Week 14 Reading: Epified - Krishna Part B

 

Source

Krishna Humbles Brahma

Krishna and his friends sat by a river to eat. Brahma, the creator of the universe appeared before them. Brahma saw Krishna share foods with his friends. He wondered why a God would share with cowhearders. He decided to test Krishna's divine power. He took their cows. Krishna noticed them missing and went to find them. Brahma also took Krishna's friends. Krishna knew it was Brahma doing this, so he created the lost cows and friends out of himself. No one in the village could tell they weren't real. A year passed and life went on normally in the village. No one knew. Brahma returned, and was shocked at the villagers not missing what he had stolen. He realized everything was Krishna. He recognized his power and returned the missing cows. 

Bibliography: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrfttttXV1U&list=PLrWYQjLLbXcgqdSC7HkTFsIFZSAQ6Qg7f&index=2

Week 14 Reading: Epified - Krishna Part A

 

Source

Krishna - had enemies before he was born. They tried to keep him from being born. They couldn't prevent his birth, so they tried to keep him from growing up. He survived and became a king. They were apart of his world.

Kansa - A voice came from the sky and told him of his death. The 8th child born to the couple would be his killer. He threw the couple into prison, because he could not bear to kill his sister. So he killed her children instead. Every time she gave birth to a child he smashed them against the wall. Her 7th child was transferred into the womb of another woman by the goddess. Everyone thought she had a miscarriage because she didn't give birth, but another woman did in her stead. Her 8th child was Vishnu and the gods rejoiced.

Vasudev - He feared for his god-baby, but everyone was put into a deep sleep. He heard a voice tell him it's ok to go outside. When he got to the river, a serpent emerged and protected him from the rain with its hood. He found the people of Nand. He stole a child, and replaced her with his son. He was happy his son was ok, but what about Maya? He's just gonna let her die

Bibliography: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdyvwlFiPs0&list=PLrWYQjLLbXchvrnCibGQXZjo3FLHppHWD&index=4

Week 13 Reading: Pattanaik. Narayana

 

 

A depiction of Narayana at the Badami Cave Temples in Karnataka. Source.

 

 

Narayana - another name of the Hindu god Vishnu, who is claimed to reside in Bhavsagar on a gigantic five headed snake named Sheshnaag

According to the Bhagavad Gita, he is also the "Guru of the Universe". The Bhagavata Purana declares Narayana as the Supreme Personality of Godhead who engages in the creation of 14 worlds within the universe Brahma who is Deity of rajas-guna, himself sustains, maintains and preserves the universe as Vishnu by accepting sattva-guna. Narayana himself annihilates the universe at the end of Maha-Kalpa as Kalagni Rudra who is presiding deity of tamas-guna. 

 

Narada enjoys provoking people. He constantly compares people and thus spreads anger and ignites quarrels. He fills the mind with jealousy and insecurity

 

 

Bibliography: https://iereadingguides.blogspot.com/2015/11/guide-pattanaiks-calendar-art-part-b.html 

Week 13 Reading: Pattanaik. Shiva to Shankara

 

Source

Ganesha and Kartikeya's race around the world

 

Parvati is a Goddess because she embodies the whole range of emotions from fear to love

Brahma 's 4 heads represent four expressions of the Veda

Khandoba loves turmeric

The Greeks did not believe in God — they had gods and goddesses, but no God or Goddess

 Not much is known about Vishwakarma

 The gods of Greek mythology became masters of the universe by overthrowing the Titans,

Bibliography: https://iereadingguides.blogspot.com/search/label/Guide%3A%20Pattanaik.%20Calendar%20Art

Week 12 Reading: The Krishna Key Part 2

 

 

 

The plot involves four different pieces of a seal which must be brought together to solve the puzzle. Each part of the seal is in the possession of different people who are the descendants of the ancient Yadava tribe, namely Saini, Bhoja, Vrishni, Kukura and Chhedi. The author narrates a detailed version of the post-Mahabharatha history through the protagonist, a distinguished professor of history, who himself happens to be a lineal descendant of Lord Krishna being from Saini tribe of Punjab. The author also portrays the biography of Lord Krishna in his own words, in parallel to the main story-line.

