Week 7: Reading Diary B

I like how Bharata has Rama's sandals waiting for him after all this time. He placed them on the throne when Rama was exiled, and it seems they have been sitting there the whole time waiting for Rama. Sometimes the hyperbole in these stories in a bit much for me; as it is here with Hanuman collecting water from every river in the world as a gift to Rama. Personally I wouldn't want water from every river in the world, but I guess this water can't hurt Rama.

I don't understand Rama's decision to banish Sita at all. It seems like Rama is letting the town gossip get to his head. The fact that Sita is now pregnant makes the banishment even worse. Even stranger is the fact that this banishment could be the result of the royal priests' curse on Vishnu. How can a priest curse a god? Also I'm a bit confused by Sita's disappearance. She summons a deity which proves her innocence, only to take her away from the Earth. 

The strange events continue as Kala sets up a meeting with Rama where anybody who intrudes on the meeting must die. Lakshmana intrudes on the meeting on behalf of Durvasa and therefore must die. Was he aware of the consequences for intruding on the meeting? It would seem only fair to warn everybody of the dire consequences for intruding on the meeting. Durvasa seems to be something of a terrorist in demanding to see Rama or he will destroy his whole kingdom. 

The strange ending caps off with Hanuman ripping open his chest to show Rama that his name is inscribed on his bones. Rama, his friends, and followers get to ascend to heaven.