Reading Notes: Ramayana, Part C and D

Hanuman's Leap

from Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists by Sister Nivedita

• I like the image of the heaving sea making them downcast: good imagery
• The wind god that is Hanuman's father is Vayu 
• Destiny was at work when in his childhood, Hanuman unknowingly became invulnerable and able to chose his own death after he was injured by Indra while attempting to pluck the sun from the sky thinking it was a fruit
• "Then he rushed up the mountain Mahendra, shaking it in his wrath and frightening every beast that lived in its woods and caves. Intent upon achieving a hard task, where no friend could help and no foe hindered" --- I should try to incorporate some scene painting like this into my next story
• "he stood like a fire" brings to mind a wild, uncontrollable and ferocious power, good way to describe someone who is about to lunge across an ocean!
• Hanuman's determination is portrayed in his refusal to stop at the sight of the tempting forested mountain full fruits (and we know how much Hanuman likes fruit) to rest while on his journey
• great resolution to the story, painting Hanuman as being so heroic as to have completed his task without even becoming winded

  

  Hanuman exposes Rama in his heart