Reading Notes: The Divine Archer pt. 2

The Divine Archer by F.J. Gould (pt. 2)

• Rama and Sita see each other and instantly fall in love
• Sita prays to Bhavati to make it so that she and Rama can be together
• Bhavati gave Sita flowers to confirm the promise
• King Janaka held a competition to give suitors the opportunity to marry Sita
• The challenge was to bend the bow of the god Siva
• many kings came, but Sita only had eyes for Rama
• None of the suitors could break the bow
• With some encouragement from Lakshmana, Rama rose to break the bow
• Lakshmana knew that the earth would shake when Rama succeeded, so he prayed that the elephants and tortoise that held the earth would stay steady
• Like Lakshmana predicted, the whole earth reacted to Rama breaking the bow: angels danced, flowers fell from the heavens, the people celebrated
• An unnamed hermit who worshipped Siva was angered that Rama broke the bow
• Lakshmana's sass almost got him in a lot of trouble, but Rama stepped in to relieve the tension
• The formidable hermit tested Rama by asking him to shoot Vishnu's bow, which Rama did easily (because he was in fact Vishnu's avatar)
• Everyone rejoiced and praised Rama, and word was sent to his father about the upcoming wedding
• The wedding procession moved throughout the kingdom, met by celebration and gifts
• Rama and all of his brothers were married on the same day
• King Janaka gave Rama and his brothers many elaborate gifts

Rama Breaks Siva's Bow