...where Sita went (on being swallowed up by Mother Earth), baffled by physical realities more than anything else as an eight year old. A few years and another read later, my first instinct was to reject Rama’s apparent chink in the armour. Now, I seem to find consolation in the fact that most Hindu divine figures are fallible, Rama being no exception. To sum up, the Ramayana narrates the abduction of Sita by Ravana, the demon king. Rama follows him with his monkey army to rescue her from Lanka. At the end of the war, Sita undergoes a test of chastity at Rama’s behest. The Agnipariksha, or test of fire, requires her to throw herself into a blazing fire. However, despite having passed the test, she is banished from Ayodhya, an act instigated by public suspicion. Years later, after finding Sita in the forest with her sons, Rama asks her to go through another Agnipariksha. This time though Sita does not comply and instead asks Mother Earth to receive her. The story of Ramayana is centered on Sita, yet she is only seen in a supporting role throughout the epic. It is clear that Rama and Sita, in which ever version you read it (although I refer to Valmiki’s most often), are portrayed as the ideal couple. Their relationship is characterized by close companionship, beginning at Sita insisting on accompanying Rama to the forest for his fourteen year exile. However, there is a dichotomy at the end of the epic that portrays the two figures separately: Rama as the ideal man and Sita as the...
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...I am fond of reading books. I have read a good number of novels, dramas, short stories and poems. Some books merely give enjoyment. There are others which leave a deeper impression on the mind. Some books infuse the spirit of nationalism in the reader. But I have not come across a single book so far, which is so good as the Ramcharitra Manas of Tulsi Das. Sri Goswami Tulsi Das Ji is the writer of this great epic. Every Indian has read or heard the story of Ram and Sita. The popular story has been narrated in this book in the most beautiful way. The language of the book is avadhi. We are told in it first the reasons for the birth of lord Rama. On the insistence of various gods and goddesses. He came on the earth in the form of a human being to relieve the pain and suffering of the virtuous. This book is divided into various parts. Every part deals with a particular aspect of life or performance of Lord Rama. Every Indian likes to hear the famous story of Ramcharitra Manas. Some have great faith in it. But my reasons for liking it are quite different. I have found in it, religious, political and social wisdom. It enlightens as well entertains. Indeed, it is a true treasure-house of rare wisdom. I will give here only some of the reasons which have made this book my favourite. In Hindi Literature it stands at the top. Tulsi Dass Ji has treated all the 'Ras' in it. This is simple. The beauty lies in the fact, that he has not crossed the limit at any stage. The 'Shringar Ras'...
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...oral traditions used back then. Oral traditions used to be the only way that the common people could communicate their stories. Culturally both stories came from the same background to an extent. They each were from places ruled under monarchies where kings ruled over all the people. One difference is that The Ramayana was at a state of peace whereas The Odyssey tells its story when they are not at peace they are at war. Rama is exiled into the Dandaka Forest and Odysseus has been at war and has had trouble getting back for nearly twenty years. Each one is having a hard time getting what they desire and the obstacles along the way do not help. Rama, his wife Sita, and his younger brother Lakshmana are exiled in the forest.” I cannot live without my Sita.”(Ramayana) This is when the ten-headed king of Lanka abducts Sita while Rama is away. Odysseus was on a voyage back to his home in Ithaca with his crew of men but was having major issues. He would get blown off course and land on unknown islands, one of which had a Cyclops living on it and they got trapped in his cave, but thanks to Odysseus and his sharp intellect they outsmarted the beast and could escape. Odysseus got trapped on the land of the Lotus Eaters. Odysseus and his men were...
