Week 5 Review

Wow, how time flies. Already five weeks down! I have so much writing I want to do for my storybook, and I really want to read more about Indian beliefs. I will have to start prioritizing my time a bit better!

As always, I made sure to back-up my blog and storybook site. Now that I am making more changes to the storybook site, I really don't want to lose it all!

When looking back over this week's announcements, I really enjoyed a segment of the post on Friday! It was the "Words of Wisdom" - Man is more fragile than a flower, and yet harder than a stone. This really hit base with me when I think of how tough we all appear on the outside, but out minds/feelings are so easily damaged. When reading the stories on Rama, I found that he beat his enemies not necessarily with might, but rather with wit.

A Kashmiri proverb. (Source)

Week 5: Famous Last Words

Wow, already five weeks have went by! This semester is just zooming on - soon it will be graduation! Not much happened this week, but on the other hand, a lot happened this week - confusing, I know.

Reading For This Week

This week I began the Mahabharata by Narayan. So far, the Pandava brothers have been quarreling with the cousins (the Kauravas). The Pandavas share a wife, Draupadi, get exiled in a forest, and are beginning to set up for revenge.

It is quite the interesting read - very similar to the Ramayana. Some similar themes: women being treated like object. Some similar characters: Vishnu is reincarnated as Krishna.

I really enjoy many of the underlying messages that are included in the epic, and a gush of nice little philosophical tidbits in the Hundred Questions chapter,

Other Classes

This week I had my first exam of the semester - Production II. It went very well - I used a growth mindset approach for this test, where I focused on learning the material. I think this approach worked really well, and even if I don't make an A on the test I am pleased with the amount I have learned!

Outside of Class

This week I did some more seeing projects. An interesting one was making a cheetah print skirt for a frat guy...oh the encounters you have in college. I also decided to become a guest teacher (substitute) for Norman Public Schools this final semester. I love teaching, and I love kids - so why not combine them into something fun? Although, there is no chance I could be an actual teacher, I think this is a great opportunity to give back to my community!

Also, my salt water aquarium is up and ready for fish! I will be adding fish this week and will post pictures next week!

My aquarium! 

Week 5 Storytelling: Hundred Questions and a Fish

Greetings stranger! My name is Maat Matsya. Maat is the sanskrit word for truth and law, and Matsya means fish. And thus, I am the fish of truth – I tell the stories and bring truth to the creatures under the sea. Today, I will tell the story of the Pandava brothers and the hundred questions.

My friend Bart the Bird had told me of five brothers chasing a mighty deer. They chased this deer all through the forest – this magical deer was too fast though, they would never catch him. As my pond is the only water for many leagues, I knew these brothers would soon come to quench their thirst. I waited patiently for them, for I do love to watch humans. They are so silly with their arms and legs.

I suppose I was not the only one privy to their location. The God of Justice, Yama, soon came to the edge of the pond. He muttered to himself that he wished to challenge these brothers to a trial of questions. He wished to test the brother’s strength of mind, especially the brother named Yudhishthira.

A goldfish, much like the narrator of this story. By Benson Kua. 

Just as the first brother was approaching, I saw the god transform himself into a yaksha. Yama was pretending to by the benevolent caretaker of the mystical pond. I curiously watched as Yama boomed, “Stop! This is my pond, and you may not touch it until you answer my questions.” Now this brother, named Nakula could not hear past his great thirst, and so he took a drink from the pond. Oh how I wished to shake him and tell him about the test, but I am only a fish after all.

Nakula fell to his death – or so Yama made it appear. Being the fish of truth, I could see past this illusion. The brother was simply in a deep sleep, which was a dirty trick indeed. But even I, the fish embodiment of truth, cannot resist a fun test!

Just a Nakula had fallen, the next brother ran up. His name was Sahadeva, and he too was warned by Yama. Like his brother, he ignored the warning and took a drink of the cold water. He too fell to his death (or deep sleep, to you and me).

A beautiful pond, by Easchiff. 

The third brother, Arjuna, appeared next. Oh how silly he looked shooting his arrows this way and that! He couldn’t see Yama, so he just shot in all directions. However, with this anger came even more thirst. And so, Arjuna joined his brothers in death.

