Reading Notes: Narayan's Mahabharata Part C

This section of readings was heavily focused on war and prepping for it. One chapter that interested me was 48. Karna and Indra. This was an interesting story. Karna has natural armor and earing that protect him. Indra is worried that this puts his son Arjuna in danger so he wants to take them away. This story includes details like turning into a cow to trick Karna, the gift of a thunderbolt, and a lot of other creative details. This would be a good story to retell. It has a lot of those classic elements to it. A hero with a great strength, a trickster wanting to take it away, them making a deal, and the epic weapon to kill any foe. This story could be told in modern day or in another anchient culture. Another interesting chapter is 50. Riddles at the Lake. This chapter is really funny. One by one the men approach a pond, hear a voice, deink anyway, and then drop dead. You would think if you see your two friend laying dead after taking a sip you would reconsider. Also I can picture Arjuna randomly shooting arrows at the talking pond and then deciding to drink anyway. The last of the four good through a series of riddles and the pond reveal itself as Dharma, God of wisdom. Using wishes Yudhishthira is able to bring his three friends back to life so they can continue. This story has a lot of potential to be a good story. One idea would be to crank up the absurdity of the story and tell it as a sort of dark comedy. I could also try to tell it with modern times, or substitute it as a completely different folktale. Either way this story has a lot of potential to be one of my best so far. 

Yudhisthira in a Lake

Wikimedia Commons

The Mahabharata, A Summary by John Mandeville Macfie (1921). Mahabharata

Week 6 Story: Lakshman Vs Meghnad

Revised portfolio Version at BDOUPORTFOLIO



Finally, the bell rang and all the kids ran out of class to the playground for recess. Immediately, everyone grouped up into their friend groups and began to either play on the monkey bars or play basketball. All of the groups but two. Rama was the king of fourth grade and was determined to get his girlfriend back from school bully Ravana. Ravana thought he was better than everyone else because he was older, but that was only because he failed first grade twice. 

        Rama's younger brother Lakshman was eager to win his brother's favor as well as escape his shadow. When the inevitable fight broke out, he knew he was going to have to do something big. Lakshman's moment came when Ravana's biggest baddest buddy Meghnad came his way. "Hey dummy I am going to kick your ugly butt," Lakshman called out. "No way stinky head," Meghnad replied. Now, the fight was on. Lakshman knew he was in for one heck of a fight. Rumor had it, Meghnad was in possession of the three sacred weapons- a laser pointer, a slingshot, and the stickiest of the sticky hands. 

             The whole school yard gathered to watch the fight ensue. Both of them circled around seizing up their opponent; waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Suddenly, Meghnad leaped forward, both hands a whirlwind of slaps and scratches. Lakshman recovered from this initial attack and did his best to get some good slaps in. For a moment, Lakshman thought he was going to be able to win but suddenly he found himself on the ground. Meghnad loomed over him winding up for a devastating crane kick. Lakshman knew he had been beaten. Suddenly, Rama stepped out of the crowd and with a mighty slap turned Meghnad into a crying baby on the ground. Addressing the crowd, Rama said, "fights over, go back to playing." Rama helped Lakshman back to his feet and they went back to their turf by the swings.

 Authors Note: I based my story on the fight between Rama's brother Lakshman and Ravana's son Meghnad. I told the story as a schoolyard fight between elementary students rather than between mighty warriors. In the story the two meet on the battlefield. Lakshman is killed and then revived back to life. Rama then steps in and ends the fight by killing Meghnad. I thought it would be funny and interesting to tell such an epic and powerful battlefield as a silly playground slap fight. Despite the huge change in setting, characters, and dialogue, I actually kept the major points and plot of the original story intact. 

