Storytelling Week 6: Mahabharata Draft Day

Good evening, folks, and welcome to ESPN. We’re a bunch of guys wearing makeup talking about sports.

I’m Skip Bayles, and we have a very interesting show for you tonight. As we all know, this year’s draft just came to a close. As always, it was full of surprises. With Tebow returning to the Denver Broncos, Ray Lewis returning for a victory lap with the Baltimore Ravens, and the “out-of-left-field” drafting of OU’s Baker Mayfield to the Houston Texans, there is a lot to talk about.


BUT...what really has everybody buzzing is the shocking pickup of Shri Krishna by Arjuna of the Pandavas.

Recently returning from a 12-month suspension for foul play, the Pandavas were looking to bounce back with force. With this resurgence, everyone had figured that they would make a beeline for Krishna. But they weren’t the only ones who had their eye on the prize.

Duryodhana of the Kauravas pursued Krishna with the same tenacity. The rivalry between the Kauravas and the Pandavas goes back for decades and can arguably be considered the most heated rivalry in the world of sports. However, that is not the end to our story here. If you recall, it was the Kauravas who were responsible for the 12-month suspension of the Pandavas. So, folks, as you can see, there is a lot on the line here.

Now, Arjuna had always had Krishna on his radar. Since he was a young'un, Arjuna had always admired and respected Krishna above any other player in the game. In his eyes, victory was inherent with the help of Krishna. Facing the Kauravas in their first game back from suspension, Arjuna hastened to Krishna in preparation for war. Little did he know, Duryodhana had beaten him to the chase.

Surprisingly enough, this didn’t affect Krishna’s decision. The constant nagging and pompous attitude of Duryodhana rubbed Krishna the wrong way. For this reason, he gave Arjuna the first pick.

The choice was simple-Krishna or an entire roster of players. BUT, to spice things up even more, Krishna had announced to the men that he would retire from play. Now, with any rational thought one can basically rule out Krishna as useless. However, Arjuna’s lifelong devotion to Krishna held true and he chose him without a second thought. Even Krishna was surprised.

Durydohana, like the rest of us, basically took Krishna out of the picture once he learned that he would not suit up. So he was elated when he was essentially handed a full roster of fresh players eager to prove themselves.

After the deals were done and the papers were signed, Krishna and Arjuna met to talk things over. Luckily, Arjuna somehow managed to convince Krishna that he would be useful as an offensive coordinator. If he couldn’t play, he could at least help guide Arjuna through the game. Now, this folks, could turn out to be a huge game-changer. Krishna’s wisdom and presence is unmatched by any.

We spoke with Arjuna this afternoon about the whole ordeal and asked why in the world he was so optimistic about his new draft pick and he simply replied, “If you were going into the Super Bowl, would you rather have Tom Brady or the entire Fighting Tigers Pee Wee Team ?”

Skip Bayles on ESPN's First Take: Wiki Commons

Author’s Note. This story is based on the episode Krishna and His Army, found in the Public Domain Edition Mahabharata. In this episode, the Pandavas have just been freed from their twelve year exile and are preparing for the inevitable battle with the Kausavas. As it has been demonstrated through various points in the epic, Arjuna has an immense adoration for Krishna and so seeks his help for the pending battle. However, Durydohana has the same thoughts so he seeks his help too. Ultimately, Arjuna makes the shocking decision to take Krishna over an army of one hundred million soldiers. This is even more shocking because Krishna declares he will not fight in the battle himself. So, both Durydohana and Arjuna go home from the deal content with their pickings. However, as the story develops you begin to see how Arjuna made the right decision. I chose this story because I think it demonstrates that it is not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog. I thought of the idea for the ESPN adaptation after reading Heather’s story written as a TV show review. I thought it was a cool twist so I tried to imitate that a little bit.

Bibliography. The Mahabharata, A Summary by John Mandeville Macfie (1921)

