Indian Epics Blog

Chapter 5 Dhritarashtra needs to grow a backbone The rule that you can't intrude on whichever brother time with the wife is stupid Example A:  Arjuna had urgent business with his brother and was exiled just for trying to do his job Chapter 6 Duryodhana should focus on making his kingdom better instead of trying to ruin his cousins' kingdom out of jealousy Chapter 7 When you have to explain how what you're doing isn't actually cheating . . . it's probably cheating Why didn't anyone try and stop Yudhistira from gambling everything away? Everyone was horrified by how Draupadi was being treated, but no one tried to stop it Chapter 8 At least Draupadi is standing up for herself Bibliography The Mahabharata by R. K. Narayan Yudhistira gambling everything away Source

Chapter 1 Why do these stories always start off with love at first sight? The women has a shady request (Should have been the first indication that something was wrong) Acquiring a bride by force is not noble This family is messed up Chapter 2 Duryndhana is so jealous that he would try and kill his own cousins That was one shady coronation They probably should have at least questioned Drona At least he explained himself Chapter 3 The king easily turns against his nephews Chapter 4 It's rare to see a reverse harem in these kinds of stories It's like something out of a manga except she usually chooses one boy in the end Bibliography: The Mahabharata by R. K. Narayan The Pandavas' and Draupadi Source

For my storybook I intend to write about the God Ganesha and the iconography associated with him. For my introduction I intend to use the book Hindu Gods & Goddesses by Sunita Pant Bansal, which I found a copy of at my house, to talk about the different iconography's associated with Ganesha and what they symbolize. Hindu Gods & Goddesses Notes: Elephant head represents wisdom, understanding, and a discriminating intellect The right tusk represents wisdom The left tusk represents emotion The broken left tusk represents the idea that one must conquer emotions with wisdom The four arms represent that the lord is omnipresent and omnipotent The ax in the upper right hand represents that one should cut wordily attachments and conquer emotions The lotus in the upper left hand also represents this The lower right hand is shown in a blessing pose for his devotees The tray of laddus represents that he bestows wealth and prosperity to his followers The left side of t

 I like how it tells the story of the San Franciscan couple to kind of parallel that observation. Although I didn't really understand that point until it got towards the end of the video. General Notes: Sita is really obseesed with Rama Still loves him even after he abandons her Does pujas' dedicated to him after he abandons her Only tells her sons good things about him She proves her purity Sita has all this power and still relies heavily on Rama Bibliography:  Sita Sings the Blues by Nina Paley Sita with her sons Source

The thing I like about this video is that it points out something that I've always wondered. Why does Sita stay with Rama who treats her horribly. General Notes: The narrators are really funny because they have this really classic Indian way of thinking Sita is really obsessed with Rama He can do no wrong in her eyes She prays to him while in Ravana's captivity Sita isn't very big on girl power Admits she has her own power, but won't use it on Ravana because Rama didn't tell her to use it. Bibliography:  Sita Sings the Blues by Nina Paley Sita and Rama returning home after exile Source

Here is the link to my storybook Ganesha: The Remover of Obstacles

Chapter 8: Why did Hanuman feel the need to piss Ravana off further, and warn him of Rama's impending attack? Chapter 9: I like how all these people are lecturing Ravana and yet they haven't tried to help Sita. Chapter 10: Vibishana turned on his brother way to easily. Chapter 11: Ravana's really quick to blame Sita for all his misfortunes when his son is killed. Chapter 12: Ravana dies. Chapter 13: Why did Sita have to throw herself into a fiery pyre to prove herself to her husband?  Chapter 14: Fourteen years were up, and thet went home. Epilogue: He's coronated. Hanuman stays with him forever. Bibliography: The Ramayana by R. K. Narayan Sita throwing herself into the pyre Source

Chapter 6: Rama tells strangers his whole life story Vali He turned on his brother way to easily Why hasn't anyone explained the full story to him in all this time? Why did Vali let Sugreeva stop there fight to talk to some random dude? Why is Sugreeva crying? What did he expect was going to happen when Rama shot Vali with an arrow Why did it take Rama, a complete stranger, to make Vali see his own stupidity? Chapter 7: Rama gives the worst description of Sita How did no one notice a giant monkey man crossing stepping over the ocean and onto the island? Bibliography: The Ramayana by R. K. Narayan Hanuman crossing the ocean to Lanka Source

