Ryeli's Blog

7 Secrets of the Goddess: Gauri's Secret  by Devdutt Patanaik This should be my last reading notes post of the semester, which is exciting for me! On this section, we get to meet a new goddess and learn more history. Kali was wild and free. Gaia was almost completely opposite. They both made men anxious! I think the theming of the book/video is unique for this topic. It truly never ceases to surprise me when all of the cultures link back to one or similarities are found between them all.  I found it amusing how both negative and positive thoughts are ascribed to demons and gods. The concepts of asuras and devas are also interesting. Though these associations are incorrect, I can see how they have been associated with one or the other. I also find it interesting because the gods never were "pure" or entirely "good" so it is funny to me. Our concept of a god is one that is aligned with devas, which makes sense in all religions. The goddess being nature t...

7 Secrets of the Goddess: Kali's Secret  by Devdutt Patanaik I'm interested to see what chapter two holds! The introduction of the picture to Kali is how I know her. I see her standing over Shiva, with a sickle in hand. I wasn't brought up knowing much about hinduism, but my parents tried to keep me well rounded, so I did end up learning some about Kali. Everything that I hear about her is very neat and the stories included in the video reflect that idea as well. It's cool how these videos, well, I guess this book talks about history. It's spoken about in many different ways that can link back to the singular goddess that is the focus and ideas that come from her. She-of-the-long-tongue was cool. Her being the Kali prototype makes sense when hearing it. India has a unique way of discussing sex and body, I find it very creative and different from any other culture. I think all of these interpretations of Kali are so different from Gaia. "Everybody and ever...

7 Secrets of the Goddess: Gaia's Secret 3-4  by Devdutt Pattanaik The inclusion of a Japanese myth is fun to me because I've studied quite a bit of a them. Women and subserviency is so commonly heard of, it's crazy that it can be traced back to a kind of myth. We know that those were created to almost show how people are supposed to behave and such, so it's kind of sad to me that it's so well-known, though not surprising. The myth of Amaterasu and Susanoo is also quite interesting/really sad when you look at it in depth. The examples in Indian epics, mostly with Draupadi being disrobed is what stuck out the most to me. I felt so bad for her. The video said it best. They stopped being people and became a symbol for male honor. It was bad enough that she was humiliated, but she is just even further objectified in the form of a prize. I just think it's sad and disappointing. There are so many women characters, but they just don't get to see many shining mom...

Gaia's Secret 1-2  by Devdutt Pattanaik Wow, immediately the first few lines are so strong. Women are often brushed to the side both in fiction and in legends. Deities were especially disregarded, as mentioned in the video, if they were female, despite being met with initial love and adoration. I find it interesting how this series mentions legends of other gods and goddesses from different locations outside of India. It really drives home the title of the chapter "Male Anxiety is Outdated." I like the addition of history in the story. It's lengthy, but useful and in depth. It's helpful to get a good image of the topic in a worldwide sense. They mention swayamvaras and I found that interesting. The man had no choice but to accept the woman and it was done so she could get the best husband. I found the mention of Aphrodite and Adonis neat. Again, I like the mention of other gods and goddesses. It makes the topic more universal. It really is... something... how ...

Source:  The Five Brothers: The Story of the Mahabharata  by Elizabeth Seeger I like being able to read multiple versions of the same story. I find that the way each author approaches the storytelling is always so different than the other, so I chose to do one more Mahabharata reading for extra credit this week. I like the way this one is written. The use of language is quite nice and makes it easier for me to imagine what all is happening. Though I am familiar with all of the characters, I do still get confused with a large cast, but the language used here makes it easy to follow! I really enjoyed the beginning of book II, the tournament. I liked the descriptions of all of the weaponry used and the boys themselves. Arjuna, son of Indra, wore golden mail. I can imagine he looked dazzling and gleaming. It's just a nice picture to have. The tournament was described in great deal too. I felt like I was a spectator watching as well. I think a tournament is great way to show of...

