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Week 4 Story: The Rakshasas of Texas Continued

Ravan coming up to Sita’s house acting like a homeless man

In the year A.D 14 the Republic of the India was coming crashing down. To begin with the president Shiv was exiled for granting powers to a villain. This villain that Shiv granted unnecessary powers to is known as Ravan. The powers that were given to Ravan were being able to disguise, fly, cruse people, and many more powers. After Shiv was exiled from his presidency, Ram and Lakshman, who are brothers took over the Republic of India and started to make it into a better place where families and individuals can spend quality time together. Ram also had just been newly married to a great looking girl who was named Sita, who became the First Lady of the India House. When Ram took office he first and foremost tries to remove Ravan’s evil powers. Ram is very unsuccessful at removing Ravan’s evil powers. Ravan eventually gets wind of this and begins to construct a master plan to get back at the man that tried to destroy him.

Few weeks after Ram takes office, Ram has to make an emergency trip to London where foreign affairs are at stake. While Ram is in London Sita is all alone with out secret service agents or anyone. Ravan gets wind of Sita being alone then believes that now is the best time to put his master plan into action. Ravan arrives to the India House disguised as a homeless man. Sita feels bad for Ravan who she thinks is a homeless man, so she accepts him with open arms into her home. After she accepts him he then revels him true self. Sita quickly realizes who has really showed up into her home then demands Ravan to leave her house immediately. While Ravan was cursing someone he hated, that person that he was cursing put a curse on Ravan. The curse that was put on Ravan was that if he touched a woman without her consent that he would die that instant...thus he pulls the ground under Sita and places it in his chariot and speeds off. An hour after Ravan kidnaps Sita, Ram returns back home. Ram quickly realizes that Sita is nowhere to be found. Ram then contacts his fellow mates to help him track down his wife. One of Ram’s mates, Jatayu, finds Ravan and Sita. Jatayu then tries to stop Ravan in his tracks and is very successful at doing so also, but Ravan utilizes one of his evil powers to try to kill off Jatayu. Ravan then carries Sita to the land of the evil which is Lanka.

Ram and Lakshman have now been looking for Sita for a good two days now. On their way to Lanka the have to pass through the land of Kiskinda which is the land of the monkeys. As the two brothers enter the monkey land they are encountered by a monkey Hanuman who is the leader of the monkey kingdom. Hanuman also had the power to disguise but he never used it in a bad way. When Hanuman went to go talk to Ram he disguised himself as a scholar, but Ram saw right through the disguise. Hanuman wanted to come and help find Ram’s wife but Ram did not think a monkey could help so he put him through a test where he had to shoot an arrow and it had to go through the 7 trees and 7 worlds and 7 seas. Hanuman passes with flying colors so then Ram then tasks Hanuman to serve as a troop to help Ram find his wife. After picking Hanuman up they are close to the land of the evil. Prior to entering Lanka Hanuman is an itsy bitsy creature who then grows to a gigantic size so he can beat Ravan up.

Author’s Note: This story is based off when Ravan hears about Sita’s great qualities and features so Ravan draws both the brothers Ram and Lakshman out of their home so Ravan can abduct Sita. In attempts to save Sita, Jatayu whips up a storm to try to take the chariot down so he can save Sita but instead Ravan tries to kill him, but Jatayu holds on to his life so he can tell Ram who took Sita. While searching for Sita, Ram comes across Hanuman who helps him find Sita and tries to bring her back home safely. Also the powers of the kingdom try to bring back home the beloved wife of Ram because the evil character  could not stand and hear of how good of a wife Ram had gotten. This time I wanted to switch things up a bit and try a new style, hope you all liked it!

Bibliography. Ramayana by N.K. Narayan, online pdf.

Reading Notes 4.2 Ramayana, Part D

The last leg of this journey...