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...guidelines on the place in society for both men and women. An epic called “The Ramayana” details the life of Rama and his wife Sita, ultimate examples of right behavior according to the social norms. Both “The Laws of Manu” and Valmiki’s “Ramayana” portray the roles of women in the Classical Period of Hinduism (ca. 500 B.C.E.-500) from different perspectives, but in the end set fort the same rules and ideals, including the dominance of men over subservient women. In the Ramayana, Sita, the wife of Rama, is portrayed as an ideal Hindu woman, beautiful, chaste, and fully aware of her duties. During the wedding, her beauty is extolled in phrases like “the sweet-eyed Sita”, with the “bridal blush upon her brow” (Valmiki, 64). Her father Janak gives his “beauteous daughter” to Rama in marriage, pronouncing in the wedding vows that she is “the best of women” (Valmiki, 64). Sita’s beauty in the Ramayana is surpassed and eclipsed by her complete submission to her duty as wife. In her wedding vows, Sita is given to Rama by her father, with the father telling Rama that she is to be “henceforth sharer of thy virtue,” “faithful wife,” and “of thy weal and woe partaker” (Valmiki, 64). She is thus bound to her husband, and released from her father’s care into Rama’s. Her sense of duty is again shown upon Rama’s banishment into the wilderness. Although Sita is not required to go into exile with Rama, she wishes to do so. She feels that “the faithful woman follows where her wedded...
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...is a great Indian epic that takes place around 1000 BCE, and tells the life of India during that time. Rama is the main character; he is the hero of the story. Growing up he was a prominent child, excelling in all aspects of his life. Once he became a grown man, he was a perfect husband to his wife Sita, as well as being one of the fiercest warriors in the land. He was looked up too and admired by the people in his kingdom. Being the brave hero that Rama is, he was able to rescue Sita from her kidnapper Ravana.1 He was also forced to kill Vali in a non-honorable way in order to rescue Sagreeva’s wife. I don’t believe he was justified in doing this, but he sure was forced to considering the circumstance. One day, Sita was captured by a demon called Ravana because he wanted to marry her. Rama was enraged so he put together a small army to go confront Ravana in his kingdom. They built a bridge across to Ravana’s kingdom of Lanka, and took Sita back and brought her back home safely. In order to take Sita back as his wife, Rama asked her to prove her purity to him and she was able to do so.2 During Ramas quest to rescue Sita, he met Sugreeva. He had just been exiled from his older brother Vali’s kingdom because of an incident that occurred between them. Sugreeva and Rama made an agreement that if Rama helps Sugreeva defeat Vali and place him in the king’s throne, then Sugreeva would help him on his quest to kill Ravana...
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...THE RAMAYANA (“The Deeds of Rama”) Valmiki once was wandering through the forest along the bank of a river, when he noticed a pair of curlews hopping about on the grass, singing sweetly. Suddenly a hunter came along and killed the male bird with his arrow. As the bird was weltering in his blood and his mate mourning for him in pitiful tones, Valmiki was overcome with pity, and pronounced a curse on the hunter. But the words of the curse left his mouth in the form of a shloka-verse. Then the god Brahma appeared and bade the poet sing of the deeds of Rama in this very meter. Book I: Bala-Kanda (The Chapter on Rama as a Youth) In the land of the Kosalas (north of the Ganges), in the city of Ayodhya, there ruled a king named Dasharatha, who was mighty and wise, but still childless. The court advisor urged him to offer an imperial horse-sacrifice. The sage Rishyashringa, as the chief priest of this great sacrifice, includes an especially powerful offering rite that can cause the begetting of sons. When the offerings had been placed in the fire, the remnants were divided between the kings wives, who ate them. Just at that time the gods in heaven were much troubled by Ravana, the ten-headed demon king of Lanka. They therefore turned to Lord Vishnu, begging him to take human form in order to defeat Ravana. Vishnu agrees and resolves to be born on earth as the son of Dasharatha. So, after the horse-sacrifice was concluded, the three wives of King Dasharatha bore him four sons:...
