So, my new idea for a storybook is writing the stories of the women throughout the Ramayana. This link sent to me by Laura contains the stories of Sita and Promila. It is from the book titled Nine Ideal Indian Women by Sunity Devee. I think this would be a great place to start to gain their stories and perspectives. According to Laura's reading guide over this book, Sita is, of course Rama's wife. Promila is the wife of Ravana's son Indrajit. There is also another female character in the Mahabharata named Shakuntala, who would be interesting to discuss if I need additional story material. Other character's I considered writing about were Kaikeyi, Kooni, and Kausalya but I haven't decided yet. I thought it would be neat to write each story in first person, as if the women were the ones telling the story.
Sita
According to her Wikipedia page, Sita is an avatar of Sri Lakshmi, "the Hindu goddess of good character, good fortune, prosperity, success, and happiness. She is seen as the pinnacle of spousal and feminine virtues for all women. She is the daughter of Bhūmi, the earth goddess, and is "the adopted daughter of King Janaka of Videha and his wife, Queen Sunaia". Her younger sister is Urmila and her female cousins are Manadavi and Shrutakirti. I thought I could discuss her meeting Rama and their wedding. I thought I could also discuss their exile and of course her abduction by Ravana and all of the pain that she suffering she went through. Apparently, in some versions of the Ramayana she is sent into exile by Rama during her pregnancy and lives near Sage Valmiki's ashram. She raises her twin boys, Kusha and Lava as a single mother. After she reunites her sons with their father, Rama, she asks to be relieved of her suffering and "returns to the womb of her mother, the Earth". If I were to detail this alternate ending of the Ramayana, I could do the entire storybook based on Sita as if it were journal entries or something similar.
Promila
According to this Wikipedia page Promila also goes by the name Soluchana. She was known for being very brave, especially when Indrajit went to war against Rama and Lakshmana. She showed her support for her husband going to war by never crying or asking him to not go to war. According to the Bengalie epic poem Meghnad Badh Kavya by Michael Madhusudan Dutta, she undergoes a sati-daha. This is the ancient Indian custom of burning widows alive alongside their dead husbands.
Kaikeyi
Kaikeyi is the second wife of King Dasharatha and mother of Bharata, Dasharatha's eldest born. She was raised by a single father after her mother was banished. She saved the king while he was at war and as a result he granted her two boons, which she used later to ensure Rama's exile as well as her son's claim to the throne. She did this upon the urging of her maid, Kooni. Years later when Rama returns she asks his forgiveness. He tells her there is no need for forgiveness and states that she only did it as a mother for the betterment of her child.
Kooni
Kooni is Kaikeyi's maid. According to Wikipedia she is also named Manthara. She is the one that convinces Kaikeyi to send Rama into exile and demand that Bharata become king. According to the story, she has a humpback. Later on in the epic, Rama recalls that he used to taunt her for this physical deformity and ponders if this might be why she sought revenge against him through his exile.
Kausalya
Kausalya is Dasharatha's eldest wife and mother of Rama.
Shakuntala
In the Mahabharata, Shakuntala is the wife of King Dushyanta. He meets her while traveling to the forest with his army. They fall in love and are married and Dushyanta gives her a ring as his promise to return to her and bring him to his palace. Much time passed and Dushyanta did not come back to her so Shakuntala goes to the palace on her own, but she loses the ring along the way. When she arrives at the palace, the king does not recognize her and so she leaves to raise her son, Bharata, on her own. Years later, a fisherman finds Shakuntala's ring which had fallen in the ocean and returns it to the king who instantly remembers Shakuntala and goes searching for her. Along the way, he meets his son Bharata, who informs him that he is the son of the king and Shakuntala. Upon hearing this the king asks Bharata to take him to Shakuntala and the family is reunited.
Sita
According to her Wikipedia page, Sita is an avatar of Sri Lakshmi, "the Hindu goddess of good character, good fortune, prosperity, success, and happiness. She is seen as the pinnacle of spousal and feminine virtues for all women. She is the daughter of Bhūmi, the earth goddess, and is "the adopted daughter of King Janaka of Videha and his wife, Queen Sunaia". Her younger sister is Urmila and her female cousins are Manadavi and Shrutakirti. I thought I could discuss her meeting Rama and their wedding. I thought I could also discuss their exile and of course her abduction by Ravana and all of the pain that she suffering she went through. Apparently, in some versions of the Ramayana she is sent into exile by Rama during her pregnancy and lives near Sage Valmiki's ashram. She raises her twin boys, Kusha and Lava as a single mother. After she reunites her sons with their father, Rama, she asks to be relieved of her suffering and "returns to the womb of her mother, the Earth". If I were to detail this alternate ending of the Ramayana, I could do the entire storybook based on Sita as if it were journal entries or something similar.
Below is an image of Sita in exile.
According to this Wikipedia page Promila also goes by the name Soluchana. She was known for being very brave, especially when Indrajit went to war against Rama and Lakshmana. She showed her support for her husband going to war by never crying or asking him to not go to war. According to the Bengalie epic poem Meghnad Badh Kavya by Michael Madhusudan Dutta, she undergoes a sati-daha. This is the ancient Indian custom of burning widows alive alongside their dead husbands.
Kaikeyi
Kaikeyi is the second wife of King Dasharatha and mother of Bharata, Dasharatha's eldest born. She was raised by a single father after her mother was banished. She saved the king while he was at war and as a result he granted her two boons, which she used later to ensure Rama's exile as well as her son's claim to the throne. She did this upon the urging of her maid, Kooni. Years later when Rama returns she asks his forgiveness. He tells her there is no need for forgiveness and states that she only did it as a mother for the betterment of her child.
Below is an image of Kaikeyi telling Dasharatha her wish to have Bharata crowned as king and Rama sent into exile.
Kooni
Kooni is Kaikeyi's maid. According to Wikipedia she is also named Manthara. She is the one that convinces Kaikeyi to send Rama into exile and demand that Bharata become king. According to the story, she has a humpback. Later on in the epic, Rama recalls that he used to taunt her for this physical deformity and ponders if this might be why she sought revenge against him through his exile.
Kausalya
Kausalya is Dasharatha's eldest wife and mother of Rama.
Below is an image of Dasharatha and his wives. He is giving them payasa, which is an Indian rice pudding.
Shakuntala
In the Mahabharata, Shakuntala is the wife of King Dushyanta. He meets her while traveling to the forest with his army. They fall in love and are married and Dushyanta gives her a ring as his promise to return to her and bring him to his palace. Much time passed and Dushyanta did not come back to her so Shakuntala goes to the palace on her own, but she loses the ring along the way. When she arrives at the palace, the king does not recognize her and so she leaves to raise her son, Bharata, on her own. Years later, a fisherman finds Shakuntala's ring which had fallen in the ocean and returns it to the king who instantly remembers Shakuntala and goes searching for her. Along the way, he meets his son Bharata, who informs him that he is the son of the king and Shakuntala. Upon hearing this the king asks Bharata to take him to Shakuntala and the family is reunited.
Below is an image of Shakuntala writing a letter to Dushyanta with her friend.
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