Reading notes: Ramayana C

Source.

Public Domain Ramayana, link to the reading online.

I missed the reading yesterday, so I'll be doing part D as extra credit this weekend. But, here is part C.

I think it's kinda funny that Rama and his brother are apparently striking fear into all the animals in the forest while they're walking about.

Time for a side quest to save the monkey's wife I guess. I feel like the whole getting Sita back thing is only difficult because They don't know her exact location. No one really poses Rama a threat.

To be fair to Vali, a year in this world is a non important amount of time to most of these god like people, so his brothers abandonment must have hurt a lot.

I honestly don't see why Rama felt the need to hide and ambush Vali. Maybe I'm just underestimating Vali though.

I also find it strange that Vali had to die considering it was all just a misunderstanding in the long run.

I hadn't realized Rama's terms of exile made it so he couldn't enter ANY city. I must not have read close enough. That is very harsh.

The rainy season doesn't really do anything to effect the plot. It allows for a bit of contemplation, but it then just leaves. I find this a strange touch.

So do the monkeys rule over the bears? I have to assume so since the monkey king was able to send the bear king to go search for Sita. Kinda makes me think about the animal hierarchy.

I like how some characters, like Sampati tell us their long backstory the first time we meet them.

Hanuman can change size!?! That's kinda awesome.

It's convenient that Hanuman stumbles upon proof of Sita's faithfulness.

The whole monkey's tail on fire and burns the city thing must have been based on a very unfortunate true story.

Well at least one person was smart enough not to go on a suicide mission to kill Rama.

Topic Research

So for my project I have considered the options I presented last week and decided on the main topic of my stories. That topic will be on the monster's of Indian epics. As such I will actually be drawing from many of the sources I listed last week as all of them contain interesting stories that could work well for me.

An example of a Rakshasa. Source

Here are some examples:

Goblin City:
This story is one I saw retold this week and as such it kept it fresh on my mind. I really like the idea of creatures that morph into beautiful women to lure their prey. I think it too could be morphed into almost any story I could imagine.

The Golden Deer:
On a similar note, as most Rakshasa use their ability to transform against our heroes it is just a matter of in what way. This story, rather than looking at people seduced by beauty, has the hero seduced by a more worldly physical possession. In this case it is a golden deer, but it could easily be a golden trophy or something.

Thataka:
This story introduces a new power of Rakshasas. They are able to turn invisible. This is a power that can immediately become frightening if used correctly. I also like the idea presented in this story, that some people may have qualms killing all of the Rakshasas.

Feedback Strategies

Source

Presence, Not Praise:

I found this article's argument very interesting because at first glance it goes against all logic. It doesn't seem to make sense that praising children for their accomplishments would decrease their motivation in the future. But, upon reading the article, the idea that the effort and work put into getting to an accomplishment should be encouraged more makes sense, After all, it is so common to be rewarded for showing your work on math problems, but very often this doesn't get expanded to other fields.

Be a Mirror:

This article has an underlying belief that I wouldn't be surprised to find out comes directly from the study listed in the previous article I read. The idea is once again that it is important in education to praise effort rather than result. I think this article does a great job of taking this belief and expanding upon it, not just for the specific topic (reading), but also as a general strategy. The article mentions specifically how it is important to focus the praise in relation to the subject rather than the critic. In this way the subject (student) is more encouraged to do these thing because of his own wants rather than just trying to please a teacher who won't always be with him.

Week 3 Story: Frogs have epics too

There is a secret that few people know, a piece of knowledge whispered down alleyways at night by strange men going nowhere in particular. It is a fragment of the truth told for generations but never made known, until now.

The ideas of heroes and villains, gods and demons, these are not unique to the human race. There is one other creature whose members have found themselves worthy of epic. These are the frogs.

Since time itself began they have kept to themselves, fearing the pride of human arrogance. But sometimes paths converge and this is one such story.

This tale is about the legendary frog, Raba. Long ago, before even autumn knew how to paint the trees, a frog whose tale was so great that all of the world, frogkind and mankind knew of his exploits. He was loved by most, but not by all. Among the humans there was one in particular whose hatred knew no bounds. This man was called Jababa.

He was small for a human, only watching the stature of 3 grown frogs.His envy for frogkind was wicked and coursed through his veins and he hated Raba most of all.