Week 12 Reading: The Krishna Key

 

Source

 

 Professor Ravi Mohan Saini - Professor. Accused of the murder of his best friend. Ends up trying to solve the murder and traveling around to decipher the code Varshney did

Anil Varshney - a famous archaeologist. Deciphered the code of the Indus Valley Seals

Taarak Vakil - a serial killer who thinks hes Kalki - the final avatar of Lord Vishnu. 

 

 

 

Bibliography: 

Title: The Krishna Key
Year: 2012
Author: Ashwin Sanghi

https://iereadingguides.blogspot.com/2014/06/reading-guide-sanghi-krishna-key.html

Week 11 Reading: Babbitt. Jataka Tales Part A

 

Source

 

Dishonest King - wanted a dishonest valuer to get more rich

Valuer - set the price precious goods. Honest and just. Very clever, tricks the kings valuer into selling the city for rice lol

Stupid peasant - made valuer so the king can get rich. Set prices very high since he didn't know their actual value. Made a fool of when he sets a measure of rice to the value of the whole city.

 

https://iereadingguides.blogspot.com/2013/06/reading-guide-babbitt-jataka-tales.html

Week 9: Mahabharata B

 

Source

I can't believe he played Ambra like that

the king diiied

HE GOTTA MAKE SOME BABIES BRUH

he said nah

oh but he has a deus ex brother

the throne is ssaaavvveeeddd

but he was ug ug ugly

she closed her eyes and her child was blind

cant blame her lmao

youngest queen kept her eyes open, but she was still ascared

her child was pale and unhealthy

she asked for a second visit but she sent a servant girl

she was not a feared

she accepted him and her child was BOOMIN

kind and strong

great archer

wisest and most learned man in the land.

taught everything by bishma

but there as rivarly 

they all wanted the throne

Week 7 Reading: Mahabharata Part C

 

Manuscript illustration of the Battle of Kurukshetra. Source.

Kurukshetra War

Allies of  Pandavas:

Panchala

Dwaraka

 Kasi

Kekaya

Magadha

Matsya

Chedi

Pandyas

Telinga

Yadus of Mathura

 

Allies of Kauravas: 

Kings of Pragjyotisha

Anga

Kekaya

Sindhudesa

Mahishmati

Avanti in Madhyadesa

Madra

Gandhara

Bahlika people,

Kambojas

 

Neutrals:

The kingdom of Bhojakata, with its King Rukmi, Vidura, the ex-prime minister of Hastinapur and younger brother to Dhritarashtra, and Balarama were the only neutrals in this war

 

 

Rules of Engagement

The two supreme commanders met and framed "rules of ethical conduct", dharmayuddha, for the war. The rules included:^[33]

• Fighting must begin no earlier than sunrise and end exactly at sunset.
• No more than one warrior may attack a single warrior.
• Two warriors may "duel", or engage in prolonged personal combat, only if they carry the same weapons and they are on the same type of mount (on foot, on a horse, on an elephant, or in a chariot).
• No warrior may kill or injure a warrior who has surrendered.
• One who surrenders becomes a prisoner of war and will then be subject to the protections of a prisoner of war.
• No warrior may kill or injure an unarmed warrior.
• No warrior may kill or injure an unconscious warrior.
• No warrior may kill or injure a person or animal not taking part in the war.
• No warrior may kill or injure a warrior whose back is turned away.
• No warrior may attack a woman.
• No warrior may strike an animal not considered a direct threat.
• The rules specific to each weapon must be followed. For example, it is prohibited to strike below the waist in mace warfare.
• Warriors may not engage in any unfair warfare.

Most of these rules were broken in the course of the war after the fall of Bhishma. For example, the second and sixth rules were violated on the 13th day, when Abhimanyu was slain.

Reading Week 6: Mahabharata Part A

Manuscript illustration of the Battle of Kurukshetra. Source: wiki

Shantanu - the king who rules from the city of Hastinapura. Falls in love with a woman and marries her on the condition he never question her actions

Ganga - The personification of the river Ganges. She drowns her newborn children in the river in order to return them to heaven. She does this because they are being punished for stealing Vashishtha's cow. After Shanatnu stops her killing the eighth child, she returns into the river.

Devavrata/Bhishma - The eighth child of Shantanu and Ganga. Regent for Vichitravirya.

Satyavati - Woman Shantanu falls in love with. Her father denies him because he already has an heir. Has two sons with Shantanu.