Reading Diary B: PDE Mahabharata

• Pandavas go undergo an exile similar to Rama's
• Bhima and Draupadi unleash their angers on the eldest brother, but he remains faithful to his exile and to the will of the gods.
• Arjuna goes off to gain celestial weapons that will come in handy later. 
• Bhima encounters Hanuman in exile
• Duryodhana and Karna go to spy on the Pandavas and are stopped by celestial spirits who would not allow it. A war followed, and the Kausavas were defeated. 
• Karna deserted
• Duryodhana and much of his court was captured
• Bhima and Arjuna fight and get the prisoners released? 
• humbled/embarrassed Duryodhana
• Karna vows to kill Arjuna
• A secret messenger comes and tells the Pandavas of this news
• Indra, Arjuna's father, takes away Karna armour and earrings in exchange for a celestial dart.
• The Pandavas come to a lake and all but Yudhishthira die from drinking after ignoring questions asked by a voice. It turns out the voice is Dharma, god of wisdom and justice. He grants Yudhishthira two wishes-That they should be restored to life and go unrecognized for a year. (their last year of exile is to be in hiding and they have to do another 12 years of Kausavas find them)
• They return to INSIDE THE CITY and take up various roles
• Yudhishthira-teaches playing dice (so he can practice)
• Bhima-cook
• Arjuna-teaches dance
• All became loved by the monarch 
• Bhima secretly kills King Kichaka for attempting to rap Draupadi. This causes the Kausavas to raid his kingdom. The raid conveniently falls on the last day of the exile, so the Pandavas turn on the Kausavas and were taken as prisoners of Kichaka's son
• Both Duryodhana and Arjuna go to Krishna, but Krishna gets first pick because he was humbly bowing while Duryodhana pompously sat on his bed. Arjuna choses Krishna over an entire army. 
• Duryodhana tries to capture Krishna, but it only angers Krishna and he takes his godly form 
• The battle seems equal sided, but it is clear who will win. 

Bima fights Bakasura: Wiki Commons

Reading Diary A: PDE Mahabharata

• Prince Duryodhana planned to burn down a palace where the Pandavas and Kunti were staying. The palace was all wood and covered in oil. 
• Vidura 
• King Pandu and King Dhritarashtra brother
• Wisest of the brothers, his mother was slave so he had no power
• Vidura notices the signs of the plot and orders a tunnel to be dug to save his family. While they escape, a peasant family there begging for food dies and everyone thinks they it is the royal family. Dhritarashtra and Duryodhana think their plan has succeeded. 
• In the woods the Pandavas come across some rakshasas. The sister tries to save them, but Bhima is noble and wont leave his family's side. He fights the bad rakshasa, even drags him into the forest so he wont wake up his family. 
• Bhima and the sister of the bad rakshasa actually falls in love with Bhima and they live a happy life together
• Give birth to a son-Ghatotkacha
• The Pandavas and Kunti find refuge in a town that is ruled by Baka, who eats people in return for protecting the city. Kunti hails Bhima and he comes and kills Baka.
• Drapuda, friend who betrayed Drona (guru who trained Pandavas)
• His payment for training them was avenging Drapuda
• Nalayani, daughter of Drapuda, was married to all 5 Pandavas 
• This was the result of Karma for her actions in her previous life
• Arjuna breaks a deal of the marriage of the Panadavas to Draupadi. While his brother tells him to let it slide, he remains truthful to his oath and exiles for 12 years. During his ecile he meets Ulupi, daughter of the nagas King, the same character who gave Bhima his powers. Here he gains the power to become invisible in water and has a son, Iravat. He then uses this power to rescue 5 water nymphs who were cursed to take the form of alligators 
• good Karma 
• The Pandavas burn a forest and it return a god Maya builds them a palace unmatched by anything on earth. As they become more powerful, Duryodhana becomes even more bitter. 
• Yudhishthira loses all of the riches and lands of the Pandavas, including their wife Draupdi, who becomes a slave
• This results in a ferocious proclamation of revenge by Bhima. 
• The Pandavas are exiled after losing another gambling match

Vysa tell Drapuda about Draupadi's past life: PDE Mahabharata

Week 5 Review

I know I might be a little early, but there is already a lot of stuff I like about the Daily Announcements for this week. First, is this just because it's funny

Taco Cat : Daily Announcements 

I also am glad I saw the "You really can call me Laura!" announcement. Sometime professors are weird about what you call them, so it is nice to be able to be on a first name basis. It gives the class a relaxed feel to it. 

Reading Feedback

Week 5.
This week I chose the Public Domain Edition Mahabharata. I really liked this option because it allows me to work on the readings from anywhere. I have a busy schedule so it is very difficult to find time to go to Bizzel to accomplish the readings. I also like this because it gives you a nice reading guide that provides a little summary of each episode and gives little hints like "he will be one of the most important characters of this epic". My favorite part of the readings was the Bhima and the nagas section where Bhima's cousins attempt to murder him but it ironically ends up making up more powerful. I was a little confused on why Vysa did not immediately become king after his father had made that part of the deal for allowing King Pandu to marry Kunti. It took me a little over an hour to complete these readings. For the Reading Diary, I use a bullet format because I find this the easiest way to jot down pieces of information that don't necessarily flow completely.

Bhima fights Duryodhana: Wiki Commons

Week 6.

