IE Chris (FA20)

 Reading Notes: Epified - Mahabharata Part B Part B Kunti's secret revealed... she was not afraid of the sage Durwasa. He was delighted with her. He gave her a mantra to summon any god. She summons a god and then they have a son. She placed her son in a basket and set him on the river. Hence the Son of the Sun.  Pandu, Kunti, and Madri go out into the forest. Pandu hunts in the woods and accidentally shoots a hermit couple. The hermit curses Pandu and forbades him from becoming intimate. Kunti tells Pandu about her mantra.  Yama gave Kunti a son, Yudhishthir. Vayu was next, and she bore Bheem (Bhima). Indra was next, and granted her a child, Arjun. Madri gives birth to another two, the twins. Thus, the Pandavas are born.  Next, the Kuaravas, 100 sons are born, but they are evil. A blind father and sight-forsaken mother don't catch these problems though.  Duryodhan detests Bheem, as Bheem draws the new attention and admirers. Duryodhana invited the Pandavas out t...

  Epified - Mahabharata - Playlist A I like the aspect of beginning of multiple points, especially when you consider karma.  I think that Shantanu's trust in his wife Gangana while she disposed of their children is quite admirable. And then he questioned her. This seems like a parallel to Cronos devouring his children due to the prophecy. Then Shantanu comes back to the River and is greeted by Gangana and his new son, Devavrat. Devavrat then becomes a prince. Shantanu then falls in love with Satyavati. Her father has concerns because of Devavrat's birthright. Ah yes this is when Devavrat renounces his birth because he feels bad for his father.  At this point, this is when Devavrat becomes known as Bhishma. All this because the fisherman was stubborn. The impact of this oath is not to be understand. He not only gives up his birthright but also swears not to marry or have kids. Bhishma makes a terrible deal but he gets to choose his death. Until he is ready, he will not die...

Mahabharata Reading Notes Part D link Sources used:  Arnold ,  Besant ,  Devee ,  Dutt ,  Ganguli ,  Kincaid ,  Macfie ,  Mackenzie ,  Nivedita ,  Seeger , and  Tagore . 61. Bhishma is killed in combat. His dying words call to restore unto Yudhisthira his kingdom and make thy peace with him, and let Pandavas and Kauravas be friends and comrades together.  62. Drona takes command of the army after Bhishma dies. Drona is set on killing Yudhishthir and takes him captive with his bow and sword and shield.  63. Jayadratha, who was sworn to be Yudhishthira's slave, ambushes Abhimanyu (son of Arjuna). The Pandavas attempt to rescue Abhimanyu, but to no avail. Abhimanyu dies. This news is deeply upsetting for Arjuna.  64. Arjuna calls a temporary truce so that he can mourn his son. Drona swears that he will kill Arjuna the next morning or die trying.  The truce is lifted at nightfall and combat resumes. Karna, using his ...

  Mahabharata Reading Notes Part C link Sources used:  Arnold ,  Besant ,  Devee ,  Dutt ,  Ganguli ,  Kincaid ,  Macfie ,  Mackenzie ,  Nivedita ,  Seeger , and  Tagore . 41. Life in exile in the forest isn't so great. But eventually Yudhishthira prays to the sun god and Surya gives them a copper pot that is always full of food.  42. Krishna visits the Pandavas in the forest. This upset Draupadi. Yudhishthira says that she should forgive and forget. Bhima says that "battle is the highest virtue". 43. Arjuna goes on another expedition alone. Here, he goes on a hunt and meets Shiva. Shiva gives him Gandiva, the divine bow.  44. Arjuna continues his solo trek and gains more divine weapons for his brothers. Arjuna clears out the city of Hiranyapura (as it was infested with demons and giants). 45. Indra promises Yudhishthira that he will reign in splendor over all men. The Pandavas reunite with Arjuna at the Himalayas. 46...

  Mahabharata Reading Notes Part B link Sources used:  Arnold ,  Besant ,  Devee ,  Dutt ,  Ganguli ,  Kincaid ,  Macfie ,  Mackenzie ,  Nivedita ,  Seeger , and  Tagore . 21. Here, we become familiar with the character Vidura. Vidura is the brothyer of Pandu and Dhritarashtra. He is not eligible to be king since his mother is a servant. He is loyal to the sons of Pandu. He warns them of Duryodhana's plan to burn them alive, so they build an escape tunnel.  22. The Pandavas are living out in the forest. Here, Bhima meets the rakshasa chief Hidimba, who plans to trap the Pandavas. The two go and fight in the forest. 23. Hidimba's sister, Hidimbi, meets Bhima and becomes smitten with him. She betrays her brother for Bhima and they have an affair. Hidimbi has a child as a result: Ghatotkacha. 24. Kunti and the Pandavas go out to the town of Ekachakra, where they find that the chief Baka is terrorizing the village. Bhima decid...

  Mahabharata Reading Notes Part A I really enjoyed using the PDE version of the Ramayana, so I'm going to continue using the PDE version here. link Sources used:  Arnold ,  Besant ,  Devee ,  Dutt ,  Ganguli ,  Kincaid ,  Macfie ,  Mackenzie ,  Nivedita ,  Seeger , and  Tagore . 1. We are introduced to Vsaya as a narrator and a character. The elephant god Ganesha is taking notes.  2. We meet Devavrata, who we learn is the byproduct of an... interesting relationship between King Shantanu and Ganga. 3. After his entanglement with Ganga, King Shantanu falls in love with Satyavati, who will soon become the mother of Vsaya. 4. Devavrata learns of a predicament with his father. Any children born by Satyavati will not be eligible for the throne. Then Devavrata makes a vow and renounces his claim to the throne.  5. After Satyavati passes, Satyavati's eldest, Vichitravirya is in line for the throne. Devavrata (Bhishma) kidnap...