Epified's Mahabharata Episodes 45-52 This is the last set of the video series! It's sad, but I have enjoyed seeing the beautiful art they have shared with the world! I literally cannot believe it took the Pandavas that long to intervene for Draupadi. In an ideal world, they would have just decked the person humiliating Draupadi in the face and it would have been over, but this is an epic. it has to be dramatic. Literally, just stand up for your girl! Fight for her! I will not understand how they just let her be disrobed in front of all those people and disgraced like that. I mean, I guess her prayer to Krishna worked and it all turns out okay, but that sucks so bad for Draupadi. Then they're immediately exiled, like, none of them can get a break. How do the Kauravas have supporters at this point like... what? I wanted to throw in a quick sentence, but I cannot believe that they lost everything gambling. That's wild. Arjuna receiving the weapon from Shiva was...

Epified's Mahabharata Episodes 36-44 I wish that Draupadi had liked Subhadra immediately. I get her reasoning. She was probably jealous, but she's forgetting that all women are queens! I liked the way the episode talked about Subhadra's simplicity. I think it would be nice to rewrite this conversation. I think they're nice characters and I just like writing stories where women are friends and talk to each other. I like reading it too! It was a nice little moment to see.  I like when weddings are described. I think it's nice that they're building a family. Sometimes things are not all terrible. The concept of Abhimanyu maintaining all of the knowledge in the womb is so funny to me somehow. I get that it's because it's his beginning of being a grreat warrior, but it's really so amusing to picture this baby retaining information like that. Baby genius 2.0.  The fact that Bhim can just rip a man in half with his bare hands? King. I think that...

I really enjoy reading Jataka Tales for extra reading. I've already read about the Ramayana and Mahabharata, so this way I get new stories each time! I think next week I might look more into Gods and Goddesses, but I wanted to do one more week of this. I really do like these a bunch. I think that there's a lot to say about how each other tells these tradition stories and how they are passed down from generation to generation. We have fables like "The Little Red Hen" and India has these! I think it's so neat how storytelling with a moral is such a universal concept in every part of the world. The Guilty Dogs  from Twenty Jataka Tales by Noor Inayat This one stuck one to me for a dog could never be guilty! Except these rich ones I guess. I'm glad it worked out in the end. It's nice that at least someone was levelheaded in pointing out the injustice in slaughtering every dog in the city for one dog's misdoing. In fact, it was the king's own dogs wh...

Epified's Mahabharata: Episodes 27-35 This is the third time the stringing of a powerful, divine bow has been a theme in an epic. This time it's with Arjuna, but it has also been seen with Rama and Krishna. I find that interesting for many reasons. As far as I know, a swayamvar is simply a way for a bride to select her groom. It's interesting how the bow is specifically so common. I wonder why that is. I don't remember the name of the bow specifically used here of is it was mentioned. I still feel bad for Draupadi. I mean, in a previous lifetime she prayed for a husband with all five virtues and life couldn't really give her that? Life gave her five husbands instead. That's kind of strange, but okay! Her brother was wild for telling on her like that though. All these characters want is war, at least that's how I saw them and continue to see them. I get that many of their motivations are completely different, but at the end of the day, their disagreements...

Source: Epified's Mahabharata 18-26 It's been a minute since seeing any material related to the Mahabharata, so I chose to go back to it for the week! I liked the video option because I'm going to be pretty busy this week and watching a video is a little bit easier for me to do quickly. I'm glad to see more Epified videos are on the list of reading note options! I still think it sucks that Karna gets cursed for trying to not slightly inconvenience someone. Like, that interaction was absolutely brutal and we all know his skills do end up failing him when he needs them most, illustrating the principle of karma, but still it seems harsh to curse a teen boy out like that. Poor guy. I think it would also be interesting to talk more in depth about Karna's armor. I know I've mentioned liking the description of it before, but I think it would be different. I never really do character studies, I do storylines, it might be nice to try something new, but I'm not ...

