Reading Diary A: Ravana prepares for Rama

Bhrata Returns

• Bharata returns to Ayodhya to find his father, Dasharhata, is dead due to not being able to bare the separation of him and Rama
• The town is a dark and gloomy place (extremely unpleasant)
• Bharata is vengeful towards his mother, Kaikeyi, since she demanded this, but the priest convinces him to forgive her.
• Dasharhata is cremated so the town can quit mourning
• But! Bharata doesn't take the crown --> he takes the whole town into the forest in search of Rama 
• King Guha, forest king, blesses their journey in the forest
• Sage Bhradwaja blesses Kaikeyi for what she has done and convinces Bharata that what she did was "fate"
• Bharata embraces his mother --> Kaikeyi feeling of guilt for "killing" the king is relieved
• After a glorious day in Bhradwaja's hermitage created by the architecture god --> they head to Rama at Chikrakuta

The Sandals

• Rama is stunned but pleased to see Bharata in the woods
• Bharata breaks the bad news to Rama about Dasharhata's death
• Rama convinces Bharata to take the thrown until he returns so that he can uphold his father's honor even in his absence
• Bharata sets up the thrown just outside of Ayodhya and places Rama's sandals on top to symbolize the temporary reign
• Bharata promises to walk into fire and die if Rama is one day late back from his 14 year exile
• Rama visits Atri where he learns of the story about a lake, Mandakarni was able to breath and make the lake grow larger and when Vishnu (Rama as a god) realized he was going to drown earth he granted him everlasting life under the lake with his 5 beautiful wives
• When they celebrated you could hear the sound of it from above the lake
• Anasuya befriends Sita and gives her jewelry to give her beauty and strength to make it through this exile in the forest

Dandaka Forest

• In the 14th summer Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita enter the Dandaka Forest
• Agastya lowered the mountain so people could get into the forest for a god that never returned
• He also stopped 2 demons, Vatapi and Ilwala 
• Vatapi was human form and spoke the language. He would trick people into coming to have a feast at his modest cottage on the Vindhya hill (Agastya's)
• The meal would actually be a ram which was Ilwala. Once Ilwala was eaten Vatapi would say "Come out" and Ilwala would bust out of the men's stomachs and the 2 demons would eat and drink their bodies and blood (killed thousands)
• Agasya gave a better bow he had found that he thought had fallen out of the heaven's for him in exchange for his old one
• Dandaka is Ravana's domain and Khara, his brother, runs the army
• Once entering the Dandaka forest Rama decides to assist the tiny Valakhilya with destroying the rakshasas because Indra scorned them for their size already
• The trick Kadru used to make Vinata a slave was by places her thousands of children in the horses tail making it appear to not be pure white --> it was though
• Vinata become Kadru's slave but Gadru, the bird king, ransomed her by stealing Indra's amrita right out of his palace by disguising himself several times
• Indra was impressed by his abilities hence giving him the title king of birds
• Once Guadru got his mother free he helped distract Kadru so Indra could get his amrita, immorality, by telling them to bath before tasting it
• Tumburu wanted Rama to violently kill him so he could be released
• Tumburu was the music god so once he was killed he was released from his demon body and began playing instruments
• Tumburu returned to heaven with his girl
• Shurpanka sees Rama and desires him
• Rama says he is happily married and Shurpanka becomes angry and tries to attack Sita
• Lakshmana intervenes and chops off her nose and ears
• Shurpanka runs to Khara and Khara rallies the army to attack these mortals for what they have done
• Rama destroys the large army and Khara alone
• Shurpanka in fear arrives to tell Ravana of what Rama has done
• AND Ravana prepares to deceive Rama as he cannot simply allow this man to live happily in his kingdom especially after what he has done to Shurpanka, his sister
• He goes to visit Maricha whom Rama has already bowed in the heart in his youth

  

Image Source: Garuda by Tropenmuseum

Famous Last Words for Week 4

Well one more week done and one more step closer to finishing school! Wow, that may have freaked me out a little too much! So last week we started the storybook project and I already think I decided to do the wrong topic. I am always so indecisive. It's gonna be the death of me. I enjoyed writing more detailed author's notes this week because I felt like it reminded me of what I actually like in these novels, the women characters.

I love nice weather so I cannot wait to get these assignments done so I can go play with my dog at the park! When I was at church this morning, it gave me a really good message that I want to share. My pastor was talking about Jonas and the fish. He was reminding us to pray often and early, and once you prayed let that worry go and let God talk to the problem for you. This really spoke to me because recently I have been feeling a disconnect between an important person in my life and I have been fretting it. I feel like I can just release that worry to him and let him deal with it. He'll steer me right.

