Pattanaik's Calendar Art: Reading Notes F

I think I could write about Hanuman and how he lifted all of the sanjeevani mountain. I could also write about how he tried to eat the sun because he thought it was a fruit.

Pattanaik's Calendar Art : Brahma

Hanuman (2016)

Pattanaik's Calendar Art: Reading Notes E

I could write about Vishu's avatar Krishna. The stories of his life and what he does while being Krishna. I could write about the story of Govardhan and what he does for the people.

Pattanaik's Calendar Art : Vishnu (2015)

Krishna & Govardhan (2016)

The Story of Amrita

In order to gain Amrita, the drink for immortal life, and some of the other things after the recreation of the universe the gods and the asuras had to work together. They all wanted it but they did not want to work together for it. Since they were desperate for it they decided to work together but the asuras planned on stealing it afterwards. To get the actual Amrita out of the ocean they had to churn the ocean of milk so that it would come up out of the ocean.

Everyone decided to get together in the ocean and set up the contraption for it. For the base they had the tortoise that was an avatar of Vishnu, the pole was Mount Mandara, and to actually churn it they used Vasuki, the serpent king, as the rope.

Sometime later

The gods took the tail while the asuras got the head for the churning. They finally started to churn it to get the Amrita out of the ocean but before they got it a poison started to come out. Everyone started freaking out and no one knew what to do. It was starting to go all over the universe and was causing destruction. At the advice of Vishnu, they decided to approach Shiva so that he could drink the poison and save everyone. He agreed to do so and when he was drinking it Paravati decided to choke him to stop the poison from spreading to his body. She succeeded but it ended up changing the color of his throat to blue. From that point on Shiva got the name Neelakanta because of it.

The gods and the asuras kept churning and churning but eventually they got tired. Vishnu then granted them the strength to continue, but nothing was happening. They were getting no results for it but they still kept churning and churning. This lasted for a thousand years before they finally saw some results.They could see stuff coming out of the ocean. It produced Lakshmi, Chandra, Rambha, Sura, wishing tree, white horse, a white elephant, the cow of plenty, Sankha, Dhanus, a jewel, and the goddess of wine. In the end it finally produced the Amrita in the hands of the sage, Dhanvantri but the asuras got it first. Vishnu changed into his form of Mohini and gave the asuras liquor while the gods would get the amrita. The asuras figured it out and tried to grab the Amrita. Some drops fell on the earth which later became gem mines. The son of Indra however ran away with it and the four places he stopped at became the sites for the Kumb Mela because he dropped some drops there.

Sanatan Society  Peter Marchand
Kshir Sagar  Wikipedia (2016)

Churning the Ocean of Milk (2011)

Author's Note: In this story I wrote about what happened during the churning and why they actually did it in the first place. There was not a lot of details on it so I decided to write about it and hopefully add some more information on what happened. This story explains how all these people are reborn, how Shiva got the blue throat and became known as the Neelkanta. I also chose this image because it shows a lot of what happened during the actual episode of the churning. It describes a lot of the details, which is why I chose it.

Pattanaik's Calendar Art: Part D

I could also write the story about how the demons and gods had to work together to get amrita. The result was a poison that Shiva had to drink because he was the only one that could without getting destroyed. This also explains the nake that he gets afterwards of Neelakantha

Seven Secrets From the Hindu Calendar Art (2009)

Neelakantha

Pattanaik's Calendar Art: Part C

I think I want to write about Lakshmi or Paravati this time. We do not really hear about them at all especially Lakshmi. So writing about it would make sense from that standpoint too.

Seven Secrets From Hindu Calendar Art (2009)

 

Lakshminarayan

Portfolio

Story of Draupadi
This story has multiple diary entries written in the point of view of Draupadi. It revolves around her swayamwar and her feelings on everything.

Arjuna and his Bow 

The Story of Ghandari
This story is in the form of multiple diary entries that start from Ghandari and lead to her marriage decision. It gives an insight on her feelings and is written from her perspective.

Ghandari

The Story of Vyasa's Journey to Writing the Mahabharatha

This story shows how Vyasa found his writer for the Mahabharatha. It describes the event from the time he started looking to finally finding the one person to do it.

Vyasa & Ganesha

The Story of Kumbhakarna

This story describes how the soldiers are put to the job of waking up Kumbhakarna during Ravana's war with Rama after he kidnapped Sita. It shows the different ways they try to wake up him and how it actually happens in the end.

. 

Kumbhakarna

Story of Draupadi

Dear Diary,

In two days I have my swayamara. My father, Drupada, has been organizing it for months. He made a bow so strong that it would be hard to bend and strung by a normal person. He would have to be very strong and have the skills to do it. I do not really know how to feel about all of this. On one side I am happy to get married like any other girl, but on the other hand I will be leaving my family. It is all happening way too fast. The whole palace has been in a hustle for the last  few months trying to make sure everything would be done in time. The decorations, the invitations, the food, and even my attire. Oh! It was all so beautiful. There were vines going from the top of the pillars all the way down to the bottom. There were tiger lilies by every entrance and the path leading up to the castle was covered in rose petals. The way from my room to the event was also covered in roses. All the invitations were in silver ink and people were given gold coins along with the invites. The menu was everything you could think of with hundreds of desserts. He spent months and months trying to think of a challenge that would be hard to do. He asked so many people for their advice, before finally coming up with the perfect target. I just hope someone can actually do it. I do not want to marry just anyone because it is too easy, but I also do not want it to be too hard. He had a large pole which had a wheel that was spinning on top of it. Above that there is a fish and in order for someone to win me they have to first string the bow. Then they have to strike the eye of the fish with the arrow from the reflection of the water. That is going to be really difficult. Like, seriously who would be able to do that? I do not think anyone will be able to do it.

