Indian Epics Fall 2019

Oof. That is all I can say at this point. I am currently writing this post in between classes trying to get back some of the many points I have already missed in this class. Even though I do not mean for it to be, this class often falls last on my priority list. It is definitely the most assignments in a class that I have this semester, even though none of them are difficult or too time consuming. I am a senior and am just now willing to admit that I have terrible time management skills. When something is not due, I tend to put it off until I have to do it. There was a moment last week where I went to the library with the intention on getting work done, but because nothing was actually due the next day, nothing got done. Each week I have missed at least one of the readings, and one week I even missed both. I say in my head that I am a slow reader so I never feel like I can read that many pages in hour or so that it says it should take. Rather than buckling down and actually doing it,...

Because I had a bit of a difficult time coming up with a plan for my storybook, I did some research on my topic and feel a lot better about what I have. My storybook contains three stories all from the lives of Kumbhakarna, the sleeping giant. I did quite a bit of research for my storybook introduction, so I have a plan set forth for the stories I want to do. For my first story, I want to tell the story of Vijaya and Jaya being turned into Kumbhakarna and Ravana. The main source I found was Wikipedia and it gives a simple yet still detailed enough account of what happened. The Wikipedia story allows for some interpretation about which brother was the one who influenced the other. The story also tells of the Four Kumaras  who are the cause for each of the gatekeepers turning into their characters from the Ramayana. They have the appearance of children which is why they were not allowed through the gate. Children are often tricksters so I can understand why they were not allowed t...

The Eighth Baby: They were very nonchalant about killing seven babies. It seems many of the characters follow a similar theme, with them being very nonchalant about death, yet extremely passionate about carrying on the family legacy. At first I did not think I was going to like Bhishma, but he quickly grew on me as he was sticking to his vow. Though all the things that followed because he stuck to his vow were a bit odd. The whole page about the fish smell and how a fish/human hybrid baby was born, except the only trait of a fish that she kept was the smell. It seems like for my own stories I could get a little more outlandish. I also laughed out loud whenever Vyasa said he needed a full year to prepare for sex. I had anticipated more of an emphasis on Vidura, but they chapter ended with the emphasis on the Padavas and the blind kings many sons So far this is very different from the Ramayana as so much happens in very few lines. Praying to gods seem to usually end with a powerful...