Reading Notes: Mahabharata Part C

Arjuna and Krishna confronting Karna on chariots. Source: Wikimedia

The Armies at Kurukshetra, from Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie

The Pandavas, marching for Yudhishthira, and the Kauravas, marching for Duryodhana, are marching towards the field of battle.  Krishna returned to the aid of Yudhishthira and Duryodhana sent them a challenge.  Duryodhana boasted of how many of them had talked about how they would defeat him and his kind, but hadn't done anything close to that.  He says that he has taken everything from Yudhishthira and they had been able to do nothing but talk empty threats.  Krishna answers Duryodhana's boasting by telling him he will be embarrassed before the end.  They go back and forth a bit more and finally decide enough is enough and it's time to fight.  The armies assemble and Yudhishthira stands before them unarmed.  He gave Duryodhana's forces and ultimatum to join him before the battle.  Yuyutsu, the half brother of Duryodhana, speaks up and says he will join Yudhishthira's forces.  Yuyutsu and his men left Duryodhana with no protest and joined Yudhishthira. 

Reading Notes: Mahabharata Part B

Indian game of Parchisi. Source: Wikimedia

The Gambling Match, from Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie.

Duryodhana is very envious of the Pandavas and all of their success and glory.  He was particularly jealous of Indraprastha's amazing palace and the splendor and glory achieved by Yudhishthira.  A prince named Shakuni, who happens to be a really good gambler with the help of some loaded dice, makes a proposition to Duryodhana to take down Yudhishthira.  Shakuni tells Duryodhana that Yudhishthira is a big gambler, but he doesn't know really how to play it.  He says he will beat Yudhishthira in a match and win his kingdom and bring him shame.  They plot to hold a gambling tournament and invite Yudhishthira and his family.  Yudhishthira is weary of the warning, but decides he cannot refuse and agrees to go to the festival.  When Yudhishthira arrived, he was challenged by Duryodhana, staking jewels and gold, but saying Shakuni would play for him. Yudhishthira thinks it is a bit weird, but accepts the challenge anyway.  Yudhishthira then began to lose everything he owned to Duryodhana.  All of his wealth, his slaves, his lands, and even himself was not his anymore.  He played one last time and bid Draupadi.  He lost and Duryodhana tells one of his servents to go retrieve her to become a slave. 

Week 6 Story: Ganga's Deception

Devavrata being presented to Shantanu by Ganga. Source: Wikimedia

King Shantanu and Ganga, from Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie.

The eight Vasus arrived hurriedly to Ganga's home for help with a horrible predicament they had found themselves in.  They were great celestial beings with tremendous power, but had been sentenced to live in the mortal world for a transgression against Vashishtha during his holy meditations.  They had come to Ganga to plead for her help in making their punishment less severe.  They asked if she would mother their human forms and immediately cast them into the Ganges on birth so they could become celestial again.  Ganga, contemplating the request, decides that she needs something in return if she is to do this service for the Vasus.  She requests that if she does this for them, that her earthly son should be given one eighth of each of their power as payment for her service.  The Vasus agree to the arrangement and Ganga sets forth with her plan.

Ganga takes human form and waits by the Ganges for her suitor to come to her.  The person who would father the Vasus was none other than King Shantanu.  He saw her from afar when walking the river banks and was immediately drawn to her.  The closer he got, the more beautiful she became  and the more sure he was that she must be his wife.  He approached her and showered her with praise exclaiming that she must be his wife, just as Ganga had expected.  She agreed to marry him, but made him promise that he would not speak harshly to her or question her actions, lest she leave immediately.

A year later she gives birth to eight children all at once, surprising the king greatly who was overjoyed at the prospect of his expanding domain.  She did not hesitate with her previous promise to the Vasus however, and cast all eight of them into the Ganges river.  Horrified, the king for the first time lashes out at his wife for her supposed cruelty and destruction of his newly born children.  She reveals herself to him as the goddess Ganga and tells him of her agreement with the Vasus.  In an instant, after she had finished her explanation to the king, she vanished.  Both grief stricken and in awe of what he just saw, for many months the king only patrolled his palace grounds in silent contemplation of what it all means to him.  One day, many months later, Ganga appeared before the king again and delivered him a son.  The king was overjoyed and immediately taken by the boy.  The boy would be named Devavrata and would have within him the power of the Vasus, just as they had promised to Ganga years prior.

