Storytelling Week 10- Draupadi's Thoughts

How can this be? Where are my husbands? They said that they would always protect me. If only we had lived out the final year in the woods this would have never happened. They were warned that if they didn’t keep a close eye on me there would be others that would lust after me.

How could Yudhishthira just ignore me when I came to speak with him. I told him what Kickaka was trying. They all ignored me, except for Bhisma. He told me that he would protect me no matter the cost. Bhisma confronted Kickaka. Once I heard that Kickaka had died, I knew that it was because of Bhima. I wish that Bhima hadn’t killed him. If he hadn’t killed him I wouldn’t be on my way to be burned alive.

Everyone seems to be gathered around the prye. They are lined down the street waiting for me to be burned alive. Why are all these people here to watch me die? What did I ever do to them to make them hate me so much that they want to see me burned alive? If only Yudhishthira hadn’t gambled away our freedom, I wouldn’t be in this mess. How could he just gamble us away like we were nothing. After all this time I had hoped that being in the wilderness would make him more helpful. After I found out that the people wanted to kill me, I approached Yudhishthira about helping me, and all he did was say he would try to help me. Again I approached my other husbands and they all said the same thing as Yudhishthira. Thankful the gods allowed me to marry a real man. Bhima was the only one of my husbands that said he would protect me.

Where could Bhima be? I am almost to the prye. If he doesn’t hurry I will be burned to death. All of the people want me to die. I can see it in their eyes. They believe me to be some demon. They are afraid that I will bring about the destruction of their kingdom. Wait what was that movement up ahead? I swore there was someone in hiding in the shadows. Why is there a cart across the road? There he is! It is Bhima! He has come to save me! He takes out my escort like they are nothing but twigs. Thank the gods that I have a true husband like Bhisma.

Author’s Note- I decided to write about Draupadi being dragged to Kickaka funeral prye. I thought this was a great topic to write about because the book doesn’t go into much detail about this situation. So this allowed me to expand the thoughts of Draupadi in whatever way I wanted.

Draupadi. Source

Reading Diary B: Week 10- The Final Battle

Pgs. 132-179

• I thought it was interesting that the Pandava’s want try and avoid war at all cost. They know what it will cost if they go to war.
• Though the younger brothers want to go to war.
• Krishna isn’t afraid of being captured. He is the avatar of Vishnu.
• The final battle has started. I thought that the war would be short because of the power of the Pandava’s.
• I am surprised at how little Yudhistria actually participated in the actual battle.
• I liked that we were able to follow around Arjuna during the battle. He was an unstoppable force.
• I was sad to see Bhisma fall.  I wish that he didn’t have to fall, but he was able to pass away in his own time.
• I was shocked to see Yudhistria tricked Drona into being defeated. I was sad to see their master die.
• I am glad Bhima was able to fulfill his promise to crush Duyrodhana leg.

Bhisma on the bed of arrows. Source

Storytelling Week 9- Bhishma's Upbringing

“Gather around children and listen to the story of my upbringing. You may only think of me as your uncle Bhishma, but what you may not know is that I am the son of the Goddess Ganga.  My mother took on human form, and my father fell madly in love with her. I was the eighth child. My mother drowned the other seven. My father finally stopped my mother from drowning. My mother finally revealed to my father who she was. She then took me away to be trained from Vasishtha.”

“Growing up I never knew who my father was. I always wondered if he ever thought about me. Having Vasishtha as a mentor was an interesting experience. He taught me many different things. He taught me how to speak to another royalty, how to pray to the gods, how to go into a deep meditation, how to perform a purification ritual. But the thing I excelled in the most was fighting and weaponry. From an early age I seemed to excel at the bow. Vasishtha was a very impressed at my skill. Vasishtha had me shot with a blindfold over my eyes. He would take the target as far as the eye could see and make me shoot it. Finally Vasishtha had nothing left to teach me so we traveled to the different lands of the gods.”