Dear Diary,

SO last night before I went to sleep, I overheard my parents talking about this issue. My mom was worried about someone actually being able to do this and win my hand in marriage. Now what my father said actually surprised me. "Do not worry," he said.
"I have chosen this because I have someone in mind. I know he will be able to perform this task very well. He is the right choice for our daughter."
My mother was shocked, just like me. "Who is it? Why did you not tell me before?"
He said, "It is the great archer, Arjuna. He is very capable and will be able to take care of our daughter the way we want her to be taken care of. She will be very happy with him. I am sure." After hearing all of this I left and went straight to my room. I do not know what to make of it. I mean I guess he is a good guy. I think I will just trust my father and what he thinks for me.

Dear Diary,

(Right after she woke up)
Today's the day. It is finally happening. The day that I had been waiting for. People from all over the country are coming to this. Kings, princes, all of the important people were coming. I wonder who will be the one to win. Would it be Arjuna, like my father predicted? Would it be someone else? Would that person be able to take care of my needs? Would he keep me happy? Ahh, so many questions! I am so nervous but it is also getting me no where. I am just going to focus on getting ready and having a good time. My father can take care of the rest.

(After the event)
I was dressed in a red and gold dress. I had jewelry covering me from head to toe and I definitely felt like a princess. Everyone was sitting in a stadium up in like stands and the people that were trying to compete were in the middle. I was sitting with a couple of my maids and my father. So many people tried and failed. I was starting to give up hope. Karna was going to try but I did not let that happen. I mean how could I let someone marry me, that is not a prince. I am a king's daughter, not a nobody that would marry someone from the streets. We took a break during the event so that people could get something to eat and drink before continuing on. A brahmin tried next and he actually managed to do it. Everyone was so shocked. I thought that Arjuna was going to win. How did this guy manage to do it? Who is he? Everyone was going towards him and some other brahmins tried to stop him. At this point I was just so confused. I really had no idea what was going on. Then Krishna stepped in and told everyone that it had been fair. He introduced himself and I finally realized that it was Arjuna who then lead me away and that was the end of it.

Draupadi's Swayamwara

Author's Note:
For this story I have not changed much other than a couple of small details. I wrote this story as a diary entry which gives you all of the information leading up to the Swayamwara. It even tells you a little bit about what happens after. I wrote this story from the point of view of Draupadi. This way you have an inside on the way she was feeling about all of this and what she was going through. The original story was not focused on her. Instead the light was on the contest and what happened during it. I decided to change that and make Draupadi the main person since all of this is for her. It would not be fair if she was the only one that we do not really know about. I chose this image because it shows Draupadi standing there on the side waiting to out the garland on someone. They do not really show a lot on Draupadi's part in this event other than she gets married. Everything is focused on the man out there about to try, Arjuana about to hit the arrow and the rest of the people sitting all around them, watching what would happen next. You can even see Krishna on the left, along with his brother, Balram.

Arjuna and his Bow

Ganesh's Birth

Parvati and Shiva were happy but they had their differences like other normal couples. Kids. Their biggest issue. She wanted to have kids while he was not big on the family side of things.

Past

I do not know how this is going to work. I want kids and Shiva does not. I have always wanted to be a mother. I want kids of my own. I am known as the mother of the world but I have none myself.

I am going to make my own son then. If Shiva does not want to give me one then that is fine. I do not need him, I am the mother of the world. I will do it from the turmeric paste that come off from me when I am showering. I will make the face, his little arms and tiny little fingers. I will made his legs along with the little toes from the paste.

Sometime later

After doing all of that I put life into the body and he turned real. It was the happiest day of my life. He was laughing and running around. Playing with everything around him. His smile made my day. Everything was worth it, the wait, the pain of not having a child. I finally have one. He is perfect and so curious about everything. I told him to go keep guard outside while I shower. I also specifically told him to not let anyone even no matter who they are. I know he will do just that.

Ganesh's point of view

My mother told me to keep guard and not let anyone inside. It is the first thing she ever told me to do so I have to do it right. I cannot mess up at all. She is depending on me to do this for her. She gave life to me, this is the least that I could do for her. There is no one coming so this will be an easy task to complete.

Sometime later

I am so bored. There is nothing left to do while I stand here. I have played in the snow since this is the first time I have seen it. I walked back and forth for a good twenty minutes. I chased a butterfly around for a little bit but then I lost interest. I think I see someone coming. He looks very rough, with matted hair, water coming out of it, he also has a moon on top of his head. Along with a snake wrapped around his neck, he looked very scary. I knew I had to protect my mother from him. What if he tries to hurt her? I cannot let that happen.
Ganesha "Do not try to go in."

Shiva "You cannot try to stop me. I will get in."

Ganesha "I will stop you. I am strong enough to fight you and beat you."

Shiva "Do not be stupid child, you will get hurt. Just let me in and I will forgive you for this."

Ganesha "No! I will not let you in."

Shiva "Do not test my patience. I will hurt you if you do not get out of my way."

Ganesha "No. How many times do I have to tell you.?"

Shiva "That is it" *He throws the trishul at Ganesha's head and separates it from his body.*

Paravati "What is all this noise" "What just happened?"

Shiva "He would not let me in and in anger I killed the annoying child."

Pravati "No! You killed our child. How could you? Do you have no mercy? He was just a little boy. He did not know any better."

Shiva "I tried to tell him to let me in otherwise the consequences would not be good. He did not listen and was stubborn."

Paravati "You were older. You should have been patient and tried to help him understand. He did not know who you were. He was just following my orders. I told him not to let anyone in and he did just that. How could he have known that you were his father and that you could have been let in? This is all your fault. I want my son back!"  *She keeps crying uncontrollably* If you do not get me my son back and healthy again, I will destroy everything!" I am the mother of this world and if I can bring live into it I can take it out too."

Shiva " I cannot bring someone back from the dead. You know this, do not act irrationally. Your anger is already creating havoc into the world."