The Prince Indrajit or Meghnad

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Victory_of_Meghanada_by_RRV.jpg

F.J. Gould, The Divine Archer, http://iereadingguides.blogspot.com/2014/05/reading-guide-week-1-gould-divine-archer.html

Ramayana, The Epic of Rama, Prince of India, (1899). Chapter 66. Lakshmana and Indrajit

Reading Notes: Narayan's Mahabharata Part B

Part two has a lot of interesting topics for potential stories. The one that interests me the most takes place in chapters 22 Bhima and Hidimba and 23 Bhima and Hidimbi. The story is the Rakshasha Himdimi sending his sister to get Bhima for him to eat. Instead she fall deeply in love with him, transforms into a beautiful woman,  and warns him of his impending danger. When he first is informed of the danger he is not worried at all and basically says that he is the danger.Himdimi comes and Bhima fights him. Bhima beats him and is begrudgingly  forced into marrying the sister Hidimba. Despite this early animosity they go of into the wilderness together and make a child.  They go on to seem to really love each other. I think this is a really complex story and I love the parallels to the story of Rama and Ravana. Every detail between the two stories is switched backwards. The character I want to focus on is Bhima in these stories. He is clearly a very capable and powerful warrior like Rama if not even stronger than him.  He kills the Rakshasta Himdimi and then Baka with seemingly little effort. Their personality could not be more different. Bhima is much more confident and even cocky. In his originally treatment of his future wife we see that he is not nearly as kind and was willing to kill her as well before marrying her instead. I will write a story about a over confident and arrogant guy who completely backs up what he says. He is also a honorable man. For instance he didn't want to disturb his family or let them get hurt. He would rather fight a Rakshasha alone than wake them, which also speaks of his cocky attitude.





The Mahabharata, A Summary by John Mandeville Macfie (1921). Mahabharata

The Strong Bhima
Image Link of Bhima

Week 5 Story Planning: Lakshman V Meghnad

On my next story I would like to focus on the fight between Rama's brother Lakshman and Ravana's son Meghnad or Indrajit as he is also called. I was interested in this because both of these characters seem to be strong and capable warriors in their own right. Throughout the story Lakshman is overshadowed by his brother , so I wanted to focus on him for a story. 

       Both telling's of the story are very different the first reading has Lakshman using his bow to kill his foe after a lengthy and hard battle. The second reading has Lakshman falling, Rama using a bow to kill the foe, and Lakshman being revived by herbs. This is one of the big contrast between the two and while the outcome is the same it still opens up my story to a wider range of concepts. Between this two this story leaves a lot open to interpretation and a lot of direction to take it creativity. I have already taken my last few stories in creative directions so I want to take this one in a completely different direction than any of my others. I think it would be unique to tell this story in a schoolyard setting. Lakshman the younger brother of the most popular guy in his cliché taking on the second of a rival cliché. 

      One thing that surprised and interested me was the background information of Meghnad. He is described as one of the greatest warriors of all time possessing the three supreme celestial weapons. He is also shed in a much more positive light. He is described a brave and loyal patriot, who is a loving husband and father. Indrajit. This description of honor is in stark contrast from the demon warrior in the reading. In my story I would like to show the two as rivals from two competing groups rather than an epic battle between good and evil. 

The Prince Indrajit or Meghnad

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Victory_of_Meghanada_by_RRV.jpg

F.J. Gould, The Divine Archer, http://iereadingguides.blogspot.com/2014/05/reading-guide-week-1-gould-divine-archer.html

Ramayana, The Epic of Rama, Prince of India, (1899). Chapter 66. Lakshmana and Indrajit

Reading Notes: The Divine Archer Part B

While reading the rest of the book I realized that I really liked the flow of the book. It was a lot easier to transition between the different topics of the saga. It was also a really short and concise retelling. One fight I would like to include in my stories is the fight between Bali and Sugrivia. This book goes over it in a few sentences. I think this leaves it open to interpretation and expansion. An epic battle between to super powered monkey men, Until Rama shoots Bali dead. One interesting quote that maybe I missed in the last readings was when Rama still refuses to enter the city for fourteen years. He still refuses to break his exile as he searches for Sita.
Something else I would like to include is Page 59. Ravana is in council with his demon advisers on the topic of war. Ravana gets very angry when his brother advises against war. when his spies come back telling of the army gathered Ravana still sneers and seems confident. Then Rama shoots and arrow which knocked off Ravanas crown and his queens earing. Here is where we finally see Ravanas confidence shaken as everyone is begging him to yield. (Page 59-63).  On the very next page is another neat action story of Lakshman and the demon prince Meghnad. I see this as a small preliminary fight before the heavyweight round of Rama and Ravana. This fight also has Lakshman being resurected after he falls with herbs. Then Rama goes out and fells him like a log with his bow. The actuall fight between Rama and Ravana is once again only a few sentences. Instead it focuses much more on the over arching battle and especially the after math. I enjoyed how this story told a lot of new sub-stories and details rather than rehashing what I have previously read.

