Storytelling for Week 9: Violating the Curse

I remember when Pandu came to me with the news of his curse. I knew something bad would happen and that he would eventually fail to stay away from one of his wives. It’s not that I thought he was a bad man, quite the opposite, he just loved us so much. He was a very passionate man and sometimes his passion got the better of him.

I knew that I would help him in any way I could. I bore him three godly children, and his other wife Madri bore two. We always abided by the curse never testing its limits.

(Pandu is Cursed. Image Source: Wikipedia)

I remember the day the curse was broken, I felt the moment Pandu died as if a part of my heart was being stolen away. It was as if I had a tiny hole right in my chest and I could do nothing to mend it. I knew what Pandu and Madri had done. She came running back to the palace screaming, “Kunthi, Kunthi, he is dead. Pandu is dead and it is my fault. I let the moment get to me and we did the one thing Pandu was told not to.”

“Oh Madri, I felt it the moment it happened and it was terrible for me. I can only imagine the heartbreak that you felt being with him at the time. I am so sorry you had to go through that,” I spoke calmly to Madri.

“But, I shouldn’t have let him. We shouldn’t have done that. I have ruined everything! We have lost our husband and the father of our children because I did not have it in me to stop!”

“Madri, I promise it will be okay. You are stronger than you believe and we will get through this. We have five sons who are looking at us to take care of them, we cannot give up. You must not give up!”

“You do not understand. When Pandu left this world I left with him. I can no longer be here. My time on the earth is now finished. When we send him off I will go with him. Kunthi, you must promise me you will take care of my boys, they will need a mother and you are the perfect one,” Madri begged me to help her.

I cannot say I was surprised when Madri told me this, I knew she was struggling with Pandu’s death.

The next day we built the funeral pyre. It was as tall and wide as befits a king. We laid out Pandu’s body dressed in his finest clothes. I remember watching as Madri went running towards the pyre. She really was going to end her life with Pandu. Although this made me very sad I also understood her sadness, she didn’t want to be alone in the world. I watched as she climbed the Pyre and lay down next to Pandu getting ready for their last time together on earth.

Author’s Note:

This story is based on the story of Pandu’s curse. Pandu was cursed after he killed a deer that was actually a celestial being. The deer told him that when he unites with one of his wives he would die. His wives have five children through a mantra that Kunthi was taught to summon a god. One day when walking Pandu and Madri are overcome with passion and violate the rules of the curse. Pandu immediately dies and Madri later joins him on the funeral pyre leaving her children to Kunthi.

I told this story from Kunthi’s point of view allowing us to see how it affected her as the other wife. In the book we do not see a conversation between Kunthi and Madri, so I created one that I believed would be accurate.

Bibliography:

Narayan, R. K. (1978). The Mahabharata.

Storytelling for Week 7: The Statue of Sita

Rama’s life was never the same when Sita returned to her mother, the earth. He missed her dearly each and every day, but he knew why she did what she did.

Rama made up for his loss the best he could. He kept a golden statue of Sita next to him at all times, to fill the palace rooms with her presence that he so greatly missed. He had been ruling for a thousand years without the real Sita by his side. Each and every year became harder and harder for him. Rama knew he would not see his love again until he left one world and moved on to the next, so that’s what he would do.

Before they moved on to Heaven Rama traveled to Sita’s favorite spot by the Ganges where she liked to relax in the beautiful green grasses and listen to the wind blow gently through the trees. On his trip he carried the golden statue of Sita, which sat delicately beside him on the chariot Pushpaka.

When he arrived at the Ganges Rama felt an overwhelming sadness about leaving his beloved Sita there, but knew that he would soon be reunited with her in heaven. Rama lifted his golden Sita from the chariot and set her in a beautiful field of grass, right next to her favorite tree.

(Golden Statue of Sita. Source: Wikipedia)

Rama and many of his followers passed on from Earth to their final resting spot in Heaven.

For years Sita’s statue sat undisturbed by the river. Grass and vines slowly crawled up the statue. The once beautiful golden statue was now green from years of no one taking care of it. Sita’s eyes were the only things that had not been encompassed by the wildlife surrounding her. It was as if they were left open so she could see the beauty surrounding her.