*At this point all of the gods come in and try to calm everyone down. They wanted to know why the world was getting destroyed*

Author's Note: I saw this story on the calendar art when they were telling Ganesha's story. They talked about this particular story along with his race around the world with his brother. I went with the story of his birth to give everyone a background on how he was born and happened after it since most people would not know it. I did not trail far from the story but I added the details on how he was put on guard and then lost his head. I heard about this part of the story from a story I heard a long time ago. I decided to put the two together and write about it. I chose this particular image because it perfectly shows the anger on Shiva's face and the impulse that caused him to behead a child in a fit of anger.

Seven Secrets From Hindu Calendar Art: Devdutt Pattanaik (2009)

Ganesha Losing his Head (2012-2015)

Reading Notes B: Pattanaik's Calendar Art

I could write about Narad and how he was born. How he finally became known as the Narad-muni. I have heard people say to not be a Narad but now I will actually know and write about how they came to be.

Devdutt Pattanaik's: Seven Secrets from Hindu Calendar Art. Narayan's Secret to Life (2009)

Narad Muni

Reading Notes A: Calendar Art

I could write a story about Ganesha and his trip around the world. I could also write about how Ganesha was born and got the head of an elephant. I like both of those stories and have heard different versions of them so I could write about any of them.

Patanaik's Calendar Art: Ganesha (2015)

Ganesha  (Pinterest)

The Story of Losing Everything

Dear Diary,

It was starting out to be just a nice and peaceful day until we got the invitation with Vidur. Turns out my husbands have been called by his stepbrother to a game of dice. They know it is some sort of a trick especially because they were told by Vidur that the Kauravas wanted to destroy them. I mean they knew something is up especially with this tip and yet they decided to go. Their reasoning is that as a Kshatriya they had no choice but to accept all invitations for gambling and fighting. How stupid is that? You know you are walking into a trap yet you keep going. Seriously!? That is so annoying.  The game was set to be the next day so we would have to stay their tonight and leave the next day, after the game. We packed our clothes along with some food and water for the journey. Arjuna told the servants to get the chariot ready for the trip, along with the horses. So despite my warnings and better judgement we all went to Hastinapur.

Dear Diary,

I was not there for the actual dice game itself but I was getting updates throughout the game. I was so anxious to what happened that I kept looking at the door. I tried to make myself busy with work around the house but I kept thinking about the game. What would happen? What is the trick? What could they do? Ugh! Too many questions!

So a messenger came by. I am too afraid to open to it. I have to though, I need to know what happened.

Yudhishthir lost all of our wealth and the kingdom. Oh I am so mad! How could he do that? We lost everything. Duryodhan did not even play even though he asked for the game to happen. Shakuni played instead of him. That is just cheating and everyone knows it. How did no one stop him? Everyone knows Shakuni is a master in the art of dice, they should have stopped him from playing. Especially because this game was originally intended to be Yudhisthir against Duryodhan.

I got another messanger. He lost my husband and his own brother, Nahul in the match. How do you wager a person. He should have stopped playing. Someone should have stopped him.

He lost Sahadev, Arjuna, and Bhima. Yudhisthir even lost himself. I have nothing left in this world. What will I do? What will happen to me now? How could they lose themselves? Can they ever bet on people? Is that even possible?

Another messenger came to take me.  Apparently they were given a chance to win everything back if they wagered me. They took the chance and lost me too, along with everything else too. How dare they? Was it not enough humiliation to lose themselves, that they had to lose me too? I am most definitely not going to anyone. They cannot do anything to me. This game has nothing to do with me.

Epified Mahabharata  (2015-2016)

Draupadi 

Author's Note: I used different videos from the epified Mahabharata to write this story. The original had all of these aspects in it but I added more details into it. I wanted to show how Draupadi was feeling while the game was going on. I wanted to show things in her point of view over the game instead of it being shown from the game. I used a diary style story again because it shows a persons' innermost thoughts and feelings. It even shows things that they not say out loud or admit to anybody else. I thought that would work best with Draupadi's point of view. I chose this picture because it shows Draupadi's emotions. Her distraught and sadness is reflected in her eyes that are cast down in shame and humiliation. I thought that it worked perfectly with this story. 

Reading Notes F Epified Mahabharata

I could write about the meeting of Bhima and Hanuman. I could also write about how Krishna helped Draupadi when she was getting disrobed. Or when Arjuna faced all of these gods giving him weapons to help him during his war with the Kauravas.

Epified Mahabharata  (2015-2016)

Draupadi

Reading Notes B Epified Krishna

I think I want to write about Brahma and how he decided to kidnap Krishna's friends and cows. All because he wanted to see what would happen and if Krishna knew he was really a god. According to him gods do not share food from their own plate and so this happened. It lasted a year and no one could even figure out that anything even happened in the first place.

Epified Krishna (2015)

Krishna & Brahma  

Reading Notes A: Epified Krishna

I think I want to write about the part where Vasudev has to cross the Yamuna but does not know how. He realizes that a snake comes to help him and protect Krishna from the heavy storm. I could also write about the love story of Krishna and Radha. The way they are connected to each other.

Epified Krishna  (2015) 

Krishna 

Reading Notes E: Epified Mahabharata

I could write about how Draupadi felt when she was put at stake during the gambling match. The way the game had started and ended and what happened during it could also be written in the story. How all her husband, her wealth, kingdom, and even her dignity.

The Gambling Match

Draupadi's Humilation

The Story of Gandhari

Dear Diary,

Today is a very interesting day for me. I overhead my dad told talking to my mom today. He said that Bhisma sent a message to him regarding me. I am very surprised. I mean really, who would want to talk about me? No one really knows me. I have been in the palace my entire life. What would anyone have to say about me? Anyway it is getting late now so I think I should sleep. Plus, my mother was telling me that I have to get up early for a Pooja. We always have one big Pooja every month that we prepare for a week in advance. It is to thank the gods for giving us everything and to ensure that nothing goes wrong in the future. We also have a hundred Brahmins come for the Pooja. All of them are given food and prasad from the Pooja.