I chose the Public Domain Edition Mahabharata again for this week. I just love these online editions because they are so flexible and come with awesome Reading Guides. I love skimming over the reading guide and getting the broad over view into the story. Sometimes the stories can be confusing, so if you go back and read the reading guide you get the bigger picture and it connects the dots for you. Another awesome aspect of the PDEs are the links they include on certain characters, places, or things that are important to the story. I have never been familiar with Indian Epics prior to this class, so by clicking on these links you can go to a website that gives you the scoop on the who/why/what on whatever you are researching. I am a huge fan of these PDEs.

"That was easy" : Wiki Commons

Week 10 

This week I chose to read the online version of "The Life of Buddha" by Andre Ferdinand Herold from the Sacred Texts website. I chose this because I have always been intrigued by the story of Buddha. I have read a little into Buddhism, but had never learned anything about the background story. This provided a perfect way for me to learn about it. The readings are concise, but not too long, and made for an easy read. However, I do miss the reading guides form the PDE Mahabharata. I think adding Reading Guides for this would further solidify the understanding of the story. Overall, I really like this option. I think it is nice to have some options to chose from like this. 

The Death of Buddha: Sacred Texts

Week 12. 

This week I chose to read the Twenty Jataka Tales by Noor Inayat. I absolutely loved these stories. This was recommended to me by Professor Gibbs after my week 10 reading on The Life of Buddha. I always love when animals are used to place of people, it gives the story a more playful atmosphere and almost makes it easier to understand that when you're reading about the complexity of people. I really liked this because it was super easy to access with its online site and it was also very easy to navigate. The link takes you to PDF of a book, so it feels like you are reading out of a Kindle or something. I am very glad I chose to read these stories. 

Bhutanese painted thangka of the Jatakas: Google Images 

Thoughts About Comments

Storytelling Comments. I think probably the most reassuring comments I read about my stories were that they were easy to follow. Sometimes I get the feeling that while the story makes sense in my own head, other people may find it confusing. As sort of an extension of that, I think it is helpful when people point out the main points/morals of the story. If I am writing a story that is easy to follow and that clearly delivers the message I am wanting to convey, I have reached the ultimate goal. Also, giving specific critiques help me improve my writings. For example, someone commented on one of my stories and said I could be a little more specific and then provided an example in "like naming the characters".

Introduction/Other Comments. I think it is interesting to read about how my introduction or other posts relate to other students. Since this is an online class it is hard to get to students, I think these type of comments make it easier to feel like you are getting to you your fellow classmates.

My comments. I think that I have room to improve my comments on Storytelling posts. After reading other peoples' comments I realized that I could probably afford to be more specific. I feel like my comments right now may me too generalized and not really help the author at all. By pointing out the clarity, main points, and specific critiques, I could leave some comments that may be of use to the author.

Storytelling Week 5: Pandavas v. Kauravas

One day Duryodhana and his brother's were playing in the garden when they noticed a group of people approaching the gates. At first this startled them. Once they group got closer, they realized that it was their aunt, Kunti, and their cousins, the Pandavas. This was a merry sight! It had been many years since the cousins had seen each other. They quickly began to chase each other around the palace grounds, laughing and enjoying this reunion. All but one. Duryodhana.

Since his birth, Duryodhana had been a trouble maker. Always picking on his brother, crying, and demanding attention at all times. The arrival of his cousins only appeared to him as an obstacle to overcome that chastened even his smallest of desires. He could not wait for them to leave.

However, Kunti had brought with her news that would change Duryodhana’s life forever. It had come to pass that his uncle, King Pandu had died. However, this news did not saddened the cold heart of Durydhana. What angered him was the news that his cousins would be staying, forever. King Dhritarashtra had agreed to accept the Pandavas as his sons, raising them along side the Kausavas as equals. This Durydhana could not accept. How could his father betray his sons in such a way?

As time went on, the Pandavas developed into mighty, valiant young men. Of all the Pandava brothers, Bhima was the most powerful. His presence in the royal city constantly overshadowed the Kausavas, the “natives”. Again, none was more distraught of this development than Durydhana. Now considered the leader of the Kausavas, his hatred for Bhima had grown deep and bitter.

Under the guidance of Durydhana, the Kausavas began plotting their destruction of Bhima. They thought, without their mightiest brother, the Kausavas would soon surpass the Pandavas in glory and triumph.

Finally the day came when the saga of Bhima and the Pandavas was to be put to an end. One day, while the brothers were enjoying a feast on banks of the mighty Ganges, Durydhana poisoned the food Bhima. Shortly after, Bhima dropped dead. Or so it appeared. Durydhana hastily dumped Bhima’s body in the river, ridding his side of this thorn.

Bhima sank into the river and was attacked by a swarm of angry serpants, called nagas. However, ironically enough, the serpents’ venom counteracted the poison he had been fed by Durydhana and he sprang back to life. But it was to late. Once he reoriented himself, Bhima was in the underworld city of the snakes.

