Week 2: Famous Last Words

Well it has been a very busy week for me in all of my classes. This week I believe that I did my best writing, in this class, in my storytelling post. It is enjoyable to be able to write something that is fiction instead of the normal academic writing we are all used to. I enjoy writing in this class because it gives me an opportunity to work on my writing skills, which is an area that I have always struggled with. I also enjoy that it gives me a creative outlet that relaxing but also challenging.

 

(Writing Pen, Source: Wikipedia)

I found that if I just sit down and think for a while I come up with more ideas. It’s nice to just spend some time at home and focus on my writing. I find it easy to get in a groove if I just plan out my story and then write it. This week in my storytelling post I tried to put more dialogue and description into my story. I knew I was lacking it in last week’s post, but this week I tried to add some more. I also tried to stray further from the actual storyline to make it more of my own story and not just a rewritten piece from the Ramayana. I believe this experiment was somewhat successful. I still need to work on my description of scenes and people.

I find that when I’m reading other people’s work I find a ton of different techniques, and some people in this class are really amazing at this creative writing. I like to see how people take a story from the Ramayana and create something totally different. I believe that this is really hard, and takes a lot of creativity. That is something that I really admire in other people’s work. There area few writing styles that I would like to try in the future. I want to try to use varying lengths in my sentences, which is something I see and like in a lot of peoples writing. I want to stray from such a formal style of writing.

Possible Storybook Topics

Possible Topic 1: The Sidekicks. For this I would focus on the main sidekicks in the Ramayana: Hanuman and Lakshmana. I know that both are major characters in the Ramayana, but I see them as the sidekicks to Rama. I would like to maybe write a storybook featuring these two as the main characters completing their own quests.

Research so far: So far I have clicked on the two Wikipedia pages for Hanuman and Lakshmana. I know a little bit about each of them, but I know more about Lakshmana because he has been a more prominent character in the book so far. I know that they are both very devoted to Rama, and I was interested to read about Hanuman ripping open his chest, and showing that Rama and Sita were in his heart.

(Rama Feeds Hanuman)

Possible Topic 2: Animals. I was immediately drawn to the topic of animals. A possible topic would be to research and talk about the different animal incarnations that Vinshu came to earth as. I think it is interesting that different characters could change their appearance to look like certain things. The storybook could be about Vinshu’s life as he is incarnated over again. Like he is reliving his life over and over, and he remember’s his past lives, and has to do something different each time he is incarnated.

Research so far: I have read about the different incarnations of Vinshu. I found the one about Matsya to be very interesting, because I noticed a similarity between that story and the story in Genesis about Noah’s Arc. I have also researched into Narashima, and know that he is one of the most loved gods, he is known as the ‘Great Protector.’ I still need to do some research on the other incarnations and see how I could create stories from these.

Possible Topic 3: Animal Vahanas. I found this topic to be very interesting to me. I love animals and think of them as great companions. When I was looking at the animal section I noticed this topic and found it to be right up my alley. Many gods used these animal vahanas as vehicles to move around, and I found this to be interesting to research. I could potentially write stories about the Vahanas as the main characters instead of them just being associated with a certain god.

Research so far: So far I have looked at the Wikipedia website for Vahanas, and the specific Wikipedia websites for Airavata and Garuda. A vahanas for a god is an animal that the gods are known for riding, or are used as the symbol that represents the specific god. Both Airavata and Garuda are the Vahanas for great gods. Even though each of these is connected to certain gods, they also have their own great stories where they are heroes in their own way.

(Airavata, Vahanas for the god Indra)

Possible Topic 4: Gurus. For this topic I was interested in the guru’s because they are seen as teachers. I wanted to look at potentially focusing on stories where the guru’s pass on their knowledge to their students. Or tell stories of specific teacher student relationships.

Research so far: So far I have the example of Vishvamitra teaching Rama the knowledge of weaponry. Another example I read about in Wikipedia was the relationship between Rama and Hanuman, who teaches Rama some oral history, but I need to look into this more. For this, I learned more about Visvamitra and Rama’s relationship on Wikipedia.

