Reading Notes PDE: Mahabharata Part B

The Burning of the Forest 

The story begins with Krishna and Arjuna at a great picnic that the Pandavas had going. The women there were heavily intoxicated, and the men were giving them many gifts to be with them. Krishna and Arjuna were sitting together telling old stories when a brahmin approached them. The men stand not knowing what to do and they ask if he is hungry. The man says that he is hungry and that desires to eat the Khandava forest. The brahmin turns out to be a fired god. He tells them that he has tried to devour it many times but each time he tries Indra has always been there to thwart him. Every time his fire sought to eat the trees Indra would put it out with rain. Agni asked the two heroes to help him for he had consumed a lot of this drink called ghee that had made him weak. The only way to fix this was for Agni to consume the Khandava forest. The heroes both agreed to help on the condition that each of them would receive celestial weapons. Agni agreed and gave them a bow from a god called Varuna along with arrows and a chariot full of weapons. Krishna also received a mace and a discus. The battle with Indra ensued as the two heroes fought off the rain Indra sent their way. While the forest was being devoured the two heroes extinguished the rain with the arrows they received. Many animals were devoured in the flame. Only a few survived, among them was a snake called Ashwasena and four birds from Maya the demon. At the end of their battle Agni was full and satisfied. Now he was more vibrant than before having filled himself with the life of the forest. The two heroes walked away with weapons in hand.

Bibliography:  Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie

 

God of Fire, Agni, of the Medicine Buddha Mandala by Unknown

Reading Notes PDE: Mahabharata Part A

Vyasa, and King Shantanu and Satyavati

    Vyasa starts off with explaining the author of the Mahabharata and how Vyasa was in charge of writing down the Vedas. Ganesha would be chosen for the task and the writing would begin. There was a king called Uparichara that was to be bribed by the gods so that he would not rob them of their power. Indra was sent to bribe him with a crystal car. While passing over the ocean semen fell from Indra and was swallowed up by a female fishing resulting in a male and a female baby. The king took possession of the boy and a fisherman took possession of the girl. The girls name was Satyavati and she smelt like a fish. She was not fond of this smell and wanted it to be gone. One day while she met a man walking beside the river that turned out to be king Shantanu. She later met a pious brahmin named Parashara that wanted to have sex with her. He promised that even though he would have sex with her he would make sure she was still a virgin after. She agreed only if the fish smell she has surrounding her went away. The man agreed and cast a cloud around them so they could have sex. Later when she birthed her son he grew quickly turning into a man before her eyes. She would go on to name him Vyasa. Vyasa said goodbye to his mother and told her if she should ever have need of her to think about him. The king Shantanu thought about her a lot and decided to ask her father to marry her off to him. The man agreed only if his daughter’s son would be the heir to the throne. The man was heartbroken because he already had a first born. 

Bibliography:  Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie

 

Vyasa by Ramanarayanadatta Astri

Week 5 Story

Archer of Death

There once was a great king that lived in the mountains. This king had four sons but only one was truly destined for greatness. Gregory was out in the garden tending to the plants and flowers just as his mother asked him to when a messenger was sent for him to report to his father’s throne room. When he arrived, he saw a man on his knees before his father with his head bowed. He approached his father and asked what he was there for. No sooner had he asked that his three other brothers arrived in the throne room. The king said loudly to his sons that they were to go on a very important mission. The king said that this man before him was plagued by demons and furies. He then told his sons that they were to go and defeat a great number of furies and demons. The sons looked at each other then at the king and bowed to the king before reporting to the armory. They were each given a bow to combat the enemy they would face. Once they said their goodbyes, they were off to fight the demons. After a couple days on the road they ran into one of the demons and Gregory grabbed his bow, aimed and fired at the enemy. The demon fell from the sky, dying before it hit the ground. The man they were assisting looked at Gregory and said he was truly amazing and nicknamed him the Archer of Death.