Oh my, just thinking back to the fourth brother brings back such terror. This man was huge! His muscles were giant! He was none other than Bhima. I don’t know if the “brains or brawns” thing is true, but this brother also drank from the pond, despite Yama’s multiple warnings not to do so. Do these brothers even have ears? I know they do, because they are sticking out in such a silly manner – almost as silly as the human nose.

Now, the only hope for the Pandava brothers to pass the test was the final brother, Yudhishthira. I had heard from the gossip goose about this brother’s gambling addiction, so I was not feeling too confident in him being able to pass a test on strength of mind.

An underwater scene, by JulieLuke. 

The final brother approached the edge of the pond. Upon seeing his brothers, he paused. I could see his mind whirling, filled with many questions. How did his brothers die? Who did this? What is in this pond? The voice of Yama called out his warning, “do not drink the water until you answer my questions.”

Yudhishthira asked who the voice belonged to, and so Yama presented himself in his yaksha form. Once again, the brother was given the warning. Despite his great thirst, Yudhishthira agreed to answer the questions.

You might recall me saying this was a story about the Pandava brothers and a hundred questions. Well a hundred might be an understatement – there were SO MANY QUESTIONS! Yama really grilled Yudhishthira. The philosophy behind such questions was very complex. Even I, the fish of truth, could barely keep up. Yama really knew his stuff, but Yudhishthira proved to know it too! After many hours of questioning, in the heat of the sun, the brother was finally granted a drink from the pond.

Yama revealed himself as the God of Justice, and also revived the other brothers. This god, who was actually Yudhishthira’s father, was so proud of his son. As a reward, he granted the brothers with the power to remain incognito – which was apparently a good thing for they cheered so loud that they woke up my grandchildren.

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Author's Note:
I was inspired for this story by the Hundred Questions chapter in the Mahabharata. I wanted to retell this story in a creative way, and while I was browsing the storytelling style page I came across the "beneath the sea" option. I thought I could put a twist on the style and perhaps write a story about a fish creature watching all of the events happen before him. He knows the yakshas true identity, and he can also see the foolhardy Pandavas ignore the warnings. I think this offers a unique perspective of fish narrating the lives of the silly humans above - like we are a TV show for them!

I chose the three pictures above to represent the fish watching the scene play out. I wanted to show what the pond might have looked like - maybe not the cleanest of water, but if you are thirsty you will drink just about anything! Also, I like the idea of the image not being totally clear. The fish sees things in a slightly skewed manner, so having an underwater image lets the reader see what the fish sees.

Bibliography:
"Hundred Questions" by R. K. Narayan, from The Mahabharata (1978). Book.
Source: Reading Guide.

Week 5 Reading Diary cont: Narayan's Mahabharata

This is the second part of my reading diary for the Mahabharata by Narayan.


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Uncle’s Gift

I find it sad how Dhritarashtra must show his love for his sons by hating his nephews. It is also disheartening to see him struggle so much with holding his own opinion. He is being pulled in all directions, and that is bound to have a bad ending.

I think it is great how the Pandavas create an amazing city out of a desert! I am also really interested in seeing how Krishna plays a role in this story – maybe I can use it as inspiration for my storybook!

City of Splendor

Sakuni mentioned how the Pandavas were doing so well because of the grace og the gods and hard work, and I think many people can appreciate that statement. Not everything is handed to you – you have to work for it! Duryodhana seems to just want power handed to him on a silver platter, which just doesn’t happen.

I kind of like the idea of not beating someone with fighting, but with wit. Knowing Yudhishthira’s weakness, they are playing up to their strengths. While I don’t agree with their end game, I can appreciate their tactics!

Stakes Unmatched

Ah. Yudhishthira really disappointed me here. The “gambler’s frenzy” could have been prevented had he just said no in the first place. And then, to gamble off all his riches, his brothers, himself, and then his WIFE!

I was happy to see at least one man stand up for Draupadi – Vikarna showed great valor. He tried standing up for what was right…event though he was quickly dismissed. Also, I am happy that Krishna (Vishnu) came to Draupadi’s rescue!

To make matters worse….Yudhishthira gambled AGAIN. And yet again, he lost EVERYTHING. Now the Pandavas must wander in exile for twelve years. At any point, did any of the other Pandavas think to stand up to Yudhishthira?