Chitrangada - Shantanu and Satyayati's son. Dies soon after becoming king.

Vichitravirya - Becomes king after Chitrangada's death. 

Amba - Taken by Bhishma to maryy V. She is already promised to the king of Shalwa, but he denies her because she was in another mans house. She plans to enact her revenge on Bhishma.

Ambika - Marries V, but has no children with him. Has son with Vyasa who is born blind  because she closed her eyes.

Ambalika - Marries V but has no children with him. Has son with Vyasa but is born pale because she was pale with fright. She convinces her maid to sleep with Vvasa, who has a normal child.  

Dhritarashtra - child of Vyasa andAmbika. Born blind

Pandu - child of Vyasa and Ambalika. Born pale. Cursed after killing a deer who was a celestial being. He was cursed to die while making love.

Vidura - Child of Vyasa and the maid who is born normal

Reading Notes: Ramayana Part C

 

Hanuman tearing up his chest to show Sita-Rama in his heart

(source: wiki)

 

Hanuman

Son of the wind God Vayu, and devotee of Rama

God of Wisdom, Strength, Courage, Devotion and Self-Discipline

As a child, he pranked a meditating sage who cursed him into forgetting his powers. 

Meets Rama and Lakshmana in the monkey kingdom of Kishkinda. Rama gives Hanuman his ring to give Sita, and he heads out in search for her.

The search group head south, and come to the ocean. In the distance is the island of Lanka. None of the group can jump far enough to make it to the island, but the bear Jambavan remembers Hanuman used to be able to do such great things, and lifts his curse.

 

The giant leap of Hanuman to Lanka

Hanuman grows into the size of a mountain, and makes the jump across the water. He finds on the island the city of Ravana and his demon followers. 

 

Etymology:

The meaning or origin of the word "Hanuman" is unclear. In the Hindu pantheon, deities typically have many synonymous names, each based on some noble characteristic, attribute, or reminder of a mythical deed achieved by that deity.[18]:31–32 One interpretation of "Hanuman" is "one having a disfigured jaw". This version is supported by a Puranic legend wherein infant Hanuman mistakes the Sun for a fruit, heroically attempts to reach it, and is wounded in the jaw for his attempt

Bibliography:  

Title: The Ramayana: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic
Author: Kamban / R. K. Narayan
Year: 1972

https://iereadingguides.blogspot.com/2015/05/week-2-of-2-narayans-ramayana-reading.html

Reading Notes: Ramayana Part B

Rama fighting Ravana. Image from book Ramayana: Divine Loophole by Sanjay Patel.

Characters:

Rama/Vishnu - Human incarnation of Vishnu; Titular hero of the Ramayana

King Dashartha - Father of Rama

Lakshmana - Brother to Rama

Vishvamitra - Asks for Rama's help fighting the Demons who harass him

Sita/Lakshmi - Rama's wife; Incarnation of Lakshmi

Ravana - King of Lanka; Adversary of Rama

Demons:

Thataka - Demon who was once a human

Maricha - Son of Thataka

Subahu - Son of Thataka

Etymology:

Rama - incarnation of Vishnu, from Sanskrit Ramah, literally "lovely," from stem of ramate "stands still, rests, is pleased."

Vishnu - name of a principal Hindu deity, 1630s, from Sanskrit Vishnu, probably from root vish- and meaning "all-pervader" or "worker."

Bibliography: 
Title: The Ramayana: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic
Author: Kamban / R. K. Narayan
Year: 1972

https://iereadingguides.blogspot.com/2015/05/narayan-ramayana-kamban.html

Reading Notes: Ramayana Part A

 

 Sarayu River at Bageshwar, Uttarakhand

Setting:

Ayodhya - Birthplace of Lord Rama; Setting of Ramayana; Located in the Kingdom of Kosala; Some believe it to be the origin of the legendary city Ayodhya;

Sarayu - River that runs through the city of Ayodhya

Kosala Kingdom - Ancient Indian kingdom;

 

Etymology:

Ayodhya - "The word "Ayodhya" is a regularly formed derivation of the Sanskrit verb yudh, "to fight, to wage war". Yodhya is the future passive participle, meaning "to be fought"; the initial a is the negative prefix; the whole, therefore, means "not to be fought" or, more idiomatically in English, "invincible"."