Hanuman in Lanka:

• Hanu shrinks to a very small size
• He initially thinks Sita is Ravana's wife Mandodari 
• finds Sita in Asoka Vana 
• the Rakshas women try to break her will, even Ravan tries, but no luck
• Sita makes plans to end her life
• Sita sends a piece of jewelry to give Ram, Hanu makes his visit noticed, becomes captured by Indrajet, Ravan's son
• Hanu warns Ravan of Ram's capabilities...Ravan wants to kill Hanu, but Vibishana, Ravan's brother interceeds and says you can't shoot the messenger

All is fair in love and war:

• the city is rebuilt, but Ravan is still peeved about the fact that a monkey did this..
• the council has gathered and tells Ravan that stealing another man's woman was wrong, but since he has gone to such lengths his older brother, Kumbakrna says that he should fight to keep Sita, if he wins good, if not let whoever dies die
• We know who speaks of wisdom in this house it is Vibishana
• he tells Ravan that he misused his gift that the gods had granted him
• he tells that the lit up tail of the monkey is not what caused Lanka to be set on fire it was the rage from Sita's soul
• he reminds Ravan of the curse from Vedavathi, whom Ravan took by her hair and of the curse from Nandi when he lifted Kailas
• Ravan tells Vibishana that he's talking like a madman...questions him why so much admiration for Rama
• Vib tries one last time - fail, he crosses the sea to Ram's camp

Arrival of Vibishana:

• Sugreeva and Jambavan both say since Vib is of the asura he could be Ravan in disguise or trying to trick them 
• Hanu is asked to voice his opinion..he thinks Vib has a good heart and pure soul, and that he has come to Ram in sense of his adoration for Ram
• Ram agrees, says one who seeks asylum must be given protection
• Plan was developed..Ram fasted for 7 days for help from the sea god
• sea god subject to laws of nature, Ram threatens to shoot an arrow, sea god says he'll help if they bring the materials 
• bridge is completed, we're here Lanka!

WAR:

• One by one soldiers are sent none return, Ram sends Angada to see if Ravan has change of heart...no luck 
• Day and night, the lines were blurred, the battle ensued
• venomous darts were used on Ram and Laksh making Ravan think they were dead...fail, Garuda, a mighty eagle born an enemy of all snakes arrived and the brothers were back
• Ravan vs Ram, ram annihilates Ravan, which make Ravan feel humiliated 
• Kumbakarna has been awaken from his sleep and says he'll take care of Ravan
• he swallows hundreds of thousands of warriors 
• Ram finishes him off
• Indrajit's trick fails and he's killed off by Laksh
• Indra's chariot is sent for Ram...he thinks it might be an illusion
• he tells Matah, the chariot driver to proceed with caution and strictly follow his orders
• conch's sounded shaking the earth with its vibrations
• Ravan's thinking he'll show the gods that it was a mistake to go support Ram
• Ravan invoked his most powerful weapon, Maya, a weapon which created illusions and confused the enemy
• Ram sends Gnana - wisdom and perception
• Ravan sends Thama - create darkness in all the worlds
• Ram sends Shivasthra 
• Ravan sends  a trident, but it falls before Ram's mantra
• Ravan sends serpents
• Ram sends Garuda - eagle
• Ravan's resources are depleting
• Ravan now fights with normal objects..Ram sends Brahmasthra
• RAVAN IS DEAD

Sita's test of purity:

• Ram is distant and cold
• Laksh lights the fire Sita passes the test

Raja Ram:

• Shiva tells Dasaratha to go down to earth and meet Ram, he does and Ram is overjoyed
• Ram asks King D to take back Kaikeyi and Bharata
• Gods tell Ram of how crucial it is that he return to Ayodhya tomorrow at the precise time as Bharat anxiously awaits for the last day of 14 years to end
• Vib gives Ram the Pushpak Vimana
• Hanu comes just in time to prevent Bharat from killing himself in the fire
• Ram is coronated, Hanu and Sugreeva come to the coronation in human form as do the gods.

Kamban's version of the story ends here.

Bibliography. Ramayana by N.K. Narayan, online pdf.

Sita completing her test for Ram to take her back

Reading Notes 4.1 Ramayana, Part C

Hello all!


