Indian Epics

Crash Course Mythology ( Source ) Myths are stories that have significance and staying power. That's what's bugged me about a lot of the stories we've read, they, to me at least, aren't significant stories. But perhaps I don't have the right context. Myth vs. Science Myths are lies Give primitive people way to explain natural world Demons spread false stories to make way for Jesus Myths are projections of our subconscious Look at a myth's social psychological literary textual performative structural political context Hero's Journey/Monomyth Representative of the cosmic forces that shape all people Separation, Trials and Victories of Initiation, Return and Reintegration

There are lots of similarities between Jesus' story and Krishna's. ( Source ) Isn't Krishna the Brahma? Are they the same person? I'm so confused. Okay. I do dig Krishna not wanting to kill Hastin the bull, but instead taming him through kindness. Why are they worried? Krishna has proved invincible so far. Divine rolling into town, gaining a following, heling the sick. Sounds familiar. Opportunity to tame elephant like he did with the bull Recurring theme of the bow that couldn't be lifted snapping upon stringing Bibliography: Krishna , By Epified

Krishna Playing the Flute for the Flocks. ( Source ) Why would the sky voices tell the evil king who his killer would be? The ancient gods basically invented IVF Why send the seventh child to the womb of another? Snakes are a recurring theme in Hindu mythology The classic baby switcheroo Fuck yeah feminism and Durga Holy men and merchants came to see baby Krishna. Sounds like three wise men/ shepherds visiting baby Jesus Interesting. He's not perfect or a pillar of just behavior. He's actually kind of a rotten kid. Universe in Krishna's mouth - He is the Brahman Choking a tornado There's this idea that kings are somehow greater than normal men Krishna is kind of showy and full of himself for my tastes. I prefer a humbler god. Lol Tests of devotion are weird Bibliography: Krishna , By Epified

Ganga ( Source ) It was a normal day, like any other. The advisors were badgering me yet again about when I would wed and produce an heir. "When I find the right woman," I told them for perhaps the thousandth time. I was restless and antsy. The huge palace felt claustrophobic. I had wandered through every room a hundred times. I just needed a change of scenery. I decided to go for a walk by the river. That was perhaps the best decision of my life, because it let me meet her. I felt less trapped walking the pathway that followed the riverbank. The gentle breeze and sound of birds calmed me. The cool water called to me. I left my sandals on the bank, and waded into the water. I closed my eyes and lost myself in the sensation of the current swirling around my ankles. I turned my face to the sun and took a deep breath, relishing the feeling of the warm rays on my face. When I re-opened my eyes, there was a face mere inches from mine. I jumped with a start. The smoo...

Bhima fighting the nagas. ( Source ) Neat that Kunti was the only one not scared of the sage, and as such was his favorite. She spoke her mind and didn't try to bow to him. There is so much about women being impure if they are even kidnapped, but Kunti had a child and no one bats an eye. Maybe because it's with a god? 101 vats of oil, but only 100 pieces of blob and 100 children? I guess all snakes are sea snakes? The underwater kingdom of the sea snakes, Nagaloka, is a really neat setting. I could give a story from the perspective of a villager snake of Bheema's arrival, just so I could have fun with the setting. Not sure how Vasuki is related to Bheema. What does Drona want vengeance for? The whole thing surrounding Eklavya is so pretentious and classist. The Pandavas get all mad that their teacher might have taught some rando, and feel betrayed that they were not his only students. But in actuality, Drona would never teach anyone other than royalt...

King Shantanu and Ganga. ( Source ) Interesting idea of karma I didn't catch in the first reading. Everything is cause and effect. It would be fun to tell the story of king Shantanu falling in love with Ganga from a more personal perspective, either hers or his. Go deeper into vasus story, why they were cursed, what they are, how they came to be, etc. Devavrat plays matchmaker so much to varying degrees of success. Gets the fisherman's daughter for his dad, takes vow of chastity. Kidnaps princesses for his brother who is in poor health, to make an heir to the throne. Amba's love not accepting her because she's been kidnapped by another man is reminiscent of Sita's story. Women were treated as such property, tokens, pawns to be manipulated. I get that these stories are a product of their time, but they're all super sexist and ableist. Also I struggle to keep lineages straight, or like heirs to the throne. But I'd like to write a story in w...

I was looking for the classic "Hang in there" kitty poster, but this called to me by name. Lol. ( Source ) I am of two minds about my progress in this class. On one hand, I am on track to get an A in this class, which is lovely. However, I am also only  on track to get an A. I will have a class that takes up the last third of the semester, which I have failed previously and am retaking in order to graduate at the end of the semester. It's fairly time-intensive, as is this class, and I had been hoping to finish this class early so that I could focus my time on that class. However, I have struggled to find the time to do enough extra credit assignments to finish early. My weekly routine is fine, though I do have a habit of not starting my assignments until the night they're due, which can occassionally lead me to missing an assignment. I'm not sure about the late policy, so I haven't even attempted to submit a late assignment. I'm pretty happy with my...

I am really happy with my storybook. I am enjoying writing it, and actually have a lot of pride in my work. I enjoy showing it off to my friends. I am having fun doing some creative writing. As an engineering student, it's been a while since I have gotten the opportunity to write for fun. I think I write pretty well, too. I do tend to fall into old-timey writing styles, especially with the material we are basing our stories on. Perhaps next time I will try a different tone. I am really pleased with my second-person narrator though. It's different, and a little bit unique. I can't think of any books I've read in second person, and I think I pulled it off well. I think the feelings of the narrator toward "the listener" are apparent, and I believe I've gotten it to a place where most people understand what's going on, even without a background in Hinduism, while still maintaining decent flow. I did prefer the home page before I added the lesson on Hindu...