Author's Note:  I decided that this story was kind of horrific from the king's perspective, and I thought it might be a little better for the king if he is confronted with Ganga's actions once and not several times over the years.  I thought it was kind of weird that he didn't say something sooner, so instead of drawing it out over 7 pregnancies and deaths, it all happens at once. 

Reading Notes: Mahabharata Part A

Statue of the Goddess Ganga. Source: Wikimedia

King Shantanu and Ganga, by Donald A. Mackenzie

There were eight celestial beings called Vasus that were attendants of Indra. They were cast down to earth in human form by Vashishtha for blocking the sun during his holy meditations.  They went to Ganga for help and to ask if she would be there human mother and cast them into the ganges at birth so they could return to the celestial realm.  She agreed to this but made them all promise to each give one eighth of their power to her son who should remain a man for many years and will not marry or foster offspring.  King Shantanu was walking along the Ganges one day and saw Ganga in human form by the river.  He was instantly awe struck by her beauty and gaze and asker her to marry him right away.  She agreed to wed him but she made him promise to never question her decisions or speak harshly to her or else she would leave immediately.  She had children with the king and one after the other, cast 7 of them into the ganges.  The king was horrified and before she killed the eighth, he lashed out at her.  She revealed who she was and what she was doing and left him with the eighth child.  She then returned some time later to give the king a son.  The king takes the boy in and names him Devavrata. 

Week 5 Story: Rama saves Sita

Sita and Rama in the forest. source: Flickr

Hanuman was fresh on the trail.  He moved swiftly and silently like a shadow jumping on rooftops and sneeking through alley ways. He was seeking out Sita, Rama's wife, who had been stolen by Ravana a little while ago when Rama was out hunting.  She was being held in the great city of Lanka, which Ravana had ruled over for quite some time.   Hanuman had searched nearly all of the city over the past few weeks but had still not found Sita.  Then it occurred to Hanuman that he hadn't checked any of the gardens yet because he figured they would hold her away somewhere unseen.  he raced up to Ravana's personal garden and lo and behold, there was Sita sitting under a great tree in the middle of the garden.   Hanuman rushed over to speak with her and see if she was alright.  She told him to go and tell Rama that she is alright but that Rama must come get her, for no other man has a right to touch her.  Hanuman takes a piece of her jewelry as a token for Rama and left.

On his way out of the city, Hanuman is discovered by one of Ravana's sons and he is captured.  Ravana wants to make an example of Hanuman, so he sets his tail on fire and parades him through the streets.  This doesn't go as planned however, Sita prays to the Fire to leave Hanuman unharmed from the flames and it works.  Hanuman becomes impervious to the flame and breaks free of his bonds.  He runs through the streets lighting the city ablaze.  He makes one last check on Sita to make sure she was unharmed and leaves the city on fire.

Once he hears the news, Rama starts to make plans to attack Lanka and take back Sita.  He and Hanuman assemble a massive monkey army and lay siege to Lanka.  It doesn't take long for Lanka to fall when up against Rama's superior force.  He defeats Ravana and finds Sita in the garden where she had been staying for some time.  He embraces his wife and is overjoyed to have her finally return to him.  It was then that one of Rama's generals asks Rama what he is to do with Sita now that he has defended his honor.  Rama became angered at the question for in Rama's mind, there was only one place for Sita, and that was at his side as his queen.  He knocked back the general and exclaimed for all to hear that Sita was his wife and she shall remain by his side forever.

Author's Note:  I decided to tell the story from Hanuman finding Sita until Rama reunites with her.  I changed how Rama reacts to finding Sita because I think the actual story is kind of lame making Sita prove her innocence and then banishing her later.  I think this ending more aligns with modern sensibilities and makes more sense to me.