Vali Vs Sugriva

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c8/Stone_bas_relief_at_Banteay_Srei_in_Cambodia.jpg

F.J. Gould, The Divine Archer, http://iereadingguides.blogspot.com/2014/05/reading-guide-week-1-gould-divine-archer.html

Reading Notes: The Divine Archer Part A

It was really interesting to read through part of Rama's story again from a different perspective and writing style. Many of the events were told very differently in this book. Another main event is the meeting of Rama and Sita, while similar is described differently. In this account Rama knows he will love her forever as soon as he hears the bells on her feet, before he even sees her. They do not even speak but both fall in love. This is followed by Rama bending the bow to win her hand(page 12-14).  One major difference is Rama being tempted by a woman to leave his wife. This book goes into more detail that she is a demon woman and is not described as beautifully. Rama offering his brother comes across as much less noble. The battle that followed is also interesting (page 36-38).
            What interested me the most was the story of Sita's kidnapping by Ravana. I am using this in my storybook and am glad to have additional inspiration to make my story better. This part of the book did not expand much detail on this event. It does show Sita in a much more negative and angry way when she tells Lakshmana to go to Rama. Later Rama is much more angry when Sita is gone. This book seems to show the heroes as much more flawed humans than the heroic godly figures of the last reading. 
      I would like to include Jatayu's heroic rescue attempt of Sita and his demise. When found by Rama he says "Now I am ready to die, for I have seen your lotus face " and then dies(Page 44). I think this would be a cool event to include in a story. This also further shows how great Rama is and the respect and admiration he has. Also his funeral and how Rama respected him for his character rather that outward characteristics.

Rama and Sita

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ram_and_Sita_as_a_couple_(bazaar_art,_1950%27s).jpg

F.J. Gould, The Divine Archer, http://iereadingguides.blogspot.com/2014/05/reading-guide-week-1-gould-divine-archer.html

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The Prince Indrajit or Meghnad

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Victory_of_Meghanada_by_RRV.jpg

Week 4 Story: Fight Night

     Ladies and Gentleman, welcome to tonight's title fight. Tonight is a special fight between two heavyweights. In the left corner, we have the ten-headed king of Lanka himself. The fear of the Gods, the ruler of the Rakshasas. The one, the only, the great Ravana! And in the right corner is tonight's challenger. He is a mighty and powerful warrior in his own right. The son of  Dasharatha. He is here to rescue his beloved Sita and has a lot to prove tonight. The great Rama. And without any further ado let the fight begin!

       Rama is off to a strong start he is using what appears to be a flying chariot. And Ravana has a strong answer to that and uses a Rakshasa weapon. The Rakshasa weapon just turned into flaming serpent arrows, I don't see how Rama is going to get out of this. Wow, Rama just used a Garunda-weapon. His weapon appears to be even more powerful and his arrows seem to be eating Ravanas. 

Rama is putting the pressure on Ravana now. Ravana seems wounded and is trying to get away. It looks like we are going to have a new champion here tonight. Rama seems to be having a bit of trouble ending the fight. What's this? Someone from the audience is telling Rama how to end the fight. It sounds like he is saying that If Rama worships the Sun and is worthy he will be able to defeat Ravana.

     Rama seems to be listening to this advice. He appears to be singing a hymn and purifying himself with water saplings. Ravana is getting back up though and looks ready for round two. They are both really going at it now. It looks like this could be anyone's fight. Every time Rama cuts off one of his heads another one is growing back. I have never seen a fight like this folks. And with a final blow with his flaming weapon it looks like Rama will win! We have a new champion, the man with no equal the great Rama!

Authors note: I based my story on Chapter 70 The Battle of Rama and Ravana. I told this epic showdown as if both of these were Heavyweight boxers fighting in a ring as the other Gods watch on. I stuck to the main plot and tried to include some of the big moments in the battle. I told the story from the perspective of the announcer of the fight shouting to the audience.