Many more years passed before anyone passed by Sita’s final resting place. Kusa and Lava were walking by the river when they noticed a weird shaped bush. They were startled when they walked up and realized it was the golden statue of their mother, they had been looking for it for many years now. They each had a sense of peace in their hearts when they saw the statue. They knew their mother was happy in Heaven with their father.

Little did they know but Hanuman had visited the statue of Sita from the day it was left there. He stood over her and protected her from all the harm that could come to her. Hanuman would always love Rama and Sita and this was his way of showing that love.

Author’s Note:

This is about the golden statue of Sita that Rama carried around after he lost Sita twice. He brought it with him wherever he went to remind himself of Sita. In the original story when Rama leaves to go to Heaven we do not hear about what happens to the statue, so this story is about what would have happened to that statue after Rama left.

Since we did not know what happened to the statue I created this story to look at what would have happened to the statue once everyone left. I based this off of the fact that Sita loved the spot near the Ganges; it was where she went when she was pregnant. I thought it would have been a good spot for the statue to eternally have a rest.

Bibliography:

• Buck, William (1976). Ramayana: King Rama's Way. 

Storytelling for Week 6: Hanuman the Cat

I cannot let Rama down. This thought passed through my mind countless times as I looked at Lanka. He is counting on me to find Sita, so that he can get her back safely. I just jumped across the sea, and now I must enter Lanka to find Sita and have her tell me what to do. But how will I get in without being noticed?

Think, just think, Hanuman! Oh, I’ve got it! I will change into a cat, and no one will notice me walking down the streets of Lanka. They will just think I am somebody’s pet, or a stray cat looking for some water and food. This is perfect! I will just walk in find Sita and talk to her, and then Rama can come and save her.

I took a few deep breaths to prepare myself to alter forms again. Every time I do this it is hard for me to adjust to my new shape. My whole body changes, it’s hard on my joints. In out, in out, breathe deeply, I tell myself. In my head I pictured what I wanted to look like, a small black tomcat, and I felt my body slowly start to change.

My whole body was covered in a tingling sensation, that’s always the first sign that I am turning into something else, that it’s working. I noticed my skin tighten. It felt like I was being baked in an oven, the heat pulling my skin together. Making myself smaller is always harder for me than becoming larger. I do not know why that is, but it has always been that way for me. My bones began to shift inside my body as they shrunk down and reformed into the new ones I needed as a cat. Last, but probably the most painful, was when all of the short black hairs broke through the surface of my skin, it felt like thousands of needles were being pushed into my body at the same time.

I was finally a cat! This was my first time turning into a cat. It was a weird feeling being on all four legs, I was used to walking on two as a monkey. I took a few hesitant steps to get my bearings straight. My whole body felt as if it was run over by a chariot, but this didn’t worry me too much since I had just undergone such a drastic transformation so that stiffness made sense. I put my front paws out and stretched my back; I felt a tiny pop and was ready to go.

(Black Cat Stretching. Source: Wikipedia)

As I looked out of my newly transformed eyes I was startled. It was like I was seeing the world in a new light. Everything seemed to change colors from before. Things that were usually red turned blue, oranges looked green, it was such an unusual experience for me. I was so worried something happened to my vision, but I had to keep going. I walked forward and was astounded at how large the trees looked beside me. I was such a tiny creature now, which was just what I wanted. I looked across the moat at Lanka, a city that before was huge, but now looked to be the size of a country. I did not like being this low to the ground; I bunched up my body and pushed off of my back legs onto the tree beside me. I wanted to be up high to see things from a better point of view. I quickly climbed the tree.

I looked through the limbs of the tree at Lanka and knew I had wasted enough time getting used to my new body. It was time to get to Sita. Once again I bent my legs, contracting the muscles in them to jump far across the moat into Lanka. I pushed off the tree and flew through the air to land in Lanka.

Author’s Note:

This is based off of the story that happens after Hanuman lands right outside the entrance of Lanka. The story is about Hanuman trying to get into Lanka to find Sita, but the only way that he can do that is if he changes from a monkey into a cat. He believes that turning into a cat will make him inconspicuous to people walking on the street. His only goal was to get to Sita and then figure out what to do.