Luckily for him, Aryaka, the great-grandsire of his mother, Kunti, inhabited this evil place. In place of certain death, Bhima was bestowed the power of one thousand nagas. After a period of respite, Bhima feasted in the city of snakes and returned to Kunti and his brothers. Telling his brothers the tall of his journey into the underworld, the Pandavas agreed to secrecy, never revealing to the Kauravas what had happened. 

Bhima and the nagas: Wiki Commons

Author’s note. This story is primarily based on episode thirteen of the Public Domain Edition Mahabharata, “Bhima and the Nagas”. This episode essentially describes the climax of the tension between the cousins where Durydhana attempts to kill Bhima. I chose this story because of the irony of the situation. Durydhana has been an evil-spirited character since his birth and its bad omens. This makes him the ideal character to carry out an act like this. However, the irony come in because while he tried to get rid of him all together, his actions actually make Bhima more powerful, completely undermining the goals of Durydhana. He sort of “shoots himself in the foot”. I tried to make the episode a little more “story” like by beginning the story with the cousins in their youth. This shows their innocence at the beginning that turns to bitterness as they age. This also highlights the inherent evil of Durydhana. One message that I wanted to take away from this story is that sometimes the good guys win and what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

Bibliography: The Mahabharata, A Summary by John Mandeville Macfie (1921)

Reading Diary A: PDE Mahabharata

• Vyasa was the composer of the Mahabharata and a character
• Vedas-everything man should know about heaven and earth
• Vyasa was born from a fish swallowing the semen of a great king.
• Devavrata was born from the Goddess Ganga who had taken human form and married a King. By drowning 7 of her children, she freed gods from their humanly form and allowed a bit of their powers to be absorbed into her 8th son. 
• Satyavati-Vyvasa's mother 
• Vyasa goes to meditate but will return to Satyavati in times of need if she thinks of him
• King Shantanu wont marry Satyavati because he refuses to make Vyasa heir
• Devavrate becomes Bhishma once he denounces his thrown in to allow his father to marry Satyavati (this was part of the deal Ganga made all along)
• Lady Amba is embarrassed of her rejection and isolation, is told by Shiva that she will reincarnate as a man and defeat Bhishma, who she is hellbent on destroying. 
• Dharma, God of justice, was born as Vyasa's son
• Kunti (wife of King Pandu) gives birth Karna, son of Surya, god of the sun. 
• Kunti was ashamed of her affairs and sent Karna down the River Aswa in a basket and picked up by a couple who had been wishing for a child for a long time. 
• Karna wore celestial earrings and armor that grew as he did. 
• King Pandu has a mishap in the woods, killing a brahmin and his wife in deer form, and is told he will die in the arms of one of his wives.
• this causes him to renounce all of his possessions to the brahmins, and went into hiding with his wives. 
• Rivalry between the Pandavas and the Kauravas
• Kauravas plot to kill Bhima, but they ironically make him stronger. 
• Drona-guru of the cousins 
• Pandavas
• Arjuna-warrior
• Yudhishthira-scholar
• Bhima-Club
• Nakula-taming steed
• Sahadeva-swordmans/astronomer 
• Karna shows up to the contest and strikes fear into the hearts of Pandavas

Purochan with Pandavas: Wiki Commons  

Week 4 Storytelling: Trouble in Middle Earth

On the eve of Rama's banishment, Sita was crushed. Through her sobs she begged and pleaded for Rama not to leave. "Why do you not just imprison that mad woman?" she cried. "My love," Rama replied, "I know that she is mad. This whole situation is mad, but I am a man of honor and will not disrespect the orders of my King". 

Trying to calm the nerves of his beloved Sita, Rama told her the tale of the noble Eomer and his dedication to the well-being of his people.  



Rohan, the Kingdom of Men, was once a majestic and noble land. Under the protection of King Théoden, the people lived in peace and harmony. However, the age of men was threatened by evil forces who had awakened from an extended period of dormancy. 

You see, in Middle Earth there lives not only men, but elves, dwarfs, wizards, and the dreaded orcs. The orcs were evil and slimy creatures. Bred solely for war, the orcs were a brutal race that sought to disrupt the peace that had swept across the vast lands of Middle Earth. Their master, the Dark Lord Sauron, was considered dead for many years. However, while everyone had forgotten his name, the Dark Lord had secretly been raising the most immense army the world had ever seen. With an army the likes of had never before been seen, the future of Middle Earth seemed dismal.

Another tool by which the Dark Lord carried out his mischief were his magical powers- unknown in the world of men. With almost a god-like presence, Sauron was able to corrupt the minds of others through fear.  The most notable of those to fall victim to the influence of the Dark Lord was Saruman. Once known as The White Wizard, Saruman was transcended from one of the mightiest and wisest wizard in all of Middle Earth. However, once he glimpsed the forces of Sauron, he saw no future for those who opposed his will and so forfeited his nobility for malevolence.

