they were, how Rama had been driven into exile, and how he himself had of his own will followed his brother in all his wanderings and troubles." I think this narrative shows who Hanuman really is and his true clever and analytical nature.
I thought it was perhaps why Hanuman is a monkey. Monkey is oftentimes considered as an animal of wisdom and cleverness.
Although it was somewhat graphic to read sentences such as "then, hearing fierce cries but no sound of his brother's voice and seeing blood issue from the mouth of the cave, Sugriva believed that Vali had been killed", I liked the overall plot of the story. There are a lot of suspicion and guessing on where about of Vali.
As the story unfolds, there is a severe, life-and-death fight between Sugriva and Vali brothers. It was sad to see the two brothers fight to death, and one had to die as a result. It was a struggle for power, and there could be only one king. Even the winner, Sugriva, felt grief when he killed his brother Vali and was wet with "unavailing tear". I thought it was interesting to read about the power struggle between Sugriva and Vali. Like other power struggles for crown in other epics, Ramayana epic was no exception. I thought this fight was unique in that the brothers didn't hold grudge or hatred against each other.
People make up as Rama and Hanuman. Source: Rama and Hanuman
Bibliography:
Sources used: M. Dutt, R., Dutt, Gould, Griffith, Hodgson, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Oman, Richardson, and Ryder.
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