Reading Notes: PDE Mahabharata, Part B

As I continue to read more, I find it odd that a queen is acting as a beggar with her sons. When they escaped the palace that was set to burn, there was a family of beggars that took the queen and her sons place. They burned with the palace and everyone mistook their bodies for the queen’s and her sons. After escaping, a rakshasa fell in love with Bhima and completely abandoned her brother. Her brother happened to be the chief of the forest and after finding out she had disobeyed his orders, he threatened to kill them all including his sister. Bhima fought him and seemed to have been playing with him until his brother said to defeat him before the rakshasa gains more power from the sun rise. Bhima defeated him pretty easily and then defeated a “pest” in the next town. His mother, the queen, only had to think of him being there and he appeared to help them. Once again, the queen was living in a home of another family as a beggar. After leaving that town, they came across a large crowd who were travelling to see Nalayani, a woman who was famous for being fair and wanted as a wife. In her past life, she had a husband who was very happy, and they had a great life together. At one point, the husband decided that he would refrain from sexual desires and would not give in to her sexual desires. This made her upset and protest to Shankara. She said “I want a husband, I want a husband, I want a husband, I want a husband, I want a husband.” After protesting, Shankara said that in her next life, she will have five husbands because she asked five times. She did not like that response and tried to protest, but he said that it must be that way. Of all the men gathering to become her husband, five would be chosen because of her actions in her past life.

Vyasa tells Drupada about Draupadi's past life.

Source: Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie

Found Here

Reading Notes: PDE Mahabharata, Part A

It’s interesting how Shantanu found his lovers and what had to be promised for them to be with him. Bhishma seemed to give up everything for Shantanu no matter what it would cost. It makes me wonder why he cared so much for Shantanu and why he was willing to give up his right to the throne so that Shantanu would have who he wanted as his bride. Even when shantanu passed away, Bhishma still cared for his half-brother and made sure to find him a wife so that he could carry on the kingdom. Bhishma was completely capable of taking the kingdom for his self. Given how easily and joyfully he defeated the kings, it seems he wouldn’t be bothered morally to take the kingdom from his half-brother. Yet, he does whatever it takes to ensure his half-brother retains the throne. Bhishma’s actions did not account for much since Vichitravirya died before having any heirs. Even then, Bhishma did not take the throne or have a son to take the throne. When asked about having an heir, he reminded Satyavati that he promised he would never have children. Vyasa was the one to produce an heir, but was very unattractive. The first two sons were not good enough, so Ambika brought her handmaiden to bear a child. This child was chosen by Dharma as his incarnation and was chosen as heir along with Pandu, “the pale one”. One thing that surprised me was that Amba was so distraught that she wanted to destroy Bhishma. She was so filled with fury that Shiva appeared before her and promised that she would be able to slay Bhishma. She would reincarnate as a man and become strong enough to destroy Bhishma. So she gathered wood and set it aflame and stepped into it promising to come back and not rest until Bhishma was beaten. Talk about raging fury…

Sadhu in Pashupatinath temple, Nepal.

Source: Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie
Found Here

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Week 5 Story: 90.9 Sports All Day

Here is a link to my portfolio site and the updated story: Sports All Day

Welcome to 90.9 Sports All Day, I’m Maximillian Bucks and today we will be discussing the career of Ryan Ratha and what his future may hold. I’d like to start with how successful he’s been so far and whether there are any challenges that lie ahead that may slow him down a bit. Of course, I’ll be opening call lines later on for the faithful listeners who want to share their input. For now, let’s talk about Ryan. Ryan has been training his boxing skills since quite a young age, and honestly everyone can see that it has been paying off. He had several bouts lined up for him as he started out and none of them seemed to even bring a challenge. Ryan’s manager was even asked by John Devit’s manager for a bout that would pit a young hopeful against an established powerhouse. John Devit has already made a name for himself and quite frankly has been unstoppable lately. Normally this would seem unfair that Ryan is so young and inexperienced, but John must not be paying full attention to how Ryan seems to be dominating his opponents. I may be in a small minority when I say this but I fully believe that Ryan could make John regret proposing this fight. Ryan’s fighting style is unique enough that it makes preparing difficult even for someone like John Devit. Ryan’s father was actually a very successful boxer as well and Ryan shows glimpses of his father’s fighting style, but Ryan’s father had a tragic accident that took his life while Ryan was still an infant. That is one of the mysteries of Ryan’s style. I find myself asking how Ryan developed such a similar style to his father even when he never had a chance to train with him. With all of that said, I truly believe that John Devit is making a terrible mistake underestimating Ryan Ratha. But this show means nothing if it only includes my opinion, so this is where I will take the first caller of the day! Our first caller is…

In the spotlight

Image found here

For this story, I wanted to include Rama's battle with Vishvamitra with a sports twist. I wanted to show that Rama is connected with Vishnu but there's a mystery around why they are so similar.

Source- Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists: Ramayana by Sister Nivedita

Story found here

Reading Notes: PDE Ramayana Part A

I thought it was interesting that Dasharatha wanted a son so bad, and then he ended up getting four sons because of Vishnu. He had everything he wanted, including three wives, but he was full o sorrow because he didn’t have a son. After making an agreement, he suddenly has four sons that will be strong warriors. Then at the end of his life, he remembers that he was cursed to not have a son. When he died, none of his sons were present with him. It’s pretty interesting to wonder if he remembered the whole time that he was cursed, or if he tried to overcome the curse by making a deal with Vishnu. I could see how this relates to our everyday life and how we think sometimes we can ignore certain restrictions or obstacles in our life. Also that Rama was so successful, and yet was forced into exile because of his father. He obeyed and willingly went into exile, and stayed there for fourteen years through his fathers death. Sometimes our actions carry further than just ourselves, and even into the next generation.

Dasharatha’s sons.  Picture found here.

Source. Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie (1913)
Link to reading

Topic Brainstorm

Weapons of the Gods

                I’m excited to dive into this topic and discover the different weapons that were created and used in the epics. It caught my attention that special weapons were made for humans as well and I wondered whether the weapons were made because of the human’s actions, or if they were strictly for the benefit of the maker. The Pasha is interesting because it seems to be used for binding humans as well as animals during hunting. Was it given just to benefit the human? I’ll find out soon enough!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_magical_weapons#Indian_mythology

 

Epic Battles

                I think it would be pretty interesting to see how these battles unfold. What really caught my attention was the inclusion of animals in the battles. It makes me wonder if the animals had allegiance to one or the other side, or if they were somehow controlled or enslaved to fight. I’m also interested in finding out what made the Kshatriya the “ruling class” of the varna.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kshatriya

 

Food

How could I not at least consider food? All joking aside, I love to learn about cultural food! The different uses and reasons for food amazes me. In my daily life, people choose food that they like or that is cheap. In the epics, food is chosen based off of its properties or the benefit that it will provide them. Like the Kheer that was used by Dasharatha to have four children! When I think of Kheer, I think of when I was in Mongolia and during a major festival they would drink fermented mare’s milk.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kheer

 

Yakshas

                I’d like to read more about this topic and find out exactly what makes them different from anyone else. I understand that they have special abilities, but were they human at one point? If so, I’m interested in seeing how they change was made and why they were chosen. If not, where did they come from? Also, how they treat the humans and if they are all for or against or split with the humans. Kubera is a good example of the answers I’m looking for. Where did he come from and what is his goal?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kubera

Which one should I do??

https://larkable.com/brothers-wish/