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...RAMAYANA The Supernatural Elements:- Every epic has got a supernatural element in it, which interfaces itself with the human element in the story. The supernatural element has been made use of in order to give more than ordinary importance to the action that takes place in the epic. In the Ramayana, the supernatural element plays a very important part in the action of the story. The nature of the supernatural beings that take part in the story and of the miraculous machines of destructions used by them as well as by the human heroes in their battles is discussed below: There are 2 classes of beings which belong to the category of the supernatural in the Ramayana. They are: 1. the raksasas and 2. the vanaras. 1. The Raksasas: The raksasas are beings of enormous power and size, and are known as premature (beyond what is nature) beings. Ravana has 10 heads, Trisivas has 3 heads. Some other raksasas and raksasas have heads of horses, wolves, jackals, lions, etc. By performing great and severe penance these raksasas had acquired great physical strength and many magical powers. They can bend the bow with such force that their arrows can break to pieces, the rocks thrown at them by their enemies. They can assume whatever shape they please. They can fly through the air with or without aerial chariots. In short, they posses all will powers and the qualities that are attributed to the Gods in the Greek mythology. The raksasas hate virtue and virtuous people and they love the...
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...Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana journey southward along the banks of river Godavari, where they build cottages and live off the land. At the Panchavati forest they are visited by a rakshasa woman, Surpanakha, the sister of Ravana. She attempts to seduce the brothers and, failing in this, attempts to kill Sita. Lakshmana stops her by cutting off her nose and ears. Hearing of this, her demon brother, Khara, organises an attack against the princes. Rama annihilates Khara and his demons. When news of these events reaches Ravana, he resolves to destroy Rama by capturing Sita with the aid of the rakshasa Maricha. Maricha, assuming the form of a golden deer, captivates Sita's attention. Entranced by the beauty of the deer, Sita pleads with Rama to capture it. Lord Rama, aware that this is the ploy of the demons, cannot dissuade Sita from her desire and chases the deer into the forest, leaving Sita under Lakshmana's guard. After some time, Sita hears Rama calling out to her; afraid for his life, she insists that Lakshmana rush to his aid. Lakshmana tries to assure her that Rama is invincible and that it is best if he continues to follow Rama's orders to protect her. On the verge of hysterics, Sita insists that it is not she but Rama who needs Lakshmana's help. He obeys her wish but stipulates that she is not to leave the cottage or entertain any strangers. He draws a chalk outline, the Lakshmana rekha, around the cottage and casts a spell on it that prevents anyone from entering the boundary...
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...core of it, it is a love story. Were it not for love none the actions in The Story of Jesse would have taken place. This tale became almost like an epidemic that spread throughout the U.S. Shows on television about The Story of Jesse were aired and when they came on almost all of the U.S. shutdown to watch this show. The Story of Jesse had a huge moral impact on the U.S. and became a way to pass down Jesse ideals to younger and more modern generations. Young boys and girls were told to follow in the footsteps of the righteous Jesse. The Story of Jesse is a timeless American text that portrays the religious beliefs of the Jesse religion through its characters; these idealistic behaviors can be seen clearly in characters such asJesse, Sita, and Laksmana. Jesse is one of the main characters throughout the story and is supposed to be portrayed as the hero of The Story of Jesse. Jesse is a noble prince and is seen as the epitome of righteousness throughout the tale. When Jesse is banished by his stepmother, Kaikeyi, and father, King Dasaratha, to the forest he accepts this without any hesitation or negative emotions. He stays calm and “understands that people look their leaders for guidance on how to live their lives” and he did not want to make his father look as though he was setting a bad example by not keeping his promises (Johnsen 62). Jesse states that he is devoted to truth and told Kaikeyi that “even if his father had not commanded him to and only she asked him to...