Storytelling for Week 2: Sita and Her Prince

Once upon a time, in a land more beautiful than all others, blossomed a romance beyond compare. There was a girl named Sita, who was the loveliest woman in all the lands. And then, there was Rama, the most loved man in the lands. Both of them were born into royal families, one a prince and the other a princess.

One day, while traveling on a magical journey; Rama, his brother Lakshmana, and the sage Viswamithra, visited Sita’s city, Mithila. Upon their arrival Rama looked up at a balcony and saw the most delightful woman he had ever laid eyes on.

Sita was sitting in her room when she heard the commotion, as someone was being led into her city. From her balcony she looked down, and her heart stopped. Staring up at her was a man with no equal. In her heart she knew they were meant to be, but knew they could not because of her father’s rule. The man kept walking and she could no longer see him. She rushed into her room saying to her maids, “Oh my, did you see that man?”

“He was the loveliest creature I have ever seen, he had eyes pure like water, and the body of a fighter.”

“I must meet him,” Sita whispered to herself, while lying on her bed.

Down below Rama was having the same feelings for this woman, and he still did not know who she was. Rama and his brother were introduced to King Janaka, Sita’s father. King Janaka was excited to see the two handsome men, and immediately asked who there were. Viswamithra replied, “These are the son’s of King Dasaratha, from the land of Kosala.”

“They are very handsome men,” said King Janaka who was growing with excitement.

You see, long ago King Janaka said that no one could marry his daughter until they were able to string his bow. The bow was the size of a mountain, meant only for a god to use. Many men had tried and failed to string the bow, leaving his poor daughter alone.  As Janaka stared at these two young men he had a good feeling that they were different.

Rama decided he was up for the challenge, and the King called for the bow to be brought fourth by his servants. Carried upon the backs of twenty men, the bow was guided forward and placed in front of Rama. Rama was a man capable of many feats, and he knew without a doubt that he could complete this task.

Rama walked forward towards the bow, stretching his arms and back as he went. He stepped up to the bow, and reached down with his hand to grab it. He saw that it was made with fine workmanship, and was made for someone truly worthy. As his hand touched the bow he felt a power rush through his body, and he could feel the bow from end to end as if it was an extension of his body. With a swift movement he placed the end of the bow on the ground next to his foot, and brought the other end down to string. It was all done very quickly that he didn’t even realize what he had done until he heard a loud cheering erupt from the crowd surrounding him. His hand started to shake and he realized he still had the bow bent. A second later a sound so loud came from the great bow as it shattered into pieces from Rama’s strength.

(Image Source: Rama and the bow of Shiva in
 King Janaka's Court, painting by Raja Ravi Varma)

King Janaka was very happy and he rushed up to Rama, “You have proved yourself young man, you have won my daughter.”

“It was my honor King Janaka, I’m sure we will be happy whoever she may be,” Rama told the King. The next second Rama felt a presence behind him, so he turned to look. It was the beautiful girl he had seen on the balcony earlier, oh how he wished it had been her hand in marriage he had just won. She was the woman of his dreams and everything he could have wanted in a woman.

King Janaka cleared his throat and Rama turned back around. “Let me introduce you to my daughter, Rama, she is a great beauty and will be a wonderful wife,” King Janaka told Rama. At that second the beautiful woman walked up and the King said gesturing at her, “This is my daughter Sita, and she has been waiting a long time for this day.” Rama smiled from ear to ear, this was the woman he was to marry. The woman he saw and wanted from the very first moment their eyes met.

Rama bowed to the woman and said, “I am Rama, and I have been waiting a long time for this day also.”

Soon after, the two got married, and lived happily ever after.

(Image Source: The Wedding of Rama and Sita;
illustration from Nine Ideal Indian Women (1919))

Author’s Note:

This story is about when Rama and Sita first meet, and their first reactions to one another. It also shows how Rama won Sita by stringing Shiva’s bow. In the book Rama sees Sita and then meets her father and strings the bow, winning Sita. The book immediately moves on to another scene where they prepare for their marriage.