Now, back to Théoden. The mighty King of Men had a vassal, Grima. Grima was once a loyal companion to Théoden, but his mortal mind would soon be tainted by the Dark Lord. Working under the orders of Saruman, Grima, gradually poisoned the mind and health of Théoden so that he would be blind to the operations of the Dark Lord within his lands. With Théoden under this spell, the orcs ran free in his lands. Killing anyone in their path and destroying every village they came across, the orcs wreaked havoc on the lands of Rohan. Only one man was brave enough to question the orders of the Théoden: Èomer, his nephew. Grima, who had quickly earned the name Wormtongue amongst the people of Rohan, saw Èomer as a threat to his master’s plans. To rid the Kingdom of this clarity and justice, Wormtongue convinced Théoden to banish Èomer from the Kingdom, never to return.

Heartbroken and angered beyond belief, Èomer honored the wishes of his King, poisoned as he was. However, Èomer was not alone. A group of soldiers still loyal to the true interests of their people, known as the Riders of Rohan, accompanied him in his exile. Traveling as nomadic warriors, the Riders of Rohan sought out and destroyed regiments of orcs that plagued their lands, never losing sight of what they knew their king truly stood for.

Rama Taking Leave of Dasharatha : Wiki Commons

Author's Note. I used the story of Rama losing his position and as heir apparent and being exiled at the hands of Manthara. Manthara, not directly related to the King, obstructs his judgment through using a “middleman,” Kaikeyi. In this story, Saruman represents the hunchback, Manthara. Kaikeyi, who persuades the mind of King Dasharatha, is represented by Grima or “Wormtongue”. King Dasharatha is represented by King Théoden. Lastly, the noble man who is wrongly banished, Rama, is represented by Èomer. I found many parallels in these two stories. In both circumstances there are people of great prominence who are liked by all. However, if these stories went unimpeded, the story would be a short “happily ever after” tale. Therefore the authors must place obstacles in front of the protagonist that they must overcome. Rama is put to the ultimate test when he is banished from his father’s kingdom. The rest of the story will show how he responds to misfortunes like this. It is a way for the author to test Rama’s true character, which is simply strengthened. In this way, Manthara serves as the disruption that will complicate Rama’s life. Again, these represent the perpetual battle of good v. evil.

Bibliography:

The Scheming of Kaikeyi, from Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists, by Sister Nivedita (1914)

Reading Diary A: Online Ramayana by Sister Nevedita

• Kusi and Lava
• Sons of Rama and Sita 
• Dasharatha of Ayodha 
• mighty, unconquerable kingdom 
• With all this glory, Dasharatha still sad he does have a son
• Lord of the Rings? 
• Deities complaining to Brahma about Ravana 
• Soromon LOT and Gandolf 
• only men can slay him (only the ring can end Soromon)
• men=hobbits 
• Lakshman=Sam
• Rama=Frodo 
• Rama bends the might bow to win Sita's hand in marriage 
• Rama was closest to his father and his people
• "serene temper under all circumstances of fortune and misfortune; never vainly angered"
• "remembered even a single kindness but forgot a hundred injuries"
• Rama Weds the Daughter of Janaka 
• Rama is chosen as heir-apparent and is supported and loved by everyone 
• The scheming of Kaikeyi
• Manthara=Sauromon  LOT
• hunchback, persuades the queen to go against Rama
• Kaikeyi= Henchman 
• Dasharatha=King Theoden 
• Rama=Eomer (nephew of Theoden) 
• Rama exiled and faithfully obeys his father
• Eomer does the same in LOTR
• Sita and Lankshman following Rama is similar to the riders of Rohan following Eomer 

Dashthara Being Asked in Court to Banish Rama: Wiki Commons 

Karma: Styles Brainstorm

Topic. My storybook will be about Karma as it relates to the Buddhist tradition. It will use stories that feature animals as the main characters to convey the lessons of karma. One story which I think I will use is The Monkey Kings Sacrifice. Another story that I would like to use is The Story of the Hermit and the Hare. There are many other comic books available from the library that provide stories about karma with animals.

Bibliography: 

The Monkey Kings Sacrifice, from Monkey Stories: Jataka Tales of Wile and Wisdom, by Amar Chitra Katha

The Story of the Hermit and the Hare, from The Life of Buddha, by A. Ferdinand Herold, tr. by Paul C Blum (1922)

Possible Styles.

Aesop's Fables. I think one interesting take on this would be to organize like a series of stories from Aesop's Fables. By keeping it not too long and reiterating a moral at the end of the story, I think people would be able to understand the message easily. These would mainly be composed as dialogues between the characters involved.

