Project: Possible Storybook Topics

1) Topic 1: Ravana and the Demons

Reading the week 2 part of the Ramayana was very interesting and peaked my interest in the asura, specifically Ravana and rakshasa. I am very curious how some asura came to be, and the stories associated with many of them. I am also curious to read about some rakshasas that aren't evil.

Research So Far:

I looked at the Wikipedia links about the Rakshasa, as well as the article about Ravana. I plan to look into more of the major demons as well. I read that the Rakshasa were created by the breath of Brahma and they were bloodthirsty and began eating Brahma. They play a huge role in many Indian stories, and it is something I'm definitely interested in researching more.

A Rakshasa

2) Topic 2: Karma

I have heard the word Karma quite a bit in daily life and popular culture. As far as I understand it, you get what you've earned sometimes reaping the benefits/struggles of a past life even. I'd like to learn more and potentially see the root of Karma and understand a deeper meaning behind it.

Research So Far:

Again, I looked at the Wikipedia link about Karma and did some reading. The concept of Karma originated in India and basically describes consequences (both good and bad) for actions. Good actions lead to good Karma, and bad actions lead to bad Karma. I learn a little bit as well about rebirth and the transfer of karma through that. I would definitely be interested in learning more about this topic and how it applies to Hinduism.

3) Topic 3: Major gods (Specifically Vishnu)

Anytime I learn about a religion, or a the mythology of a specific region I am always interested in learning about the major gods. Vishnu caught my interest simply from the fact that he is the main god, and he takes on many avatars which have stories of their own. I also am interested in Brahma as he is a god of creation, but am only looking into Vishnu for now.

Research So Far:

I looked at the Wikipedia articles about Vishnu, Brahma, and Ganesha and read a little bit on each of the three. I'm definitely interested in Vishnu and his many avatars. I would like to dig deeper into the divine glories that make up his character, his avatars (as well as stories behind them) and the relationship he has with other gods.

Vishnu

3) Topic 3: Animals in Epics (specifically elephants)

I know that in India, elephants play a major role in their culture, and I am also aware that in the Ramayana there are many animals that play major roles. I would like to look into elephants, and their influence as well as perhaps the elephant headed god Ganesha if that isn't straying too far from the topic.

Research So Far:

I looked at the Wikipedia articles about Ganesha as well as Airavata. Ganesha is the deva of wisdom, and is known as the remover of obstacles. That is very interesting, and wisdom is a trait I really enjoy reading into which draws me to Ganesha even more! His appearance is something that I also find extremely interesting. As for Airavata, it is the vehicle of Indra. Airavata also goes by the name Erawan and is depicted as a beautiful white elephant with several heads. According to the wiki article, elephants are associated with rain and clouds and are even said to have the ability to produce clouds. I am certainly interested in looking into elephants in Indian epics and culture.

Week 2 Storytelling: The Transformation of Maricha

Week Two Storytelling: The Transformation of Maricha

Journal entry one:

It has been two days since that fool Rama and his brother Lakshmana have slain my mother Thataka. Subahu and I broke down weeping after hearing the terrible news. and have since been plotting our revenge against humankind. It is said that Rama shielded my mothers attacks with his arrows and pierced her throat killing her with a single shot. No mortal could perform such a deed, so it must not be true. Perhaps he had an army at his side, but Rama couldn’t have slain Thataka alone. Rama will suffer for what he has done. He will die a violent death and many humans will die for his transgressions.

Journal entry two:

Subahu has gotten word that the human Viswamithra will be performing a yagna at Sidhasrama. Rama and Lakshmana will be there as well. We must fight against them and stop this sacred ritual. These wretched humans should be unable to please the gods. I will talk to Subahu and the other asura and assemble an army to oppose the human. We will not only stop the yagna, but destroy every human present.

Journal entry three:

The yagna at Sidhasrama is tomorrow. The asura have made all the necessary preparations and are well equipped to defeat the humans. No matter how great their forces we will prevail and crush them all. Even if this Rama is as powerful as was told we will destroy him with our numbers.

Journal entry four:

It’s been several days since the yagna at Sidhasrama. I was humiliated. Defeat was unexpected to say the least. Subahu and I targeted Rama with all our might, and he launched me far out into the sea with a single arrow. As I flew through the air I watch Rama slay the asura with ease, beheading each one with a single arrow. Even my beloved brother Subahu was slain. Surely this man is not a mere human. He possesses a strength that no mortal could ever attain, and looks as though he is Vishnu himself. Surely the gods have blessed him and no asura could ever prevail against him. To avoid my untimely end I will devote my life to meditation and a life of peace. I was spared for a reason, and I must meditate and pray to the gods. I will dwell in a cave as an ascetic for the rest of my days.

Maricha witnessing Subahu's death

Journal entry five:

I have found peace. I have forgiven Rama for his transgressions for I now realize that violence will never solve any conflict. In fact this conflict is rooted in the violence of the rakshasas and their destruction of humankind. Rama is their protector and is only standing up for the human race. Perhaps the rakshasa are better off dead. Perhaps then the world will be at peace.