The devil in disguise:

• Lakshman is runs off in search of Ram
• Ravan arrives at the cottage dressed as a poor old hermit 
• Sita receives him with respect 
• Ravan transforms to his actual self 
• Sita is telling Ravan to flee before Ram comes back 
• Apparently Ravan was cursed that if he touched a woman without her consent that he would die that instant...thus he pulls the ground under Sita and places it in his chariot and speeds off. 
• Jatayu tries to stop Ravan, Jatayu was successful in stirring a storm and bringing the chariot down..
• Unfortunately Ravan uses his master weapon gifted by Shiv called Chandrahasa and finished Jatayu
• Jatayu fights to stay alive until Ram comes
• Ravan carries Sita to Lanka

Kiskinda:

• son of Vayu and Anjana, Hanuman encounters Ram and Lakshman as they enter Kiskinda. 
• he's serves under Sugreeva, younger brother of Vali, King of Kiskinda
• Hanuman disguised himself as a scholar, but Ram see through it 

Sugreeva's Story:

• Vali churned the ocean for nectar and was rewarded by immeasurable strength from the gods
• Mayavi, a demon, challenged Vali
• Mayavi fled, Vali chased, defeated Mayavi and returned to Kiskinda
• the underground had been sealed in order to prevent Mayavi from returning, Vali misinterpreted, causing Sugreeva to seek safety at Mount Matanga, where Sage Matanga had laid a curse on Vali
• returning to Kiskinda, Vali forcibly took Sugreeva's wife and made her his own
• Ram's test: shoot the arrow: he does shoot the arrow and it goes through the 7 trees and 7 worlds and 7 seas
• Hanuman recognizes Ram is the incarnate of Vishnu 

Dundubi's Story:

• demon is disguise of buffalo
• wished that he could fight forever, directed to Vali by Indra
• fight between Vali and Dundubi for 1 year, Vali spins and throws Dundubi and unfortunately the dead demon lands where Sage Matanga was performing some sacred prayer 

Sita had thrown down her jewelry and the monkeys found it on the ground. Sugreeva returns it to Ram and agree to help search for her. 

Vali vs Sugreeva:

• Sugreeva is ready to fight, Vali hears his shout
• Tara tries to stop Sugreeva
• Sugreeva is losing, Ram shoots an arrow from his hiding spot, Vali questions Ram 
• Laksh explains why the arrow had to be shot from hiding
• Vali argues with Ram is he was right or wrong, in the end he agree even Ram was not wrong
• Angada made second in command..Vali in the end tells Ram to still support Surgreeva in his times of weakness

Rain, Rain, and more Rain:

• the endless rain finally relents (4 months)
• Laksh is super strong so he kicked the bolted doors down
• Tara remind Laksh of his mom and stepmom
• Sugreeva finally comes out of his dazed state, and remembers his promise
• Hanuman is tasked to serve for Ram, troops and commanders are gathered. 
• Ram questions Hanuman on how he'll be able to recognize her, gives Hanu a ring to give Sita
• Ram tells of how to recognize Sita

Sampathi:

• Angada and Hanu realize they have exceeded their allotted time
• they're starting to feel as if they won't find Sita
• Sampathi, elder brother of Jatayu, approaches the two 
• Hanu tells the story of Jatayu's death, Sampathi leads them in the direction of Sita
• Jabavan has also made a presence, he is the one who guides Hanuman on how to cross the sea
• Hanuman grows to a gigantic size so that he can step across the ocean to Lanka

Bibliography. Ramayana by N.K. Narayan, online pdf.

Sampathi's encounter with Hanuman's army

Feedback Strategies

Well, We Are Working On Becoming Better Writers

In a post by Gravity Goldberg titled, "Be a Mirror: Give Readers Feedback That Fosters A Growth Mindset," she talks of very useful strategies on providing feedback. I honestly wish my previous teachers had used this approach as I was learning to become a better, stronger writer. I have always felt that my writing was never good, no matter how many hours I spent writing, revising, and proofreading, and having others revise, I was never able to include everything that the teachers' wanted. I really liked how she was emphasizing the idea of learning the habits and writing styles of students and building on what is there. Showing how writers can improve with what they have instead of trying to get them to do something that is not there, which I completely agree with. She does say you can't change what you can't see in a mirror, power to people who think like that, my papers would probably have had much better grades if my teachers thought that way. Overall, I loved this article and I definitely will be taking from her to provide feedback on what is there and focus more on what the writer has done.

