Reading Notes: Nine Ideal Women Part B
Nine Ideal Women: Sita, Promila, and Shakuntala by Sunity Devee (1919)
Promila's Story
Characters:
Indrajit - eldest and bravest son of Ravana, married to Promila, wants to avenge his brother, confident.
Promila - wife of Indrajit, fair and gentle princess, goes to fight with Indrajit, optimistic, devoted wife, killed herself to be with Indrajit, brave.
Ravana - kidnapped Sita, lost all his sons in war with Rama,
Birbahoo - Indrajit's brother, killed by Rama.
Lakshama - fought Indrajit while Indrajit was unarmed (disgraceful), killed Indrajit.
Bibhisan - Indrajit's uncle, disloyal, let Lakshama into alter.
This story gives a whole different perspective to the antagonist in the original Ramayana we read. In this version, Indrajit is described as an extremely loving and devoted husband and brother. His only reason for going to war was to avenge the death of his brother instead of fighting to keep Sita as a prisoner. The story also makes Lakshama seem disgraceful, since he chose to kill to Indrajit while Indrajit was unarmed in the alter praying. In the original, Bibhisan seems brave for going against his family to serve Rama but in this version Bibhisan looks like a traitor. The differences in this story emphasis the lesson that there is always two sides to every story. My favorite thing about this story was they way Promila was portrayed. Instead of being the "damsel in distress" or waiting for Indrajits return, she chose to put on armor and join him outside the city gates. This version also excludes the part of battle when Indrajit becomes invisible and kills Rama and Lakshama before Hanuman heals them.
Sakuntala's Story
Characters:
Bishwamitra - sage, life of hermit in Bijnor, feared,
Menaka - most beautiful of all celestial fairies, shows Bishwamitra mortal love, had Bishwamitra's child, returns to heaven.
Sakuntala - daughter of Bishwamitra and Menaka, named after the birds she was found, raised by Kanva and Goutami, beautiful, pure
Kanva - holy man who finds Sakuntala and raises her,
Goutami - Kanva's sister who help raise Sakuntala, went with Sankuntala to Dushmanta
Priyambada and Anushua - Sakuntala's sisters
Dushmanta - King of Hashinagar, married Sakuntala, denied her when she came to his city, first pictures painted, found Sakuntala's son,
Durbasa - beggar, placed a curse on Sakuntala so Dushmanta wouldn't recognize her
Bharat - son of Dushmanta and Sakuntala, holy
This story reminded me of a fairy tale more than any of the others have. The beggar Durbasa is like a witch who curses the Sakuntala so that Dushmanta won't remember her. After years though, the curse is broken when Dushmanta finds the ring that he had given Sakuntala. Once he finds her in her cottage they are able to be together again and live happily ever after. This is one of the few stories I've read that had a happy ending for all the characters as well.
Promila's Story
Characters:
Indrajit - eldest and bravest son of Ravana, married to Promila, wants to avenge his brother, confident.
Promila - wife of Indrajit, fair and gentle princess, goes to fight with Indrajit, optimistic, devoted wife, killed herself to be with Indrajit, brave.
Ravana - kidnapped Sita, lost all his sons in war with Rama,
Birbahoo - Indrajit's brother, killed by Rama.
Lakshama - fought Indrajit while Indrajit was unarmed (disgraceful), killed Indrajit.
Bibhisan - Indrajit's uncle, disloyal, let Lakshama into alter.
This story gives a whole different perspective to the antagonist in the original Ramayana we read. In this version, Indrajit is described as an extremely loving and devoted husband and brother. His only reason for going to war was to avenge the death of his brother instead of fighting to keep Sita as a prisoner. The story also makes Lakshama seem disgraceful, since he chose to kill to Indrajit while Indrajit was unarmed in the alter praying. In the original, Bibhisan seems brave for going against his family to serve Rama but in this version Bibhisan looks like a traitor. The differences in this story emphasis the lesson that there is always two sides to every story. My favorite thing about this story was they way Promila was portrayed. Instead of being the "damsel in distress" or waiting for Indrajits return, she chose to put on armor and join him outside the city gates. This version also excludes the part of battle when Indrajit becomes invisible and kills Rama and Lakshama before Hanuman heals them.
Sakuntala's Story
Characters:
Bishwamitra - sage, life of hermit in Bijnor, feared,
Menaka - most beautiful of all celestial fairies, shows Bishwamitra mortal love, had Bishwamitra's child, returns to heaven.
Sakuntala - daughter of Bishwamitra and Menaka, named after the birds she was found, raised by Kanva and Goutami, beautiful, pure
Kanva - holy man who finds Sakuntala and raises her,
Goutami - Kanva's sister who help raise Sakuntala, went with Sankuntala to Dushmanta
Priyambada and Anushua - Sakuntala's sisters
Dushmanta - King of Hashinagar, married Sakuntala, denied her when she came to his city, first pictures painted, found Sakuntala's son,
Durbasa - beggar, placed a curse on Sakuntala so Dushmanta wouldn't recognize her
Bharat - son of Dushmanta and Sakuntala, holy
This story reminded me of a fairy tale more than any of the others have. The beggar Durbasa is like a witch who curses the Sakuntala so that Dushmanta won't remember her. After years though, the curse is broken when Dushmanta finds the ring that he had given Sakuntala. Once he finds her in her cottage they are able to be together again and live happily ever after. This is one of the few stories I've read that had a happy ending for all the characters as well.
Sakuntala after being denied by Dashmunta
(Source: Wikipedia)
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