Bibliography: Sita Sings the Blues, by Nina Paley

Reading Notes: Sita Sings the Blues Part B

Hanuman burning Lanka from Sita Sings the Blues. source: Wikimedia

Sita Sings the Blues, by Nina Paley

Rama is informed by Sita that she is pregnant with his child.  Rama becomes worried that Sita being in his house is tarnishing his reputation and his subjects won't respect him because of her so he kicks her out.  She is taken to the forest and is supposed to be left there.  She meets a teacher there who takes her under his wing.  Sita gives birth to her two sons while living in the forest with the teacher.  The teacher teaches the boys songs praising Rama.  When visiting the forest one day Rama finds the two boys singing his praise.  He finds out who they are wants to bring them back to the palace with him.  He asks Sita to prove her purity to him again to take her back.  She asks to be taken back by mother earth if she is pure, which she is. 

Reading Notes: Sita Sings the Blues Part A

Sita cries a river. source: Wikimedia

Sita Sings the Blues, by Nina Paley

The film intros with Lakshmi rising from the sea listening to a song that is stuck on a loop on the line "a woman like me" implying that it gives her the idea to create a woman like herself.  The narrators start the story by setting up Rama's exile at the request of Kaikeyi.  Rama argues with Sita about her going with him into the forest and she convinces him to let her go with him.  It cuts to a musical number where Sita is singing and Rama slays many Rakshasa.  The narrators then explain how Ravana kidnaps Sita and talks about how he was relatively good outside of this incident.  Ravana's sister begins to convince Ravana to make Sita his wife and to steal her from Rama.  Ravana tells one of his servants to distract Rama by taking the shape of a golden deer while Ravana captures Sita.  Rama goes after the deer and Sita is captured.  Hanuman is introduced and meets Rama to help him find Sita.  Ravana gives Sita an ultimatum to marry him in 2 months or die.  Hanuman finds Sita and relays his findings to Rama.  Rama orders Hanuman to assemble his monkey army so they can march on Lanka.  Rama rescues Sita, but has some reservations about her time in Lanka.  Sita proves her purity by a trial involving a funeral pyre and Rama is convinced to take her back.  Rama and Sita then fly back on a flying chariot. 

Comment Wall

Sculpture of Indra on a temple. Source: Wikimedia

LINK: Indra Lord of Thunder

Week 4 Story: Hanuman's Mistake

Hanuman burning the city of Lanka. Source: Wikimedia

Hanuman was spying on Ravana and his consort for quite some time in the city.  He would follow  their patrols, their servants, their elites and anyone who he thought could get some decent intel on the location of Sita.  He always traveled in the shadows, using his acrobatic prowess and wit to remain unseen by anyone he was spying on.  One night however, he found what he was looking for.  He had discovered where Sita was being kept and hastened to reach her and speak with her. He found her in a garden and quickly tried to convince her to come with him and return to Rama, but she refused because she only wanted to be touched by Rama himself.  Respecting her wishes he receives a small token from her to give to Rama.  When he is about to leave many Rakshasa princes leap out of their hiding spots.  Hanuman leaps at them immediately, taking the apparent ambush head on.  He slays many of them but eventually is captured and taken to Ravana.

Ravana decides that he will make a mockery of the monkey and will parade him through the streets with a tail on fire.  Hanuman is shacked and placed in a cage to be paraded through the streets.  His tail is lit on fire and he is set on his torturous parade.  Sita seeing this prays to Fire to bring no harm to Hanuman.  Meanwhile Hanuman cries out in pain as he is trotted down various streets and walkways throughout the city.  Suddenly when he reaches the main center of the city, the immense pain he feels fades into a cool tingling sensation.  The prayer Sita performed had been answered! Hanuman feels his strength return to him and he quickly breaks free of his bonds and the cage they had stuffed him in.  In a fury he runs through the streets setting everything he sees ablaze.  In moments the entire city is up in flames. 

Hanuman was quite pleased with his accomplishment as he sat by the lake quenching his tail and watching the blaze, when he suddenly remembered Sita. She was still in the city that was now engulfed in flame!  He rushes to the place where she was being kept to find her perfectly fine, sitting where he had left her.  Hanuman was relieved for a moment until he discovered Ravana himself sitting next to her, staring angrily at him.  Ravana leaps out and attacks Hanuman clearly enraged by his burning city.  Hanuman could have fled, but confident in his own strength, he takes on Ravana head on.  Hanuman dodges a few of his swift strikes but is eventually hit by one of Ravana's attacks.  Hanuman's right hand had been cut clean off!  He knew he had to get out of their quickly or he would surely die.  He ran out the same entrance he came in when he saw a moment between Ravana's strikes to escape.  Hanuman escaped with his life but at the great cost of right his hand.  He learned a valuable lesson about getting carried away and underestimating his enemies.  His missing hand would become a constant reminder of that lesson for the rest of his life.

