Week 3 Story: The Great Rock

            There once was a kingdom of monkeys that lived deep within the jungle. This was The Kingdom of Vihren, where monkeys from all over the planet traveled to behold the magnificent land. The King of Virhen was a noble monkey named Jakook.

            

            One day, Jakook decided he would offer a test of strength for monkeys from all over the world to come try, in order to find a suitor for his monkey daughter, Sina. In front of the kingdom gates laid an enormous rock. This rock had been there for thousands of years, and it had never moved. Jakook declared that any monkey that could lift the rock could have Sina’s hand in marriage.

            Monkeys from all over the lands came, including big powerful apes. However, none could move this rock. Then one morning, a monkey named Rata heard of this news. Rata had been an outcast all his life, because he had been born a blue monkey. His peculiar color always drove away all the other monkeys. Rata, however, traveled to The Kingdom of Virhen to accept the challenge.

            Upon arrival, Rata was greeted with scowls and growls from all the other monkeys in the kingdom. Even King Jakook was suspicious of this odd monkey. However, Rata stepped forward to the rock.

            “I wish to try to lift the giant rock, in exchange for Sina’s hand in marriage,” declared Rata.

            “Monkeys and apes from all over the land have tried, and yet none succeeded. You, of all monkeys, will not be changing that, however, you may give it a shot,” chuckled Jakook.

            Rata stepped up to the giant rock, towering above him. He gripped the hard surface with both mighty palms, as he planted his large monkey tail on the ground. With a great cry, Rata lifted the rock above his head and then set it back down. All the onlooking monkeys and apes of the kingdom were struck with shock.

            “You have proved your worth with your great strength,” declared Jakook. “I mistook you, the powerful Rata. Now, you may have my daughter, Sina, in marriage. May your great strength protect her always.”

            Suddenly, the monkeys and apes of Virhen all cheered, celebrating Rata and Sita’s new marriage, and the magnificent achievement of Rata, the new monkey prince of Virhen.


Based off of the story, Ramayana, the Epic of Rama, the Prince of India, translated by Romesh Dutt. The tail of The Great Rock parallels the story of King Janak's test. King Janak, the King of Videha, declared that if anyone could string a powerful bow, they could have his daughter Sita's hand in marriage. These stories are similar to the old epic of Alexander the Great and The Great Sword, in that a noble man has to come perform some god-like task to prove he is worthy to the king and kingdom. Rama, the hero of Ramayana, parallels the character Rata. Rama is the seventh avatar of the god Vishnu, so he is almighty and powerful. Rama, like Rata, is also blue. Rama travels to the kingdom of Videha, where he strings the god bow and proves his worth to Janak and his daughter, Sita. Sina, the monkey princess, and Jakook, the monkey king, represent these characters. The ending to Rama's tale, however, is short lived, as he does not get his wish of residing in the kingdom with Sita. The Great Rock is meant to tell this tale in a quick and clear way, using some fun characters like monkeys and apes who prove their strength. 

Rata
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