Reading Notes; Babbitt's Jataka Tales, Part B

The Princes and the Water-Sprite was an interesting tale because it sounded so much like the Ramayana, when Rama is exiled! The reason he was exiled was due to Kaikeyi wanting King Dasharathra to make her son, Bharata, king (instead of Rama). In this story, the queen asked the King to let Sun Prince be the king, instead of the Prince of Stars (who was the oldest). Both Sun Prince and Bharata realized what was happening later, and both offered to go with the other sons to live in exile. In the Ramayana, however, Rama convinced Bharata to stay. In this story, the Sun Prince convinced the brothers to let him go with them into exile. I thought this was super interesting since both the Ramayana and this tale told a similar story, although with different styles and characters. 

If I do a rewrite of one of these stories, I might do Why the Owl is Not King of the Birds, and give different reasons as to why the owl and the crow are enemies. 

I also could do the Princes and the Water-Sprite and retell it in yet another way! There are so many stories with exiles, so I could either write another one or do one where nobody is exiled.

I could also write a story about the Crab and the Crane, except make the crane the victim and the crabs/fishes the predators.

Reading Notes; Babbitt's Jataka Tales, Part A

I really love stories like these! They're short, simple, and always have a great underlying theme incorporated into it. The moral of the story is always something relatable. 

Many of these were about creatures outsmarting the other animal in the story, but they each had their own twist and plot. I really liked The Ox Who Won the Forfeit because it showed how a person can act like two different people when around two different groups. The owner of the Ox had always been nice, but as soon as he had to show him off, he was very rude to the Ox to show he was powerful to the other bystanders. I feel like this happens a lot with people nowadays; they want to look good in front of others so they leave some of their moral and principles behind for a little bit and act completely different from what they are usually like. If someone wants to impress someone else, he/she oftentimes changes. I, for one, do not like when people do this because I believe everyone should be themselves 24/7. Obviously we all have a sense of how to act in an interview setting and with our friends, but our overall personality should not change. Our morals and principles should not change. So I think I'll rewrite my story based off of this Jakata tale. It's one of my favorites and I think the underlying theme is very perceptive and relatable.  

Source: The owner and the ox, after the owner has realized he should always respect his ox.

Bibliography: Ellen C. Babbitt's Jataka Tales.

Week 9 Story; The One With the Ugly Ducklings

Gandhari and Dritarashtra bumped into each other as they were trying to drink water from a beautiful, pure lake nearby. Both ducks were blind, so they were not aware of the other one attempting to drink from the same lake at the same spot. Though they couldn't see, they immediately fell in love with the other's touch. They could feel each other's soft and luscious feathers and yearned for the other's embrace. Each day after their first encounter, Gandhari laid an egg. this occurred for 100 days, and finally the couple felt like they had their own little family they could be happy with. All of the other ducks nearby, who inhabited the same area around the lake, were very happy for the couple and even helped protect the eggs and sat on them when it was cold and when predators lurked nearby. 

Finally, the first egg hatched. Dhritarashtra had gone to get food for the couple, but Gandhari had immediately heard the first crack. SHe felt each egg until she came across the one that was less smooth than the others. as she grazed her feathers over the egg, she could sense movement inside. She was so ecstatic! Her first child was about to be born, and it was going to be perfect! All the other ducks gathered around quickly and waited for the big moment. Finally, a baby chick was born. Gandhari immediately cuddled her child and was so happy that the other ducks couldn't bear to tell her the truth. What they saw was the ugliest and scariest looking duck they had ever seen. However, they knew Gandhari and Dhritarashtra couldn't see, so they saw no harm in keeping this information from them, rather than ruining their perception of their first-born. When Dhritarashtra came back, he had the same reaction as Gandhari and could not believe it! He could sense the baby's little fuzzy body, but obviously couldn't actually see it, so he was oblivious to the true nature of his child as well. One by one, all the eggs hatched and each time, the other families around the lake exchanged a look with each other, signifying that they were in fact terrified of what the baby ducks were going to be like. Finally, they decided to tell the happy couple what they saw. As they imagined, the couple was not happy to hear their comments and believed the others to simply be jealous of their babies.