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...nostalgia Mae akan kampung halaman, keluarga, teman-teman, sampai kenangan indah bersama cinta pertamanya, Gao. Kehidupan masyarakat desa dengan sekelumit persoalan juga harus dilalui oleh Mae yang pada akhirnya terjerat dalam politik desa yang rumit. Kedatangan Mae ke Jatisaba membuatnya harus pandai memainkan peran sebagai seorang ‘mantan’ warga Jatisaba. Hal ini harus dilakukan Mae agar warga Jatisaba tidak menaruh curiga padanya. Selama berada di Jatisaba, Mae tinggal di rumah Sitas. Di rumah Sitaslah, Mae banyak mengingat masa lalunya tentang Jatisaba. Kehidupan keluarganya, masa kecilnya, sampai ingatan pemerkosaan yang pernah Mae alami. Sitas adalah tetangga Mae yang sudah sejak lama Mae kenal ketika Mae masih tinggal di Jatisaba. Namun sayang, pilihan Mae untuk tinggal di rumah Sitas justru menjadi bumerang bagi diri Mae. Sifat Sitas yang seperti ular berkepala dua menjadi ancaman besar bagi Mae, tetapi Mae tidak menyadari hal itu. Keesokan harinya, tak lama setelah kedatangan Mae, Mae dan Sitas pergi ke warung Sitar. Ketika berada di warung Sitar itulah, Mae kemudian bertemu dengan Jompro yang juga kawan Mae sejak...
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...spread like a fire. Lakshmana was furious with his father’s decision. Lakshmana: (angry) Brother, can you not hear the peoples' voices?! Rama: Lakshmana, Is it worthwhile to sacrifice your principle for the sake of this small kingdom? Lakshmana: But are we on that account to sit still and do nothing? This sword, is it only an ornament, just a plaything?! Rama: Brother! You are part of my self, sharing the same soul with me! Please, try to understand me! Lakshmana: (tears sprang from Lakshmana’s eyes and said with a low voice) If you must go to the forest, take me along with you. Rama: (to sita) Look after my mother, Kausalya, in my absence. Sita: My Lord, heve pity on me. A wife’s position is always beside her husband. Rama: But Sita, you... Sita: A husband's duty is his wife's too. Your fate is equally mine. Don’t leave me behind. I’ll die without you. Narrator: By that evening, Rama, SIta and Lakshmana left Ayodhya on a chariot. Scene 2 Narrator: 6 months passed by, King Dasaratha’s kingdom is enveloped in darkness. King Dasaratha died crying until his last breath, “Rama, Rama, Rama!” Bharatha, kaikeyi’s som, was away visiting his grandfather, was called back to Ayodhya. Bharata immediately returned with Shatrughna. As he entered the city of Ayodhya, he realized that something was terribly wrong. The city was strangely silent. He went straight to his mother, Kaikeyi. Bharata: Mother! Mother what is this? Mother what has happened? KAikeyi: BHarata, you have home at last...
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...World Religions Report Brandy Marples HUM/130 September 4th, 2011 Timothy Albert World Religions Report Hinduism refers to the civilization if the Hindus, the inhabitants of the land of the Indus river. This term was introduced in about 1830 and it denotes the Indian civilization of about the last 2000 years by British writers. In the last century of the second millennium BC was when the Indo-European people settled in India and their religion was Vedism and Hinduism evolved from that. By incorporating all forms of worship and belief Hinduism does not necessitate the selection or elimination of any. Hinduism does not have a beginning or a founder it is both a civilization and congregation of religion, there is no central authority, hierarchy or organization. They believe in an infinite, eternal and all-embracing principal. Hinduism is one of the most sacred religions in the world. There is no other religion that compares to it. Hindus do not try to push their religion on anyone nor do they feel their religion is better than anyone else’s. They are a very nonviolent religion and do not discriminate. Hinduism has been the main religion for Indian people for centuries, so it is vital to the place it was originated in. Sikhism, Islamism and Christianity are the other religions practiced in India but Hinduism is the biggest religion practiced out there. The temple I visited was a Hindu Temple down the street from my house in Scottsdale Arizona. The actual name of the...