Rama and Ravana fighting

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rama_and_Hanuman_fighting_Ravana,_an_album_painting_on_paper,_c1820.jpg

Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists by Sister Nivedita. Chapter 70 ramayana-battle-of-rama-and-ravana

Ramayama Part:Part D

This reading was my favorite of the four so far. It featured the highlights of the topic I am most interested in: Epic Battles. The chapter that most supports this topic is Chapter 70 the  Battle of Rama and Ravana. This chapter depicts Rama attempting to beat the evil that is Ravana. This chapter has a lot of powerful language describing the battle between the two. This includes Rama's golden arrows pushing back Ravanas offensive attacks. This gave Rama the ability to wound Ravana and his chariot. At this point Agastya shows up and declares Rama's victory. Another chapter that interests me is earlier in this section is Chapter 62. Rama Attacks. In this chapter we get a further viewing of Ravanas character. In this chapter we see Ravana realizing that he made a big mistake by kidnapping Sita. His spies tell him that Rama is pretty much unstoppable. In response Ravana uses his trickery to confines Sita that Rama is dead. Unfortunately Sita is not Convinces with Ravanas illusions. Another feature of this reading section is the reunion of Rama and Sita in Chapter 73.What most intrigued me about this is how Rama is not quick to welcome Sita back into his arms. He questions her loyalty to him, despite the fact that she was literally kidnapped against her will. To prove her loyalty Sita is willing to sacrifice herself to the flame in order to prove herself. Fortunately this sacrifice proves to fire itself that she is pure, but this still seems like a bit much.  In my stories I hope to focus on the futileness of Ravana's struggle as he is slowly pushed back and then defeated by Rama. I think I will be able to focus primarily on the battle between these two Titans and then conclude with the surprising finish of Rama being a bit of a jerk to Sita. Fortunately the actually story concludes with a happy ending with both members of the happy couple ascending into paradise, despite the significance put on Sita's purity.

Rama's monkey army attacking Ravana's forces at Lanka

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravana

Various Authors-M. Dutt, R. Dutt, Gould, Griffith, Hodgson, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Oman, Richardson, and Ryder. The Ramayana Online:Public Domain Edition. http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/2014/04/ramayana-online-public-domain-edition.

Reading Notes: Ramayama part C

I enjoyed this sections reading more than the previous. It delved more into the topic I am most interested in which is Epics Battles. This become apparent in chapters such as 47 The Armies. Here Rama is sending out his armies of monkeys and bears in search of his beloved. I think that this may make a good first chapter in my storybook. Rama gathering and sending out his army of creatures. Others chapters that interested me were chapters 57 and 58, which describe the burning and beginning of the march on Ravanas stronghold city by Rama and his army.
     What I found the most useful in the reading is how much we learned about Rama and Ravana in this section. We see a new side of Rama. He is frantically searching for his Sita and is willing to do whatever it takes to find her. We see him getting frustrated with Sugriva and even hiding in ambush to dishonorably kill Vali. In the later chapters we see that he actually fears the power of Rakshasas. I think this other side of Rama will be interesting to incorporate in some of my stories, I am never a fan of the white knight hero.
      Ravana is also further explored in this section and some of his weaknesses and evil are also further revealed. In chapter 53. Sita and Ravana , Ravana goes so far as to give Sita an ultimatum. If she will not marry him then she will tortured and then killed. In Chapter 56. Hanuman and Ravana, Ravanas weakness of character is further exacerbated when in his anger he wants to kill an envoy and must be talked down by his advisors. It would be interesting to do another story from Ravana's perspective and see him reacting to all these events and him struggling to handle the events of the story.  This section is also a further testament to Sita and Rama's love. Sita is unwilling to break and Rama is willing to do whatever it takes to rescue her.

Angry Ravana threatening Sita

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Angry_Ravana_drawing_his_sword_rushed_at_her_to_kill_Sita.jpg

Various Authors-M. Dutt, R. Dutt, Gould, Griffith, Hodgson, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Oman, Richardson, and Ryder. The Ramayana Online:Public Domain Edition. http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/2014/04/ramayana-online-public-domain-edition.