Wanderings

At least Yudhishthira felt remorse. I am glad he at least understood that what he did was wrong…even though I’m not sure if he learned his lesson. I did not think it was appropriate for the Sun God to make Draupadi carry the magic vessel…why should she have to suffer more? Why don’t these Indian women stand up for themselves? These men are complete shit, and I wouldn’t stay with them for a minute. She is treated like property, she was humiliated in front of everyone – she should say GOOD RIDENS!

I find it interesting that these Kauravas are so bloodthirsty. Why are they so jealous of their cousins?

I find that being blunt about things is best when you are in a disagreement with someone. Let it all out, and then go on from there. Draupadi finally spoke her mind, and it was incredible. Her husbands let her down, especially Yudhishthira. He claims to be so virtuous, but he gambled. This lapse in judgement cost their family a lot, and I am glad they finally confronted Yudhishthira about it. He needed to understand how they all felt.

Hundred Questions

Oh geez, the Pandava brothers are at it again. They just cannot bear to listen can they? “Don’t drink the water,” says a creepy voice. “I’ll drink the water if I want to,” says the arrogant Pandava brother. At least Yudhishthira has learned his lesson and found some principles.

I enjoyed thinking of each of these guys dressing up in costumes to hide out in the kingdom. Bhima being a cook was by far the funniest picture!

 

A depiction of the dice game played, where Draupadi is humiliated. (Source: Wikimedia)

Thoughts about Comments

After reading over the comments I received on my posts, I had some favorites. One comment had some nice feedback: the reader liked the details in the story and the layout of the tale. I had actually been told in a previous comment to add more pictures or break paragraphs up a bit more, so I am happy to see that my changes were noticed!

Another thing I liked was getting feedback on minor errors (spelling, punctuation, etc.). Sometimes, no matter how many times you read over a story, you can’t catch your own mistakes. The readers who pointed it out did so in a kind way – not at all mean! I think constructive criticism is VERY helpful!

Another one of my favorite comments had something about explaining a little more why I chose to go in a certain direction with my story (“However I wonder what was the idea behind adding the part where Rama destroys the bow?” – S. Singh). This made me think about making sure that my thought process was clearly defined in the Author’s Note at the end of the story. To me the reasoning might be obvious (I wanted to show that he was super strong and worthy of being Sita’s husband), but to the reader it might not be.

Overall, my favorite comments each have a nice aspect to them, and then something with true depth. I love hearing how great my stories are (don’t we all?), but I want to improve as a writer. Having those little tidbits of guidance really help for the next story!

In my comments, I try and be very supportive. I like to tell the author what I loved about their story, and then let them know a different approach that could have been used. For example, sometimes I think the author could explore a storyline a bit more, so I tell them an interesting direction they could take it. I think these pointers help when you are brainstorming for your next storytelling ideas.

Week 5 Reading Diary: Narayan's Mahabhata

This week I began reading the Mahabharata by Narayan. So far, the Pandavas have barely escaped the treachery of their cousins. While in hiding they get married to Draupadi - yes, all five brothers share a wife. It is actually a very easy read - quick and fun! You can never be sure where the plot line is headed, so I am enjoying the book so far! Here are my thoughts are the first four chapters:

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The Eighth Baby

“One day while hunting…” – this is a common lead-in for this chapter. It is where Santanyu met his two wives, and where Pandu was cursed. I think going into depth on the hunting trips could be an interesting story. What happened on the way, where they hunting for sport or food?

I found the situation with Ganga to be extremely odd: wouldn’t Santanyu stop her at the first baby? I get her part (as much as anyone could possibly understand a celestial deity), but why would he not stop the death of his children? Is there a separation from fathers and their children? Maybe he was in shock?

I liked the part where is say The Mahabharata “may be said to begin with these three personalities.” These three brothers are so different in their attributes, and I am interested to see how those differences play out in the rest of the story.

The Pandavas versus their cousins…an interesting beginning to the story. Naturally, there will be a fight for the throne. 

Enter – The Players

I see how silly, childish teasing can turn into serious, adult feelings. I wonder how things would have turned out if Bhima wasn’t so mean to Duryodhana. I couldn’t believe how eager Duryodhana was to have Karna beat Arjuna – he is really filled with anger and jealousy. And why is he so quick to crown him, when that could very well take away his own crown?