I decided to mix two of my topics and make them into one. So I am going to research the iconography of the god Ganesha. Ganesha: The Remover of All Obstacles : One story I can use to start off with the iconography of Ganesha is probably the biggest one there is; how he got his elephant head. There is a copy of the book at bizzell library. Hindu Gods & Goddesses: This is a book that I have at home, and it is a very good reference to the iconography for Ganesha. The Little Book of Hindu Deities: Another book I have at home this one also tells some stories of Ganesha. A storytelling style I was thinking of using was where I would retell the stories of how Ganesha got the objects that are part of his iconography. Picture of Ganesha Source

The doctor was a little confused he had meant to go to  1559 England and watch the coronation of Elizabeth the first but instead he was in a forest outside the city of Maithila surrounded by a bunch of men pointing weapons at him. One man steps forward and says “I am Rama son of King Dasaratha and just who are you.” “Who me,” the doctor asks. “Well I’m but a humble traveler. Anyways what’s going on over there looks like there’s a party going on.” Rama eyes the traveler and replied “It is the wedding celebration.” “Oh a wedding, I love weddings. Well then men let’s go. On to the wedding,” the doctor said. Rama and Lakshmana exchange wary glances, but follow the doctor on into the city. While the doctor was rambling on about weddings Rama was taking in his surroundings when he suddenly froze and stared at the most beautiful woman he had ever seen before. The doctor stopped and waved his hand in front of Rama’s face to no avail. Rama eventually snapped out of it after the

Chapter 4 Rama's purpose = destroy Ravana The author shouldn't switch between different names of the same character Soorpanaka turns on Rama easily Chapter 5 Soorpanaka is very manipulative  What's with the all-consuming love they experience after just meeting a person once These people get tricked to easily Bibliography: The Ramayana by R. K. Narayan Sita being kidnapped by Ravana Source

Chapter 1 King very overprotective of Rama  Has no problem sending Lakshmana Thataka Evil is ugly Mahabali Rama = Vishnu Viswamithra had some foresight into Rama's future Ganga Holy "Cleanses and transforms" Ahalya I feel sorry for her Rama "meant to restore righteousness and virtue to mankind and eliminate all evil" Chapter 2 Rama and Sita = Vishnu and Lakshmi Love story The bow part reminds me of a certain part in The Odyssey  Sita had a bit of a Romeo and Juliet moment when she didn't know who her suitor was Chapter 3 Dream is foreshadowing Kaikeyi trusts Koni's speculation over the people she's known and trusted for ages She carried out her plan without thinking about how it would affect the people she loved, even her son who she was supposedly doing this for Bibliography: The Ramayana by R. K. Narayan   Rama being told about his exile Source

5 Tips For Taking Feedback Like A Champ: This article makes one really good point that I think will help me not only in this class, but my other classes as well. Feeling uncomfortable with feedback is a normal reaction and it will help with ones own personal growth. I've found this to be true in my studio class where i'll at first feel uncomfortable with sharing my ideas in fear of being harshly criticized, but in the end I had worried for nothing. Although I was criticized I also got very good feedback and often saw things in a different perspective which helped me further along my projects. So I've learned to handle criticism better in my studio class. Why Rejection Hurts So Much - And What To Do About It: I think two main points to take away from this article are don't self-criticize and regain your self-worth. I find these to also be helpful with my other classes. In my studio class especially I've found that nothing good comes from self-criticizing because

Love Stories: I'm a sucker for romance so this was immediately the first topic I thought of. Usually if I read or watch anything if it doesn't even have a little bit of romance in it I don't really like it. It would be great to read these love stories and re imagine them or tell them in a different perspective. Epic Love Stories: An Opera Adventure Traveling India: I've been to India a couple of times before, but the last time I went was about ten years ago so I don't remember much. So exploring India this way might be a fun way to remember things, and explore new places. Visit Us, A Country With A Past Divine Iconography: Divine iconography would be an interesting topic to explore because symbolism is often very important in stories and archaeologically. It also seems to be a topic that most people don't chose, as shown by the lack of examples. This makes it an intriguing topic to explore because no one else has. This topic is also the one I have the

There was an angel named Castiel and he was naive in the ways of humans. One day he was wondering around in London when he happened upon Crowley who is the king of hell and a frenemy of Castiel’s. Crowley was done with his duties as the king of hell for the day and was bored so he decided to mess with Castiel. “Castiel,” he said “The archangel Michael has broken free from the cage in hell and is trying to destroy the world. A little birdie informed me that he would be in Norman, Oklahoma in one day.” Castiel immediately turned pale and then said “I must return to heaven and inform the other angels of this. We must do everything in our power to stop him from destroying the world.” And thus Castiel returned to heaven where he informed the other angels of the impending end of the world. The other angels asked what they should do and Castiel said “I must go get the Winchesters they are the only hope we have.” And so Castiel traveled to Lebanon, Kansas where his friends Sam a