Because I chose to read about Krishna last week, I didn't get to read as much as these as I would have liked, so I'm using an extra reading option to read a few more! I like these a lot. They remind me of things I read as a kid, so I find them enjoyable to read. The Tricky Wolf and the Rats  by Ellen C. Babbitt I live the concept of a huge rat living in a forest and leading other rats. I think that's fantastic. I love rats. Truly, I do. I find the whole story quite funny. of course the wolf if a trickster, but I wonder did the rats that he caught and ate as they were leaving, have no friends or family that would notice that they were missing? Poor rats! I found that to be sad. I felt bad for them. I think it was necessary for the final scene. The big confrontation. I didn't realize how large the Chief really was. Like, it was big enough to bite and kill the wolf on the throat. That's a pretty big rat! I'm glad it had a happy ending. The Golden Goose  by Ell...

The Elephant Girly-face  by Ellen C. Babbitt I'm not sure what I thought the story was going to be about based on the title, but it was not this. What an odd name... Like yeah, I guess I get it, girls are kind and lovely like this elephant. I have many questions. Did the elephant want to be a thief? Is that why he was like 'yeah, I will be awful now for no reason'? Maybe Girly-face wanted to live a life of crime, understandable. Why was this elephant so easily swayed to the path of violence? I do not understand the moral of this story. Is there supposed to be one? I'm glad it all worked out, but this elephant does not understand the meaning behind its actions and is clearly not learning anything. Who is to say more burglars don't come along and say things like that again to Girly-face? The Ox Who Envied the Pig  by Ellen C. Babbitt I immediately like that the oxen have names. Big and Little Red. I'm not entirely sure who I would rather be. Of course I would ...

The Turtle Who Couldn't Stop Talking  by Ellen C. Babbitt I read this dialogue in the voice of an old time-y movie star. "Do take me with you." I don't know it's just funny to me. I like the turtle. Definitely relatable. I don't like how this ends at all. I mean, the poor turtle was just sticking up for itself! Yeah, it knew it would've fallen if it were to open its mouth, but whatever. The geese should have caught their friend! Did they know that the turtle had such a problem with talking? It never really said that this turtle was especially chatty. It was kind of weird to title it like that... it seems the turtle did in fact stop talking. It was in one crucial moment that it did start talking. The geese didn't seem to have a problem with it otherwise. I would have liked to maybe see the turtle be more annoying? It felt like the turtle just... fell and died out of nowhere. The Merchant of Seri  by Ellen C. Babbitt I liked this one more than than t...

Watch  Epified's Krishna Series ! So, Krishna and his girl didn't work out :( but that's okay. He's destined for bigger things! Honestly, I really like hearing about Krishna the best so far. I find him to be kind and to fit my model of what I believe makes a good hero. I like that it feels like an old tale, but with a lot of cosmic power and significance. That might be the way the writers handle the story, but I like it nonetheless. If Krishna was able to lift a hill, why did Kamsa think an elephant would stop Krishna somehow? I think it's interesting how terrible his plans to attack Krishna were. He never truly grasped how powerful Krishna was and it shows. I mean, that's an awful plan. The way that he defeated his first demoness was so brutal and he was only a child, an elephant seems... weak to me. I like the story though. Kamsa seems very afraid for his own life, which is obvious, but I think his struggle against his own fate is interesting. Was the elep...

I'm excited that we get to see more videos from Epified! I liked their version of The Mahabharata, so these were nice to get as a notes option! I'm always a big fan of educational videos. I remember meeting Krishna already, but as always, there's more to any one character than already presented. I think it's interesting that the spics use so many characters, including pivotal gods and goddesses.   Epified's Krishna  adaptation gives us a great look into his young life. I remember the sections with Kamsa the most because he sucks. Who just throws babies against walls like that? Awful man... I enjoyed the goddess returning and telling him off for thinking that she couldn't possibly pose him any threat because she was a woman. Good for her honestly. I really enjoyed that little bit, though it led to more misfortune for Krishna's folks. I found it funny that despite being the holder of the universe, Krishna also likes to steal butter like any young boy. Sure...

