Week 9 Reading Diary, Continued: Ramayana: India's Immortal Tale of Adventure, Love and Wisdom

So of course for my Reading Diary, I chose to read more about Rama in a section called Rama agrees to depart. The section starts of talking about disciples accompany Vasistha. As the story goes on he is wandering through the streets of Ayodhya waiting for Rama’s installation. I like how the author gave details us about what he was doing in Ayodhya and who he met. When the author talks to us about who he met, he describes them and what they are about to do together. He also explains to us what the character he met is doing. For example, he met Sumantra and they began walking through the palace to met the king. As the story went on he presented new characters and also told us why they are involved, which makes me think that I should be doing that more in my stories. I also noticed that the author is always giving details about what the characters are doing with each other but also giving details about their surroundings. I also think this is a strategy I should be using when I am writing my stories. I really like the word choice throughout the story that the author is giving us. He uses descriptive words that make me think about the situation the characters are in. I also have been thinking about using better word choices throughout my stories to provide more excitement to my readers. I also liked this section of the story more then the last one.

 

Immortal Tales

Ramayana: India's Immortal Tale of Adventure, Love and Wisdom by Krishna Dharma

Week 9 Reading Diary: Ramayana: India's Immortal Tale of Adventure, Love and Wisdom

For my next four weeks I have chose a different version of the Ramayana. I just finished reading part A and it was very interesting so far. It was divided into sections but the section that I found most interesting was “The Birth of Rama”.  I found that the author put his own twist on the birth of Rama. He also introduced characters that are very interesting to me. Kaushalya is interesting to me because she gave birth to Rama, one of my favorite characters. The author told us that she was very fond of her son and seemed to fall in love with her son. After Rama was born another child named Bharat was born. His mother was Kaikeyi. I like how the author presented us with many characters but at the same time it is confusing trying to keep up with all of them. Another thing I noticed was that the author made all the births a celebration throughout the kingdom. The king set up a fest and jewels everywhere. It seemed like a big deal and I like that the author set it up that way. As the story went on, it did get a lot more confusing. I think bringing in characters are good but he brought in too many. I think he did a great job explaining each one, which was a good thing. It also seemed like throughout the story that Rama was the main focus, which I liked because he is my favorite character.

Link

Rama

Reading Ideas

My first four weeks of reading

The last two weeks of my readings

Reading Options

Blog Ideas

Roshni's blog

Morgan's Blog

Eaton's Blog


While going through the blogs, I found that other students had many unique backgrounds and the way they used in their blogs. I also saw the use of videos in other blogs, which I found different from mine. In the future, I will use more videos if it is necessary.

Time

So far I like my time management skills. I have created a good schedule in this class with plenty of time to get my work done. It also fits good with my other classes. I have had plenty of time to work on these assignment and others.

Time

Storytelling Week 7: Arjuna Adventures

In the royal city Hastinapura there are some issues involving the Pandavas. The Pandavas were assumed died but recently Duryodhana found them alive.

Duryodhana is an important leader in the royal city of Hastinapura and he does not appreciate the Pandavas even though the majority of the leaders in Hastinapura want Duryodhana to be allies with them. While Duryodhana tries to come to his senses to ally with Pandavas, the son of Indra, Arjuna has a plan to sneak into Drapupadi’s room.

Arjuna tries to sneak into the daughter of Drupadas room, which is one of the leaders in the royal city. He is meet by one Yudhishthira one of allies of the Pandavas.

Yudhishthira says,” What do you think you are doing here”.

Arjuna is shocked by seeing Yudhishthira and frantically runs out of the room. Yudhishthira tells the King Shantanu what he has seen.

King Shantanu talks to Arjuna and says.” You have to leave. You have disobeyed the laws of the kingdom”.

Arjuna replies,” I cannot believe you are doing this to me.”  He then begins to go into exile and leaves the kingdom.

Arjuna does not know this yet but his life will change forever while being in exile. He is about to experience life changing events. He is about to go through varies adventures, which consist of saving peoples life, getting married, and getting the help of his father’s enemy.