Stories told by the Animals. This would be set up as a group of hikers/explorers who get lost in the wilderness and encounter these various animals from the stories. Once they encounter the animals they may ask a question or say something that invokes the animal to tell their story as it relates to karma. After hearing these stories the group of hikers/explorers will be able to find their way back to the trail and to safety.

News report. I think another interesting way to tell these stories would be from the point of view of a news report. This would involve a news anchor reporting on an incident that happened in the local zoo or perhaps a far off jungle somewhere. This would be set in a world like ours, where animals don't speak or anything like that, so hearing stories such as the The Monkey Kings Sacrifice would be breaking news.

Family Camping Trip. This would be set as a family weekend camping trip in the woods. The stories would be told by a grandfather who is trying to teach these lessons of karma to his grandchildren. Sitting around a campfire, the children would be listening intently to the wise words of their grandfather. Since the stories involve animals, this would be something that would catch the youngsters' attention.

Yama, the Lord of Death, Holding the Wheel of Life: Wiki Commons 

Indian Epics Topics Brainstorm

1. Possible Topic: Hanuman. To be honest, Hanuman has been a character of interest in Indian folklore since before I took this class. I met someone while skiing one time who's name was Hanuman. Since that isn't something you hear everyday, I was intrigued. I know I am late on this assignment, but after reading the second part of the Ramayana I think Hanuman is one of the most interesting characters of the tale. His ability to move mountains and save Rama during his struggle in Lanka makes him very interesting for me. I hope to better understand his position/relation to Indian Epics on a deeper level.
Research So Far. Hanuman is one of the central characters of the Week 2 readings of the Ramayana. After reading about his deep involvement with the story and steadfast devotion to Rama, the readings gave me an insight into what kind of character Hanuman was. Also reading about him on Wikipedia (birthplace and childhood) it is clear that he is a very prominent character in the story.

2. Possible Topic: Karma. I have read about the topic of Karma in various books on Buddhism and other books written by the Dalai Lama. It is something that I know a little bit about but want to see how it is applied to these stories. Is the word "karma" used in the stories as it is used in everyday conversation? Or is there a more serious or spiritual undertone to it.
Research So Far. I started researching Karma once it appeared in the Ramayana surrounding the death of Dasharatha and his life experiences. I became especially interested in the topic after reading about it under the Story Book Topics where it talks about how universal the topic is, literally being able to be applied to any story. Also browsing the Indian Epics Story Book Archive. I really liked the setup of The Karma Times site.

3. Possible Topic: Avatars of Vishnu. My interest in this was sparked from reading about Rama in the week 2-3 readings. His heroism is constantly reinforced throughout the story and most everyone supports this. I think it is interesting that the God's would animate themselves in order to carry out their will.
Research So Far. Again, reading from the Ramayana has given me some insight into this topic. For example, when Rama is confronted by Parashurama, also an avatar of Vishnu. After looking into it more on Wikipedia, I found out that there are 10 major Avatars of Vishnu, which are referred to as Dasavatara. Involving many different figures and stories, this is a fairly diverse topic that I find very interesting.

4. Possible Topic: Astra. To be honest the reason I chose this as a possible topic is because I was a little confused when they would reference these magical weapons during the readings. I think it is interesting how they are endowed to specific characters and are more powerful that generic weapons.
Research So Far. Reading about this in last week's reading was interesting. For example when Rama is able to bend Shiva's bow and also when he gains the weapon of Parashurama by passing his test. Through reading the various sources on the course site I found out that these weapons can take any form. While the majority of the time they take the form of an arrow, a blade of grass has been used an an astra.

Hanuman: Wiki Commons 

Week 3 Storytelling: The Trojan Deer

The bad blood between Ravana and Rama had been boiling for years. Ravana, constantly beaten back by Rama, was becoming agitated with his enemy's persistence and was now eager to end this struggle. However, this was not simply born from lack of interest in the conflict. No, no, no, this came from a feverish desire to avenge his sister, Shurpanakha, and revel in the peril of his foe.

Operating in secrecy , Ravana befriended a hermit named Maricha who he knew had his own previous conflicts with Rama. Sharing a common enemy, the two devised a plan to overcome the mighty Rama.

Everyone who knew Rama knew that his love for Sita was a bond unlike any other. This love provided Rama with the strength to overcome any obstacle in order to ensure the safety of his beloved Sita. This exposed a weakness, and his foes began to scheme…

Ravana: Tell me, Maricha, what is one thing that you cherish above all else in this world?

Maricha: That is simple, my lord. Nothing could ever surpass the happiness my mother brought me.

Ravana: Precisely! Only a man cruel as Rama could deprive a man of his mother's love. We must do to him what he has done to you.