In the blog post by Laura Gibbs, "How to Craft Constructive Feedback," there are strategies that are great for providing feedback to any type of writing really. The three components: observe, describe, and critique, are very important things to keep in mind about providing feedback. I know sometimes I am at a loss for how to provide useful feedback to someone. Feedback for a long time to me meant checking for grammatical errors, syntax, and places that need to be more clearly written. One thing I have learned over the years is the more you practice providing feedback, the better you get with your own writing, because unconsciously you avoid making similar mistakes that you have corrected others for, at least for me that has helped. I have saved this article under my favorite's tab, so I have something as a guideline to follow when providing good feedback.

Topic Research: Navratri

Hello everyone!

Today I am going to expand on my topic of Navratri, which is festival in the Hindu religion celebrating the goddess Durga. Before we dive into this topic some key things to remember about Hinduism is that it is polytheistic, many of the religious festivals are based on the lunar calendar, and also that within Hinduism there are many ways to practice the religion.

Navratri:

• 9 day celebration
• significance of each day is based on the 9 avatars of Maa Durga
• Day 1: Sahilaputri
• means daughter of the mountain, since it is said that she was born in a house of the King of the Mountains
• She embodies the powers of Bhrama, Vishnu, and Shiva. She is portrayed riding a pull with a trident in one hand and a lotus in the other. In her previous birth she was the daughter of Daksha, who insulted her husband Shiva. Sati, Daughter of Daksha, couldn't witness her husband getting insulted and she stepped into the fire, gods were forced to bow down to her sacrifice. 
• Day 2: Brahmacharini
• shown in white clothes with a mala and jal kamandal
• female student living in an ashram under the guidance of Guru
• practicing devote austerity
• she is the provider of peace, happiness, and prosperity
• Day 3: Chandraghanta
• third eye always open "half-moon"
• Prepared for battle any time
• rewards people with her bravery, courage, and grace
• Day 4: Kushmunda
• improves health and bestows wealth and strength
• created universe through laughter and made it verdant with vegetation
• Day 5: Skandamata
• mother of Skanda, or Karthikeya
• she holds the infant in her hands, while on the lion
• Karthikeya was commander-in-chief deemed by the Gods
• Day 6: Katyayani
• daughter of Katyayani Rishi
• the gods each gave her a weapon 
• Day 7: Kalratri
• considered the goddess's fiercest form 
• disheveled hair, dark complexion, three bight eyes, exhaling flames
• destroyer of all demons and spirits
• Day 8: Maha Gauri
• intelligent, peaceful, calm
• her complexion became dark, while she was performing austerities in the Himalyas, Shiva pours Ganga Jal on her and her lighter complexion is back
• Day 9: Siddhidhatri
• fulfills all the aspirations of those that have worshiped her fully for the nine day

There are 4 Navratris, but only two are celebrated by majority of India; the other two are celebrated by only certain regions. The two big Navratri are once a year: once at the beginning of the year called Chaitri Navratri, and once at the end of the year called Sharada Navratri. 

Many people tend to fast for the nine days, meaning not eating, wheat or white flour products, salt, rice, and other items.

There are different regional celebrations of the festival based on the culture, traditions, and interpretation of the texts relating to Maa Durga. 

Since there are many regional variances in Navratri, I was thinking of doing sort of a travel blog, gossip girl style postings, or tell the festival from the eyes of a well versed Sage... I'm looking into other possibilities, so I am not sure yet of, which style I like and want to venture with. Earlier in the semester I had looked into three different stories and liked all three of the styles, but more is yet to come on that. 

Some places I really want to see the different portrayals of Navratri include, regions of America, London, regions of India, Australia possibly, and Africa. 

I also plan to relate the celebration with different foods, places, and other related Gods and Goddesses. 