Bibliography: The Burning of Lanka from Myths from the Hindus and Buddhists, by Sister Nivadita.


Author's Note:  I decided to tell this story mostly the same but with a different ending that I think fits nicely in the story.  Hanuman had no consequences for quickly burning down a whole city without thinking it out first.  I think losing a hand in battle with Ravana is a nice consequence for his shortsightedness

Reading Notes: Ramayana Part D

Sita and Rama. Source: Flickr

Sita Tested: from Myths from the Hindus and Buddhists, by Sister Nivadita.

Sita is finally returned to Rama after winning the battle with Ravana who had kept her captive for some time.  Rama is torn because he loves his wife, but she has been in the house of another man for some time and he doesn't know if he can trust that she was faithful.  To test her, Rama tells her that she should prove her purity or be cast out.  She is surprised by this, but sorrowfully commands that a funeral pyre be made so she can show the congregation that she is pure.  Lakshmana, Brahma, and the congregation of viewers are upset with this decision.  The gods themselves come down from the heavens to try and persuade Rama away from this path.  Against all of this he still proceeds with the test.  Sita walks into the fire but it does not hurt her and is returned to Rama by the god of fire.  The god pleads to Rama that she has been pure in every way, although tempted by Ravana, she did not sway.  Rama speaks to the crowd saying that Sita is cleared from her charges and that she had passed his test.  He also explains why he needed to test her so no one could question her or him. 

Reading Notes: Ramayana Part C

Hanuman watches as Lanka burns. Source: Wikimedia

The Burning of Lanka: from Myths from the Hindus and Buddhists, by Sister Nivadita.

Hanuman who is a servant of Rama is discovered as a spy in the city of Lanka as he is scouting for Rama and checking on Sita.  Hanuman's tail is set on fire as he is paraded through the streets as a spy.  Sita, seeing this, prays to the fire and Hanuman's tail becomes cool even though it is still enflamed.  Hanuman, recognizing his new predicament, capitalizes on his apparent invulnerability from the flame by breaking from his bonds and running through the streets of Lanka setting the city on fire.  Hanuman becomes worried that he may have hurt Sita in his haste to burn the city and quickly goes to the tree where she was to see if she is alright.  He discovers her there, unharmed as is instantly relieved.  He tells her that Rama is coming to take her back soon and then leaves to return to his home where he is celebrated for having found Sita and verifying that she was okay. 

Rama Attacks: from Myths from the Hindus and Buddhists, by Sister Nivadita.

Rama is getting ready to attack and Ravana begins to send spies into Rama's camp to gather intel.  They all come back telling Ravana of Rama's immense force and that he should return Sita.  Angered by this he decides to go a different route.  He tries to trick Sita into thinking that Rama was dead.  he shows her illusions of Rama's bow and severed head, which throw her into despair.  Luckily, Ravana is called to the battlefield and once he leaves, the illusion vanishes and Sita is aware of the deceit. 

Feedback Strategies

A feedback loop in an electrical circuit. source: Wikimedia

How to Craft Constructive Feedback:  I think the two questions it suggests reviewers pose when giving feedback of "What stood out for you?" and "Was there anything you wanted more of?" are good ways to highlight what you liked about someones work and bridge criticisms into positives where it could be stronger. 

Be a Mirror: This article has some helpful points on how to think about feedback in a different more constructive light when looking at others' work.  Being specific in your critiques can remove ambiguity and help someone make specific changes to improve their work.  Focusing on what someone is doing with their work and not what you as a reviewer thinks they should be doing is also a helpful way to look at things so the person can improve what they are doing and not focus on what they could be doing.

I have experience in other classes giving feedback and I think that experience will help me give better feedback in this class.