Again with the protagonist making promises without asking what they are promising – they agree to go capture this King Drupada without any explanation. It is absolutely ridiculous. Although, Drona’s story about how rude Drupada was does make me think it is a worthy task.

House of Joy – And Ashes

I really couldn’t believe how jealous Dhritarashtra had become, but the quote “Panic has made him crafty,” gave a look into his mind. He was being driven mad with fear of not being a leader! Panic will make being do really crazy things, and plotting to set the Pandavas on fire was definitely crazy.

Vidura is a man to be admired! He risked being caught by warning Yudhishthira, which could have been bad. I liked how they spoke in code – it makes me think of the codes between soldiers!

Bride for Five

I like the older-brother quality of Bhima. He is the family protector! The message that being patient and waiting for good to come to you is important. I can really feel that in my life: the oil market is awful, but as long as I am patient things will turn around!

I really admire the family for wanting to protect one another from Baka, the rakshasa. I could see my own sister volunteering to do something awful so that I wouldn’t have to, and I would do the same for her. However, the notion of all going to their death so no one would have to grieve is ridiculous. I love how Bhima conquers Baka with so much ease!

As in the Ramayana, there is a competition to win a wife – Draupadi. I really like her spunk – she rejects Karna!! Duryodhana’s remark was especially vile though – she had no “right” to speak. Gee. She has no right to who she marries.

Here is a depiction of the Pandavas brothers and Draupadi. (Source: Raja Ravi Varma)

Learning Challenge: Reading Out Loud

For my fifth learning challenge, I am tackling reading. I absolutely LOVE reading, especially long novels (thousands of pages, each filled with the thoughts of another - so amazing). I wanted to change things up a bit, so I challenged myself to do part of my reading of the Mahabharata out loud! I wanted to see how it changes the reading experience - do I get into the story more, or does my voice change when a different character speaks?

I love reading and art, and this photo capture both of those things for me! (Source: Kate Ter Haar)

Reading Out Loud:

When reading out loud I did notice that I got into the story more. It seemed a little more personal, and it was easier to keep track of all of the names (there are some really tricky pronunciations). It did seem to take a bit longer to read aloud than normal reading. Also, it is something you would want to do if you were alone (and I like to read just about anywhere). I think this is a great option for reading at home, and reading something that needs to be given more time to understand complex names/words.

Growth Mindset: The Heart of Failure

"As a species, we are not very good at coping with failure." It was this quote that caught my attention from the article "Behavior Research Illuminates the Very Human Heart of When, Why, and How we Fail" by Cassie Werber. And it is true, for myself at least. I absolutely hate it when I fail at something - especially when I try really, really hard. 

When considering how to handle failure, first conceptualize it. What is the problem? Now, if this were a friend's problem, how would you tell them to go about solving it? Separating the problem from yourself can make it easier to handle.

Crossroads: Success or Failure. (Source: Chris Potter)

We really shouldn't be afraid of failure, though, because it oftentimes leads to successful solutions. You need to look at your problem as an experiment: there may be some mistakes, learn from them. 

Know when your failures are telling you something deeper: you are no longer benefitting from the attempt. Maybe your approach is wrong, and if it is you need to stop an reevaluate things. It can be hard, but don't dig a deeper hole than you need to!

Another way to look at failure is to decide what you really want. If you are seeking something with the wrong motivation, you are bound to fail (diet to become skinny vs. diet to become healthy). Imagining something worthwhile will give you the extra boost you need to accomplish your goals - failure free! 

Tech Tip 04, 05: Pinterest Board, Embedded

It seemed to me that having a Pinterest board for this class would be very useful, so for my fourth tech tip, we will create a board. I already have a Pinterest account, so I just went to my profile and clicked the "create a board" button. I labeled my board "Indian Epics Portfolio". I have added several pins that called out to me, as well as pinning two wiki pages. I went ahead and installed a browser button, since I actually use Pinterest a lot. I love crafting, and use it to find inspiration for my quilling pieces (it is fun to compare you own art with that of others).

To add another tip in, I also learned how to embed a board into a post. Here is my Pinterest board: Indian Epics Portfolio