“First we went to see Indra. The kingdom of Indra was like nothing I had ever seen in my entire life. Imagine the finest kingdom you have ever seen. This would look like dirty compared to Indra’s kingdom. Everything was made from the finest jewels. The streets seemed to glow like the sun. I came to Indra to learn mantras that would help me when I made my return back to my father. Indra taught me how to burn an object by just looking at it. He warned me that this mantra was a great responsibility. If I used this against an inferior opponent, the mantra would backfire, and burn me alive. After staying with Indra for a little while longer, we continued our travels.”

“We traveled to countless kingdoms so that I could learn different mantras from the gods. After many years of traveling I was finally able to complete my studies. I had finally become the man that could help lead this world into a better future. I was finally able to go to my father, and I have been here ever since.”

Author’s Note- I chose to write about the time that Bhishma spent away from his father growing up. I decided that I wanted this to be a story that Bhishma is telling all of his nephews when they were younger. Also I decided that I wanted Bhishma to travel to the different kingdom of the gods so that he could learn different mantras that he could eventually teach to his nephews.

Bibliography-Narayan, R. K. (1978). The Mahabharata.

Bhishma with his family. Source

Reading Diary B: Week 9- Yudhistira Gambling

Pgs. 40-83

• I am surprised that their Uncle would allow them to come home. I definitely could see that being a trap.
• It actually wasn’t a trap. It was nice to see that their uncle definitely wants them all get along, but I can see that there will be some problems in the future by dividing up the kingdom. I can see the Pandavas cousins getting jealous.
• I am glad to see that the Pandavas are able to turn a desert wasteland into a majestic kingdom.
• Like I said the Pandavas cousins become jealous of their wealth. Duryodhana becomes jealous of his cousins and plans to destroy their kingdom.
• I can’t believe that Yudhistira has that bad of a gambling problem. He gambles away everything, including his brothers.
• I am glad to see that Vikarna was able to stand up to everyone and say that Draupadi wasn’t a slave.
• But of course someone says that he is too young to be able to address the elders.

The Pandavas. Source

Reading Diary A: Week 9- The Mahabharata

Pgs 1-39

• Santanu seems to fall in love very easily. The young maiden is very brave to ask that she can be free to do whatever she likes, and that he cannot question what she is doing or they will no longer be married.
• To top it all off the young maiden drowns the first, second third, fourth,fifth,sixth, and seventh children. Santanu stops her from drowning the eighth.
• Upon stopping his wife he finds out she is the Ganga, the deity of the river. She took the form of a maiden so she could punish the eight vasus.
• King Santanu finally gets to have his son come home with him after he trained and learned  from Sage Vasishta.
• Santanu falls for another maiden in the woods.
• Both of the sons of the new wife die. Leaving only Bhishma, who is supposed to stay celibate.
• Satyavathi orders her eldest son Vyasa, a sage, to conceive a child with her son’s wives.
• Vyasa conceives three children. One will be blind, one will be pale, and the other will be normal.
• The eldest brother is blind, and surrenders his right to rule to the second brother.
• Pandu, the second son, was cursed for killing a deer in the act of love making.

Bhishma. Source

Commenting Review Week 8

I really enjoy commenting on other people’s blogs in class. The main reason I like this is because it allows me to read other people’s stories. I find it amazing how people reading the same stories can come up with such different stories. Even when people write over the same topic it is interesting that the stories can be so different.  I really like having other people comment on my storybook because it is very helpful getting other people’s opinions on the story. Also I like it because I have a problem with grammar sometimes so having people point out my grammar mistakes is great. The comments that I have received in this class have been very helpful to my overall writing because it points out my mistakes so that I won’t make those same mistakes again.