Topic Reasearch: Epic Battles

The topic I am most interested in is Epic Battles. this topic has a lot of directions I could go in and a lot of different topics i could talk about. The one that most interests me is the Battle of Rama and Ravana. I already told a story from Ravanas perspective and it would be interesting to do that again. I could also re tell the story in a modern setting such as a college. Another interesting topic would be the monkey brothers of Vali and Sugriva. Sugriva also appears and works with Rama in his quest. I propably wouldn't want this to be the feature of my project but I would like to include them in it. Sugriva. It would also be interesting to look at the larger siege of Lanka. March on Lanka. I think it would be interesting to piece this together with the battle with Ravana. For my story I think I would want to focus on Ravana as he struggles to retain what he has.

Ravana-King of Lanka

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ravanan_-_King_of_Lanka.jpg

Feedback Strategies: W 3

The first article I read was Be a Mirror. This article talked more in depth about the growth mindset and practical ways for teachers to incorporate it in their classroom. One interesting point was to take yourself out of your feedback. Make sure your feedback is about what they are doing and not what you liked and disliked.
The second article I read was Criticizing praise. The author says that it can be a good thing but can also be a bad thing. When receiving constant praise people can begin to become complacent from it. People can also come to expect praise for simple things that do not demand praise but should just be done.
I think these articles did a good job on expanding on what we learned about in last weeks feedback assignment. This week we learned about how to give good feedback and praise. What I took away and will use in my life is trying to take my own biases and thoughts out of my feedback. I feel pretty confident about giving other students feedback and have been pleased with the feedback I have received.

Students giving feedback

https://www.flickr.com/photos/usaghumphreys/5510389153

Week 3 Story: The Great and Powerfull Ravana

    (Revising story at BDOUSTORYBOOK for story book project. Any ideas how to make longer would be much appreciated)

   Ok she's all alone, knows my chance. Rama actually went after that stupid golden deer and his foolish brother even went to help him. I'll just dress up as a forest sage to get close, then I will throw some complements her way to butter her up, then I will give her the big reveal. Alright, here goes nothing.
 
  "Hello, fair and beautiful lady, you must surely be a goddess for your beauty has no equal. With your long hair, lips red as berries, and that body, why are you alone in the forest? Where is your palace for surely you are married to a king or a God?"
      
"I am waiting for my husband Rama the powerful warrior to return, you are welcome to rest here", She tells me. Already bringing up her husband so that's not good, but surely she was impressed by how beautiful I told her she is. She will surely be overtaken when she knows who I am and what I can offer her.

"Behold, for I am no ordinary Sage, I am Ravana. I am the king of Lanka, I rule over the Rakshasas. Even the gods stand in fear and awe of my power. A women as beautiful as you deserves to be by the side of such. Come and be my wife and you shall share in all of my power and fame. My great empire will be yours, you will be waited on by legion, anything you wish simply ask and it will be so"

       I offer her the world and she dares reject me. She says I am nothing compared the her husband. The great and virtuous Rama. That I Ravana, dread of the Gods cannot even compete with him That I am a jackal trying to take a lioness from a lion. She tells me I might as well try to rip a mountain up by its roots than wed her.

        "You must not be aware of my power and glory. I could kill death itself if it suited me. I say it be and I will blacken the Sun from the sky and rend the Earth apart with my great arrows"

         After all that how can she still not be impressed? Well I guess the only thing to do now is to turn into a giant ten headed demon and kidnap her.

Authors Note: I retold the story of Ravana and Sita- Ch 35 in the Ramayana. In this story after being left alone Sita is approached by a powerful Rakshasa named Ravana. He hopes to steal her away from Rama and when that doesn't work he literally steals her away in his sky chariot. I told the story from Ravana's point of view. Switching back and forth from his inner thoughts and dialogue. I stuck to the original progression structure of the story and dialogue. I also tried to keep some of Ravana and Sita's ,most important argument points in the story. I took a lot of creative liberties with the rest of the dialogue and the inner thoughts of Ravana.

The Great Ravana

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ravana.jpg

Donald A. Mackenzie, Indian Myth and Legend -Chaper 35 Ravana and Sita