A few weeks had passed since all the eggs had hatched, and their first-born cried out his first cry. When Gandhari and Dhritarashtra heard it, they were in shock. Though they couldn't see the demon side of their children, they heard its cry and immediately realized that the others were right. No duck ever sounded like that; instead of the usual ca-caw, their offspring emitted a demonic shriek that chilled them to their core. A demon's cry. The happy couple was soon devastated. 

The couple was extremely terrified and decided to pray to the Goddess Ganga and help them cleanse their babies, hoping that bathing in the Ganges River would get rid of the darkness in their souls. After praying for 100 days and 100 nights, Ganga appeared before the couple. They explained their situation and after one look at the children, Ganga readily agreed to help. She placed each of the baby ducks in their own pot and took all 100 pots to the river with her. She spent days performing various rituals and after what seemed like forever to Dhritarashtra and Gandhari, Ganga finally returned with 100 smiling, beautiful, demon-less ducks who cried out in soft voices. The cleansing had worked! The couple was extremely grateful, and the other duck families around the area were relieved to know their home would not be soon invaded by demons.

Source: Gandhari surrounded by her one-hundred sons.

Bibliography: Epified Mahabharata, One-Hundred Sons. 

Author's Note:
I don't really know how I thought of this, but when I was reading the Epified Mahabharata videos, I was thinking about how 100 children is a lot and that their birth wasn't very normal. It explained how Gandhari had been pregnant forever and how she had many nightmares and bad experiences during the term, and when she finally gave birth, it was a huge lump of flesh. Finally, Sage Vyasa took the lump and divided it into 100 pieces and placed each one in a pot. After a while, the babies were finally born. However, their eyes were super dark and demonic looking. While the other people saw it, Gandhari and Dhritarashtra clearly didn't. I decided to keep that part the same, and at the end I decided to make it a happy story. I also made the characters ducks because 100 hatching eggs sounded fun to write about, instead of 100 lumps of flesh growing in pots. Since I wanted a happy ending, I had them realize their kids' demonic side and pray to Ganga and have her clean their babies' souls.  Hope you liked it :)

Reading Notes; Epified Mahabharata, Part B

Part B of the Epified Mahabharata videos actually had a few things in which R. K. Narayan's version did not have, so I thought that was super interesting! They were just small things in which the Epified went into more depth about. 

#1) Gandhari's demonic children
In the Epifieds, it showed how Gandhari gave birth to a large lump of flesh, after which Sage Vyasa separated the lump into 100 little lumps and allowed them to grow, each in a different pot. It turns out the children came out looking demonic / scary, but since Gandhari and Dhritarashtra were both blind, they didn't notice. They were just happy to have children. In R. K. Narayan's story, it just mentioned that the couple had 100 sons. They never went into depth about how they were born. If I were to rewrite this part of the story, I would make all the characters some sort of bird. The 100 sons could be eggs that suddenly hatch, instead of lumps growing in pots. I kind of thought of an "ugly duckling" sort of story, because everyone noticed that Duryodhana and all his brothers were quite abnormal. 

#2) Ekalavya's story
I don't think this story is in R. K. Narayan's version, but I really like it! I can't believe Ekalavya handcrafted an image of Drona and used that to practice in front of. That shows true dedication to me and I believe he should have been praised for it. Instead, Drona asked him to cut off his right thumb, knowing that would take away from Ekalavya's true potential. I thought it was kind of sad and in a way, it was Drona spoiling Arjuna. He only did this to Ekalavya because he was outsmarted and I don't think that's fair, so maybe I'll make a story in which it IS fair and Ekalavya DOES get to reach his true potential and get praised for it.

Source: Ekalavya praising his handcrafted image of Drona.

Bibliography: Epified Mahabharata, Part B.

Reading Notes; Epified Mahabharata, Part A

I really like this version of the Mahabharata. I love the drawings that Epified does and the narrative does a great job of explaining the stories as well as what they mean.