Arjuna thinking to himself is confused about what is he going to do now all alone in the forest of Khandava. That is when all of a sudden the water-nymph Ulupi takes him underwater.

Arjuna is stunned and says,” What are you doing, why are you doing this to me”.

Ulupi says,” I am taking you underwater to celebrate our marriage”.

Arjuna replies,” This is an honor to me, I will accept your proposal”.

While married to Ulupi he encountered a lot of drama and he has no idea what he is about to face by marrying Ulupi. At the same time he receives a blessing from her to protect himself and everyone he comes into contact with. While in the forest Arjuna is able to defeat an alligator, which was Ulupi until Arjuna was able to free her. While Ulupi is sleeping he has a dream about his father’s enemy Agni. The dream is about Agni telling him to set fire to the forest by the bow of Gandiva and the arrows from the sea god Varuna.

Arjuna wakes up and sees the bow next to him and says,” Am I still in my dream or is this really happening. I must proceed to set fire to the forest by using the bow and arrows. Agni is here to help me”.

Arjuna goes to the forest like he said and begins to set fire to the forest.

Arjuna sets fire to the forest and says,” I have done what you have asked of me”. But then his father Indra comes to the rescue.

Indra shocks Arjuna by saying.” What have you done to the forest my son”.

Arjuna says,” I had to do this father”.

Indra then saves the day by pouring down rain to stop the fire.

Indra tell his son,” I am here to save you as well, please come with me”.

Arjuna says.” Okay father, I have missed you.”

Author’s Note: The Adventures of Prince Arjuna starts of in the royal city called Hastinapura, where Duryodhana learns that the Pandavas are still alive and are still alive. This was good for King Drupada because those are his allies but for Duryodhana he was not so keen about the Pandavas. Bhishma, son of King Shantanu, Ganga, and the uncle of King Dhritarashtra wanted Duryodhana to make peace with the Pandavas, which happened to be his cousins. King Dhritarashtra made a decision to give the Pandavas half the kingdom where they can build their own city called Indraprastha. Arjuna then appears in the story and the author starts off by telling us that he enters the unbidden room of Draupadis. It happens to be that Yudhisthira is there and he has to go into exile. While in excite the water-nymph Ulupi takes him to the underwater kingdom and they marry. Thanks to Ulupi’s blessing he is able to defeat an alligator. Arjuna then proceeds to rescue Ulupi’s sisters named Varga, Saurabheyi, Samichi, Vudvuda, and Lata. Arjuna then sees the fire-god Agni in a dream and he tells him to burn down the forest and destroy all of the nagas that are under protection by the god Indra. Arjuna is the son of Indra but Arjuna thinks Agni can help him and he gives him the bow of Gandiva and arrows from the Sea god Varuna to set fire to the Khandava forest. As the forest burns Indra arrives and pours down rain to save the day.

Arjuna's Adventures

The Adventures of Arjuna. Mahabharata. C.A. Kinclaid. 1921. Link

Week 7 Reading Diary: The Adventures of Arjuna

I decided to read the Mahabharata by C.A. Kincaid. The reading is basically talking about the Pandava brothers as the heroes and they are basically considered as “Princes of Elephant City”. I just got done with reading part A and I thought it was very interesting. I really loved the story about the adventures of Prince Arjuna. I remember reading about him before and I thought he was interesting so I thought seeing how the author portrayed him in there stories would be interesting. I was caught up in this story they way the author characterized each character in the story. It introduces some familiar names but at the same time the author uses them differently in the stories. I like seeing how the author uses them because it shows me the author’s ideas to an extent. I also thought this story was cool because of the mood. The mood in my opinion is exciting. I got a sense of excitement while reading this and it also put a picture in my head. If anyone reads my comments or diaries, I have emphasized the idea of getting a picture in my head when I read a story. I think it is important because it makes me think about what I am reading and I am more of a visually reader. I like seeing pictures that come in my mind when the author introduces an event that is happening. In this story I saw pictures thought reading it and that is why it separates it from the others.

Burinng of the Khandava Forest

C.A. Kincaid: The Adventures of Arjuna