Week 10, Reading Diary A, Sita Daughter of the Earth

Bibliography :

Author: Saraswati Nagpal

Artist: Manikandan
Year: 2011

                                                Title: Sita: Daughter of the Earth

pages 1-45

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This is the first graphic novel I have ever read. Since it is on reserve in the library, like the comic books I read in week 9, I am making a more complete set of notes of what is going on in the story to be able to go back and reread it. Usually if I forget something I can easily pull it back up because of the easy links we set up as crumb trails. The next two blogs are longer than normal for this reason. As far as I can tell, the graphic novel does not really differ from the storyline of the one I read. It was just a different experience seeing the story illustrated.

In the beginning, Sita is telling the her story. It started in a time cycle called the Treta Yuga, an age of magical powers and the gods and demons walked alongside the mortals.

Sita's parents were perfect king and queen but lacked a child, so they prayed to a wise guru lady and Janaka, Sita's father used a golden plough after they meditated for 7 days, gave away wealth and received blessings from Rishi's.

Sita is born, the name means daughter of the earth. She became the Princess of Videha. Then she had a sister, Urmila. As a child, she is told to stay out of the room that holds the sacred bow that no one has been able to lift. Sita accidently loses her ball in the room and in order to retrieve it, she moved the bow by barely a touch.

She also  grew up with her cousins and a young uncle. She loved to study history, law, philosophy, tradition, logic and wisdom. She cherished the time spent with the goddess Bhudevi, the one her parents prayed to for her earthly incarnation.

When she is 16 she goes to the courts to help her father with the issues of the people. She wants to be trained to fight, but her father tells her no. She is of the Kshatriya class (warrior/kingly) but not allowed to fight, and Sita has issue with this paradox. That night Bhudevi comes to her in a dream and tells her it is not her destiny, she will meet the prince who will kill demons. He will be her husband, and she is obsessed with the idea. 

The Prince of Ayodhya is Rama, the guy of Sita's dreams. He is known for attacking the Rakshasas in the forest. Sita plans a test for the man who is to be her husband. He has to lift the great bow and string it at her swayamvara (party). Her sister tells her that Rama and his brother Lakshmana are coming to the party.

Many qualified men of all ages came to the party to take the test and claim Sita as his wife. Sita prayed to Bhudevi that only Rama would be able to lift the bow because she was in love at first sight with him. Likewise, her sister only had eyes for Rama's brother. Her father was upset, thinking that Sita had asked an impossible task and would remain unmarried because of course all the men could not budge the bow.

Rama handled the bow like it was a toy. The two royal families, Ayodhya and Videha were glad to be joined and they arranged for Lakshmana's twin to marry and also Bharata to marry Sita's other two sisters. Four brother's and four sisters. Big family alliance. All the women would have to leave their family and join their husbands kingdom. As Sita is saying her good-bye's to her mother, her mother gives her important advice about the laws of Ayodhya being her priorities now.

Rama's father, King Dasharatha has a bad dream and knows he is going to die soon and needs to name his successor. He names Rama. His Queen Kaikeyi's hatching a plan to manipulate the plan of Rama being a king, because she fears being made a lowly servant under his rule. So she is reminded that the king long ago swore to give her two boons, and she was calling them in. She wanted the king to renounce his plans and make the brother, Bharata the king. And also that Rama be banished for 14 years to the forest to live as a hermit.

Rama and Sita have no choice because of their honor code but to obey, and so does the king. Rama does not hold a grudge, but understands why the queen is acting out of fear and also knows that his brother is innocent. Rama feels bad for Sita. She is supposed to be a queen, not live in the forest. It is dangerous and Rama urges Sita not to go, but she insists her place is with her husband.

Rama's brother also feels it is his duty to go to the forest with his brother. Lakshmana goes along. They go across the river and find a nice spot to build a cottage. Rama's father dies of a broken heart and the family comes for a visit. His brother is angry at the queen for creating drama and refused to rule. But Rama makes peace with the queen and urges his brother to as well and tells his brother he has to go do his duty. His brother is sad because he will be in luxury and Rama will be living in poverty. Rama only cares about keeping his duty.

The group visits an ashram and is told to go deeper into the forest. They meet a Rakshasa and it grabs Sita and Rama and his brother kill it.