Part A discusses everything from the beginning of the Mahabharata until Dhritashtra and Gandhari's marriage, as well as Pandu's marriage with Kunti and Madri. Everything in the story so far is lined up with what I read in R. K. Narayan's Mahabharata. I really like how the narrator stated that everything in the story happened as a result of something before and after the situation (like of like a huge cause-and-effect cycle or karma cycle sort of thing). I could see those things clearly with the gifts, boons, and curses placed on various characters throughout the Mahabharata.

If I were to write a story about this part, I would focus on one aspect of the cause-and-effect or karma cycle. For example, I would maybe discuss the story of the eight sons that Ganga drowned and what they did in their past life that caused them to have the fate they did. 

Source: A drawing from the Epified Mahabharata videos: Shantanu meeting Ganga.

Biblography: Epified Mahabharata, Part A.

Week 8 Progress

Looking Back
I'm pretty happy with the progress I've made in this class so far! Not just with the grades aspect, but with the writing as well. I think I have improved my writing skills and have gotten better at giving feedback to others. I usually do all my assignments according to what takes the most time and what is the highest priority. For example, if I have an exam coming up, I will try to do all of the work for the class during the weekend before my test (so I can focus on my test during the week). Also, I'm not super proud of this, but when I don't want to do work/study for other classes, I'll end up doing a lot of this class's work. Basically, I procrastinate on other homework with homework from this class, because I actually love the assignments in this course. I don't really think of it as homework; I end up getting absorbed in the story I'm reading, the story I'm writing, or everyone else's stories I read. I think my favorite assignments in the class are writing the stories, because I feel so accomplished by the end of it. I do the extra credit assignments once in a while, whenever I think my blog needs updating.

Looking Forward
I think I like the way I'm doing things right now, so I think I'll keep things the same! I kind of want to try more of the extra credit options because I think doing more of those would be really helpful in updating and improving my blog, as well as making it more appealing to others who may come across this website.

Source: One of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite series. I think it's important that we realize our choices let people into our true selves, rather than what we can or can't do. It's extremely motivational for me because it reminds me that my grades don't define who I am. My ability to perform certain tasks doesn't define my character. What I choose to do / how I choose to improve myself, however, is what truly defines me.

Week 8 Comments and Feedback

Feedback In
I love the comments I get! Each one is very positive but constructive at the same time. I love reading the comments because sometimes I get suggestions that are very specific as to what could be changed to make my stories and website layout better, which is great to read because there is always room for improvement :) It is also helpful to get that extra set of eyes to tell me if any part of my story is confusing, because if it is to one person, chances are other people will be confused about the same thing. This allows me to look at my post again and clarify some things.

Feedback Out
I also love reading other people's stories and seeing their layouts! I definitely do take inspiration from other stories and other layouts, because everyone has a different perspective on the readings. It's nice to see the different writing styles and if I can think of enough to write with a particular style of writing or a particular theme, I'd like to do it. Sometimes reading others' stories helps me see how to approach writing in a different style or what kinds of story endings leave the best impact. 

Blog Comments
I do enjoy reading introductions and getting comments on my own just because I didn't realize how many things I have in common with others, even though we are all from different places and have different majors. I feel like it's hard getting to know people solely over blog posts and comments just because I don't know what anyone looks like really and sometimes I forget what posts I have already  commented on. However, I can say that this class's introduction blog posts are way more interactive than any other class I've taken so far. Online classes usually require you to introduce yourself on the class discussion page, but honestly not a lot of people actually read those. In this class, it is part of our assignments to read everyone's introductions, so I actually like it a lot :) 

Looking Forward
I plan on changing a few things around in my blog as well as my portfolio due to some of the comments I have received. They have been good comments and I'm glad I got these suggestions because I'm always looking for ways to improve my writing and design layout. When I give feedback, I usually tend to comment on the story material itself, but I think I should also give suggeestions on the person's blog layout as well, so they can make it as appealing as possible for others, not just people in our class!