In my women and genders study class, we discussed this week about skin lighteners. I felt like this related to this class because the documentary we watched said that this was a popular trend of the Indian culture. I couldn't believe this. One thing that made it hard to believe is that being a white girl, I am always trying to get tan. In the summer, I look like a Mexican! It hit me hard because it felt like we are all trying to change our appearances into something we are not. Personally, I love the skin color of different races. I don't understand why everyone wants to be white. However, it stems from a system that benefits the white man. As if he is the only one that has all the power. I believe we all need to love our own skin, and embrace it. It is apart of who we are and the origin from where we come from. We need to join to together and embrace the differences of every person.

Image Source: Psalm 73:26

Storytelling for Week 4: The Beauty and the God

Brahma created thousands of ordinary creatures called man. Once he saw how helpless they were alone, Brahma created enough women that every one of these men could have a woman of their own. However, when Brahma was creating the last woman, he grew very fond of her and took his time with every detail of her body. As her creator, he wanted the gift of naming her. Brahma thought long and hard on what her name would be when he finally decided on Ahalya, meaning "one with an impeccable beauty." It was only fitting that her beauty went along with this beautiful name. Alas, Brahma was ready to bless the world with his masterpiece, but Indra was lurking near and creating a master plan to dishonor her beauty. Furthermore, Brahma wanted her to live as a normal person with the man he created her for, Gautama, and among her own kind. Hence, to avoid Indra, he strategically placed her near Gautama and a great distance from Indra. Therefore, Indra didn't get the opportunity to meet her before Gautama and Ahalya were already married.

Meanwhile, Gautama was patiently waiting on Brahma to create his very own woman, as everyone else in his world had already found their mate. Gautama waited for his one and only while diligently praying to Brahma to bless him when he found timely. He knew that his faith would bring him what he needed in Brahma's time.

Finally, Gautama laid eyes on Ahalya. It was love at first sight for him. However, Ahalya just went along with the arrangement because no one else was available. As time went on, she grew to love Gautama. However, Ahalya was always stared at and complimented by everyone she came across. This created a great deal of curiosity for Ahalya about different experiences.  Gautama saw the doubt in Ahalya's eyes, and moved the couple to the countryside so that no one would tempt her any longer.

Finally Indra arrived in town, but the townspeople told him about Ahalya's marriage to Gautama. Also they mentioned that the two had already gone to live in the countryside in hopes of secluding Ahalya from other people in the world. Indra panicked and whispered to himself, "I am too late." Ahalya, his infatuation, was already married and living happily ever after in peace. Unfortunately, Indra still lusted for Ahalya. And so, Indra was determined not to give up until he saw the marriage for himself. So he searched high and low for the beautiful Ahalya. As time went on Indra, the king of storms, grew frustrated. His emotions created a rainy period that wouldn't cease until he found Ahalya. Alas, he stumbled upon their modest cottage in the mountains. He saw the couple cooped up in the cabin waiting on the storm to pass. Forgetting about Gautama, Indra became mesmerized by Ahalya's beauty. He then decided she would be his, even if it was just for a moment. After all, Indra was the god of storms, and he knew just what to do to get rid of Gautama long enough for him to be alone with Ahalya. 

The next day, Indra made the weather clear up. Gautama went to the river to meditate and bathe just as Indra had hoped. That's when Indra took advantage of his chance to meet Ahalya. He rushed to the front door as soon as Gautama was out of sight. But suddenly, right when Indra was about to knock on the door, he remembered they had no neighbors. Ahalya would simply be scared of a stranger's visit. Indra quickly decided to disguise himself as Gautama in order to meet her. Upon entering the cottage, Ahalya's presence was too overwhelming for Indra, and he decided to take what he had wanted from her quickly before Gautama returned.

Afterwards, Indra had an epiphany and felt guilty for deceiving such a beautiful woman. He rushed out of the cabin in a daze and quickly got rid of the disguise. Though, as Indra was leaving, Gautama was returning from the river and caught a glimpse of Indra. Gautama knew what had happened and cursed Indra by castrating him for taking what didn't belong to him.

(Image Source: Kali, Indra, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva)

Author's note: I chose to write the story of Ahalya from Indra's perspective because I wanted to display how deceiving the gods seem to me. This creates my question: How is a woman to remain pure if a god could deceive her by using disguises? While reading this story in The Ramayana, I didn't feel like Ahalya was totally convinced that Indra was Gautama. However, in fear of possibly denying her husband, she allowed it to happen anyways. I felt as though this made her seem curious because she saw through the disguise but still allowed it to occur so I portrayed her in this way in my story. Indra is a fascinating character. It seems difficult to be a woman of good virtue when in these times a woman had to fear being tricked by a god even though he was disguised as her very own husband. How are women ever to be sure they are allowing the right man to touch their bodies? This would create a great deal of fear for me if I had to worry about catching others in disguises that are trying to fool me. I choose this image because it displays several gods that I feel a mortal has to be careful around. A person may never know when they are being deceived. This is an interesting topic to use in my portfolio because it displays Indra's dynamic personality. 