For my story I took a different approach, I chose to tell this as a fairy tale. The original story was perfect for the kind of love story that is usually in a fairy tale. The beginning was somewhat similar to how Rama and Sita first saw each other, but I took the rest of the story and showed more of what they were feeling during the actual events as they took place. I made up the scene where they actually met and were introduced, because I believe that in a fairy tale, they would have had this perfect moment of meeting one another. My main goal for this story was to bring to life Sita and Rama’s instant connection. I also wanted to show how Rama fought for Sita even though he didn’t know whom he was fighting for, when stringing Shiva’s bow.

Bibliography:

Narayan, R.K. (1972) The Ramayana

Week 2 Reading Diary B: Rama in Exile

Bharatha like most people loves and admires Rama. He even stopped himself from killing his mother, because he knew Rama would be upset. Pg. 58

Bharatha chooses to use Rama’s sandals as a symbol of him, which he places on the throne to hold Rama’s place. Pg. 61

Kamavalli describes Sita as a, “creature… and deceiver.” She does not know that Sita is married to Rama.  Pg. 66

One of the best parts is when Rama eggs Kamavalli (Soorpanka) on by telling her to show Sita who she really is. In the end Sita makes a fool of herself by showing her true evil side, not the good side she claims to have. (one of my favorite scenes) Pg. 67

I find it interesting that Soorpanka’s feelings for Rama are compared to Sita’s, described as if she was in love with him. Saying the god of love’s shafts was piercing her heart. Pg. 68

Soorpanka believes that, “If [she] removes [Sita] from [Rama’s] side… [Rama] will then naturally take to [her].” She begins to plot how to get rid of Sita. Pg. 68

When Ravana is introduced it is described that he has enslaved the reigning gods, and given them meaningless jobs. I found this scene interesting, because it really shows how powerful and how much of a problem Ravana actually is. Pg. 74

Ravana banishes all the seasons, because he is so taken over by his love for the image of Sita put in his head. When they discuss how Ravana cools himself off… pg. 77

Lakshmana seems to be the real hero so far. He has saved Sita, and also knew that the deer was just an illusion created by Mareecha. Pg. 82

(Image Source: The Death of Mareecha)

Week 2 Reading Diary A: Starting the Ramayana

Rama: Everyone loves Rama, a citizen said, “With you as our prince… we lack nothing.” Throughout the story we see Rama handle many different situations with greatness. After he defeats the demon Thataka, Rama begins his life of, “destroying evil and demonry…” Rama is taught techniques in weaponry by Viswamithra after Rama helps him defeat the demon. Many other times throughout this section Rama is described with admiration, and many good things are said about him. He handles his banishment very well, saying he understands and accepts that he is to leave. It surprised me how many people truly loved him and wanted to follow him even when he left.

Rama and Sita pg. 23: When Rama and Sita first see each other they fall in love. Their hearts and souls know that they are meant to be together. The description of what they go through after seeing each other, but not talking, shows how they are meant to be together. Sita describes seeing Rama as, “He invaded my heart and has deprived me of all shame!” I liked how their immediate connection was described and how they felt some pain from how connected they were.

The Bow pg. 25: King Janaka long ago said that any man who could pull his bow would be able to marry his daughter Sita. He started to think that no one would be able to do this, and that he had made a bad decision. Rama decided to try and immediately did it on the first try; (of course he did…) he even snapped the bow during it. All of the people were happy because their problems are over thanks to Rama. It caught my attention that Rama wasn’t just given a wife but he had to work for it and prove himself, which he did easily.

(Image source: Rama and the bow of Shiva in
King Janaka's Court, painting by Raja Ravi Varma)

Kaikeyi and the King pg. 42: Kaikeyi convinces the King to banish Rama, and make Bharatha the new King. The King did not want this to happen, and he is described as being incoherent to Sumanthra. Many people try to convince Kaikeyi that she should not go through with this, but by the end she is tired of hearing it, and wants things to go her way. I don’t like Kaikeyi, she was too easily swayed by Kooni.