Dear Diary,

I could not sleep at all last night. The entire time I kept thinking about my parents talking about me. I was just tossing and turning the entire night. What could someone possibly have to say about me? How do they know me? Who is this Bhishma? Why was he asking about me? I asked my brother, Sakuni, in the morning if he knew anything about him but he refused to tell me anything. He said that I should stop thinking about it and just go on with my life. Like that would help. He should know by now that I would not stop until I find out everything over the matter. With the Pooja being today and not really sleeping, it is turning out to be a stressful day.

Dear Diary,

So my parents called me into their room first thing in the morning. I really do not know what it is about. Hopefully it’s about Bhishma and what they were talking about that day. They said to go talk to them as soon as I was done with what I was doing. They also said that it is urgent, so I should probably hurry.
I was right, it is about what that guy wanted. My parents told me that he has a marriage proposal for me. Bhishma wants me to marry his great-nephew, Dhritarashtra. My parents also told me that they are a good family for me to marry into. I do not really know much about him, other than his name. My father says that I should marry him, while my mother disagrees. Sakuni is also upset and against my father on this subject. I do not know what to do.

Dear Diary,

So turns out that the guy that my father wants me to marry is blind. He has been his whole life. I found out from my parents. This does not change anything from my perspective though. I told my parents that I would do whatever they decided for me. My dad said that I would marry this guy. I have no issues over this at all.I mean yeah, he is blind and this is something very different, but I trust my dad's choice. I know that this is a very big decision but I want the two of us to be in an equal relationship. With him not being able to see, I will also give up my sight and have a blindfold on my eyes forever. I talked to my friends about this and they also agree with my decision. They said this would help us be in an equal relationship. I will do this on the day of our wedding. I told my parents about this and they were very proud of me. My brother, however, was very upset and left the room. I know he does not want me to do this, but I have always wanted my husband and me to be equal. I know that he will understand this one day. I do not think that my husband would have any problems with this decision of mine.

 The Mahabharata: Karmic Revolution Epified (2015-2016)

Gandhari: Mahabharata 

Author's Note: I watch the videos of Epified that explained how Gandhari was supposed to marry Dhristarathra who was blind. Then she decided to use a blindfold all of her life to support her husband. Sakuni, her brother, was against everything and even despised her husband, because she could not see. Sakuni wanted his sister's life to be perfect but here she was giving up her eyes for her husband. I decided to talk about this story because she was a character that was just skimmed over. There was not much about her and I feel that she did a great thing for her husband. I added a lot more details from the time she hears something to the time she decides to give up her sight for her husband. I used modern language but the morals and teaching from that time period, like listening to your father and obeying him even though it may not always be pleasant. Back then females did not have a lot of say in their life, but she sort of did. At least that was the impression I got from watching the episodes so I tried to portray that in my story. A pooja is worshiping  a particular god or goddess. Prasad is food that you put during the pooja. It is said that the god or goddess eat the food and bless them so whoever eat them are blessed too. I chose this particular image because it shows her blindfolded. She has giver up her eyes, so this is after her marriage. 

Reading Notes D: Epified Mahabharata

I could also write about how draupadi had finally chosen a husband through the swayambar and all that happened through it. Them I could add how she ended up with five husbands because of what Kunti said to her sons when they returned home. How she ended up marrying all five of them.

Epified Mahabharata (2015-2016) 

Draupadi's Wedding

Reading Notes C: Epified Mahabharata

I could write a story about how Duryodhan had planned to kill the Pandavas because he was jealous of them. The way he sent them all on to a different place because of a celebration for Shiva and instead planned on burning down the house they stayed in and how they ended up escaping.

Epified Mahabharata (2015-2016)

The Pandavas Escape

Week 8 Growth Mindset

I think that the problem that I have sometimes is focusing on the grades rather than what I have actually learned in the class. Grades do not reflect how much you know, rather by the knowledge that you gained from the class. Something that I do is that I do try to get out of my comfort zone and try new things, sometimes I do try to back out, but I make sure that I still go through with it. Having friends with you helps, but so does going by yourself and just making new friends. Sticking to the comfort zone does not help you grow as a person, going out and trying new things does. Plus who knows, you might actually like it or make really good friends because you decided to try it. In high school I joined stagecraft. I used to do plays and dances when I was little but I stopped as I grew older. I wanted to try it again and I did. Turns out that because of it I made new friends that I probably would not have had I not joined the class. New things are scary but they are worth it in the end, and if not you had an experience and a story because of it.

Exploring: Expedition Audio 

Week 8 Reflections

I've chosen both reading and watching videos for my reading notes, and I have really enjoyed them. They have given me different versions and ways to see something. They also remind me of the fact that there are always multiple point of views, and sometimes if you stand in some one else's shoes, you'll see that you are not always right. I think that the way I take notes helps me with my stories, because I can write down an idea and then later expand on it in my story. I think for future readings I would like to finish the Mahabharatha that I have started, and then learn about Krishna in the epified versions. I like them because they give me a quick run down of what happened with the important details. I like what I have written so far, I have a tendency to write in a play script way so I think I would like to try some different way of writing for the next one, but I am not sure yet. While reading other people's posts I like the twists they give to the stories. They are very creative and something that I enjoy reading.

