Extra Credit Reading: Ramayana B

Messengers come to Bharata to inform him that his father, Dasharatha has died. He learns that Rama has been exiled and plans to bring him back.  Bharata performs funeral rituals for his father after Vashishtha comes to him.  Bharata meets Rama in the jungle but Rama can't come back.  Bharata places Rama's sandals on the throne and stays in the jungle.  A rakshasa, Viradha, takes Sita from Rama.  Rama and Lakshmana tries to shoot arrows at Viradha but the arrows fail to work against him.  They finally beat him but cannot kill him since he seems to be immortal.  They then cast him into a pit.  They go further and meet a sage, Agastya.  Rama receives weapons from Agastya.  Rama meets a rakshasa, Shurpanakha, the sister of Ravana.  She falls in love with Rama.  Since Rama is already married, he suggests that she attempt to seduce Lakshmana instead.  Shurpanakha attacks Sita, but Rama and Lakshmana fend against her attempt.  A demon army is formed to fight against Rama.  Shurpanakha goes to Ravana and tells him of the events that have occurred concerning Rama.  Ravana goes to meet with Maricha.  They plan to take Sita away from Rama.  Maricha turns into a golden deer and encaptures Sita.  Sita has Rama to go get the deer.  Rama chases after the Maricha and shoots it with an arrow.  Maricha disguises his voice as Rama's and yells for Sita and Lakshmana.  Sita thinks that Rama is in trouble, but Lakshmana disagrees.  Finally consenting, Lakshmana goes to look for Rama.  Now alone, Ravana turns into a sage and goes to Sita.  He offers for her to be his queen.  Sita rejects him and shows her loyalty to Rama.  Rama transforms to a demon with many heads and arms and takes Sita.  A vulture, Jatayu, tries to save Sita and battles with Ravana.  Ravana defeats Jatayu, and takes away Sita again.  In Ravana's palace, Ravana continually attempts to seduce Sita.  Rama and Lakshmana return to find Sita missing.  They wander the jungle until they meet the dying Jatayu.  Jatayu tells the brothers of the events that took place and finally dies and goes to heaven.  Rama and Lakshmana go south and meet a rakshasa, Kabandha.  He gives them information pertaining to Ravana and they cremate him so that he may be free from being a rakshasa. 

Rama shooting Maricha, disguised as a golden deer