Lord Brahma. Source

Writing Review Week 8

This class has been one of the more challenging to write about. I was able to write different kind of stories in the Myths and Folklore class, but that was because of the multitude of stories that we read. For this class since we have only been reading one book so far the stories have to be much more thought out. I have enjoyed writing for this class though. It has challenged me to become a better writer. I am looking forward to the next opportunity to being able to read the Un-textbook because I will be able to write a different kind of story then I have so far. I have really enjoyed writing for my storybook! I really like the ideas that I have, and I am excited to finish it soon!

Rama and Sita. Source

Reading Review Week 8

By far my favorite thing to read has been Buck’s Ramayana. I liked it much more than the first Ramayana because of the greater detail Buck had in his story. In my opinion this added to a already great story. I like the way I write my reading diary because the bullet points make the notes very short and precise. I can see how using the bullet style could be bad for some people. Since everything is short and precise, someone may forget a lot of the story if they aren’t careful. I like having the reading diaries for help writing the story. It definitely helps by giving me some extra details that I may have forgot about the story.

I do love to read on my own. The readings for this class don’t overlap a ton. But the theme of having a hero in the story is a main component to the type of books I enjoy reading. I am excited later in the semester to have the opportunity to read from the Un-textbook. I didn’t chose to read from it these past few weeks, but after reading other people’s stories I am looking forward to getting a chance to read them.

Hanuman setting fire to Lanka. Source

Storytelling for Week 7- The Statue of Sita

I have seen many things in my life. I have been to many kingdoms and been to many distant lands. I have been in secret meetings, war plans, and been the confidant to many kings. I have seen many people come and go. I am the Statute of Sita and this is my story.

Many moons ago I once stood proudly next to Rama, the greatest king to ever live. I followed him everywhere. I was his ever constant companion. I never left his side. After losing his wife I stayed with him until his passing. After Rama had passed on, the ruler displayed me next to his throne so that everyone might remember Rama. Sadly though more and more people began to forget who Rama was.

I became a statue that no one knew or appreciated. I was left there in the dark until the raiders came. These people had defeated the current ruler and his armies. I was about to be destroyed when the leader came in and saw me. He said I was the most beautiful thing he had ever laid eyes on. He took me away from the palace and placed me in his own. I was put on display for all his subjects to see. People came from miles around to see me. People left offerings at my feet hoping that I would communicate to their gods about their problems. It was strange being so far away from Rama’s palace. I missed all the familiar sights, but this new palace was beautiful in it’s own way. There were fountains everywhere, gardens, and trees as far as I could see. The king would come in at all hours of the day and talk with me. He told me of his fears, his dreams, and his desires. He wanted to unite the region under his rule. Sadly his dream did not come to reality. He was assassinated before he could make it happen.

After his death began the process of changing hands of many different kings. I have been around the world more times than I can count. I have had people admire me, and I have had people hate me. I am now in the British History Museum, where I am finally happy. I am around the images of Rama and his great adventures. I am admired daily by hundreds of people who come to visit. I am the Statue of Sita and this is my story.

Author’s Note- I decided to follow the story prompt this week and write about the Statue of Sita. I thought this would be a great story to tell. I can just imagine the things that statue would have seen changing hands of all those kings. Since the book doesn’t give any information about what happened to the statue I decided I would make up my own history for it.

Bibliography- Buck, William (1976). Ramayana: King Rama's Way.

Rama and Sita. Source

Reading Diary B: Week 7- The End

Pgs. 374-432

• I find it interesting that Rama takes Sita to every major spot from their journey, even the ones that she was there for.
• I like that they destroyed the bridge that led to Lanka. I know that the sea was happy to have the bridge gone.
• If Hanuman hadn’t gone to the city to announce that Rama would be returning tomorrow I think that Bharata would have killed himself for letting Rama down.
• Also it was nice to see Bharata so welcoming to all the other rulers and the other people to their city.
• It was great to see that because of Rama the world was in a much better place. Everyone was kind and everyone lived to a great age. There was no trouble with crops or food.
• I am sad that Rama had to send Sita away. I could tell that it really devastated him to send her away.
• The story of why Rama had to send Sita away was crazy. I am so surprised that a human had the ability to curse a god, I would have thought that humans wouldn’t have that kind of power.
• I still am surprised that it took Rama so long to figure out that Lava and Kusa were his sons.