Reflections (2013)

Famous Last Words: Surviving the Week Before OU/Texas

So this week I have actually tried to do everything early and not only for this class because of OU vs. Texas. IT actually worked out to my benefit too. I have realized that if I do things ahead of time and do extra credit. I can skip some assignments for this class and have less stress about it when I need to focus on other classes because of exams or quizzes. Working ahead means that I can focus less on this less sometimes and study for my other classes. Since this is not a hard class at all, it just takes time to do all of the work for it. The reading for this week was good, I actually did not know a lot about the Mahabharatha so it definitely helped in my knowledge of that. It helped that it was in videos so I could actually see it instead of just imagine it in my head while reading it. I also did both of the readings for this week last week so I was already ahead in that sense and I just went ahead and did the other assignments during the times I do the readings. This was I am already done for the week and can start on things for next week. So when I get back from Texas I can relax for a little bit before I can hit with studying for exams. That really is the best thing about this class too, you can work ahead or at your own pace so you can do it whenever and actually learn things that you did not know about the Indian culture. Even though I am Indian, I did not know the Mahabharatha well and because of this class I actually learned things about it that I would not have had I not taken this class.

Time Management  Chief Family Officer (2014)

Reading Notes. Epified: Mahabharata videos, Part B

I could write about how a hundred sons were born to Ghandari. How Vyasa cut up the lump in 100 pieces and put them into a vase of oil to grow in. That could be an interesting story

Mahabharata : Epified Tv (2015-2016)

Mahabharata  Folomojo (2015)

Reading Notes. Epified: Mahabharata videos, Part A

I was thinking about writing a story on disthratra and his wife ghandari. How his wife chose to give up her sight in order for them to be equal and not have the upper hand on anything. This way they were on the same platform.

The Mahabharata Epified TV (2015-2016)

Mahabharata: Folomojo (2015)

Reading Notes D: Mahabharata: Public Domain Edition

I could also write about the story of vyasa and how he managed to get the ghosts of the people that died during the great battle to come alive. How they all got to see their family members for the last time even after their death.

Mahabharatha

The Ghosts of the Past 

Reading Notes C: PDE Mahabharata: Bhagavad-Gita

For this weeks’ story I could focus on the part right before the war. Where Arjuna is rethinking this war because of all the people that he would be fighting against. Krishna then convinces him to focus only on his part in the battle and not to worry about the rest.

Mahabharata 

Bhagvad-Gita

The Story of Vyasa's Journey to Writing the Mahabharata

This story starts from the house of  Brahma and his wife, Saraswati. Brahma is sitting in his favorite lotus-shaped chair in the living room reading a newspaper. Throughout the room there are pictures of all of the gods and their families.


Saraswati:
My lord, someone is here to see you.

Brahma:
I wonder who that could be. I was not expecting anyone to show up today. Oh well, tell them to come in.

Vyasa:
Please help me, my Lord. I need to find someone who would be able to write my story. I have looked everywhere for someone to be able to do it. No one on earth is special enough to write it for me.

Brahma:
Hmmm, that is quite a problem. Let’s see who we can find to help you with your predicament. Saraswati, be a dear and get me my laptop. Let’s pull up the catalog of all the gods and their children. Well, Vishnu is having problems with Lakshmi, so he’s definitely not going to be able to do it. Indra has the Indralok and the council on his head. What about Shiva? Nah, he is too busy with Nandi and trying to keep him in check nowadays. Well, what about his son, Ganesha? He is scholarly enough and with him you do not have to worry about having any problems.

Vyasa:
That is a great idea. Why did I not think of that before? I will go ask him personally and I am sure he will agree because it would benefit all of mankind and the gods alike.

*Back at the house of Ganesha something completely different is going on. This is happening in the living room, before Vyasa gets there.*

Ganesh:
Shubh and Labh, stop arguing with each other. Shubh, do not hit your brother. Riddhi, tell your son that violence is not always the answer. He needs to stop getting into fights with his brother. If he does not stop I will send him to stay with his grandfather, Shiva, and grandmother, Parvati, and then he will learn to not disobey me.

Shubh:
Dad, I do not want to go. Grandma always feeds me too much. I tell her I am not hungry and she still feeds me. Mom, tell him, I am not going. Send Labh. He loves it there.

Ganesh:
If you guys keep this up, you are both going to different places forever. Oh look, we have a visitor. Hello, Vyasa. What do I owe this pleasure to?

Vyasa:
I need someone to write down the Mahabharata for me. No one on earth can do it, and so I went to Brahma. He suggested I come to you and that you will become my writer.

Ganesh:
Well, that does sound like quite a problem. Since Brahma said that, I have to do it. I am not going to disobey him, but I do have one condition in order to do it.

Vyasa:
What is your condition? I will do my best to fulfill it.

Ganesh:
My condition is that once I start writing I will not stop until you are finished. No matter how long it takes or if we run out of supplies or anything else that happens. It is your job to make sure nothing interrupts my writing. As long as you can do that, I have no problems becoming your writer for this epic.

Vyasa:
Of course, I will just make sure to keep extra paper and everything else you might require. This way we will have no problems and can be done quickly too.

Author's Note: 

The original story briefly talked about how worried Vyasa was about finding someone to write the story of Mahabharata for him. Brahma appears to him letting him know that Ganesha would do it. After that we find out that Ganesha puts up a condition in order for him to write the story. His condition is that once he starts writing he will not stop. So in this story, I have the original content in there with some extra information of my own. It shows the family life of Ganesha and Brahma. I wanted to show how Vyasa found his writer in all of the worlds, and the process he went through. Obviously it did not happen in this exact way, but I imagined it like this. I also wanted to show the family life of Ganesha and how that would have been had it been today. This story is based on a combination of modern life and the events from the past. I did not do extra research to write this story other than the readings from the class. I picked this image because it shows Vyasa sitting down with Ganesha, so that they can start writing the epic. It is said that Brahma was born from the lotus, that comes out of the naval of Vishnu. The lotus is known as the origin of life, as all three of the powerful beings, Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma, are all part of each other. Indralok is where Indra lives. He is the king of Devas. 

PDE Mahabharata
Creation of the World : Wikipedia 

Vyasa & Ganesha

Reading Notes B: Mahabharata

I think that I could also write about draupadi and how she ended up being married to 5 men. How they actually ended up choosing and what happened at the swayamwara.  It might be an interesting story to tell from the point of view of just a random audience member. That way you can see exactly what everyone else involved was doing when others were trying to win draupadi over.

Mahabhrata

Pandavas and his Wife

Readying Notes A: PDE Mahabharata

For this week’s writing I think I will focus of Vyasa and how he was trying to find someone to write it. The time it took and his conversation with Brahma. How ganesh actually became his writer. I’m not too sure on the details but that sounds like a good story to write about. It might also be in the point of view of ganesha as that would be an interesting aspect as well. 

Mahabharata 

Ganesha & Vyasa: The Creation Of the Mahabharata

Famous Last Words: During Midterms

I think I have found a writing style that I like to use for my stories and people seem to enjoy them so I think that I will continue with that until I find something else that I like more. I might also like to use more of a modern language so that It is more relatable to people today that are reading it instead of having it in a language that they are not used to hearing. I don't really write for any classes other than this one and if I have to write papers so I guess I have to say that my best writing is for this class since I have not written papers for any classes yet, although I do have one due next week. I just kind of start writing and see how it goes, its easy to get with the flow once I have actually started writing instead of just thinking about doing it. I loved a story that I just read today, it completly changed the character of Sita and made her independant. She had her own views and wasn't just waiting for someone to do things for her. She was her own person and it was great reading about how she just dissed Rama and finally became independent. And the writing he used was modern which really helped people connect. I personally have not seen any connections between this class and my other classes but maybe later in the semester. I am trying to do things in advance for my classes so that during the week I have more time to study instead of just doing homework all the time, like I am now.  I did that earlier in the semester and it really did help so I am hoping to try and contiune that later on too.

Time Management Blog 2016

Reading Notes: Sita Sings the Blues: Notes B

So rama makes sita prove herself with the fire right after the battle and then they go back to the castle where Rama is. She told him she was pregnant and then after the incident with the dhobi he realized that these people do not respect him. He understood that Sita must go in order for him to be respected by his people. So he kicks her out and she is exiled into the forest. She gives birth over there and her sons sing praise of rama. Even after everything that happened to her she still loves rama and believes in him unconditionally. On one part he wants to do justice with everyone but he does injustice with his own wife. He always doubted her but not once did he prove himself to her nor did she ever ask him.

Sita Sings the Blues Nina Paley 

Sita Returns to Mother Earth: Nina Paley

Reading Notes: Sita Sings the Blues: Part A

I like how modern it is. They explain it in a very easy to understand manner and the language is how they would talk today which makes everyone interested in it. This version doesn’t talk about Lakshmana. So they light up Hanuman’s tail in an effort to humiliate him instead he burns down lanka. It seemed like it was a lot easier to kill Ravana. They gave it a modern twist, which I like and I think I might do that too since it makes it a lot easier for people to get an interest in it. They also had outsiders in the story that go through the confusion that a lot of people have. They skimmed through a lot of the details that were in the other version of the Ramayana.
Sita Sings the Blues, Nina Paley: Video

Sita Sings the Blues, Nina Paley

Tech Tip: Weather Widget

I decided to add a little weather widget onto my blog so now you can see the weather too in case you didn't know or were curious.

Here's the link in case you decided to get one too.
Weather

The Story of Kumbhakarna

This story starts out in Ravana's palace. He's pacing in the battle planning room. There are numerous maps lining the walls. There is an image of the battleground and where their troops are stationed with blue flags. They have red flags for the enemy troops. Ravana understands that in order for him to win against his enemy, he has to wake up Kumbhakarna. So he calls for a couple of his soldiers to come into the room to do a task for him.

Ravana: We need to wake up Kumbhakarna so he can help us in this battle. Soldiers, go wake him up right now. I don’t care how you do it. Just do it right now.

*The two soldiers leave and go to the room where Kumbhakarna is sleeping. It's not even a room but more of a huge hall because of his massive figure. He is against the wall on a bed. There are two women fanning him so that he does not get too hot. The soldiers start to devise a plan that could work.*

Ek-annk: I don’t know how we can wake him up. Ravana always orders us around and we have to do it without him telling us how to do it.

Marcha: How can we wake him up? He only wakes up once every six months because of Brahma.

Ek-annk: What do you mean? Why does he only wake up once every six months?

Marcha: Well, this happened a long time ago. From what I heard, Kumbhakarna was very powerful and strong. He would take advantage of that and terrorize the people. He ate them, tortured them, and just made their lives horrible. Seeing this Brahma decided that he would sleep for six months and then only wake up for one day.

Ek-annk: Hmmm! That makes sense now. Well, back to the problem at hand. We can try yelling right by him. Get everyone from the palace. The more people the better.

Marcha: Okay, let’s try it. I’ll gather everyone up.

Ek-annk: This isn’t working. We need to get something louder.

Marcha: We could try playing loud music right by both of his ears.

Ek-annk: It's worth a shot. Let’s bring drums and trumpets.

Marcha: It’s not working. We need to do something more extreme.

Ek-annk: He is huge and strong; we need to get elephants to go all over his body so that could wake him up.

Marcha: That will definitely work. He has to feel all that weight on his body and wake up. I will arrange for five or seven elephants that will wake him up.

Ek-annk: This is good. I will wait for you here and try to wake him up with noise while you go.

*Meanwhile Ravana is getting impatient and wondering why Kumbhakarna has not woken up yet. He is in the battle room, pacing the floor. He keeps trying to think of new tactics against Rama.*

Ravana: Soldiers! Why is my brother not awake yet? He needs to go to war.

Ek-annk: We are working on it, your Majesty. We have devised a plan that will surely not fail. He has to wake up after this and kill that Rama.

Ravana: Well, do it faster! He will still need to eat in order to regain his strength and then go fight. We do not have all day for this, and you guys have already spent two hours on this.

Ek-annk: Of course, your Majesty, we will get this done quickly.

*In the other room six great big elephants are trampling Kumbhakarna’s body in order to wake him up but it is not working.*

Ek-annk: Is it done yet? Has he finally woken up from his slumber?

Marcha: No, this is not working. Maybe we should give it some time before we try something else. Who knows, the elephants constantly roaming his body might wake up him.

*Fifteen minutes later*

Ek-annk: This is not going to work. We need to try something else. Think about it. What would wake you up if you were in deep sleep?

Marcha: We could try getting some women to try to get wake him up.

Ek-annk: That is a great idea. That will surely work.

*After some women caress him, Kumbhakarna finally wakes up from his sleep.*

Kumbhakarna: Why did you guys wake me up before I was supposed to? What is the meaning of this insolence?

*They explain everything that is going on while he is devouring food and drinking up a whole lake's worth of wine*

Ravana: Brother, you have finally woken up. Now you need to go fight and kill that Rama.


Author’s Note: I used the story of Kumbhakarna and how they wake him up but elaborated on it. I did not change the story in a big way. I just changed the language in more of a modern way and spend more time with the people trying to wake him up. Instead of just telling you guys what happened and moving on, I explained what I think happened in the story. In the actual story they say they wake him up, but they did not elaborate on the details at all which is why I decided to show the process. I wanted to show how they could have actually done it but in more of a script way but not in a story setting. I chose this image because it shows all these people trying to wake one man up, and in the different ways they try. I chose this story because I myself was curious about how they could have actually wake him up, so I thought other people would have been too. I kind of imagined how it would have happened and wrote it out with a play-by-play. In the original story of Kumbhakarna, when the time came to ask for a boon from Brahma, his tongue was tied by Saraswati, so instead of asking for the seat of Indra he asked for Nidra, which is the goddess of sleep. Ravana was mad because this was a curse and asked Brahma to take his boon back. Instead of that he changed it so that Kumbhakarna would sleep for six months and then be awake for one day.

Public Domain Edition: Ramayana by Donald A. Mackenzie (1913)
Kumbhakarna: Wikipedia

The rakshasas wake Kumbhakarna

Reading Notes: Public Domain Ramayana Section D

Ravana’s army decided to wake up Kumbhakarna so that they could have his help in this great battle against rama. Brahma decided that he would wake up once every 6 months because he kept eating people and could not be beat even by indra. They had to get thousands of people that yelled, danced, and played instruments. Even elephants could not wake him up but then women came who woke him up. Once he woke up he found out what happened and what is going on he went into battle. He defeated Hanuman and Sugriva but then he went against rama, who ended up killing him.

Public Domain Ramayana: Ramayana

Kumbhakarna: Sleeper

Reading Notes Public Domain Ramayana: Section C

Ram goes to Sugriva and Hanuman where he learns about Sugriva’s story. Then the two decided to help each other out. This results in the battle between Sugriva and his brother Vali where rama helps Sugriva and kills Vali in the end. Sugriva is king and rama will now require his help to find sita but unfortunately it’s the month of Shravan and they have to wait of the rain to stop. Rama has to stay in the forest during his time because of his exile. So rama and Lakshmana stay in the wilderness waiting for the rainy season to be over. He wants to be happy but how can be without the love of his life, Sita. After the season is over, rama is frustrated with Sugriva’s lack of action in the search and sends Lakshmana to remind him in the palace. After Sugriva is threatened he send armies in all four directions to search for sita.

  Public Domain Ramayana Section C 

Hunuman: Lanka Burning 

Feedback Thoughts

Instead of telling people what they did wrong and just criticize them for everything. Tell them what they good well and how to improve on the things wrong. That way they can take suggestions and not just know what all they did wrong. I like the advice of finding the positive behind the weakness. There’s always something good even with the weakness so if you can find that strength It’ll help you instead of bring you down. Instead of being very specific and detailed generalize so they can use that advice in other parts of their life too, not only for the one thing they are working on. I agree with the article, instead of just giving praises to your child be there for them. The presence is more important than praising them for everything.

Mahatma Ghandi:AZ Quote

Story: The Unfortunate Day

I’ve decided to go hunting today since I love it. I don’t know what to hunt for but let’s just see what happens, I feel like it is going to be a really good day.

*deer sprinting by*

*Dasharatha shoots an arrow for the deer and runs after it*

Instead of finding the arrow lodged in the body of a dead deer, he found it in a shriveled old man that was laying on the ground bleeding and crying of agony. He saw that his wife kept yelling for her husband, asking what happened. Why did he suddenly stop talking, why is he crying from pain. What was that sound? Was it a weapon? What happened? Dasharatha finally came out from behind the tress to address the older couple and try to help them out for his mistakes.

“Hello” he says,

“This is all my fault, I was hunting and didn’t realize that the deer had run away and I accidentally shot at your husband instead.”

“You did this to my husband, you cased his untimely death. He still could have lived got years, but because of you he is no more”, she says.

“I am deeply very sorry; I did not mean to cause this misfortune upon you.” Says Dasharatha.

“What am I supposed to tell my son when he returns from finding us food? He is going to be so hurt and I cannot even see him and help him. How will I wipe the tears from his eyes since I cannot even see them on his face? What am I supposed to tell him? That I couldn’t even take care of your father for an hour.” -his wife says

“I know I cannot bring him back from the dead but I can help in ensuring that you and your son live comfortably for the rest of your lives.” -Dasharata

“Is that going to bring my father back? Will it bring back my mother’s husband? How could do make such a mistake?” -Shravan

“Son, I did nothing on purpose. I am just trying to help you guys out” -Dasharatha

“I have taken care of my blind parents for years without anyone’s help and I can continue to take care of my mom without your help too. So no thank you. You have caused us enough pain and hurt already, do not make it worse with your words.” -Shravan

“My son is right. You do not understand this pain as you have not felt is yourself, but in the future you will. You will understand the pain of losing someone you love when someone close to you leave. It may not happen now or anytime soon but it will happen and that day you will remember me and my words. You will only understand my pain then and only then will you know the hurt you have caused to the both of us.” -she said

Dasharatha left the woods that day confused. He was young and did not understand what the woman had said to him but he knew that he would because she had said it with such conviction that he was sure it would happen and that scared him.

Author's Note: The original story is of Dasharatha hunting and accidentally shooting Shravan, the son of the 2 blind parents. His parents find out and curse Dasharatha that he too will know the pain of separation from his son one day only then would he understand. 

PDE Ramayana: Dasharatha's Karma by Donald A. Mackenzie (1913)

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Dasharahta, Shravan & his Parents: Death

Reading Notes: Public Domain Ramayana: Section B

Barata come back and realizes what happened in his absence. His brothers and sister in law banished, the death of his father, the deceit of his mother and manthara, and knowing that ultimately his mother did all of this for him. That this was all his fault without even meaning to be. Baratha goes back with rama sandals so that they can be placed on the throne and he can be king while baratha just takes care of things in his absence. They then met with Anasuya where sita spoke of her story and how she came to be there. Upon hearing her story Anasuya wept and held sita close in a motherly affection and gave her clothes and some jewelry. After their departure they ran into viradha who kidnapped sita and fought with the brothers. He was slain and thrown into a pit upon where his curse lifted and he descended to heaven. Agastya a famous rishi offers rama weapons, food, and a place to stay. While rama rejects he goes further into the forest to run into shurpanakha. She offers herself to him and tells rama to leave his wife for her. Rama rejects her but says that his brother is without a wife or a companion in this forest and he might accept you as his if you want to try. After shurpanakha’s insult her brothers came forth to fight in her honor against rama. He killed Khara and his brother along with the rest of the demons and won the fight. Ravana hears of this battle where all his warriors had lost and sought to kill this man that caused his sister so much pain. With the help of Maricha who turned into this beautiful golden deer to lure sita away in order for Ravan to be able to kidnap her. Maricha dies but before he does he changes his voice to rama and calls for help. Lakshmana is forced to help him against his judgement that he actually needs help and leaves sita by herself. Ravana takes advantage of this and changes form into a sage to get to sita. He takes her and jatayu tries to help and he fights until he is killed and ravana takes sita away. Rama returns to the hut to find it empty and in his search for his wife he finds jatayu who tells him what happened. They then run into Kabandha who tells rama who ravana is and where he lives after his death. Rama found shabri who had been waiting for the 2 for decades and performed her final rites.Public Domain Ramayana: Online Reading

Rama, Sita, & Shurpanakha: Rejection

Reading Notes: Ramayana Online: Public Domain Edition, Section A

2 great kings in 2 different cities. Dasharatha had no sons so he decided to sacrifice a horse that would travel for a year and later killed, along with other birds, reptiles, and beasts. All night long they performed mantras and parts of the horse was thrown into the fire by Kausalya and Kaikeyi. The gods promised that 4 sons would be born. Ram was born along with the other 3 sons in avtars of Vishnu to kill ravan. A rishi comes to ayodya to ask for help against the rakshas. So he asked for ram and lakshman and since dasharatha was bound by his promise he had to send them without his wishes. Shravan and his parents were in the forest when an arrow shot and killed shravan. Leaving his parents behind and a curse on the king. Dasharatha died without any of his sons with him because of his karma, wrong undoings, and Kaikeyi’s wickedness

Public Domain Ramayana: Link to the website

 Rama, Lakshmana,and Hanuman: Fight with Ravana

Tech Tip: Blogger Profile

I put my profile on display for people to see. I didn't remove my name from the posts or anything like that since I'm okay with my name being displayed.

Growth Mindset

I’ve never heard of Carol Dweck or the concept growth mindset before. It is a good idea or mindset to have. If you make a mistake, then learn from it and figure out what you did wrong. Instead of giving up try to make it better next time and learn instead of forgetting about it. I don’t really have any goals other than to learn things from all my classes so I get something out of all of them.

Learning: Cat

Starting the Semester

I think the biggest thing that is helpful is doing things ahead of time even if you will have time later on. Also just doing even a little bit if you have 30 min or 1 hour will help later on so you don’t have to stress later on. Planning out the week with your assignments will also be helpful. Getting a calendar or an agenda is also good and gives you less of a reason to procrastinate. These are helping me right now so hopefully they'll help everyone else too. 

Personal Photo: Nassau 

Reading Options: Ramayana

I want to read version 2 of the Ramayana for week 2. I picked this since it was the most assessable to me and I figured that it would be better to read about different versions from various authors to get different versions of the Ramayana, than the ones that I’ve seen so far. I’m very interested in reading about the Mahabharata because that is the that has always caused me confusion. I haven’t been able to fully understand so I’m hoping through this class I can finally understand it really well. I’ve never a class like this before but I’m in Classical Mythology along with this one. When I think of the word mythology I think of roman or the greek stories. I’ve grown up hearing most of these stories about the Indian gods and its really interesting to me. I listen to both the Indian music and watch the movies. I’m also into Indian dance but not really classical dance. I was born in India and I’ve been there 9 years, but I haven’t been to the places that were mentioned in this class. I can speak both Gujarati and Hindi but I can’t read or write in it. I recognize the people in the images such as Shiva, Krishna, Ram, Sita, and Draupadi but not the pictures themselves. I chose this image because it stood out to me and it was the only one in color. 

Ram and Sita: Golden Deer