Source: I chose this picture because I think it's really important to not let criticism, no matter what kind, lower your confidence or self-esteem at all. Feedback is supposed to be helpful, and even if you get suggestions that you don't particularly agree with, it's important to keep an open mind and realize that you cannot please everybody at the same time. If you are happy with the project, that's all that matters!

Week 8 Reading and Writing

Looking Back
I like the reading assignments because they give me a due date to complete the reading on/before! I also like brainstorming while writing stuff down because it helps me not forget about the ideas I may have along the way. I liked both epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Each one had a different central theme and central issue. Each also explained many myths and mindsets that the Hindu culture encompasses. I probably liked these a lot just because I already knew part of the stories since I grew up in a Hindu family. I am happy with my class project so far! I was worried my stories wouldn't be too good at first and that they would sound dumb, but after getting positive constructive feedback from everyone I feel much better about it. I think the feedback part of this class is extremely important because it allows us to gain perspectives from others. When I write anything, if I stare at it for too long, it all seems to mesh together and it seems good to go. However, when someone else reads it for the first time, they have another perspective that I may not have, and that helps me so much when I read it again for the second time. My biggest accomplishment is probably understanding my own religion and culture better :)

Source: One of my favorite pictures that I have used in my posts so far because it is so powerful. (Click here to view the story I used it in).

Looking Forward
I want to try new writing styles every time, but it's hard to do when I've never been much of a writer. So I would like to try to become a better writer by the end of this class. I realize that being a good writer isn't just about having good grammar or using large words in your stories. It's more like incorporating different themes and being able to write in different styles and still have an impact on the reader.

Week 7 Story; The Last Two

Fifty-eight people. Three months. One winner. 

It was time for the 42nd annual Dhamakas, and this time it was being held in Hastinapura, a city in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Two people from each state in India were randomly selected to compete in the Dhamakas, where they would have to live in a forest in exile for a year, fend for themselves, and do whatever needs to be done to stay alive. If a person who was selected was unfit to compete, or if someone else wanted to take their place, it was possible for someone else to volunteer to take their spot in this dangerous game.

One by one, names were picked from each state to compete in the Dhamakas. Finally, it was time for Dhritashtra, the ruler of Uttar Pradesh, to randomly select two people to compete in his kingdom's defense. He had a concoction of turmeric powder in his hand that he threw on the ground after chanting a certain mantra. The powder would reveal the name of the selected person on the ground, forming each letter in a yellow color. Dhritarashtra knew that one of his sons or nephews would be picked, as he had one hundred sons (the Kauravas) and five nephews (the Pandavas), so the chances of one of them getting selected was high. As he recited the mantra and threw the first fist of turmeric powder to the ground, everyone anxiously stared at the yellow mist forming. It revealed a name: Karna. He was the secret and illegitimate son of Surya and Kunthi. What everyone knew about him, however, was that he was an excellent warrior and would be able to defend himself and fight off others well. He also was considered one of the Kauravas, since nobody knew he was actually Kunthi's son. Now, it was time for the second name reveal. Dhritarashtra again recited the mantra and threw another fist of yellow to the ground. It seemed like it took years for the name to be revealed, but soon there it was: Yudhisthira.

It was the oldest Pandava brother. 

Dhritarashtra's own nephew. 

The king's favorite. 

The future king.  

Dhritarashtra had complete faith that his nephew was a great warrior, but he had never competed in a game such as this. He didn't want to give up the throne to his oldest son, Duryodhana, for fear that the power would ruin him. Meanwhile, Duryodhana and the rest of his brothers were pleasantly surprised, as they hoped one of their own would be king one day and having Yudhisthira out of the picture would mean just that. Yudhisthira calmly stood up and began walking to Dhristarashtra, but then someone else stood up. It was Arjuna, one of the Pandava brothers, and probably the best warrior India had ever seen. He could wield swords and shoot arrows better than anyone. Suddenly, he said "I volunteer as tribute. Let Yudhisthira stay here and guard our kingdom to his fullest. I will go and compete."

