Reading Diary B: The Ramayana by R. K. Narayan

I read The Ramayana by R. K. Narayan.  One story that stood out to me was the battle between Rama and Ravana.  It is odd that Ravana after being bested by Rama once did not try and submit to Rama instead he sends his generals and his family.  Then when they are all defeated he dresses in fine armor and goes out to battle.  But before the battle there are negative signs all around him that spell of his defeat.  Instead he does not believe that Rama, who he believed to be just a mortal, could defeat him in battle.  Rama’s skill shows in this battle because he is able fight against Ravana who was able to fire ten bows at once because of his twenty arms.  In addition, Ravana had other weapons like a trident and astras.  But Rama is able to counter all of the weapons.  One oddity is that Rama was unable to protect his chariot driver, Matali, and an arrow pierced him in his heart but because he was a god, he was able to be revived by Rama.  Another story I found interesting in this section was the story of Rama testing Sita.  I found it odd that he was so cold to her before she proved her purity.  Because he had to have known that Sita was pure but whether or not the world believed it should have not have mattered.  I was happy when Rama accepted Sita after she had proved her purity by stepping into the fire and Agni carried her out.  

Rama and Ravana fighting (Source: wikimedia)