Lava and Kusa. Source

Reading Diary A: Week 7- The Final Battle Begins

Pgs. 325-373

• Ravana is clearly a mess. He seems that he will do just about anything no matter the cost to defeat Rama.
• The description of Shiva is very detailed. It even describes his eyes as being like honey.
• It is sad that the demons are killing all the animals around Lanka. The bear king is quite a formidable opponent. He destories any demons that get in his grasp. I found it funny that the demons thought they were outnumbered because of the bear king.
• All the gods have come out to watch the final battle between Rama and Ravana. I am surprised that Ravana has the power to call the Wind.
• Rama seems very confident that he will have the ability needed to defeat Ravana. I  would be much more nervous about fighting someone so strong.
• Just when Rama was in need of a chariot, one arrives to help him defeat Ravana. Not just any chariot either it is the chariot of Indra.
• I laughed the chariot was going to tell Rama that he wasn’t wearing any fancy rings.
• I think Matali didn’t believe that Rama was going to be able to defeat Rama until Rama hit Ravana with a arrow in the shoulder as they flew past each other.

Rama and Ravana battling. Source

Storytelling for Week 6: Hanuman the cat

Being in cat form was quite an experience. Objects that were once small when I was human size now seem suddenly massive. As I passed a by the wall to the city, I was shocked to see how massive it was. It seemed to stretch from all the way to the heavens.

As I continued to wander around the city I began to smell things that I didn’t think were possible. The first thing I noticed was the smell of demons. I had began to smell this distinct odor long before I made it into the city, but I had no clue as to what the smell could be. I finally discovered that it was a demon when I rounded the corner of a house and there was a demon standing at a door. The smell almost made me throw up hairballs. The best smell I could find in the city was the smell of mice. Since I became a cat there were certain parts of my mind that thought like a cat. It was a small part, but once I smelled the mice that part of my mind became dominant. I struggled to rein this part of my mind back under my control. I was able to do it, but the cat part of my mind fought quite hard. This is the downside to morphing into other animals. When I morph a part of that animal’s mind is there the whole time I am that animal. If that animal mind is able to take dominance for too long, I will become that animal forever.

The best part about this whole experience of being a cat was the sense of wonder I felt when I was in Lanka. Even though Lanka is infested with demons, it is still a gorgeous city. I couldn’t imagine a more beautiful city if I tried. The house are all made out of a glorious stone that reflects the sun’s brilliant light. The gardens are filled with the most beautiful flowers you have ever seen! At night when all the lights are on in the houses it seems as though the moon and stars are revolving around Lanka. In all my years on this earth I have never seen a more beautiful city then this one.

I wonder if I was in original form would I still think that all of these things? I would hope so, but maybe sometimes you need a different perspective to appreciate the beauty around you.

The beautiful city of Lanka. Source

Author’s Note- I decided I wanted to tell what Hanuman saw when he was a cat. Since the architect of heaven designed the city original I thought that the city had to be amazing. I thought since Hanuman didn’t have to worry too much about the demons trying to kill him, he could appreciate the beauty of the city.

Biblography-Buck, William (1976). Ramayana: King Rama's Way.