A sudden range of emotions and shouts immediately erupted. Most of the kingdom applauded Arjuna's bravery and loyalty to his brother. The Kauravas, on the other hand, showed their disappointment by charging at Arjuna. The rest of the Pandavas stood up and formed a circle around Arjuna while pulling out their weapons as if to guard their brother from any harm. 

"SILENCE." Dhritarashtra spoke. "If Arjuna wants to take the place of Yudhisthira and he is clearly fit to take his spot in the Dhamakas, he can. I have the utmost confidence in Arjuna and his ability to defeat anyone that comes in his path. Arjuna and Karna will both represent our kingdom.

Each participant had one month to prepare for the Dhamakas, and then it was time. The second that the fifty-eight warriors stepped foot inside of the forest, they were on their own. Some of the representatives from each state stayed together, while some split up immediately upon arriving in the forest. Karna and Arjuna separated immediately. They were incredibly similar in how they hunted food, made abodes with twigs and tree branches, and killed anyone that was about to shoot them. 

There were fifty-eight stars in the sky when the Dhamakas began, each representing one of the participants. One month later, there were thirty-two stars. Ten months later, there were only two. The last two.

One day, Karna looked up and saw those two stars. Could it be that Arjuna was the other? Or could it be that someone had defeated the mighty warrior of Hastinapura?

Deeper into the forest, Arjuna stood, also staring at the sky. Was he about to fight Karna again? They had been competing in a rivalry their whole lives, so why did this time feel so different? 

Finally, the day came. Arjuna was taking rest and had just begun drinking water from the lake, when Karna stumbled onto the scene. Immediately, the brothers pulled out their weapons and fought. They fought for two weeks straight. No resting, no giving up, constantly fighting. Karna was possibly the only person capable of fighting Arjuna for that long, possibly because both were the sons of Kunthi and a God. Karna stepped in an area of mud right after missing a sharp blow from Arjuna. The mud closed around his legs and wouldn't let him escape. In this instance, Arjuna pulled out the brahmastra, one of the most powerful weapons in the history of India. Just as he was about to use it, he faltered. He forgot the mantra in order to use the brahmastra!*1 This one mistake led to his demise. Karna weakened his stance for only a second, but Arjuna was able to get through. He quickly shot three arrows at once into Karna's chest, killing him almost immediately.

Arjuna finally defeated Karna. The Dhamakas were over. He could finally go home to his family, his kingdom. 

...Little did he know that Karna was his family. His own brother.

Source: This is what I imagine Arjuna to have looked like when he said he would take Yudhisthira's place in the Dhamakas. (I got the picture from the linked website, but I added the text myself)

*1 - The reason for this was mentioned in my version about the Mahabharata. Apparently Karna told Parshurama that he was a brahmin, so that he would train him in warfare. When he found out the truth, Parshurama cursed him and told him he would forget the words to the brahmastra when he needed it the most. As for the part where Karna got stuck in the mud, he was earlier cursed by a brahmin as well for accidentally killing his cow while he was practicing his shooting skills.

Bibliography: R. K. Narayan's Mahabharata.

Author's Note:

I thought of the Hunger Games theme when I was writing my reading notes for the Mahabharata. When I was reading the part where the Pandavas are exiled for 13 years and had to stay alive and hidden for the last year, I thought it would be cool to make it a competition. So many people die in the big battle at the end, which is not unlike the Hunger Games. I decided to have two people from each state of India, just like in the actual Hunger Games there are two people from every district that compete. I decided to revolve the story around Karna and Arjuna because I feel like they are extremely important and play an essential role in the Mahabharata. We see a lot of hatred between Duryodhana and Yudhisthira, but we never go into depth about the other brothers as much. I decided to keep their backgrounds the same, to where they didn't know they were brothers, as well as the part where Karna's chariot (in this story, his legs) got stuck and he forgot how to use the brahmastra. I kept that in there to show that Karna was just as good a warrior as Arjuna; the only thing that ended the battle was Karna's mistake long ago.