Week 4: Reading Diary A

Introduction to the story done by the invisible demon warrior, Indrajit.  He speaks of the composers of the Ramayana, Vishnu and the sacred poet Valmiki.  It goes on to invoke different gods and goddesses prior to beginning the story.
The story begins as a story being told between friends. Saunaka requests that his friend Sauti tells the tale of the Ramayana.
Sita, Rama's wife, has been banished from the palace due to malicious rumors spread about her. At the time she is banished, she is pregnant with twins.  The poet Valmiki is called upon by the sage Narada to find her and aid her.  He goes on to teach the Ramayana to her sons after he is taught the story by Brahma.  The boys go on to perform it in front of their father.
The story of the Ramayana begins by talking about Rama's father, King Dasharatha.  It goes on to begin discussing Ravana and how he came to power. Vishnu becomes a human, Rama, in order to defeat Ravana. The king performs sacrifices in order to have sons.  When they are 16 years old, the sage Vishwamithra appears at the palace and asks for Rama's aid in defeating some demons that have been tormenting the sages. The story then begins to discuss the fate of the rakshasas and how they grew in power. It then talks about Ravana's origins. 
Ravana grew in power and began to start conquering those around him, starting with the yakshas and those living on Mount Kailasa with his father and grandfather.  Because of his actions he was cursed by Indra and by Shiva's bull.  He tried to conquer the Haiheya people but was defeated after his cowardly attack on their king, done while he was bathing, failed.  After this, Ravana went on to conquer even Death, or Yama, as well as the Sun and the Moon.  He went to war against Indra, defeating him when his son captured him.
Vishwamithra was telling this story to the king, asking for and gaining Lakshmana and Rama as his students.  He leads them against demons, where they defeat Subaku but fail to kill Maricha.  The mother of the demons isn't mentioned.  The story then goes on to tell how Sita and Rama were married.