Rama and Lakshmana walked towards Rishyamooka mountain, sharing their sorrow and their guilt at leaving Seeta alone, trying to find her all the time. On the way, they came to a hut where Shabari lived. She was a poor forest dweller who had been a disciple of a Rishi Matanga and had been waiting for […]
Seeta kept crying aloud for Rama as Ravana fled with her in the Pushpaka Vimana. She threatened Ravana telling him of Rama’s powers and sometimes she pleaded with him to let her go. Ravana, however, was deaf to all her pleas. She began to drop the pieces of jewellery hoping that they would provide a
Reincarnation is a popular belief amongst the Hmong people who live in the parts of China, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. Do you know: The funerary rituals of the Hmong begin on Friday and last until Monday, when the dead is buried. During a funeral, the Hmong people play tunes with bamboo flutes, known as the
As Rama and Lakshmana wandered around looking for Seeta, they were grabbed by a huge monster that was grotesque and frightening. It had a mouth in its belly and one eye on its chest. It could reach out and grab even large animals like tigers and bears and eat them up. Rama and Lakshmana were
As they ran, Lakshmana tried to tell Rama that he had tried, but Seeta had been so upset and insistent that she angrily accused him of having wrong feelings for her. By the time they reached, it was too late. Seeta was not there! The hut was empty. The brothers searched all around but there
Placing text from Ancient Scriptures in the mouth of the deceased is a funerary custom in Thailand. Do you know: Family and relatives pour water over one hand of the deceased as the body is being bathed. Abhidharma are ancient 3rd-century Buddhist Scriptures that contain four syllables, namely ci (symbolizing heart), ce (symbolizing metal concepts),
Ravana dragged Seeta into the Pushpaka Vimana and took off. But Seeta’s cries had been heard by Jatayu, who roosted in the trees close by. He flew down to attack Ravana, his sharp beak and claws tearing into him. A fierce combat followed. But Jatayu’s claws were no match for the sword of the evil
As soon as Lakshmana left, Ravana who had been hiding near by, transformed himself into an ascetic (mendicant). Chanting shlokas from scriptures and holding out his bowl for alms, he came up to the hut. He called out for alms. It was customary for the lady of the house to give food in alms to
The Qingming Festival is a Chinese tradition held to commemorate the dead. Do you know: The Chinese believed that people constructed kites, which are used for sending greetings to commemorate the dead. The 104th day after the winter solstice, usually the first week of April, is celebrated as the Qingming festival. On this day, it
The magical deer vanished into the dense forest. Rama pursued it as it wove in and out among the trees. The deer led him far away from Panchavati. When the deer thought Rama was tired out, he paused, allowing Rama to shoot an arrow at it. Mareecha looked at Rama as the arrow hit him,
Mareecha went with Ravana in the Pushpaka Vimana to the place where Panchavati was situated. Mareecha transformed himself into a beautiful golden stag. The magical deer began to frolic near the hut of Rama and Seeta, sometimes grazing and sometimes running towards the water. Seeta was plucking flowers for worship and making garlands. Suddenly, the
Ngaben is a cremation ceremony practised in Bali, Indonesia. Do you know: In Indonesia, the social status of the deceased influences the time of the cremation ceremony’s performance. An expert decides the date for the Ngaben ceremony. On that day, the body is first placed in a coffin, which then goes into a sarcophagus. This
“What happens if I refuse to do this?” asked Mareecha. “I’ll cut off your head right now!” threatened Ravana. Mareecha thought about it for a while, ‘I have to die in any case. Ravana will cut off my head if I refuse to carry out his orders. If I do what he asks me, I’ll
Ravana’s wisdom was destroyed by his desires. He went to Mareecha again and this time he used another tactic to involve him in his evil plans. “Mareecha, our sister Shurpanakha has been insulted! Her nose and ears have been cut off by the princes of Ayodhya. We cannot let this disgrace go without punishment! Our
Death is considered a transition from one life to the next in Cambodian customs. Do you know: The teeth or parts of bone of the deceased are often worn as amulets on chains. When a person dies, in Cambodia the family of the deceased puts a white flag in front of their house. The flag