Reading Diary A: Week 6- Hanuman in Lanka

Pgs. 219-270

• I liked that Hanuman is telling the story of Rama to everyone present.
• I loved that since Hanuman is telling the story of Rama it stops Jatayu’s older brother from taking and eating the listeners of the Hanuman’s story.
• I really liked that Sampati saved his younger brother from experiencing the intense heat that made his wings useless!
• It is weird to think that the city of Lanka is actually a goddess. I can’t believe Hanuman defeated Lanka so easily, and that she let him pass with no repercussions for his actions.
• I like that Hanuman has utter faith that Sita wouldn’t betray Rama when he is searching for her.
• Hanuman still thinks that Sita is beautiful even though she has been suffering at the hands of Ravana. Even in the face of Ravana Sita is still defiant. I am amazed that she can put up such a resistance to him since she has been fasting since she was taken.
• It is interesting that Indrajit takes the time to worship Shiva. I would have thought that he wouldn’t worship the gods. Also it is funny that he cast the mantra against Hanuman and it worked, but the other demons tied him up with other chains so the effect of the mantra didn’t work.

Hanuman setting Lanka on fire. Source

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Storytelling Week 5- Bharata and Shatrughna

“Brother, we need to make it obvious to the people that I am just a interim ruler. That I have no desire whatsoever to take the throne from Rama. I know that people who weren’t present will think that I will try and steal the throne. I will do all in my power to make sure the people know that I am but a servant of Rama till he has fulfilled our father’s command,” said Bharata.

“You are correct Bharata. There will be people who believe you want the power of the crown. All you can do is be the kind of man that Rama knows you to be. There will be many struggles in the time before Rama can return. We will meet these challenges head on. We will make Rama proud. No one will question our devotion to seeing Rama on the throne, where he should be. We shall place his shoes on the throne as soon as we arrive home. They will stay on the throne until Rama removes them himself. We will also bow to the throne as if Rama was there when we enter,” said Shatrughna.

“Yes, we will make the unbelievers see that we are servants of Rama. We need to also make sure that everyone in the kingdom knows that just because Rama isn’t here, our kingdom is still not to be taken lightly. We will defeat any threats. We must be prepared for any outside threats. I worry that other kingdoms will seek to undermine our authority, and they will try to conquer us. I hope that the kingdom will be strong enough to endure these challenges,” said Bharata.

“Brother, you worry too much. We will be fine. You don’t have faith in our people. Yes there will be some that think you want power, but that is a very insignificant portion. Everyone else knows that you are here to serve Rama. All the outsiders that think we are weaker because we have a interim ruler are in for a sad realization. We will crush any opposition that comes against us,” said Shatrughna.

“You are right brother. We will cross those bridges when the time comes. There is one thing that we must do above all else, we must have the kingdom in better shape from when Rama left. This shall be our number one priority,” said Bharata.

Author’s Note- I decided to make up a dialogue that Bharata and Shatrughna may have had when they were coming back home from visiting Rama in his banishment. I thought it was important to show that Bharata wanted nothing more than to try and honor Rama. I think that Bharata wants to make Rama proud.

Bibliography- Buck, William (1976). Ramayana: King Rama's Way.

Family Photo. Source

Reading Diary A: Week 5- Rama and Bharata

Pages 110-161

• I thought it was interesting that Bharata and his brother both knew that something bad had happened the night that their father passed away.
• I really admire that Bharata has no desire to be king. He wants Rama to be king.
• I also am glad that Bharata forgave his mother for what she did.
• I am glad that they had the funeral for the King so that his spirit could escape Time.
• I thought it was interesting that everyone from the city followed Bharata to try and bring Rama back. Sumitra should’ve known there was no way Rama would come back before the fourteen years.
• I can only imagine what it must’ve been like for Bharata to leave the little hut, and come back to this eloquent dinner and place.
• I thought it was cool that Bharadwaja blessed each of the wives of the King. Especially Bharata mother. I thought for sure that she wouldn’t get blessed.
• The exchange between Rama and Bharata is excellent. It really shows their true character. Bharata wants nothing more than to see Rama on the throne right now. Rama wants to wait out his exile of fourteen years. No matter how hard Bharata tries to convince Rama to come back early, Rama won’t.
• I thought it was honorable for Bharata to rule in his stead until the fourteen years are up. Though I think it is a little over the top for him to kill himself if Rama doesn’t show up on the first day after the fourteen years are up.

Rama and Bharata. Source