Indian Epics Assignments

This semester will be similar in a lot of ways to what I did for Myth-Folklore last semester, but also different because of the reading. In Myth-Folklore, I did the regular reading with the rest of the class, and that made sense because it had been quite a few years before I put the UnTextbook together and I was also looking at the stories in a new way thanks to my chain-tale project.

With Indian Epics, I've got a different idea: I am going to read the Thai version of the Ramayana! To make that work, I will actually do Ramakien reading in Week 2 (but I'll also read the Anthology in order to write a story), so it should work out that I can finish the whole Ramakien before we start the Mahabharata in Week 6. I am so excited about this: I know bits and pieces of the Ramakien, but I have never read the whole thing!

(Ramakien: Hanuman on his chariot)

Then when we get to the Mahabharata in Week 6, what I am doing to do is re-read Chitra's Palace of Illusions which is 8 parts: 6AB, 7AB, 8C, 9ABC. Then I'll be able to read Chitra's Forest of Enchantment as the reading for the final part of the semester. My copy of Forest of Enchantment is on the way, and hopefully by the end of the semester the Kindle might even be available!

That is going to be so cool: a semester of Ramakien AND a semester of Draupadi and Sita.

I'll have the same problem I had last semester in that I can't really do the project feedback assignments during Weeks 6-15, but with all the extra reading assignments plus other extra credit, I can make that up, no problem.

I'm so excited to be doing Hanuman stories; I'm not sure if I will find a way to work Hanuman into the Week 2 storytelling, but I'll figure out about that when I read the Anthology again and write a story for Week 2.

Reading the Ramakien is something I've always wanted to do, and I am especially inspired by all the great Flickr photos I found showing the events of the Ramakien at Wat Phananchoeng, Ayutthaya: Flickr Album by Anandajoti Bhikkhu.

Here is what I need to read:

