Week 4: Famous Last Words

I think that this week was my best writing for this class! I wrote about Sita’s exile. I felt that this writing was especially strong, because my sister is pregnant like Sita, so I know of some of the fears that Jessica, my sister is experiencing. I tried to really capture the maternal instinct that Sita would have felt. For my storybook, I have chosen to write about some of the good asuras. Vibhishana, Trijata, Mareecha (not quite good, but he tried to be), and Viradha have made it into my storybook, Asuras Anonymous! I really considered doing a user’s choice storybook which I did last year, but I decided not to because I wanted to be able to focus on more characters. Asuras Anonymous is supposed to be sort of like Alcoholics Anonymous so I think it will be an interesting storytelling style!

In my other classes, I had my first test this week in Nutrition. It wasn’t too difficult, and I have really enjoyed the class. I definitely wouldn’t say I eat super healthy or anything, but through this class, I have changed my diet a little bit and really tried to add fiber into my diet and cut back on soda. I would like to cut out soda completely, but I just like it too much! I find that I am experiencing a little bit of Senioritis. Symptoms include severe lack of motivation, failure to study, and can lead to long all-nighters the day before assignments are due. My Senioritis has been especially severe in my Biochemical Methods Lab. I just really hate writing lab reports. I actually still need to write mine which is due on Tuesday at 1:30. You would think I have plenty of time, but I pretty much work all day tomorrow.

Outside of school, I went to a murder mystery dinner with my family and boyfriend. Austin and I were these young characters who were in love and engaged, but then we found out that our characters were first cousins, so that was awkward. Austin’s character was also only with me for my “family’s” money. Scandalous, right? All of the characters had these terrible secrets, and you would not believe how many of them were cheating on their significant others! It was a really fun night though, and I really enjoyed it! My dad’s character ended up being the murderer! Although, I had at one time pushed the victim down the stairs, so I was definitely a main suspect. If you want to do a murder mystery, there is one in Guthrie, OK at the Stone Lion Inn, and I would definitely recommend it! 

Image information: Personal photo of Austin and I from the Stone Lion Inn Murder Mystery (September 2014)

Image information: Personal photo of my father and I from the Stone Lion Inn Murder Mystery (September 2014)

Storytelling for Week 4: Sita's Two Greatest Blessings

When Sita arrived in the forest, she became very scared. Although she was saddened that Rama would ask her to leave, she understood. She feared for the lives of her unborn children. When she found out that she had been blessed with two children, all of her concern was focused on them. She no longer thought of herself, only them. Before Sita had left Rama, they had chosen the names Lava and Kusa. 

As she thought about Rama, tears rolled down her face as she remembered their goodbyes. Rama, a strong warrior, had tears in his eyes as he held her tight. She felt so sad for him that he would not be able to see his sons grow up. Eventually, Sita found herself left alone in the forest, when a hermit came to her named Valmiki. She went with him and found many companions to dwell with and protect her. As the months passed, Sita's belly grew and grew, and her joy about her sons overwhelmed the melancholy she felt about Rama. Finally the day came for her sons to arrive. After a long labor, Sita held in her arms, two beautiful, perfect baby boys. Tears of joy flowed from Sita's eyes. 

Image information: Twin baby boys

Web Source: Telegraph

The boys grew up well. As soon as they could walk and talk, Lava and Kusa were helping all those around them. Sita was so proud of them Valmiki had become their adopted grandpa. They loved hearing his stories. Their favorite story was that of Rama, the brave, honorable warrior King, who could conquer all demons. 

One day Sita came to Valmiki.

"Valmiki, do you think it is time that they know who Rama really is?" Sita asked. 

"I do. I believe they are old enough to understand," Valmiki answered. 

Sita grew very nervous about telling Lava and Kusa. What if they resented their father for not being there while they grew up? How could they understand him sending me alone into the forest? Would they understand and still love him? 

Finally, Sita got up the courage and went to them.

"My sweet boys, I have something very important to tell you," Sita said, as she sat them down.

"What is it, our dear mother?" Kusa inquired.

"You know well of King Rama, right?" Sita asked.

"Yes! When I grow up, I want to be just like him!" Lava exclaimed. 

"He is a wonderful man to have as a role model. I want you to know that he is your father, and he loves you so very much." Sita told them.

Kusa and Lava looked at her in shock.

"Are you upset that I have not told you until now?" Sita asked them.

"No, of course not, but how could this be? Why has he been absent from our lives?'

After Sita explained what had passed, the children understood and happily accepted the news of who their father was. 

Soon after, the people of the forest heard word of the most magnificent thing that the boys had ever heard. Rama would be coming for a festival. All of those stories that Valmiki had told through poetry could be told to Rama. Kusa and Lava rehearsed for months. Everyday, their mother listened, often with tears in her eyes. They could not wait to see their father and tell his story through beautiful poetry,  

Author's Note: My oldest sister is now in her third trimester, so she kind of inspired this story. I added a lot more of Sita's feelings and maternal instincts as she went through her pregnancy and motherhood. Since she was raising the boys without their father, I wanted to address some of the problems she may have had while they grew up, like having to explain to them why their father was absent, although I'm not actually sure why he sent Sita away. In my story, I assumed that Rama had sent her away for a good reason, because I couldn't imagine him not having at least a pretty good reason for doing that. My story also added more to how Kusa and Lava were as they grew up.