Sarayu - "Sanskrit root sar "to flow"; as a masculine stem, saráyu- means "air, wind", i.e. "that which is streaming"."

Geography:

Ayodhya - "Ayodhya has a humid subtropical climate, typical of central India. Summers are long, dry and hot, lasting from late March to mid-June, with average daily temperatures near 32 °C (90 °F). They are followed by the monsoon season which lasts till October, with annual precipitation of approximately 1,067 mm (42.0 in) and average temperatures around 28 °C (82 °F). Winter starts in early November and lasts till the end of January, followed by a short spring in February and early March. Average temperatures are mild, near 16 °C (61 °F), but nights can be colder."

 

Kosala -  "The Kosala region had three major cities, Ayodhya, Saket and Shravasti, and a number of minor towns as Setavya, Ukattha, Dandakappa, Nalakapana and Pankadha. According to the Puranas and the Ramayana epic, Ayodhya was the capital of Kosala during the reign of Ikshvaku and his descendants.^[32] Shravasti is recorded as the capital of Kosala during the Mahajanapada period (6th–5th centuries BCE),^[33] but post-Maurya (2nd–1st centuries BCE) kings issued their coins from Ayodhya"

Sarayu River Range

 

Bibliography: 
Title: The Ramayana: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic
Author: Kamban / R. K. Narayan
Year: 1972

https://iereadingguides.blogspot.com/2015/05/narayan-ramayana-kamban.html

 

Reading Notes: Week 2 Anthology

Notes for Goblin City: 

Captain: Observant, keen, discerning

he pretended to be asleep, and looked out of the corner of his eye.

Hollywood casting: Kurt Russell. I just really like Kurt Russell.

Fairy: Calculating, powerful, determined

and she determined to save the men

Hollywood casting: Eva Green. I image the fairy as a kind of General in war with the goblins. I think she'd play that role rather well.

She-Goblins: Hungry, hateful, unsympathetic, vile 

"Man’s meat, man’s meat, that’s what Goblins like to eat!"

Hollywood casting: A bunch of copies of Starla from Regular Show

Flying Horse: Laborious, generous

"Who wants to go home? Climb up, then!"

Hollywood casting:

Sailors: Eager, followers, distrusting

Some of them believed him, and some said he must have been dreaming

Hollywood casting: Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, and Jules Munshin from On The Town

 

Setting: A quiet fishing village near a cold, mountainous region.

  

Bibliography: The Giant Crab, and Other Tales from Old India by W.H.D. Rouse

 

 

 Goblin Market illustrated by Arthur Rackham (image source: bl.uk)

This story reminded me of The Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti. This image is taken from a book of illustrations for her poems. This poem is the story of two sisters: Laura and Lizzie. Lizzie eats the river goblin's fruit, and begins to decline in health when she can't have more. The image shows her sister Laura attempting to buy fruit for her sister, but having no intention to eat it herself, the goblins swarm her and try to force her to eat it. Laura, covered with the juices and pulp of the fruit, returns to her sister who eats the pulp from her body. She eventually recovers.

“We must not look at goblin men,

We must not buy their fruits:

Who knows upon what soil they fed

Their hungry thirsty roots?”

Week 2 Reading Overview

 Week 2

After reading through the choices, I want to start out with Narayan's version of the Ramayana for weeks 3 and 4, and then switch to the Tiny Tales. I chose this to sort of get the entire story, and then get more background from the Tiny Tales.

The two comics I thought were interesting were Ghatotkacha: The Chivalrous Demon and The Lord of Lanka: The Rise and Fall of a Demon King. The titles are what caught my attention, but the stories were very interesting and I wanted to dig into them.

I couldn't narrow these down, so I chose four videos that I thought were interesting.

Underwater Cities: I chose this video because the title initially intrigued me. I thought of Zealandia or Atlantis.

Sacred Trees | Epified: I watched this video for the same reason - the title. I didn't know that trees were so integral in Indian mythology, and it made me think of other trees involved in myths (e.g. The World Tree).

Ancient Technology - Atlantis and India: I thought this video was really cool - I find it fun to to think of the possibilities of ancient tech, and especially with Atlantis.

 The Tale of the Lion and the Crane: I really enjoyed this story, and thought this had a great message. When I searched for an image, I wanted it to relate to this story.

Image source: the lion and the crane - untextbook)