Bibliography:  

• Buck, William, "Taste this Water", Ramayana: King Rama's Way, (1976): 51-52.
• "Ahalya", Wikipedia. web. 

       

Week 4 Reading Diary B: Betrayal

The Two Wishes

• Rama to be King
• Kaikeyi is at first excited by this but later Manthara scares her of the idea claiming Kaikeyi will become a slave to Kauslaya
• Kaikeyi uses her two promises from long ago against the King
• Rama exiled to the forest for 14 years and Bhrata king of Ayodhya
• Rama is obedient and makes sure his father stay true to his word even though Dasharhata doesn't want to go through with it
• Sumantra tries to convince Dasharhata to relent his command but Dasharhata cannot and Rama won't let him
• Sumantra charioteers Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana out of the city
• The Kosala's follow Rama out of town trying to stop him

Lord of the Wild Trees

• Guha rejects Shiva's statue by kicking it everyday
• Upon Guha's death, Shiva rescues him from Yama --> Shiva considers Guha a "loyal follower" even though his intentions were to dishonor him
• Dasharhata almost teaches Kaikeyi the animal language which would explode his heart --> cause his death
• Kaikeyi has been conniving undercover for a while now
• Dasharhata deters this attempt for now
• Sumantra returns to Ayodhya leaving Rama and others alone where they find shelter in Chikrahuta --> deceived, this place is not peaceful
• Upon Sumantra's arrival with the news of Rama going further into the forest, Dasharhata remembers why this is happening: Karma
• Dasharhata had killed a young boy of blind parents by accident in earlier years and the parents told him he would get what he gave them in return by he gave them the peace of death as well
• Dasharata dies in his sleep that night 

(Rama leaving for exile Wikimedia)

  

Week 4 Reading Diary A: The history of Ravana

Born as a Man:

• Valmiki is telling the story (poet)
• Buck's tale begins by Rama exiled Sita because of gossip and then reverts backwards to tell the story of Ravana vs. Rama.
• Sita is sad and pregnant with Rama's twins when Valmiki is called upon to teach Rama's sons, Kusha and Lava, about their dad.
• Valmiki begins the story by telling them that Dasaratha had lived 6,000 years and was never blessed with any children, so he performed a sacrifice to get their dad and uncles.
• Meanwhile, the God's have created a monster, Ravana and go to Vishnu for help.
• Vishnu is reincarnated as Rama--> Dasaratha's first son
• Vishwamitra arrives at Ayodha when their dad was 16 asking for Rama's help with the rakshasas --> Ravana's race
• Vishwamitra describes the creation of the rakshasas and later the creation of Ravana  

The Thorn in the World's side:

• Ravana and his 2 brothers and sister are born
• Ravana obtains his powers by "torchering" the gods but forgets to protect himself from mortals
• Ravana obtains Lanka for rakshasas
• Ravana kills a messenger sent by his dad, Vaishravana
• Ravana forces Manibhadra and Indra to surrender
• Indra cursed Ravana 
• Ravana is captured by Shiva but later released because of his beautiful singing
•  Haihaya people did not surrender and their king almost beat him
• Ravana's grandfather rescued him, Pulastya
• Ravana took all of the gods who had surrendered to Lanka as servants (Yama: God of Death, Vasuki and Varuna, Surya: sun, Chandra: moon, Indra)
• Ravana's son actually captured Indra while Indrani and Chitratha: beautiful singer, were saved
• Vishwamitra asks for Rama to come train in the forest for his destined fight against Ravana (Lakshamana accompanies them as well)
• Subahu is conquers during this journey but Maricha is only bowed in the heart and lives

Taste This Water

• While Rama is traveling in the forest he restores Ahlaya to her former beauty
• Ahlaya was given all the beauties in the beginning and married Guatama
• Indra wanted her for himself so he disguised himself as Guatama and made love to her. However, Ahlaya wasn't fooled by the disguise and still allowed it to happen
• While Indra was leaving Guatama saw him --> he punished Ahlaya by passing out all of her beauty to other women and leaving her invisible
• Rama was the only one that could release her from this curse
• Once he did Guatama came back for her 
• In Mithila, Rama breaks Shiva's bow in half winning him Sita as his wife
• Sita and Rama are soulmates (reincarnated Gods that were married)
• In doing this, Rama also won his three brothers King Janaka's other daughters as their wives as well
• King Janaka sent for King Dasarhata and they had an extravagant event
• Rama, Sita, and the other couples returned home to Ayodha where Rama grows close to King Dasarhata -> learning King traits

(Ahlaya bowing to Rama after he frees her from her invisible curse

photographed by Govardhan Wikimedia)

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)