Garba in London

Garba in Gujarat

Week 3 Story: The Rakshasas of Texas Continued

King Janak finds Sita in the furrow

Here is The Rakshasas of Texas continued, if you haven't read my week 2 post you may be a little lost. No worries skim through my first story post and then this week's will make more sense.

Daddy: "Hey princess! What do you want to listen to today?" 

Little 6 year old: "Will tell me more about Gibbs?"

Daddy: "Oh, let's see, where did we leave off last week?"

Little 6 year old: "Oh daddy it was that part about the sage cursing the Rakshasas."

Daddy: "Oh yes, okay let me tell you a little more about Gibbs and her previous birth. Many centuries ago during the time of kings and queens, there were two well known kingdoms Janakpuri and Kosala. King Dasharatha ruled over the kingdom of Kosala, while King Janak ruled over Janakpuri. King Dashratha had 4 sons, Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata, Shatrughna. These four sons were born after many prayers and yagnas being held, they all were the heart and soul of all of Ayodhya, especially Rama. King D had 3 wives and all of them got along so well that they never thought of each other's sons anything less than their own. Under the wing of Sage Viswamithra Rama and Lakshmana are taken to Janakpuri where it is love at first site for Ram and Sita. 

Sita, was the daughter of Earth, she was found in the furrow of a field being plowed. King Janak took her in and raised her as his known. He knew she was special and after numerous attempts in trying to find a suitable groom, King Janak decreed that whomever could bend, string, and pull the ancestral bow of Shiva shall be the groom of Sita."

Little 6 year old: "Wow daddy are you going to do that for my wedding?"

Daddy: "Honey, remember when I said many centuries ago, we have different traditions now. Now, let's get back to the bow. In an attempt to find the groom a competition was held and lucky for King J, the sage had decided long ago that Rama and Lakshmana would be taken to this event. Okay, listen to this, we are now in the court of King J, in comes Ram and his brother along with sage. Everyone is amazed by the beauty of the two brothers, but listen to me and hear how respectful Ram is. Before taking a chance at the bow on King J's insistence, but he asks Sage Viswamithra for permission to proceed. As fast as the speed of light Ram had strung the bow, but with a few seconds the bow breaks. In come Sita and her sister to congratulate Ram of winning the competition. The four brothers married the four daughters of King Janak and left for home after having a huge wedding with elephants, horses, and thousands of guests. Back home everyone ecstatic at hearing that Ram's coronation is soon. 

But you know so people become jealous and that is not good. There was this one lady in particular who went around turning good people evil. 

Little 6 year old: "What's her name?"

Daddy: "She was called Kooni, but her real name is Manthra. She really was not that bad, but money, power, and ego can all make a person do bad things. Because of her one day Ram was told to live in the forest for 14 years, with Ram went his wife Sita and brother Lakshman. Sita, a girl who grew up in a palace, playing with dolls and her sisters in the palace garden like you do. She lived with air conditioning at home and had a pretty horse too. But she stood by her husband's side and took on the life of a person with nothing. You know how I showed you those poor people living in the mud and grass houses?"

Little 6 year old: "Yeah! You said that was how Sitama lived with Ram and Lakshman."

Daddy: "You remember, Sita never once complained about the troubles, she learned to adapt."

Little 6 year old: "What does adapt mean?"

Daddy: "Adapt means that you fit in anywhere, you change and learn to mix with any situation you are in. Sita was the daughter of Earth and was born to assist Ram in his quest to kill the Rakshasas of Lanka."

To be continued...

Authors note: I chose to continue the original story from my first story post, but this time I chose to bring the the history behind Gibbs. Since we are reading the Ramayana right now I wanted to portray Gibbs as the reincarnation of Sita so I wanted to start from the beginning and make Sita the main character by emphasizing her characteristics that make her the daughter of Earth. N.K. Narayan's version of the Ramayan is very similar to the my narration above, except he does not mention King J having other daughters except Sita, and I chose to omit the parts King D dying, the city in deep sorrow from the loss of Rama and how Bharat refuses the throne. I also did not include the stories that Sage Viswamithra about Thatka, Mahabali, Ganga, and Ahalya.

Bibliography. Ramayana by N.K. Narayan, online pdf.