One day he happened upon a frog princess, one so beautiful that lilies grew from the water wherever she swam; she was Siba. Seeing her charm and undeniable power to control the hearts of frogs everywhere, Jababa kidnapped her.

Hoping to shame frogs everywhere, he issued a challenge. Out of a large stick, almost as high as he, Jababa fashioned a sturdy bow but left it unstrung. He said that the frog that could string the bow and wield it against him may win the hand of Siba.

Frog after frog jumped at the opportunity, but all failed. It was a dark time for the species of frogs.

But all was not lost. Raba, seeing the beauty of Siba endeavored to win her love. Approaching Jababa, Raba held the unstrung bow gracefully and with the care of a mother strung the bow. Jababa could not believe his eyes, indeed he could hardly move as an arrow flew from the great bow and deftly pierced his chest.

Raba and Siba had many more adventures, but this is the end for this one.



Image source
"Rama Wins Sita" Public Domain Ramayana, Link to the reading online.

Author's footnotes: The story here is based loosely on the story of how the Indian prince, Rama, won the beautiful Sita. I embellished on it a bit to make it a more standalone story. The choice to make it about frogs is not very meaningful. I just thought of the image of a bow wielding frog and laughed to myself.

Reading Notes: Ramayana Part B

Public Domain Ramayana, link to the reading online.
Once again, notes as they occur:

I think it is very interesting how unquestioning even Bharata follows Rama. In any western story the brother would leap at the opportunity that he doesn't even need to feel guilty over.


Dasharatha really screwed himself over with this whole thing, even Bharata doesn't get it.

Jabali's speech about family loyalty is interesting  and so is Rama's response and no doubt has been used as a guide by many in the Indian culture.

I wonder if the story of Viradha had any real life inspiration such as a bear near a village or something. That's always something that I keep in the back of my mind.

I find it interesting that besides for Shurpanakha actually being ugly, she also takes a beautiful form. this seems to be the first time that outward beauty might not be a sign of the inner personality.

"The rocks answered back her awesome cries" may be the best way of describing an echo I've ever heard.

Of course Rama must fight the demon army alone. I suppose it was nice to not have to worry about his wife though.

I appreciate that Lakshmata is a bit cocky in battle, kinda like modern action characters.

Image source: Ravana and Maricha.

The art of Ravana is very... interesting

So Sita falls for the trick so easily. But I guess that's alright since it's all part of a very convoluted plot by Brahma.

I feel bad from the vulture character. He saw the right thing to do and he did it, but he died as a result. I feel like the whole "trap" scenario is a bit.... convoluted and given how powerful Rama has been shown to be it seems kinda sudden that he failed to protect Sita.

Reading notes: Ramayana part A

Shiva Catches Ganga Falling to Earth.

(Source)

Public Domain Ramayana, link to the reading online.

So I'm gonna just dot down things that strike me, I'll mention the speciifc story if need be.

Starting from the first couple sentences on the first story I can already tell the names are going to make this challenging for me. I already have trouble with character names that I am familiar with, but this is an extra added level of difficulty.

A phrase strikes me. "the impulses of modesty" are said to withhold the maidens from their lovers. It just is interesting because usually the impulses are what the modesty is meant to avoid.

It seems a common practice for gods of all religion to promise people sons. An interesting cross cultural remnant of a slightly more sexist time.

Another thing I find interesting is the idea of a hierarchy of gods. This isn't something I was raised hearing due to my Christian upbringing, but you see it in almost all mythologies.

Interesting also is the description of the rakshasa. She is described as hideous and misformed. Unlike Rama who is described as beautiful. Mythological good guys almost always seem to be attractive. This might be an element I have to tip toe around in retellings.

They live for thousands of years in these stories?!? Not bad, just a surprise.

I'm reading the PDE edition and come 7. Alhalya there is sudden poetry. The next one isn't a poem, but I find myself reading it as such.

It's interesting that Princess Sita is first seen in a flower garden, almost as if she is one.

Of course it will be a competition for the hand of Sita. the title of the next piece (Ramu wins Sita) might possibly spoil it a bit though.

The "Heir apparent" seems to mark the end of a story arc. I like this kind of structure.

It really does feel at times like Rama has cast a spell on the rest of the characters, but I guess he is really just that.