Reading Notes: The Ramayana Part D

The battle of Lanka

Source

1: Rama prayed to the god of the sea, in hopes that he would allow for his army to pass into Lanka. Nothing happened, so Rama shot the ocean, which caused the earth to shake and lighting and thunder roared. Rama ignored this warning and lit a arrow on fire and threatened to dry up the entire ocean. This prompted the king of the ocean to rise up, and he said "Rama, I like you, but according to ancient laws, I cannot help you. But you should hit up Nala, a monkey chief, and he'll help you" Then the king went back into the ocean and everything went back to normal. Nala came forward and began constructing a bridge of rocky islands.
2: The weather became dreadful as the comings of war were known. Rama prepared to lay siege to Lanka, and Ravana knew of this as his spies had come back from their disguised monkey forms to report the news. They advised Ravana to surrender Sita, but he was just more enraged. Ravana faked Rama's death and told Sita that he killed him. Sita cried and begged to be murdered, but Ravana was called to war and when he left, the head/bow of fake Rama disappeared and Sita realized it was an illusion.
3: The war waged on, and the demons were losing, but they waited for nightfall (where there power grew) and then the tide turned. Rama and Lakshmana were pelted with arrows from Indrajit who turned invisible, Ravana's son, and were wounded severely, along with Hanuman, Nila, and Jambavan. Indrajit was welcomed in Lanka as a hero, and Ravana took Sita on a chariot to see her wounded husband before taking her back to Lanka. Morale was low, but then Garuda appeared and came to the battlefield and healed everyone. This gave everyone a second wind morale wise and physically.
4: The demons were desperate, and went to Kumbhakarna for help. They awoke him before his 6 month nap was up and calmed him down with a lot of food and wine. He decided to help out, and defeated Hanuman and kidnapped Sugriva. Rama shot Kumbhakarna and severed his head and killed him.
5: Indrajit prayed to the fire god, and was blessed with weapons and charms for his chariot. He went into battle and defeated Rama and then went back to Lanka. With many dead and severly injured, Vibhishana told Hanuman to seek out a healing plant in the Himalaya's. He returned and healed up the troops.
6: Ravana tells Sita again that Rama is dead. Indrajit makes an illusion that makes it look like he killed Sita on the battlefield to discourage Rama, but Vibhishana explains that it is just an illusion and he also knows an ambush spot in Lanka to kill Indrajit.
7: Ravana is sad that his son is dead, and decides to get his vengeance on the mortal that killed him. Ravana was going to kill Sita, but the demons guarding her talked him out of it, saying that he should not soil his reputation by killing a woman. He decides to go to the battlefield to reap his vengeance.
8: Rama and company are slowly taking the city, but Ravana shoots a dart which hits Lakshmana in the heart. Hanuman goes back to the mountain and gets more healing herbs and heals Lakshmana. 
9: The gods are watching the battle, and Indra sends his chariot and its driver to help Rama and give him armor and weapons.
10: More gods began to send down weapons and aid to Rama, and Ravana is wounded. Rama is feeling great and ready to fight.
11: Rama shot a flaming arrow into Ravana's heart, and he died. The demons all fled, and music was heard from the heavens. Vibhishana burned his brother's body and performed the funeral rites. Then, he was  proclaimed king of Lanka.
12: The funeral of Ravana is underway and Mandodari is weeping.
13: Rama asks Hanuman to retrieve Sita, and he tells her that she shouldn't come home with him because it would show that he took back his cheating wife out of desire. He had to adhere to the code.
14: Sita is not happy, and Sita sets herself on fire. The gods come down from heaven and tell Rama that Sita has not had thoughts of any man but him. Agni brings Sita from the fire and asks if Rama will take her back, he agrees.
15: Rama steals Ravana's chariot and takes Sita back to Ayodhya with him.
16: Bharata welcomes Rama and Sita and gives Rama his royal sandals.
17: Rama is crowned king

18: People were gossiping about why Rama took back a queen who was dumb enough to get herself kidnapped. Rama, pressured by his subjects, banishes Sita. Lakshmana takes her to the jungle and cries, he tells her to refuge with a poet. Sita gives birth to Rama's kids, Lava and Kusha. Rama preforms a horse sacrifice to cleanse his soul (He feels bad because Ravana was the son of Pulastya the rishi) Lava and Kusha stole the horse as it was wondering and killed the royal army it had with it. Lakshmana was wounded by them as well. Rama wen't to fight them, but he saw himself in them and asked who their parents were. They replied that Sita was their mom, and they did not know of their dad.

19: The poet, Valmiki, told the children to spread the word of the ramayana. Rama sent his messengers to ask Sita if she would prove her innocence once again and return to the kingdom, she said yes, and when in the kingdom she spoke on how loyal and loving she was to Rama. The Earth spat out a throne and put her on it, and then went back into the Earth. Rama was angry, but the Brahma calmed him down and Rama was just depressed. 

20: Lakshmana left for heaven, and Rama decided it was his time as well. Vishnu entered heven in his own form, and the gods returned to their own abode.

Bibliography:
Ramayana Online: Public Domain Edition
http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/2014/04/ramayana-online-public-domain-edition.html