Week 2 Review

I found this picture the course announcements for Tuesday.

Difficult is not impossible (source: ouclassannouncements)

Indian Epic Topics

1. Possible Topic: The god Hanuman

I was looked into Hanuman at Laura Gibbs suggestion. I found that he was an interesting god because he was pivotal in Rama defeating Ravana. I found it interesting how faithful he was to Rama. In Mahabharata the fact that he messed with Arjuna when Arjuna was building the bridge I find amusing because it seems like he was “monkeying around.” I have only researched Hanuman on Wikipedia. One idea I have for a story is writing about his role in The Ramayana. Another idea is to tell his story in the form of a journal. Another option would be to retell of his exploits in Mahabharata.

Hanuman opening his chest to show Rama and Sita what was in his heart (Source:wikimedia) 

2. Possible Topic: the Maharathis Karna

I was interested in Karna because of my roommate. Karna is an interesting figure in that he is loyal and courageous and the made promises that would not benefit him. His ability in battle is also amazing. The only research I have done is read Karna’s Wikipedia page. One idea for my story would be to write about the story in Mahabharata and include stories on his curses and his promises. Another idea would be for the story to take place in the viewpoint of the gods and have them comment and spectate on the battle.

3. Possible Topic: Prahlada

Prahlada seemed to be an interesting in the fact that he was a daitya demon but he worshiped Vishnu. The fact that Prahlada had divine protection from Vishnu was interesting. Another part of his story that I liked was that Narasimha came and killed Hiranyakashipu thus ending his reign allowing Prahlada to rule. One option for a story would be writing about his life. Another option would be telling his story from the viewpoint of others. The only reading I have done on Prahlada has been from the Wikipedia page.

4. Possible Topic: the Brahmarishi Vishvamitra

I found that his story was very intriguing. The fact that he was a king who then became a Brahmin to gain power to defeat Vashista was a little odd. Then later he makes up with Vashista when he becomes a Brahmarishi. One option for the story would be for me to write about his history from his time as king to his time in The Ramayana in his viewpoint. Another option would be for me to write about his time doing penance. The only research I have done on Vishvamitra is what I have read on his Wikipedia page and what I have read in The Ramayana.

Storytelling Week 2: Rama and the Cursed

A report on Rama and Lakshmana’s activities:

As Vishvamitra was walking with Rama and Lakshmana, he began to tell them the story of Thataka and her sons, Mareecha and Subahu.  Vishvamitra spoke of how Thataka was a pure, courageous demigod.  Then he spoke of how Mareecha and Subahu were full of mischief and how they had gone around and in their pride and ignorance had reaped destruction upon the landscape.  After that he spoke of how Thataka’s husband, Sunda, saw what Mareecha and Subahu had done and saw that it was desirous and went into the forest where they lived and pulled up the father trees and killed the wildlife and how Subahu had incited the ancient and great sage Agasthya to great rage over the destruction of the forest.  Vishvamitra then said of how at that moment Sunda was struck down by Agasthya for his deeds.  Then Vishvamitra angrily spoke of how Thataka, Mareecha, and Subahu had gone into the forest to seek and bring to justice the killer of Thataka’s husband and Mareecha and Subahu’s father and when they had located Agasthya, Agasthya without second thought sentenced Thataka, Mareecha, and Subahu to become asura.  He then whispered of how Thataka, who was free from any wrongdoings and had merely gone out to seek justice, was now wandering about devouring sages for her being wrongly judged.  Rama then spoke of how he would free Thataka.  When suddenly Thataka appeared in their midst and began to attack them.  Thataka threw her trident at Rama, which he then deflected and destroyed with an arrow from his bow.  Then Rama quickly strung a spirit arrow (arrow that had been cleansed at a shrine on the Ganges River) and shot true and pierced the heart of Thataka.  The instant Thataka was pierced by the spirit arrow, cracks began to appear all over Thataka’s form with light bursting forth, and a beautiful voice emanated from Thataka thanking Rama for freeing her from the curse.  Then she burst and the light flew to Rama and was absorbed into him.  Vishvamitra then asked Rama what had Thataka done and Rama replied that Thataka as thanks had attached her spirit to him and now her strength was now his strength and she would protect him and guide him in the future.  Vishvamitra, Rama, and Lakshmana then journeyed and arrived at the site for the yagna and as the ritual was being performed, a host of asura appeared.  Rama using Thataka’s strength shielded the ritual from the asura.  Among the asura slain were the sons of Thataka, Mareecha, and Subahu.  Then after the ritual Vishvamitra spoke to Rama and told him that he had a difficult life in front of him and then they journeyed to a secluded region of the forest and Vishvamitra taught Rama and Lakshmana all the arts of warfare.  Shortly thereafter, a host of gods appeared and all the gods of warfare went and blessed Rama and pledged their service to Rama.  So ends my report.