Maricha: I am sorry, but I do not follow.

Ravana: Tell me, what do you know about the tale of the Trojan Horse?

Maricha: Ah! A marvelous feat of intelligence. The Greeks, accepting defeat and returning to the shores of Greece, presented a mighty horse made of wood to the people of Troy. Or so it seemed.. The Trojans, drunk with pride, accepted the offering as a gift and a sign of victory. Little did they know, amid their revelry and ignorance, hid a small legion of Greek soldiers within the mighty horse. Once the time was right, the soldiers snuck out and opened the gates to their fellow Greeks who had returned under the cover of night. Once the gates were breached, the Greeks were easily able to overcome the Trojans.

Ravana: Exactly! In order to defeat Rama we must first breach the fortified gates of his heart, to which Sita holds the key.

Mericha: I don’t like where this is going, Ravana. Though it is true I have had my mishaps with Rama in the past, I wish for no man to experience the pain I felt when I lost my mother.

Ravana: Do you dare question my mission?! The choice is simple-aid in my quest to take down Rama, or stand in the way and fall by his side.

Mericha: No, no, great Ravana, I am with you.

Ravana: Good. Now, you are going to be my Trojan Horse. You will take the disguise of a golden deer to distract Rama and Lakshmana. A sight marvelous as this will surely mesmerize Sita. Unable to see her desires go unfulfilled, Rama will attempt to capture the beast, leading him out into the woods. Then all we need to do is lure his brother away. This will not be a difficult task. Once Sita is alone, I will easily snatch her up. We will take what is most precious to him when he least expects it, leaving the mighty Rama broken and exposed.

Sita and the Golden Deer: Wiki Commons 

Author's Note: This story is based off  the episode of Ravana and Maricha from the Public Domain Ramayana. I chose this style of writing because it highlights the tactical deception called upon by Ravana. Just as the Greeks did in the Trojan War, Ravana constructed a thing of beauty to help expose his enemy. In this case, Ravana would be the Greeks while Rama represents the Trojans. More specifically, Rama's love for Sita represents the gates of Troy, which will leave Rama crushed once this is breached. There is a lot of detailed dialogue that takes place between Ravana and Maricha in these stories so I borrowed this as an easy way to explain the relationship of this story to the Trojan Horse. I chose this topic because the deception of the Trojan Horse is something that the majority of people are familiar with. In this way, it becomes easier for people who are not familiar with the Ramayana to understand the workings of Ravana and his conniving, deceitful ways. While the Greeks are usually glorified for their use of the Trojan Horse, this provides a example of how it can inspire the workings of a villain like Ravana. This was something that caught my attention early on. Ravana used Rama’s strongest aspect, his love for Sita, as a way to bring him down. There is a lot of irony in the situation and I think the Trojan Horse was a good parallel to help point that out.

  

Bibliography:  Public Domain Edition of Ramanaya Myths of the Hindu Buddhists by Sister Nivedita (1914) Ravana and Maricha 

Reading Diary B: Public Domain Ramayana

Bharata, the brother that is meant to replace Rama as King returns, unaware of his father's death and brother's exile, and his furious/saddened. He blames his mother, Kaikeyi, and declare he will not take the throne from Rama.

Once Bharata finds Rama in the woods, Rama refuses to return to the Ayodhay and the throne, as this would go against the words of his father. This shows how much honor and respect meant in those times.

Rama's golden sandals-symbol of royal authority in his absence from the kingdom.

Bharata, Rama, and the Golden Sandals: Public Domain Ramayana 

Rama and Lakshmana encounter a rakshasa in the woods and attempt to kill it. Unable to kill in like any normal mortal, they decide to bury it in a pit. Little did they know, this rakshasa was cursed to take this from until Rama would slay him and grant him entrance back into the heavens. Rama and his prominence are again shown through this unlikely association. 

Ravana's sister, Shurpanakha falls in with love Rama and chooses him as a husband to rule with. This sparks the hatred between Ravana and Rama. 

Rama alone defeats the armies of Shurpanakha's brother, Khara while he send Lakshmana and Sita to hide in a cave. He is winning the ongoing battle with his foe. 

Shurpanakha finally tells Ravana of her dealings with Rama, sparking the rivalry between the two men. 

Ravana: Public Domain Ramayana 

Maricha, the son of Thataka who Rama killed, is sought out by Ravana to help take Rama down.

Using a sort of Trojan Horse tactic, Maricha take the form of a golden deer and mimics Rama's voice to draw Rama and Lakshmana away from Sita. Once Sita is alone, Ravana swoops in and steals her. 

The God's are happy to see that the time is coming when Rama will defeat Ravana. 

Ravana attempts to seduce Sita, but she remains faithful to Rama. 