Notes! Back at it again! Technically, it's also storytelling day, but it's fine. I can do both. My internet went out last night as I was finishing up the videos for this section, so I just gave up and went to bed, if I'm being honest. It happens. I digress.  There was a lot more tension in the videos for this section. There's a lot to say, but I think Pandu and Madri dying was kind of wack. Like, I don't think she should've gotten into the fire with him if he had forced himself onto her. Again, I think the women in the story don't get a fair chance or are treated... very poorly. I understand her devotion to her husband, but Kunti didn't go with them. So, I don't get it I guess.  The part where Kunti was given Karna was funny to me for some reason? The language the narrators used to describe the scene was just very comical to me. It seemed like the sun god showed up, gave her a baby, and peaced out. I still think what happened to Karna wasn...

For this week, I chose to watch the video series. I'm finding it very enjoyable. I love the animations and I think it makes understanding the story easier. The Mahabharata is complex and complicated at times with many characters, seeing it in an animated form makes it easier for me to understand and keep up with. I don't know why, but throughout my reading of the original, I would frequently forget it supposed to represent the cosmic principles of karma. In the first video, they said a line about it and I was like OH. Duh. That's why everyone was a train wreck the entire time!  On the episodes themselves: I like the style that they're done in. I find that they're dramatic, reminding me of soap operas in the way that they're told. Maybe not entirely the same stylistically, but both are very dramatic and full of twists and turns. I like Bhishma... kind of. I know how things turn out, but I do like the story and think he's an interesting character. I found h...

This is so late! Wow! better late than never right? So, for this reading, we finish the Mahabharata! We get to see the thrilling conclusion of all of the fights and struggles between the two families. I've already done the reading prior to the notes, so I already know what I'm going to do my notes on but!!! What an exciting/sad section! Arjuna & Karna by Donald A. MacKenzie Karna dies :( Arjuna shoots him fatally. War was being waged all around them. Karna's arrows were described as snakes, drinking blood and one of them struck Arjuna's Gandiva, which the string broke. Arjuna told him to stop because of honor or something, but Karna didn't listen and wounded Arjuna. Arjuna managed to resting his bow and was very angry when he was able to attack again. Neither side would let up. Karna was not swayed by Arjuna's intensity. Unfortunately, his chariot wheel got stuck in the ground. Karna was like, "hey don't shoot me. It's wrong to shoot someone ...

This is the reading that the real fighting begins amongst the groups. There have been fights before, but now is when the battle begins. It's all very exciting! I know what happens, but I'm interested to see how it all takes place. Arjuna and Shiva  by Sister Nivedita i felt obligated to do a note on this section because Shiva is in my storybook project, so yeah! Arjuna is still exiled and is on the hunt for some weapons. The guy really does attract a lot of divine attention because in addition to being the son of Indra, Shiva has now also taken an interest in him. The way they met is actually so funny. Basically, they shot an arrow into the same boar and got into a fight about it. They started wrestling and then arjuna realized he was fighting with Shiva, but Shiva was amused by the fighting and gave him divine weapons, including access to Gandiva, an important bow. I really liked this chapter the most, despite all of the cool fighting because the absurdity of their meetin...

This is so beyond late, but that! Is! Okay! Anyway, I liked reading B more than A and overall I'm finding it to be more interesting than the Ramayana. I find that the characters have more depth, which was a main complain that I had with the other. I'm definitely enjoying this reading experience! Arjuna and Ulupi  by Donald A. MacKenzie  Because he broke one of the rules for his marriage arrangement, Arjuna is forced into exile. It is there that he meets with Ulupi. Arjuna was on this exile for 12 years, which seems... kind of steep to me, but okay. He told Kunti and his brothers goodbye and left. Arjuna then traveled to various holy places and bathed in their waters. The most notable of these places, Haridwar, where the Ganges river flowed. This was where he met Ulupi, princess of Nagas. They fell in love, had a child together, it was cute, though a little bit unexpected from Arjuna.  Arjuna and the Apsaras  by C. A. Kincaid Arjuna leaves the Ganges and co...