Journal entry six:

My nephew came to me today. The supreme ruler Ravana. He longs for a woman named Sita. This lust will be the end of the rakshasa. Perhaps for the better. He mentioned a name that brought a great terror into my heart that I thought I had long cast away. Rama. Nothing good will come of this, but there will never be peace until either all the humans are slain or all the rakshasa. Whenever both exist there will be an eternal conflict. Rama is their saviour. Assisting Ravana will certainly be the end of me, but I would rather die than live to see the conflict of this world continue. Living in peace has shown me that as long as the rakshasa devour and destroy there will never be peace. As long as we exist the humans will always live in fear and seek to eliminate us. Maybe helping Ravana will unleash a chain of events that will lead Rama to exterminate all the rakshasa once and for. I will help Ravana. Not for his sake, but for the goal of peace in this world. Though it will take violence to achieve it, the result will be harmony on the earth.

Author’s Note:

I chose to write this story as a journal entry because it is the best way to peek into Maricha’s mind. I was able to convey separate events in a very distinct manner by using individual entries. Using a journal is also an effective way of seeing the innermost thoughts and emotions of Maricha as problems unfold around him. With this story I wanted to show Maricha’s violent thought process and how it evolved over time through fear of Rama as well as a desire for peace seeing the horrors that violence causes. He originally starts off infuriated with the murder of his mother, and gradually grows fearful of Rama’s power. It’s incredibly effective to show this anger and fear through a first person perspective. This allowed me to add in details and thoughts that amplify how I believe Maricha felt. I didn’t make any changes to the original events from the story, but I created all the thoughts of Maricha from thinking about how a violent demon would react to Rama’s actions. I focused mainly on the major events from the Ramayana to show how greatly each impacted Maricha emotionally. Keep in mind that, this is just my interpretation of how Maricha felt. He very way could have turned to peace completely out of fear, rather than out of a hatred towards violence.

Bibliography:

Narayan, R.K. (1972) The Ramayana.

Week 2 Reading Diary B: Rama takes on the Rakshasa

Week 2 Reading Diary B: Rama takes on the Rakshasa

In this reading I was most interested in Ramas encounters with the rakshasas. First he was approached by Soorpanka, but stood strong in his faithfulness to Sita. I deeply respect how he weighed the possibility of a marriage to Soorpanka as beneficial to getting him closer to the rakshasas, yet he still turned it down. Rama is a very strong man who didn’t give in to lust, nor the benefits of marrying Soorpanka and remained faithful to Sita. Lakshmana’s mutilation of Soorpanka seemed unnecessary, but did bring on a battle that Rama needed to encounter. Because Rama desired to destroy the entire rakshasa clan, the mutilation of Soorpanka would bring them closer to him as they seek revenge. My admiration for Rama grew after he took out an entire army of asuras killing fourteen in total. Next came Ravana, an extremely interesting antagonist in the story. Upon the introduction of Ravana I visualized a really scary, demon-like monster.

Ravana with Sita

He was the supreme ruler of the world and was known as a tormenter. He was worshiped and served out of fear, and is the ideal antagonist. When he falls in love with the vision of Sita he goes mad and plans to trick Rama, which led to one of the most intense moments in the story thus far: the fight between the great bird Jatayu and Ravana. This was one of my favorite moments in the story as I visualized a giant ten headed monster fighting a great great eagle. It was very intense, and ended in the death of Jatayu as his wings are severed from his body by Ravana. This must have been a devastating loss for Rama because Jatayu had been a friend of Dasharatha, Rama’s father. I am very excited to continue reading on in the Ramayana and see what unfolds between Ravana and Rama!

Ravana slaying Jatayu

Week 2 Reading Diary A: The Tales of Viswamithra, and the Character of Rama

Week 2 Reading Diary A: The Tales of Viswamithra, and the Character of Rama

One of the most interesting parts in this first reading is Rama’s journey with Viswamithra as well as the betrayal of Rama by Kaikeyi. The tales Viswamithra tells Rama and Lakshmana as they are travelling were very interesting. The tale of Thataka was one of my favorites seeing how she was turned into an asura, and the imagery of her demon form. The battle between Thataka and Rama was quick, but really is what began to draw me to Rama as a character.

Rama defeating Thataka

The story of Ahalya was also one of my favorites as it showed a classic story of lust getting the better of a man. Indra’s obsession with Ahalya ended with every inch of his body being covered with the female organ! What an embarrassing punishment to a god that must have been. Thankfully Guatama allowed these embarrassing features to become eyes, which took away Indras shame.

Indra the thousand eyed god

Another section I enjoyed reading was Kaikeyi’s betrayal. Kaikeyi’s greed got the best of her as she found herself in a position where she may lose her position as queen and she betrayed Rama forcing him to the forest so her son Bharatha could be king. This betrayal added an intense dramatic element to the story as the king dies of grief and Bharatha grows enraged with his mother Kaikeyi for her deceitfulness.

Kaikeyi deceiving Dasharatha

Throughout this reading I really began to enjoy reading about Rama and his many deeds. He possessed man admiral traits: strength, handsomeness, intelligence, and was very moral. Not only did he possess these traits but he was a man of action. First he captured Sita’s heart with his handsomeness and caused her to become sick with passion for him. Then he won her hand in marriage with his great strength as he strung Shiva's bow (and broke it), which was a feat no man had been able to accomplish. He even willingly allowed himself to be exiled so that his father would not go back on a promise he made to Kaikeyi.

Rama breaking Shiva's bow