Week 3: Reading Diary B

Hanuman walks across the ocean to Lanka. He then shrinks himself to normal size. He believes he found Sita, but discovers it is Ravana's wife Mandodari. He continues on to Asoka Vana, a gorgeous area that Ravana likes to retreat to. Here he finds Sita surrounded by rakshasa women. They try to frighten her into accepting Ravana as a lover. When she refuses both them and Ravana, Ravana storms off in a rage. Sita plans to kill herself until Hanuman reveals himself to her. When he sees her and leaves to tell Rama, he destroys Asoka Vana.
Hanuman lets Indrajit, Ravana's son, capture him. He does this so he will be brought to court and try to get Ravana to change his ways. Ravana is furious and wants to kill Hanuman, though his brother convinces him not to. Instead, Ravana sets his tail on fire. Hanuman escapes and sets the capital on fire before returning to Rama.
Ravana's council - Ravana's council tells him his actions have caused this. The giant, Mahodara, asks permission to hunt Rama and Hanuman and return with their heads. Ravana's brother Kumbakarna says things have gone too far to go back, recommending war. Indrajit seeks to bring the heads of Rama and Lakshmana to his father.  Ravana's other brother, Vibishana, goes against the others by saying it is Ravana's fault everything has happened. His words are ignored and he is mocked. Vibishana goes to seek asylum with Rama. Rama treats Vibhishana as the ruler of Lanka in exile, and Vibhishana gives Rama advice about how to attack Lanka.
Rama orders the sea god to allow him and his army passage to Lanka.  If he was refused, he threatened to evaporate the sea. The god agrees and helps Rama.
Ravana is now preparing for war. He seeks to trick Sita into believing her husband has been killed by showing her an illusion of Rama's head.  She does not believe him and continues to hope for Rama to rescue her.  Rama sends Angada to be a messenger to Ravana.  He destroys the palace tower when Ravana tries to have him captured.  Rama then brings his army against Ravana. Indrajit poisons Rama and Lakshmana, allowing Ravana to once again try to convince Sita her husband is dead.  The brothers recover, however, and Rama is aided by Hanuman to hurt Ravana and destroy his crown.
Kumbakarna, one of Ravana's younger brothers, comes to his aid and agrees to help fight against Rama, though he faults Ravana for acting out of lust.  Though he kills many of the monkeys, he is ultimately destroyed. Indrajit creates an illusion of Sita dying, causing many of the monkeys to despair. He is later killed by Lakshmana. When that happens, Ravana is finally realizing all that he is losing. He chooses to blame Sita, now desiring her death. Rama and Ravana plan to go to battle against one another. The giant Mahodara goes to attack Rama and is destroyed.
When Rama and Ravana go to battle against each other, Ravana sees bad omens that he chooses to ignore. Rama finally defeats Ravana, killing him and ending the battle.
Sita is brought to Rama after the battle, where she throws herself into a fire to prove her virtue. Rama would not allow her back into his home without this proof. Rama is informed by Brahma of his divine nature and granted a wish. He sees his father again and has him forgive Kaikeyi.
After 14 years of exile, Rama returns home and is crowned king.