Week 2A: Part A

1. The giant Hiran rolls up the tapestry fo the Earth

2. Ayutaya, city of the gods is founded

3. Longka, city of the demons is built

4. Atchaban kills the demon Asura Prohm

5. Saha Maliwan leaves the Underworld

6. The downfall of Treeburam

7. The demon nontok with the diamond finger

8. The youth of Totsakan

9. Pipek, the seer, is born

10. The childless Kodom conjures a wife

11. Kodom's sons are changed to monkeys

12. The birth of Hanuman

13. The thunder god Ramasoon chases the lightning of Mekhala

14. Kakat and Sukreep set the heavenly mountain aright

15. A toad becomes a beautiful maiden

16. The battle of the snakes and the demons

Week 2 extra: Part B

17. Totsakan straightens the heavenly mountain Krailat

18. Nan Monto in the monkey kingdom

19. Totsakan is beaten by Palee

20. Totsakan is made immortal by magic

21. Totsakan steals the chariot Butsabok

22. Nontakan is transformed into a buffalo

23. A change of Kings in the Underworld

24. Totsarot of Ayutaya marries Kayakesee

25. Totsarot of Ayutaya slays Patootatan

26. Kalaikot, the seer, is distracted

27. The reincarnation of Pra Narai

28. Totsarot's son

29. Nang Sida finds a father

30. The youth of the princes of Ayutaya

Week 3A: Part C

31. Swarms of crows attack the hermits

32. The battle with the flying horses

33. King Chanok comes home with his lotus-daughter

34. The marriage of Pra Ram and nang Sida

35. TPra Ram conquers Ramasoon

36. The exile of Sukreep

37. Pra Ram leaves Ayutaya

38. The journey through the forest

39. The funeral of King Totsarot

40. The batlte with the demon Pirap

41. Pra Lak kills Kumpakat

42. Totsakan kills Chiuha Yak

43. Totsakan's brothers Khorn, Tot, and Treesian are killed

44. Samanakha goads Totsakan to reveng

45. Nang Sida is lured by a golden deer

46. Totsakan abducts Nang Sida

Week 3B: Part D

47. Pra Ram in pusuit

48. The demoness Atsamukhee tries to seduce Pra Lak

49. Pra Ram meets Hanuman

50. The death of Palee

51. Sukreep is King of the monkeys

52. The embassy to the great Chompoo

53. A reconnaissance to Longka

54. Hanuman frees two heavenly sisters

55. The heavenly bird Sampatee carries Hanuman to Longka

56. Hanuman breaks into Longka

57. Hanuman searches for Nang Sida

58. Hanuman is captured

59. Hanuman burns down Longka

Week 3 extra: Part E

60. Totsakan's nightmares

61. Sukasarn comes as a spy to the monkey camp

62. Totsakan the spy

63. Benjakai changes herself into Nang Sida

64. Hanuman and Nilapat quarrel

65. Hanuman begets a son of a mermaid

66. The first battle on the island of Longka

67. Ongkot goes to Longka as a messenger

68. Sukreep destroys the umbrella of Longka

69. Maiyarap kidnaps Pra Ram

70. Hanuman breaks into the Underworld

71. Hanuman frees Pra Ram and kills Maiyarap

Week 4A: Part F

72. Totsakan goads Koompakan to fight

73. Koompakan captures Sukreep

74. Koompakan fights with his wonder-spear

75. How Pra Lak was saved

76. Koompakan makes the monkeys thirsty

77. Koompakan is killed

78. Intorachit enters the war

79. Mangkonkan is killed

80. Intorachit fights with the serpent arrow Nakabat

81. Intorachit disguises himself as Pra Indra

82. How the dead were revived

Week 4B: Part G

83. Intorachit attempts a diversion

84. Pra Lak pursues Intorachit

85. Intorachit is killed

86. The monkeys destroy Totsakan's ten charioteer princes

87. Sahatsadecha and Mulapalam

88. Hanuman deceives Sahatsadecha

89. Saeng Ahtit, the demon of the sunbeams

90. Hanuman beheads Treemek

91. Totsakan hardens his body

92. Hanuman beheads Satasoon

93. Hanuman and Wanarin

94. Hanuman kills Wiroon Djambang

Week 4 extra: Part H

95. The gods judge Totsakan and Pra Ram

96. Totsakan tries to kill the gods

97. Hanuman saves Pra Lak

98. Tepanasoon swallows the monkey army

99. Pra Lak slays the elephant demons

100. Hanuman tricks Nang Monto

101. Hanuman defects to the enemy

102. Totsakan accepts Hanuman as an ally

103. Hanuman fights Pra Lak and is beaten

Week 5A: Part I

104. Hanuman returns to Pra Ram

105. Totsakan's farewell

106. Totasakan's last battle

107. Sida undergoes trial by fire

108. Pra Ram kills Atsakan

109. Banlaikan tries to avenge his father

110. The march home

111. The division of the kingdom

112. Maha Ban lays siege to Longka

113. Paina Suriwong learns the secret of his birth

114. Paina Suriwong conquers Longka

Week 5B: Part J

115. Asuraphad offers to find his father

116. Longka is recaptured

117. Anuchit and Nila Non threaten Maliwan

118. Suriyapop is defeated

119. Banlaiyadjak is killed

120. Nonyupak wishes to fight

121. Waitan of the palm club

122. Djakrawat plunges into a fight to the death

123. The victors return home

124. Nang Sida draws a picture of Totsakan

Week 5 extra: Part K

125. Pra Lak tries to kill Nang Sida

126. Nang Sida's sons are born

127. Nan Sida's sons shatter a Rang tree

128. The children fetter Anuchit

129. Pra Mongkut is captured

130. Pra Ram recognizes his sons

131. Pra Ram finds Nang Sida

132. Nang Sida flees into the womb of Mother Earth

133. A new fight with the demons

134. Anurat is wounded and buried in a cave

135. Pra Isuan reconciles Nang Sida with Pra Ram

136. Kontanurat captures Kaiyaket

137. Pra Lop and Pra Mongkut enter the demon war

138. Joy and gladness in the world