Week 11 - Extra Reading - Krishna Kirshna Part A

Krishna Novel
iereadingguides.blogspot.com

Introduction:
  - I think the line "That he cannot but do what he does" is a really helpful for understanding why Krishna is so popular. It also removed the idea of free ill or moral culpability from his character. More this makes it harder to really root for someone but easier to forgive their mistakes.
 - I like that this author is admitting that while Krishna is a side character in most of the epics, as an extremely charismatic character they thought he deserved his own novel.

Prologue:
 - After only watching the Epified videos I think the contrast between young Krishna in those videos and the older, wiser Krishna portrayed here is really interesting. I can't imagine the Krishna from the videos saying anything about his own mortality.


Narada's Discourse:
 - I like using Jara and the Traveller to create a connection between the time that the story actually occurred and when it is being related. Knowing that Jara got the story from Krishna and gave it to the traveller now telling the reader gives his version of events some legitimacy that would have been lost if the author has just started with something along the lines of "long ago" or "once upon a time".

The Yadava Clan
 - I liked that this very quarrelsome clan is said to have descended from a very righteous prince. It makes sense that in a society with inherited power, even the best of beginnings can turn sour. 


The Magic Melody of the Flute
 - I thought it was super interesting that the author ties the story of Adam and Eve in with the story of Khrishna stealing the young women's clothing. Narratively, it serves to tie Krishna back to a time, in christian readers minds, when sin was not a thing yet.

Kamsa's Invitation
 - I really liked the twist of having Narada tell Kamsa about Krishna in order to hasten Krishna towards his destiny.
 - I feel like a lot of epics have the hero in a resting or exile time where they have little mini adventures in preparation for their real battle.






Bibliography

Parthasarathy, Indira. Krishna Krishna 

Week 11 Reading Notes - Epified Krishna Part B

Mathura
commons.wikimedia.org

Episode 11:

 - Has Brahma never been incarnated as a human? He seems really confused with how friendship works.
 - So does Krishna know which god he is? or just that he is divine?
 - Replacing children is creepy and it bothers me that no one noticed this.

Episode 12:
 - clearly ancient indian teenage boys and Oklahoma high school boys today are very similar. Only teenage boys would want a bunch of strength so they could punch a cow.
 - honestly the fact that the villagers are still shocked at anything Krishna does is ridiculous.
 - I like that krishna appears most powerful when using his music.

Episode 13:
 - "they could not live a moment without each other" except for all the times krishna has adventures with her bros
 - Ohh I like that Krishna can't marry Rahda because I can definetely use that in my Kamadeva diary. I had no idea this would happen when I had kamadeva curse Krishna.

Episode 14:
 - Yeah Krishna has a statistically impossible win record.
 - I like that Akrur technically did his job and still decided to warn Krishna.
 - The tension of Krishna knowing why he is being summoned works really well for this story.

Episode 15
 - "They all at once decided they would not let him go"  Have these people not witnessed Krishna defeat literally every single thing that has gotten in his way.
 - I am not at all surprised that Balhram came with Krishna. I feel like having a hero undertake a journey with one close companion is a really common theme for Vishna stories.


Episode 16:
 - LOL at Krishna and Balram going around the city. Just having fun and getting in some fights.
 - Wait Krishna's normal form is blue bodied? Is that normal? Or does the old woman just see his real form.

Episode 17:
 -  Yeah I bet Kamsa  is just now realizing that killing those other 7 kids was pretty much pointless.
 - Kamsa is a terrible villain with terrible plans. Honestly after everything else that Krisha has survived I don't know why Kamsa thought that would work.


Episode 18:
 - So an elephant didn't work and Kamsa set elephants? Kamsa is officially the stupidest villain out of any of the stories so far.
 - I like that the bow is being used differently in this story than in the Ramadava.


Episode 19:
 - I like that the city almost dissolved into anarchy until Krishna took charge. It is an interesting commentary on how little people have changed since this these stories were written.
 - Aww I'm glad that he finally got to meet his parents.


Episode 20:
  - I'm genuinely surprised that anyone was impressed enough by Kamsa to ally themselves with him, much less avenge his death.
 - I like that Krishna comes up with a genuinely innovative idea to escape attacks.




Bibliography
Epified Tv, Krishna, Part B 

Reading Notes Week 11 - Epified Krishna Part A

Krishna
www.newscrab.com

 - I really like this method of learning the story. Having something to watch while hearing the story makes it a really fun experience




Episode 1:
 - Slightly confused as to whether the couple was Kamsa's cousins and his sister intervened to stop him from killing them or if his sister was the one getting married.
 - Kamsa definetely could have found a less cruel way to kill his cousins children than smashing them against the wall.
 - The symbolism of the eighth child being the eighth reincarnation of Vishnu is interesting. I'm curious if eight is a symbolic number like 7 or 3 in Western traditions.


Episode 2:
 - The scene where they escape because some supernatural force has cause the guard to fall asleep is slightly remniscent of a passage in the bible where an angel causes the guards to fall asleep.
 -  Vasudev strait up kidnapped a child to sacrifice to his brother/cousin? in law


Episode 3:
 - Well I am glad that the little girl turned out to be a super powerful goddess but doesn't change the fact that Vasudev was totally willing for the random little girl to die.


Episode 4:
 - Kamsa slaughtering a lot of children in a effort to stop his rival from growing up is also similar to biblical stories.
 - Putana has possibly the worst murder plan ever. Even as a baby Krishna is a more effective killer.
- Also how did the mother or father not realize that their girl had been replaced with a boy.


Episode 5:
 - I like that Krishna was a big prankster from the time that he was really little. He had all these holy men coming to see him when he was a baby and then decides to become a little punk and steal butter.


Episode 6:
 - I think the emphasis on his adopted mother's role in Krishna's life is really interesting.
 - Also I think the twist of having Yashoda see the universe when Krishna opened his mouth was really cool. I'm curious if that always happens or just sometimes.


Episode 7:
 - I like the throwaway line about Krishna's attempt to learn music being more like a attempt to remember a long unused skill.
 - I also think its interesting how chill the village people are with their potentially supernatural children.


Episode 8:
 - Krishna remains a little punk. I like that even his mom is like "why does everyone put up with him?"


Episode 9:
 - So was Krishna purposefully making Indra mad so he could show off? Or was it a coincidence?
  - I think it is interesting that so far Krishna has failed at nothing. I'm curious whether he will mess up later in the story.


Episode 10:
 - This love story is very strange but somehow very sweet.



Bibliography
Epified TV, Krishna,  Part A