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...EXAMINATION OF DUTY AND SELF CONTROL IN THE ODYSSEY Aashna Jamal INTRODUCTION Under the rule of Zeus, events did not occur in isolation but in interdependence causing there to be a flux in the totality of events and the whole drama being played on a cosmic plane. The central theme of Zeus’s rule is the preservation of his “ oikos” or household management where the prevalence of order over Chaos is of utmost importance. In this paper, using the Odyssey as a case study, I will examine the thematic importance of the decisions taken by a hero in accordance to or defiance of self control and pietas and the consequences they lead to. These expectations are clearly marked out for the reader who waits in anticipation to garner the fate of the hero. I will analyse the themes of self control and pietas or duty in the Odyssey and discuss their special significance in this epic. I will then briefly talk about the Hindu concept of duty or Dharma with reference to the Ramayana. I however do not intend to use the concept of monomyth coined by Joseph Campbell also referred to as the hero's journey(which is a basic pattern that its proponents argue is found in many narratives from around the world.) in comparing these epics. The example of the Ramayana will only serve my purpose of highlighting the theme of duty in mythologies across the world. Lastly, I will conclude with the importance of inspecting these themes because of their significance to the plotline. Georg Wissowa notes that pietas was...
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...Hinduism refers to the civilization if the Hindus, the inhabitants of the land of the Indus river. This term was introduced in about 1830 and it denotes the Indian civilization of about the last 2000 years by British writers. In the last century of the second millennium BC was when the Indo-European people settled in India and their religion was Vedism and Hinduism evolved from that. By incorporating all forms of worship and belief Hinduism does not necessitate the selection or elimination of any. Hinduism does not have a beginning or a founder it is both a civilization and congregation of religion, there is no central authority, hierarchy or organization. They believe in an infinite, eternal and all-embracing principal. Hinduism is one of the most sacred religions in the world. There is no other religion that compares to it. Hindus do not try to push their religion on anyone nor do they feel their religion is better than anyone else’s. They are a very nonviolent religion and do not discriminate. Hinduism has been the main religion for Indian people for centuries, so it is vital to the place it was originated in. Sikhism, Islamism and Christianity are the other religions practiced in India but Hinduism is the biggest religion practiced out there. The temple I visited was a Hindu Temple in Calabasas California, far away from my home in Victorville, California, since there are no temples nearby. The actual name of the temple was just “Hindu Temple”. A few years back I...
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...menetetä. Lopulta alkuperäinen signaali saadaan siirrettyä ja tallennettua halutussa muodossa. Tiheydestä käytetään bitrate-käsitettä, joka kertoo tallenteen näytteiden tiheydestä. Erot analogisen ja digitaalisen välillä Tiedon tai datan ilmaisemiseen käytetään analogisia ja digitaalisia esitystapoja. Analoginen esitystapa on jatkumollista, portaatonta ja ilmenee lineaarisena usein fyysisessä muodossa. Digitaalinen on taas binäärinen esitysmuoto, eli se on numeerinen joukko ykkösiä tai nollia. Digitaalisen tiedonsiirron etu on sen koko ja muoto. Sitä on helppo muokata ja siirtää, kun taas analoginen data on kookkaampaa ja fyysisessä muodossa. Tiedon tallennus Data voi olla analogista tai digitaalista. Tieto on hyödyllistä ainoastaan jos sillä on kolme ominaisuutta: Sitä voidaan tallentaa, siirtää tallennuspaikasta toiseen ja jos sen sisältämätieto voidaan toistaa. Tieto kuitenkin menettää pienen osan informaatiosta aina kun sitä muokataan. Ennen toimenpiteitä datan täytyy olla sopivassa muodossa käyttötarkoitusta varten. Tallennus Tieto saa alkunsa sen lähteestä eli tietolähteestä. Tallentamisessa tieto täytyy muuttaa käyttötarkoitusta varten ominaisimmalla tavalla, jolloin se...
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