Week 2 Reading Diary Part 2: Ramayana Public Domain Edition

The Public Domain Edition of the Ramayana is compiled from many authors, here is the version I am using.  This post will cover Part B.

• I think its interesting how the speed at which information travels changes storytelling. If the Ramayana was written today, Bharata would get a text as soon as his brother was exiled or his dad died
• It seems that cultures have different twists on caring for the bodies of the dead, but many of them involve being buried/burned with prized possessions. I think these connections across different cultures are some of the most interesting parts of human history.  
• While many cultures and religions use objects as representations of people and gods, I have never seen anyone do it with sandals before

Bharata accepts Rama's sandals, from Columbia University

• Everyone keeps giving Rama weapons, I wonder where he is carrying all of them. Also, this seems like it could be foreshadowing to a large battle 
• I think its odd that Rama is so quick to tell a woman who wants to murder his wife to marry his brother. It would make for odd Thanksgivings
• The big battle that was foreshadowed occurs. I wouldn't say that this, or any other epic, is complicated after you know how to interpret the language 
• I think some similarities could be drawn between the Golden Deer and the Apple in the Garden of Eden. Both are very tempting, and get our main characters into a lot of trouble 
• It almost seems like Brahma intended for Sita to get kidnapped, drawing Rama into the conflict between the Gods. That seems similar to the stories about the Greek/Roman Gods to me.