               The group continued into a new city that they had never been to in the Ganges called Ulkin. In this city the king was currently looking for a suitor that was to marry his daughter. Gregory while exploring the city entered the gardens they had. He had always loved a stroll the garden. He enjoyed the smell of life and the different colors of the plants. Never had he seen such beautiful bushes and flowers. While walking through the garden he ran across a woman that was dressed like royalty. He was in awe and instantly fell in love when their eyes connected. He new he needed to do whatever necessary to be with her. One of his brothers came up to him and whispered in his ears that this woman was Elveera and that she was the princess. Hearing this Gregory was so pleased that there was a chance of marriage for he had heard of the test for her hand in marriage. Gregory approached the throne room seeking to win her hand. The contest was simple, he needed to successfully pull on the bow string of the kings bow. He grabbed the bow and pulled with all his might snapping the bow in half. The king was furious that he had done this and told him that since he had no respect for his bow, he was not going to be able to wed the princess. Gregory went away ashamed and sad; never before had he thought of his strength as a curse.

               When he got back to his campsite a messenger road in and told him that the princess had been kidnapped. The king offered to forget his transgression if he would but save his daughter from the Demon King. Gregory swelled with happiness at a chance to win over his love. He agreed and set out to find his love with the help of many loyal friends he had met along the journey. One day one of the messengers came and told him where the princess was being held. Gregory in that instant grabbed all the belongings he would need and rode out to meet this great evil that had taken Elveera. Upon arrival he was greeted by a man who said he was the king’s brother and that he would side with Gregory. Gregory was glad to have more help and inquired about her exact location. He sent his brothers to rescue her while he defeated the king. The Demon King roared a loud roar and rushed Gregory yelling that Elveera was his and was to be his wife. Gregory stood his ground and didn’t flinch in the face of oncoming danger. He grabbed his bow and pulled back as far as he could and launched an arrow that soared true and struck its mark. The Demon King stopped and looked down finding the arrow buried deep into his chest he realized he had been bested. Gregory stopped standing over the king offering a few words of respect before running to find his future bride. Elveera wept with joy at being able to leave the Demons kingdom. She also felt great appreciation and expressed her feelings to Gregory telling him that she loved him from first sight. Gregory's heart swelled at this and upon their arrival home they were both married.

Authors Notes: I changed several things from the original firstly the names of the characters. Then I changed how instead of Gregory (Rama) getting to wed Elveera (Sita) because he pulled back on the string breaking the bow. I made it to where that disqualified him, and he needed to further prove himself. I also cut out Elveera’s (Sita’s) point of view at first sight allowing that to come up later in the story. 

Bibliography: The Divine Archer, F.J Gould

 

 

Archer Sketch by Firkin

Reading Notes: The Divine Archer Part B

The Divine Archer Notes Part B

This section of the notes will be regarding the Demon King himself so that I might write a story mixing the Demon King and Rama into a fight to the death. While approaching the Demon King Rama and Vibishan meet. Vibishan is the brother of Ravan the Demon King. He says that he cares not for what the demon king cares for and that his hear is with his people. He decided however to lend aid to Rama in his quest to return Sita to himself. The Demon King is trying to get Sita to agree to be his queen. Each of his advances however she is turning down. Hanuman one of the monkey people that Rama sent to find Sita finally sees her and rushes to tell her that Rama is coming. Rama shall arrive to save her in but a few days. The king found out and tried to have rags tied around the monkey’s tail and lit on fire. However, magic prevented this from happening because his tail kept growing wider and wider. The Demon King’s wife found out and tried to get her husband to turn away from Rama. She knew the danger he was in getting into blows with Rama. Vibishan implore Ravan to give Sita back to Rama as well. Of course the Ravan was furious and would listen to neither his wife nor his brother, his mind was set on battle. The battle commenced and The Divine Archer shot arrows from the bow of Indra and downed the king.  The queen mourned her dead husband and Rama paid his respects to the downed king.

 

Bibliography: The Divine Archer, F.J Gould

 

 

Babylonian Archer by Dark Dwarf