Week 2 - Reading Diary A: Public Domain Ramayana

I just finished the reading for the Diary A assignment. I am following along in the Public Domain Ramayana.  I really like how the style is both different and similar to other epics I have read. The style mostly reminds me of the Epic of Gilgamesh, but it is interesting to see completely new mythology. Probably my favorite section of the Ramayana thus far is the story of Ahalya. To me, this particular tale has a lot in common with the myth of Cupid and Psyche. Where a beautiful maid (Ahalya, Psyche) is taken in with a god (Indra, Cupid) and is becomes aware of the fact that it is a god, and not a man, whom she is with. In the Ramayana, Ahalya's husband curses both his wife and the god, whereas Psyche, when violating the trust of Cupid and seeing his true form, is destined to wander the earth searching for her love. Both female figures suffer a similar fate until their punishment is fulfilled and are either reunited (Psyche) or rescued (Ahalya).

My favorite image was the statue silhouette of Rama and Sita as they go in to exile.

Rama and Sita; photographed by Indi Samarajiva.