When I decided to take this small section from the Ramayana I thought it would be a good time to focus mostly on the actual physical transformation that Hanuman makes. In the book Hanuman knows he will turn into a cat, but in my story I made it so he had to think about what would be the best thing for him to do and why. I then focused the story on the transformation made, and how things looked different to Hanuman after he changed. I thought it would make it interesting to write a story from Hanuman’s perspective and show how the change affects him.

Bibliography:

• Buck, William (1976). Ramayana: King Rama's Way. 

Storytelling for Week 5: Garuda's Diary

Dear Diary,

Today I learned of my Aunt Kadru’s treachery towards my mother. What kind of dishonorable woman would do that? Vinata is her sister, and now she is forced to be Kadru’s servant. I cannot even express to you my dear book, my confidant in all of life’s matters, how mad this knowledge makes me. I was just born from my egg and haven’t even had a chance to talk to my mother. She is always working, and doing Kadru’s work. I wish I could see her. Is life meant to be lonely like this? I don’t yet understand the ways of the world. I do know that I must do something to free my mother, Vinata. She deserves freedom and happiness. I must talk to Kadru, there has to be something that I can do. I will pay any price to free my mother.

Until next time…

Dearest Diary,

It hasn’t been long since I’ve written in you, but I’ve had some new developments with Kadru. I told her I would do anything to have her release my mother from her evil grasp. What do you know!? Of course there was something she wanted! She is never satisfied with the things she has. Oh you want to know what she wanted diary? Well, let me tell you. Kadru and her thousand children want immortality. How must I get it you ask? Well, I am to fly up to heaven and steal it from Indra.  

Wish me luck!

 

(Garuda, Wayang Kulit. Image Source: Wikipedia)

Diary,

Today was the day! I finally made the trip to heaven. On my way there Agni the Fire God tried to get me to decrease my power. He said I would ‘burn up everyone’ if I didn’t. He must have been crazy! I had a job to do and I was going to do it. I did ask him to give me some amrita though… But he would not!  I think it has something to do with that Indra! The next thing I know the whole building was covered with rows and rows of guards. Ha! They thought that would stop me?  I just beat my wings one time and blocked their vision with dust. That wasn’t the only obstacle I had to face though. They had fires, tons and tons of fires everywhere! I just drank some water and put those out. They were so protected for invasion, but they were not protected from me. I flew in so fast that the two serpents guarding the cup didn’t even notice! I took that cup and flew right down to Earth! Now it’s time to get back my mother!

Here I go…

Faithful Diary,

What an interesting day it has been! First I met Narayana the One Lord, he offered me immortality and a place on his flag. So I offered to be his mount for whenever and wherever he wishes to go. He even made me King of all the birds! Me, Garuda! What a special day it has been. As I was flying towards Kadru I was hit by a thunderbolt, which provided me with all the knowledge that there is now, and that will ever come later. I turned to this person who struck me with a thunderbolt, and it was Indra. He wanted to know why I was not drinking the amrita. Little did he know! I made plans for that too. I wasn’t going to give it to Kadru anyway. I just needed it to get her to give me my mom back. Well, it worked! I told them to give me my mom then I ‘suggested’ they cleanse themselves before drinking the amrita. So they went on cleansing their dirty bodies, while I got my mom and Indra took back his amrita. I did it! I really did it!

Until my next adventure!

Author’s Note:

This story was based off of the story of Garuda taking the amrita from Indra, to give to Kadru. He sees that his mom is a servant to her sister Kadru so he wants to save her. Kadru wants the amrita for herself and her children. Garuda visits his dad for advice on what to do and his dad tells him he needs to go and do it. Then, Garuda flies off to heaven to retrieve the amrita, where he confronts Agni who wants him to stop being so powerful. Later, Garuda brings the amrita to Kadru to get his mom, but ends up keeping the amrita when Kadru and her children go to bathe.

            I chose to write this story in a diary form, so that we could experience Garuda’s feelings as he was living through this. I made it so the diary was very important for Garuda, so that he relied on it to show his feelings. For this story I kept the basic storyline the same, but I changed the view it was told from. I also took out some of the scenes that were in the book, such as Garuda eating the tortoise and elephant. I believe telling the story this way shows what Garuda was feeling when experiencing these new emotions.

Bibliography:

• Buck, William (1976). Ramayana: King Rama's Way.