Seshenona Arben – Captain of the Dragoon Shadow Guard

Long Live King Dasharatha!

Rama shooting Thataka (Source: wikimedia)

Author's Note:

This is based of Thataka's story in The Ramayana By R. K. Narayan.  I tried to create a story of that was viewed from a distance and at the same time invoke emotion using the situation of Thataka.  The reason that I tried to create a story viewed from a distance was that it limits the emotions generated by the individual characters, which causes, I believe, the reader to have to draw the emotion from the actual events and their own self.  I came up with the situation with Thataka with a variation of a scene from Kekkon Yubiwa Monogatari.  In the original scene an elf who was bound to a magical ring and due to circumstances her lover had to leave her and she cursed her fellow elves and her fate being bound to the ring and left her home.  Then she was given a fake magical ring with a promise to heal her heart by a demon king and was forced into his service. Then she was defeated by the hero in the story which freed her from the fake ring.  So in this instance of the story instead of a ring it was a curse.  In the original story however, Thataka is an raging monster that for all intents and purposes deserves her punishment.   Then she is killed by Rama. 

Bibliography:

         "The Ramayana: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic" by R.K. Narayan, 1973.

Reading Diary B: The Ramayana by R. K. Narayan

I am reading The Ramayana by R. K. Narayan.  My favorite story in this section is the story in Chapter 4, Encounters in Exile.  I like how Rama handles the situation with Shurpanakha.  Rama discovers that even though she appeared beautiful on the outside, she was rotten on the inside.  When he is talking, he begins to become evasive and declines her advances.  When Sita appears, Shurpanakha becomes aggressive and slanders Sita but Rama handles the situation with tact and grace.  The next part I liked was when Shurpanakha returns to Rama’s residence to get rid of Sita.  I found that the response of Lakshmana was interesting.  It was odd that when he grabbed Shurpanakha and had discovered that Shurpanakha was a woman and instead of killing her, he cut off her ears, nose, and breasts.  I found that this punishment seemed excessive.  However, I felt she should have been killed because she was an asura.  I also wondered why Lakshmana did not wait for Rama to return to deliver the punishment.  Another part of the story that I found interesting was the response of the other asura, mainly her family.  The reason I found this interesting was that Shurpanakha was able to deceive her own family regarding the matter.  She when talking about this matter specifically avoided mentioning that she was in love with Rama and that it was her own fault.  Another thing I liked in this chapter was the strength of Rama.  He was able to defeat more than one asura army.  This story has advanced in many ways and I am excited to see how the story progresses.  

Rama, Sita, and Shurpanakha (Source: wikimedia)

Reading Diary A: Ramayana by R. K. Narayan

In Ramayana by R. K. Narayan, three stories stuck out to me.  The stories were Thataka’s Story(pg. 11 - 13) , Mahabali’s Story(pg. 13 - 16), and The Wedding(pg. 22 - 32).  What I found interesting in these stories was that Rama was able to kill three demons and protect everyone as a human.  His weapon of choice was a bow.  It was interesting in his choice of a bow over other weapons.  I am reminded of other cultures and instances were bowmen were shunned.  However, Rama was fine with using a bow.  In the Wedding when he pulled the bow together, I was reminded of the Greek hero, Odysseus, when he completed the same task.  What I also found interesting was that the demigods and the gods seemed fallible.  Take for instance Thataka, initially she was a demigod of might, valor, and purity, and her sons were also demigods but were wicked and carelessly destroyed life.  Another example was Indra when he slept with Ahalya.  Which makes it appear as if all gods and goddesses have all of the human desires and characteristics.  Interestingly enough Vishnu appears to embody the idea of a benevolent god who can do no wrong compared to the other gods and goddesses.  I also found it interesting in The Wedding story when Sita and Rama first saw each other.  It was love at first sight for them.  I am intrigued at what role love played into it.  Because even though they were reincarnated and lost their memories, they still found each other.  I can only guess that it had to been the work of the gods or true love.  I am excited to see were the story goes.  

Rama with his Bow (Source: Wikipedia)