Jatayu, the vulture who attacked Ravana, tells Rama what happened and where Ravana has taken Sita. 

They encounter Kabandha, another rakshasa in disguise, who tells the two men the whereabouts of Ravana and how to defeat him-seek aid from Sugriva the ape chief. 

Reading Diary A: Public Domain Ramayana

Dasharatha performs the Ashwamedha (horse sacrifice) and is promised four sons. One of these son's is Rama; the human avatar of Vishnu sent from the heavens to defeat Ravana, who is unable to be defeated by a God. This foreshadows the importance of Rama in the story.

Rama and his brother make their passage into manhood by accompanying Vishwamitra to battle and slaying she-demons. Rama reluctantly slays the she-demon and is rewarded with supernatural weapons that he is able to call upon simply with thought.

Rama finally meets Sita, and it is love at first sight. Although all of the girls in the kingdom would wish to be with Rama, he and Sita are powerfully drawn to one another. Sita, like Rama, is a human avatar of the Goddess Lakshmi. This signifies the depth and strength of the love the two share for one another.

In order to be with Sita, Rama must bend the bow of Shiva (Shiva Dhanush); a test called upon by Sita's father, King Janaka. Rama does this with ease, and leaves everyone in awe. A demonstration that some things in life are destined by fate.

Rama Breaks the Shiva Dhanush: (Wiki Commons)

Rama passes a similar test with Parashurama, who arrives shortly after his winning of Sita. Parashurama, also an avatar of Vishnu is angered and almost attacks Rama's brother before he intervenes. He asks Rama to string the bow of Vishnu, which he does easily. This further solidifies his prominence in the story. 

Rama and his three brothers all marry daughters of King Janaka, creating power families. 

Rama's prominence is further solidified by him being chosen as heir to his father's throne, and the support this decision revives from Dasharatha's council. 

Manthara, the "humpback" nurse of the royal family despises Rama and through her workings convinced Dasharatha to banish Rama from the kingdom and name another son king to be. His brother Lakshmana and Sita accompany him into exile, true devotion. 

As Dasharatha dies alone (none of his sons present) he realizes his karma for the actions of his life. 

Reading Diary B: Public Domain Ramayana

In an attempt to cross the sea, Rama shoots his arrow in the sea and brings forth the God of Ocean. He is respectful and reverent, and gives Rama advise on how to reach Lanka; summon Nala, a vanar chief, to construct bridge. Nala the  builds the land bridge "Rama's Bridge".

Under siege, Ravana attempts to trick Sita into believing Rama is dead with a fake head and bow resembling Rama. This tactic proves futile in shaking Sita's devotion to her husband. Indrajit, using his magic, seemingly destroys all hope of Rama and his kin winning back Sita. However, just in the nick of time, Garuda, a mighty humanoid bird, comes and heals all of the injured monkeys. This rallies the troops like never before and they are reinvigorated to lay seige on Lanka. 

Kumbhakarna, Ravana's brother "the mightiest of all demons" is a giant who serves as Lanka's last resort. While he is supposed to remain in sleep in accordance with the orders of Brahma, he is awakened and starving so he goes to the battle and starts devouring apes. It looks like hope is lost, but the Rama kills the mighty giant with flaming arrows and he falls into the sea. 

Indrajit is given a mighty weapon and almost wipes out the entire army of apes and bears. However the bear king tells Hanuman a way to save everyone, 4 magical herbs of the Himalaya. He can't find the herbs so he brings the entire mountain, which works nonetheless.

The women of Lanka protect Sita from Ravana's rage after he founds out his son is dead-Even bad guys have limits that need to be honored.

Ravana kills Lankshmana on the battlefield, but Hanuman returns to the mountains to retrieve the healing herbs that bring Rama's brother back to life. Rama talks about the importance of family and brotherly love.

"Gods assist the brave and true"- Indras Chariot

Rama finally defeats Ravana and becomes King of Lanka- the wish of the Gods from the beginning

Ravana's Heads: Ramayana Public Domain Edition 

"Rama was no earthly mortal but a messenger of fate"-Mandodari's Lament 

After Ravana's funeral Rama orders Sita to be returned to him. However, once she arrives he renounces her since she had spent so much time living with another man. Sometimes there are ulterior motives for peoples actions? Did he know he would do this all along? 

Sita  essentially replies with "I'm not like other women" but still chooses death by fire she is so heartbroken. The God's intervene and prove Sita's faithfulness. Rama said he had to have her love proven to ensure the people didn't think he was driven by desire. 

Rama's brother guards his throne honorably during his time away and gives it back without hesitation. 

Rama banishes Sita under peer pressure of his subjects. 

Sita returns to again demonstrate her faithfulness, but she is taken by the Gods in praise.