Reading Notes: Sita Sings the Blues Part B link Sita Sings the Blues --- by Nina Paley (Question Copyright) So, I actually ended up watching all of the film last night because it was so enthralling that I couldn't put it down. I got notes on the main plot points last night, but I wanted to jot down some more thoughts about storytelling devices and just give general impressions about the film now that I've had some time to let the content sink in.  I absolutely loved this film. My biggest critique of the Ramayana was how unsatisfying the ending was. I felt this way solely because of how the relationship between Rama and Sita died at the end. While it would be disingenuous and would actually damage the story (in my opinion, I'll get to that in a bit) to have their relationship be magically repaired at the end, it was refreshing to consider things from Sita's point of view. Realistically, it shifted the protagonist from Rama (as it would be in a more traditional rendering ...

Reading Notes: Sita Sings the Blues: video  - by Nina Paley I really enjoyed the opening scene, with the anachronism of the record player. It was also really cool how the lotus petals where used as lilypads in the opening scene.  After the intro, I'm rather confused --- why are there two people in San Fran with a cat? Oh this is such an accurate representation of how loud Tux is in the morning. The animation style is very different here.  The way of using three different narrators is fascinating! Especially when they comically bicker about the details of the storytelling.  They definitely start in the story in media res  though. Rama has already met Sita and he his facing exile at this point. Animation style change, and now it's a musical number, an interesting way to switch narrative method. This is used to tell their time in the forest.  The overlying theme of anachronism as Sita sings the blues is not lost on me.  Their perspective on Rama is intere...

 Reading Notes: Ramayana Part D Sources used:  M. Dutt ,  R. Dutt ,  Gould ,  Griffith ,  Hodgson ,  Mackenzie ,  Nivedita ,  Oman ,  Richardson , and  Ryder . 61. Rama and his army consult Nala to build a bridge so that they may cross from the mainland to Lanka. Thus Rama's Bridge was created.  62. As Rama's army approaches, Ravana attempts to worry Sita by creating an illusion that Rama has been captured and killed. Sita sees through Ravana's deceit. 63. Indrajit has done quite some damage to our heroes. Rama and Lakshmana are quite injured by Indrajit's Nagastra (Naga-weapon). However, Garuda, the vahana of Indra, comes to their rescue and heals the brothers back to full capacity.  64. Ravana, getting desperate, wakes his brother, Kumbhakarna. Kumbhakarna, one of the fiercest warriors on Ravana's side, charges out on his chariot to confront the ape army. He fells many an ape, including Hanuman, and captures Sugriva. Whe...

 Reading Notes: Ramayana Part C Sources used:  M. Dutt ,  R. Dutt ,  Gould ,  Griffith ,  Hodgson ,  Mackenzie ,  Nivedita ,  Oman ,  Richardson , and  Ryder . 41. Rama and Lakshmana wander in the forest in pursuit of Sugriva, the ape king. Sugriva notices the two and sends his right hand man, Hanuman, to investigate. Hanuman meets the pair and after introductions, escorts them to Sugriva. 42. Rama and Lakshmana meet Sugriva. Sugriva tells the pair that he has been similarly exiled by his brother, Vali. Rama agrees to challenge Vali in combat to clear Sugriva's name.  43. The wife of Vali, Tara, consults with her husband. She pleads with him to reconcile with his brother and not fight Sugriva and Rama. Vali, ever stubborn, plans to continue with the fight. 44. Vali and Sugriva fight. Rama is waiting for Vali, catches him off guard, and injures him.  45. Vali mourns her dead husband. Sugriva mourns his brother. He is instal...

Reading Notes: Ramayana Part B Part B Sources used:  M. Dutt ,  R. Dutt ,  Gould ,  Griffith ,  Hodgson ,  Mackenzie ,  Nivedita ,  Oman ,  Richardson , and  Ryder . 21. Bharata learns of his father's passing and is devastated. He also learns of what his mother did to ascertain his position on the throne. Mourning the physical loss of his father and the social loss of his brother, he vows to get his brother Rama back and restore his rightful place on the throne.  22. Dasharatha's funeral has come. It is the duty of Bharata to perform the funeral rites for his father. He must do this before he can begin to search for Rama. 23. Bharata treks out into the wilderness to find Rama. They lament over the loss of Dasharatha and discuss the future. They seem to be at an impasse, for Rama refuses to violate the command of his father and return to the city.  24. As a compromise, Bharata has Rama wear a pair and sandals and then gift the s...

Reading Notes: Ramayana Part A Part A Ramayana - Public Domain Edition authors:  M. Dutt ,  R. Dutt ,  Gould ,  Griffith ,  Hodgson ,  Mackenzie ,  Nivedita ,  Oman ,  Richardson , and  Ryder . 1. Maharajah Dasharatha lives in a wonderful and incredibly prosperous city. He had three loyal wives, two loyal family priests, and eight loyal and sage counselors. However, despite his massive wealth and fortune, he was empty-hearted. For his loyal wives had not bore him any sons to succeed him.  2. Dasharatha became desperate and eventually performed an ancient ceremony known as the Ashwamedha [horse sacrifice]. This was supposed to greatly increase his chances of having a son. 3. However, Dasharatha's predicament occurred at a fortuitous time, for there was a parallel problem in heaven. Ravana, the evil king of the Rakshasas, was invulnerable to gods demons. Ravana could only be injured by humans and apes. So Vishnu the Preserver promised...