Topic Research

I think that an origin story for Indra combined with a battle to see who is the strongest thunder god is a cool concept and one that would be cool to incorporate thunder gods from other mythologies.  I think it would be cool to do a story about a battle with both Thor and Zeus over thunder god superiority.  Thor and Zeus could have a truce for the right to be gods of thunder, but it all gets thrown out of wack when Indra comes into the picture.

It could start with Indra's birth and rise as a God of thunder and storms though some of his exploits and battles.  He gains notoriety as a rising thunder god and attracts attention from Thor and Zeus in far away lands.

 Thor could have a build up where he is bragging about his exploits and all of the battles he has won and how Indra has no right to claim to be a god of thunder. Indra defeats Thor in a close battle to earn his respect.

A picture of thor that could be used for his introduction into the story and tie into stories he brags about. source: Wikipedia

Zeus will be the only one standing in the way of Indra once he defeats Thor.  He could send a message to Indra saying he wants a truce once he hears of Thor's defeat, but once Indra arrives Zeus would ambush him.  Despite this Indra would almost defeat him until Zeus calls his brothers Poseidon and Hades to help and they turn the tides.  Meanwhile, Thor hears of Zeus' deceit and comes to Indras aid when he is almost defeated and together they win the battle.

Week 3 Story: Rama the CoD God

A picture of Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana because I couldn't find any free use material that related directly to this story.  Source: Wikimedia

It was an average day for forest life.   A few obstacles here and there, but nothing Rama could not handle.  He was very powerful and could best tasks even the most stout men had trouble with with relative ease.  He had become even stronger than when he had first been exiled many years ago by his father Dasharatha.  He lead his life in exile with his wife and his brother tackling whatever challenges came their way, but it was he who carried a majority of the workload, for he was much stronger than his brother.  One day a beautiful woman appeared before Rama and spoke to him.  

She said, "Rama you're a pretty good looking fellow, you should let me eat you wife and brother so we can live together forever."

Rama taken aback by her request laughs in her face seeing her for the evil hag she really is.  This woman was Shurpanakha, a shapeshifting Rakshasa who's true form was more hideous than one could imagine.  Shurpanakha can't handle rejection so in a fit of rage she attacks Rama's wife.  Rama's brother quickly counters her attack driving her back into the forest.  Humiliated and ashamed she returns to her brother Khara to plea for help.  Khara is outraged by the perceived assault on his innocent sister, so he makes plans to challenge Rama to one on one combat.  

A few days later Rama is out and about in the forest when he comes upon Khara sitting in a clearing waiting for him to arrive.  Rama asks what Khara is doing and what he wants.  Khara angrily shouts about Rama's assault on his siter Shurpanakha and that he was challenging Rama to a duel.

Rama agrees to the duel and asks, "what are the terms of this battle and where do we fight it?'

Khara replied simply, "that's easy, 1v1 me Rust bro"

Rama was shocked at the challenge.  He had bested many beasts physically but he hadn't played video-games or Call of Duty on his xbox in a long time.  He wasn't even sure if he remembered the controls.  But, never wanting to back down from a challenge, he accepted Khara's terms. He sat down next to Khara in front of the TV and xbox setup Khara had somehow gotten to work in a forest without electrical power for miles.  Rama had many weapons to choose from, but he went with the one he had the most experience with, the sniper rifle.  While Khara, being a little disrespectful and really wanting to win, chose a shotgun, which was preferable on a small map like Rust.  The game started and all of Rama's past experience came back to him, he remembered everything and moved and shot with the fluidity of a pro.  He dodged and countered Khara's every move and quick-scoped him into oblivion.

At the end of it all Khara was humiliated and Rama only had one thing to say, which was, "EZ PZ get gud scrub."

He had been bested by Rama at a game he thought he was the best at, which he couldn't handle, so he ran off into the forest never to be seen again.  

  

Author's Note:  I decided to tell this story relatively the same until the fight where I insert a lot of stuff that probably doesn't make any sense if you didn't play the videogame Call of Duty in the period between 2007 and 2010.  It has a lot to do with gaming culture in that timeframe centered around that game so I apologize if none of it made any sense.  Basically when someone got angry at someone in an online match, this kind of challenge is what might result.  It was fun to write and I thought I'd just kind of wing it on this one and this is what I got :).

Bibliography:

Battle with Khara Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie

Lakshmana and Shurpanakha Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie