Brainstorm Storytelling Styles: Animal Stories

Topic: I will do the animal story about Jatayu and Sampati from The Ramayana. I think animals have a lot to teach humans about how to love unconditionally. I will, also, do the story about Hanuman's loyalty to Rama. Hanuman is a monkey species that behave very similarly to mortals. Hanuman has a lesson to teach us about keeping his word to his father and being a courageous warrior in honor of Rama. Lastly, I will learn more about Rama and the squirrel. I will have to research this more as I have not heard of this tale yet. However, what I have learned so far is that the little squirrel was doing all he could to help Rama cross the water to Lanka. Sometimes the multitude of the gift isn't important. It's the small things that matter, and the small things (pebbles) are the foundation of the big thing (bridge).

Bibliography: 

Lord Rama and the Squirrel, from Indian Stories for Children, by Anuradha Shankar, (2010)

Hanuman, from Indian Stories for Children, by Anuradha Shankar, (2010)

The history of Hanuman, from Wikipedia

The life of Hanuman, from Sanatan Society

The history of Sampati and Jatayu, from Wikipedia

Sampati, from Birds of Ramayana, by Bharat Bhushan

Possible Styles:

New Character: By introducing a new character, I can tie all four of these animals together with the common ground being Rama. I could even tell the story as the first person to make the animal characters have a more personal aspect. I could portray the characters of the animals individually highlighting each of their best qualities. I think this would be a really cool way to display how animals have a lot of things to teach humans about how forgiving and unconditionally loving each other. I could also show their true intentions of helping Rama and their struggles in doing so.

Personal Journeys: I could display each animal characters personal journey to finding Rama. This could show the struggles that may be unheard in common retellings of The Ramayana. Each character plays a special role in Rama's journey, and I could display their journey. For example, Sampati could be searching for Rama just missing him every once in a while. Also, Hanuman could display some hesitation to worship Rama in his desperate condition as it may place a hardship on him as well.

Time Travel: I could be placed in a time travel machine and go back to the day of all Rama's encounters with these animals, and assist them in their journey. I could even combine this idea with the new character idea to help Rama fight Ravana. I could be a mixture of Sampati and something else. Being from the future could help because I know more background information, and I even know the outcome. This idea leaves a lot of room for the imagination to get into the real characters and intentions of the animals.

Death bed story: The main story could be of Jatayu on his death bed after attempting to prevent Ravana from stealing Sita. All these animal characters could visit him, and make individual promises to him on how to assist Rama in retrieving Sita and returning to reign. Jatayu on his bed begins to see the future events for Rama in the forest and knows he is going to be in need of more assistance. This could also show the connection Rama has with the animal character. While this is occurring Sampati catches wind of the events, and is able to come to Jatayu's side and save him while also obtaining his restored wings in the presence of Rama. 

(Hanuman growing giant to step across the water to Lanka by Sanatan Society)

Week 3: Famous Last Words

This week has been a little draining. I hate when you get sick but still have all of these deadlines and still have to do stuff. I can' wait until I have a job with sick time so I can just sleep.

While finishing The Ramayana, I couldn't help but say, "Yay Rama!" I figured that Rama was going to conquer Ravana and get Sita, but I was anticipating the finale. I really enjoyed writing my story about Sita's point of view about her captured experience. It gave people an understanding of Sita waiting and praying Rama was coming. The Ramayana just told the story from Rama's experienced. I really enjoyed reading people's stories about Jatayu and Sampathi! They were my favorite animal characters in this book. Eagles are already thought of as so graceful, and these characters are a great demonstration of this quality. Animals have a strange way of showing people how to behave and treat each other.

In other news, my other classes are going along pretty well. I hate the weather changes though. I have two quizzes this week so that sucks. However, things could always be worse. I always just try to get through one week at a time. Just keeping my head down and getting through it. Time is starting to move too fast and graduation is getting closer and closer. I am trying to get all of this online work done so I can watch the Superbowl tonight in peace. I love watching football so it's going to be fun, but this day can be kind of sad in my world because that means I have to wait 6 months to be able to watch it again. Let the long off season arrive, and the boredom start. At least basketball can keep my mind of it. :) This probably makes me sound sports obsessed, but I guess I kind of am! Until next season. Hopefully our coaching staff is bringing their A game this spring.

(OU Stadium photographed by me)

Storytelling for Week 3: Captured

When he arrived at Lanka, Ravana introduced Sita as his new mistress. However, Sita scoffed at the sound of this comment, which made Ravana's wife and other mistresses wonder about the truth behind this abrupt announcement. Ravana decided Sita's arrival deserved a celebration of her. So the citizens decorated the town with fancy colors and lighting. Also, the rakshasis danced around her and praised her beauty because Ravana ordered them to. Once the citizens had a chance to individually greet Sita, those who could afford it showered her with extravagant jewels for their new queen. Not amused by the events, Sita refused them all, drawing attention to the fact that Ravana had actually kidnapped her and she was there unwillingly. Because of Sita's actions, Ravana was forced to tell those close to him how he had actually obtained her. Ravana was annoyed by her behavior, and due to Sita's unappreciative acts, he sent her away to Ashoka Vana, imprisoning her in hopes of convincing her to reject Rama and accept Ravana as her husband. Ashoka Vana is a pleasure garden; it was supposed to be a joyful place, but Sita's experience in this place was often accompanied by Ravana trying to force her to be his wife.

Meanwhile back in Lanka, rumors among the common asuras flew around town like wildfire. Some believed in their king's purity, preaching, "Ravana wouldn't steal a woman without her will. She must be shy." However, others questioned his intentions, asking, "Would Ravana really steal another man's woman? Why else would she be so standoffish to her new kingdom?" They couldn't imagine any other reason why a woman of such beauty would be so ungrateful. Queens wouldn't deny the gifts from her people, especially at the introduction celebration. Unfortunately, the citizens had to make assumptions about Sita as Ravana never exposed his truths except to a selective few, whom he knew wouldn't turn on him.

As time went on, day after day, Sita grew lonely and increasingly exasperated at her situation. She wondered and wished for the day that Rama would arrive for her rescue. Suddenly, Ravana entered shouting, "Well, you miserable woman, have you decided who your true prince charming is?" 

She responded without hesitation, "My beloved Rama is searching for me, and when he arrives you will be sorry." 

This angered Ravana and he responded in rage, "You foolish woman, it will be you who are sorry!" Then Ravana stormed out. Every day after this encounter, Ravana came to visit Sita, making threats towards her and Rama. His threats promised Sita that he was going to destroy Rama. When Ravana wasn't near, Sita pleaded with the rakshasis who were guarding her. The rakshasis, unfortunately, remained loyal to Ravana despite feeling sorry for Sita when they looked at her.

Meanwhile, Mandodari, Ravana's first wife, tried to figure out Sita's past and her intentions for the future. However, Ravana kept a good secret! Just when Mandodari was losing hope, Hanuman arrived in Lanka seeking the site of Sita and to inform Ravana that Rama was coming for him. Once Mandodari heard the news, she decided to make a visit to where Sita was residing. In the middle of the night, Mandodari sneaks to Ashoka Vana unnoticed. She startles Sita and tells her about  Hanuman's arrival in Lanka. 

Mandodari says to Sita, "My husband Ravana told me that he found you injured and saved you. I do not understand why you are acting so ungrateful. Do you know who Hanuman is?" 

To the surprise of Mandodari, Sita already knew of Hanuman's presence as he has already visited her, and Sita responds, "I was not saved by Ravana. He kidnapped me! Hanuman is here to tell Ravana that my husband, Rama, is on his way to rescue me." 

Mandodari, in tears, leaves Sita after hearing the truth about Ravana. She also fears the safety of her city.

Furthermore, while Mandodari was away, Hanuman was making his exit known in Lanka by burning the capitol to ashes.

(Image Source: Hanuman giving Sita Rama's ring by Soham Banerjee

Author's note: I chose this story because I am hoping I could put it into my Portfolio to give an event about the great character, Sita. Ravana kidnapped Sita, and she is shown as a damsel in distress. I want to highlight what Sita could be doing while waiting on Rama that could be of some assistance when he arrives to rescue her. I, also, imagined Mandodori, Ravana's wife, as being curious about the threat of  her position as Ravana's favorite wife by Sita's arrival in Lanka. This is why I wrote about Mandodari coming to Sita to figure out her intentions. However, Mandodori thought she was waiting on Ravana to decide if Sita was going to be his new wife. Furthermore, little to Mandodori's knowledge, Sita wanted nothing to do with Ravana, and was desperate to return to her husband, Rama. The pure avatar of a goddess never posed a threat to Mandodori or the asuras. She just wanted Rama. Ravana was the one that was holding her against her own will. However, he was telling Mandodari a lie to make her position feel threatened. I chose this image because at the end of the story Hanuman had already visited Sita, and during this visit Hanuman gave Sita a gift of good faith from Rama, his golden ring. The token of love is what gave Sita the courage to tell Mandodari what was really happening with Ravana.

Bibliography: 

• Narayan, R. K. (1972) The Ramayana.

Reading Diary B for Week 3: Rama battles Ravana

Across the Ocean

• Rama accepts Vibishana, Ravana's brother, despite that opinion of many army men: "one who seeks aslyum must be given protection" (displays his grand character again)
• Hanuman reminds Rama that Vibishana was the one who spared his life as the messanger to Ravana (shows Vibishana's pure intentions)
• Makes a bridge to Lanka --> arrival!

The Siege of Lanka

• The monkeys dominated the Lanka army (asuras)
• Rama embarrasses Ravana at first encounter and allows him to return with more weapons
• Rama kills Kumbakarna, Ravana's brother
• Lakshmana kills Indrajit, Ravana's son

Rama and Ravana in Battle

• Ravana sent all of his powerful weapons at Rama, but Rama conquered them all
• Rama sent the Brhmasthra through his heart
• When Ravana went faint, Rama suspended the fight and waite until he was restored to fighting condition (fair warfare)
• Rama feared he had killed him in the back because he was retreating (wants to conquer with grace/ not be unfair) p.147

Interlude

• Gets Sita back, but Sita has to prove her purity in front of Rama and the crowd
• Sita jumps into the fire, and the fire god grabbed her which proved her innocence and Rama accepted her back

Coronation

• Dasaratha returns from the heavens with a light heart from Rama's achievements --> Rama wishes for him to forgive Bharata and Kaikeyi (wow!). He grants Rama's wish and returns to the heavens
• Rama travels to return to his kingdom, showing Sita his travels
• Bharata was going to kill himself if Rama was late --> only promised him 14 years
• Rama welcomed back into his kingdom by even Kaikeyi

Epiloge

• Rama is crowned
• Sita is placed beside him
• Hanuman kneels at his feet and obediently serves/worships him as he was called to do by his father (always near/ loves Rama)
• Lakshmana one step behind them (devoted and watchful)

(Rama in battle photographed by Evelyn Paul

Wikimedia)

Week 3 Reading Diary A: Vali -- Ravana in Council

Vali

• Sugreeva's Story
• Vali is king of Kiskinda (humanized monkeys)
• Surgreeva is Vali's younger brother (both monkeys and the sons of the sun god)
• Rama crosses Surgreeva and Hanuman (his helper) path while in search of Sita
• Vali is the most powerful of all, but he used it for protection of his "monkeys"
• Vai gains half his opponent's power when he fights and destroys them
• Mayavi, a demon, challenges Vali --> second guesses his challenge and runs away to the edge of the world
• Vali chases him and is away for a long time
• Surgreeva is forced into king by his consellors
• The consellors close off the entrance in fear Vali has been defeated and Mayavi will return to destroy Surgreeva
• Vali returns in rage because he thinks Surgreeva tried to keep him out so he could rule
• Surgreeva retreats to Mount Meru for protection as Vali is cursed by Sage Matanga (demon) and cannot be on that mountain (will destroy him)
• Rama pities Surgreeva and offers his assistance --> great character 
• Surgreeva knows Rama is Vishnu as he feels drawn to remain with him
• Rama proves his talents --> impressive
• Dundubi's Story
• Dundubi was a demon that wanted to use the most powerful of all gift for evil by fighting all the time
• Shiva told him he would have to defeat Vali in order for his wish to be granted
• Dundubi and Vali fight for 1 year
• Vali finally wins by ripping Dundubi's horns off, gorging him, and tossing them --> which happened to land on Mount Meru where Sage Matanga was performing  sacred rites
• Hence --> Vali is not allowed on Mount Meru because the Sage cursed him and will be annihilated if he goes there
• Surgreeva tells Rama he knows where Sita is
• Surgreeva and Rama devise a scheme to get her back and the first task is to kill Vali
• When Surgreeva challenges Vali, Vali's wife, Tara, (whom he stole from Surgreeva) warns him of Rama's aid
• Vali feels invincible and fights Surgreeva until almost death when Rama strikes him with his bow
• Vali doesn't understand why Rama (known as the Lord of justice) would do this
• Vali and Rama explain their sides and Vali takes pride in Rama treating him as a human (higher then a monkey)
• Vali made Hanuman Rama's servant
• It was interesting on pg 103, "it was through your steadfast meditation and prayer to Shiva that you were endowed with strength superior to even the 5 elements." --> dedicated meditation to a God is what got people these mystical powers 

When the Rain Cease

• Surgreeva is crowned king of Kiskinda
• Rama waits out the rainy season in the forest while Surgreeva is living in luxury in his new kingdom (drunk off wine the entire time)
• Surgreeva is late to round an army
• Lakshmana goes to Kiskanda in rage and brings back Surgreeva who promises that the army is coming
• -->Surgreeva's palace was frightened by his mood so at first tried to protect Surgreeva
• The army arrives and Hanuman and a selected army travel south which is the direction Surgreeva saw Ravana take Sita
• Rama describes Sita and Hanuman has 1 month to find her and return
• The army goes searches high and low and even assists a goddess in breaking out of an underground exile to return to her heaven
• The army is about to give up and take their lives when they speak of Jatayu which causes Sampathi to arrive (brother of Jatayu)
• Sampathi is injured and needs someone to say Rama's name so that his wings will grow back and the army preaches Rama's name
• Sampathi becomes the ruler of his kind and points the army in the direction of Lanka, where he saw Ravana take Sita (p119-120)
• Hanuman grows into a massive creature and takes one step to cross the water to Lanka --> shrinks him smaler once arrives

Momento From Rama

• Hanuman arrives at Lanka and has to search through many women and castles to find Sita
• Hanuman was almost mistaken with one beauty who was living in luxury and began to get mad (Sita was actually living in terrible conditions as well and being visited by the harsh Ravana to make her his first mistress) 
• But he paid close attention to the details Rama gave to him about Sita
• When he found Sita she was being held captive and guarded, Hanuman stops her from hanging herself (Sita remains pure!)
• Sita sends hope (momento necklace she saved in return to his ring)
• Hanuman destroys parts of Lanka by stepping on buildings to make his presence known to get captured so he can tell Ravana of Rama's arrival
• Ravana wants to kill Hanuman but is spared because he is reminded by Vibishana that it is wrong to kill the messanger (demons? who cares if it's wrong?)
• As leaving, burns Ravana to the ground but ensuring Sita's safety

Ravana in Council

• The architect Maya rebuilds Lanka's capital and Ravana is in awe, but remembers his capital was destroyed by a monkey
• The commander in chief of his army points out that he has stolen a man's wife and kept her against her will and he thinks the gods are repaying him (release Sita)
• Kumbakarna and his army decide to attack Rama, Lakshmana, and the monkeys
• Ravana's son Indrajit offers to take Rama and Lakshmana out for him
• Ravana's younger brother Vibishana warns Ravana that he hasn't asked the gods for protection from humans or monkeys and Ravana vanishes him because he thinks he is a trader (Ravana realizes Vibishana is the one that told him to spare the monkey) 
• Vibishana joins Rama and Ravana plans to attack

Hanuman in India photographed by Puja1984

Wikimedia