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

Week 4: Reading Diary B

Week 4: Reading Diary B

THE TWO WISHES

I thought it was kind of funny how King Dasaratha asked for them to allow him to make Rama the King, but when they happily cheer yes, he becomes all upset that they’re so willing to let Rama become the King. Often, you hear of unjust or cruel kings in stories like these. I think it is amazing that the people of Ayodoyah love their king and his sons so much. It makes me think of the question, would you rather people fear you or love you. I think for Dasaratha and his sons, they would rather their people love them than fear them.

I find it so strange how Dasaratha’s three wives are so content with all being married to the same man. It just seems so unnatural and foreign to me. I also thought it was strange that the woman who was called Kooni in Narayan’s version is called Manthara in Buck’s version. I wonder why that is. After the description of Manthara, I’m rather surprised that she was able to have an influence over Kaikeyi. Kaikeyi was way too easily convinced to change her mind. While I still find it irritating that Kaikeyi forces Dasaratha to make Bharata king, instead of Rama, I now know that it is what was necessary for Rama to fulfill his destiny.

I also found the idea of an angry-room really funny! Maybe we should all have one of those, and the walls could just be covered with pillows for us to punch when we are angry!

It’s amazing how Rama is so carefree about the whole situation, he doesn’t have a bit of anger in him! It was also cool how the city was so loyal to him!

This author definitely uses much more detail than Narayan! I think this detail adds a lot to the story, but sometimes it seems so drawn out!

LORD OF THE WILD TREES

I thought Guha was an interesting new character. I like that there is some new content in this book, as well as the same plot from Narayan’s version. It also was interesting to learn more about Kaikeyi through Guha. She seems to have quite a bit of evil within her. How could she continue to ask him that of her when it would have brought his death! I’m glad he stood up for himself at least then.

Week 4: Reading Diary A

Chapter 1: Born as a Man

The first thing I noticed that was different about this book compared to Narayan's is that the whole book is a story within a story. The storytelling style is of someone telling the story of Ramayana to someone else. I also think it's interesting how Valmiki becomes not just the poet, but also an important part of the story. I like that this version of Ramayana gave us more background on Valmiki.

Now I'm really confused. Last I heard from Narayan's Ramayana, Rama and Sita were still together after Rama defeated Ravana. What could have happened to them to cause Rama to banish her and their unborn children to the forest! After everything she did for him and all the loyalty she showed him, I find that to be really terrible! It makes me sad that Lava and Kusa don't get to grow up with both of their parents, but I think it's wonderful that they will be told all about their father through Valmiki's poetry.

I wish Rama could know that those two boys were his son. I hope that the whole family is reunited by the end of the book!

I thought that the description of heaven after Ravana attacked really helped me better understand the gods' motives in sending Rama to destroy the rakshasas. It was so sad to hear Indra's account of what had happened to his home. I always thought it was weird that Brahma would give Ravana invincibility to the gods, so I am glad this book addressed that.

I have really enjoyed how this book has given us so much more background and explanation compared to Narayan's version. I thought it was really interesting to hear the conversation between Indra and Vishnu before Vishnu takes his human form.

I thought it was interesting how Dasaratha gave two servings of rice to Sumitra and she ended up having two sons.

Chapter 2: The Thorn in the World's Side

I thought the history of the creation of Rakshasas was really interesting, especially how they are conceived and born in one day and reach their mothers' age the day they are born. How crazy would that be! I'm not sure how I felt about the removal of all of the rakshasas from earth. It's not like they were all bad, just the human-eating ones. Why were they all forced out of Lanka City?

I think this chapter was really interesting to me because it explained how Ravana and his siblings came to be. It seems that this book will go much farther into Ravana's family, his siblings, wives, and children. Under Ravana's rule, the rakshasas are out of control! They have no honor or morals! I didn't even know of the Yakshas from Narayan's version, but I thought it was really sad when they were destroyed. I wish that Shiva had kept Ravana as a prisoner, it could have saved so many lives! Who cares if he can sing pretty? He is evil!

I hate to say this, but I have definitely found Buck's version to be much more difficult to stay interested in. I think this is likely because I cannot relate at all to Ravana, and that is all the story has been about so far. It's been frustrating how easy it is for him to go around conquering everybody because they just surrender to him. He doesn't deserve the power that he has. It is interesting, however, to learn how many of the gifts bestowed by Brahma, like the chariot given to Indrajit during the war against Rama, originated.

Chapter 3: Taste This Water

Finally, we get to hear about Rama! I think it's interesting how Thataka is not even in this chapter, only her sons. I also didn't realize that Sita was not born to a human mother! She's actually half-divine. I think it's wonderful that King Janaka informed Rama that "Sita has the final consent." That definitely isn't common in stories like these where women are just given away to men without any thought for how they feel. I liked that in their wedding vows, Janaka said,"Sita, love him well forever, walk with him as his wife and follow him like his own shadow forever." I thought that was really appropriate because she refused to be separated him when he was banished, instead walking with him and following him anywhere.