Week 6 Planning - Kamadeva

Kamadeva and Rati
wikipedia.org

Kamadeva and Rati Wikipedia Article:

 - I think it is fascinating that the God of Love's female counterpart is Rati, the goddess of love. In Ancient Greek Mythology Aphrodite is married to Haphaestus, the god of fire, and had an ongoing affair with Ares, the god of war. I think that who the deity representing love is paired with says something about the culture that these myths developed in. In my next story I may try to have Kamadeva interact with the Aphrodite and either Ares or Hepheastus along with his own mate Rati.

 - I also didn't realize that Rati is supposed to almost always be with Kamadeva. I will make sure to have him mention her more in my next diary.

- If I ever dive into Kamadeva's backstory, I will make sure to reference the legend that has Kamadeva as Brahma's son rather than Vishnu's so that it doesn't seem odd that Kamadeva only refers to Vishnu as a friend.

- The incineration of Kamadeva is a very interesting story. I think if I can find any parallel story in one of the readings, I will try to have Kamadeva commentate the story, or at least a part of it and then tell his own backstory through his commentary.


Other Articles/ Legends
 - Another article I read went more in depth with the story of Shiva incinerating Kamadeva. In this version the world was in grave peril because Shiva was mourning and refusing his duties. So Kamadeva snuck into his chamber and shot him with an arrow to make him fall in love with Pavarti (who was really the reincarnation of his dead wife). Shiva incinerates Kamadeva but the arrow hit and makes him fall in love with Pavarti. This version of events gives more weight and a more sacrificial nature to Kamadeva's death. It could also symbolize the idea that love is both powerful enough to save the world, and requires sacrifice.

Bibliography:

Various Authors, Kamadeva Wikipedia Page. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamadeva
Various Authors, Rati Wikipedia Page. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rati
Unknown Author, Lord Kamadeva Article. http://www.rudraksha-ratna.com/articles/lord-kamadeva

Reading Notes Narayan's Mahabharata Part B

Draupadi and her five husbands
iereadingguides.blogspot.com

 - I am consistently intrigued by the mixed messages these epics send in regards to what the role of women was expected to be in ancient indian culture. Based on the Ramayana and the very begining of the Mahabharata, I would expect a women like Draupadi having multiple husbands to raise the same concerns with purity that Sita and Ampa faced. I'm curious if the difference lies solely in whether or not the men in question agreed to the multiple partners? Or if the Ampa was a special circumstance in the Mahabharata and that belief was only really an issue in the Ramayana.

- The idea of Shakuni getting his revenge by trying to beat Yudhishthira in a game of dice could be read as a warning not to indulge in gambling. That warning would prove wise when Yudhishthira loses everything in the first game. Yudhishthira is easily a representation of an obsessive, if unskilled gambler, whose foolishness could destroy his life and the lives of everyone he loves.

 - Draupadi shows a lot of her character when Dhritarashtra offers her one wish. The fact that she wishes only for her current husband's freedom, and with a subsequent wish the freedom of her other husband clearly impacts Dhritarashtra. She not once wishes for her own freedom, even after Duryodhana attempts to humiliate her.

 - Yudhishthira is, once again, an idiot. How he didn't learn from his first mistake is beyond me. I'm also intrigued by the fact that the son was able to override his mother to re-invite Yudhishtahthira. I don't think that would have happened in the Ramayana. The only time I remember a child overriding a parent was in the interest of another parent.

- I can definetely see how this story is more comparable to a narrative like Game of Thrones than the fairytale like story of the Ramayana. I have not decided which one I like more yet.

Bibliography

Narayan's Mahabharata, Link to Reading Guide B.

Reading Notes Narayan's Mahabharata Part A

Ganga leaves
iereadingguides.blogspot.com

 - I had to laugh at the marriage condition that Shantanu's future wife gives him. Its a nice flip from the other ancient stories where the male love interest sets the conditions of the relationship. Also the picture shown above is my favorite image that I have come across for this class so far. I think Ganga's little wave is very funny for some reason.


 - Bhishma reminds me a look of Rama in the scene where he renounces his claim to the throne. Cleary the culture that these epics thrived in promoted children putting their parents above themselves. Both Rama and Bhishma are willing to throw their entire future away to honor their fathers wishes. 

- Another parallel between the Mahabharata and the Ramayana exists in the treatment of Amba. Clearly a woman's word is not given enough weigh to be considered proof of her purity. However unlike Sita, Amba begins to allow her anger to corrupt her. 

 - The story of Kunti setting her son, a very powerful being, adrift in a basket and his subsequent rescue echoes the story of Moses in exodus. I'm curious whether, at the time this story originated, Indian culture had had any interactions with Hebrew culture. 

- I think its interesting that for a society that apparently puts such a high value on female purity and fidelity, everyone seems totally okay which Kunti having children with various gods. I also think it's fascinating that Pandu clearly regards these children as his own and even asks Kunti for more. 

 - I am very intrigued by the similarities between the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The scene where Arhuna strings the bow in order to marry Draupadi is reminiscent of the scene in the Ramayana where Rama strings the bow in order to marry Sita. I'm curious whether stringing a bow to win a brides hand was a common practice in India and the stories are drawing on that tradition? Or, alternatively, if one of the narratives is merely repeating a scene from the other?

Bibliography

Narayan's Mahabharata, Link to Reading Guide A.

Comment Wall

Week 5 Story - Kamadeva's Diary #2

Kamadeva
en.wikipedia.org

Sometime in the Trenta Yuga,

Dear Diary,

WHAT. AN. IDIOT. Seriously diary, what an unbelievably insufferable idiot.  Clearly this incarnation of Vishnu did not inherit one ounce of his emotional intelligence. I really thought that once I gave Rama and Sita that initial burst of passion all those years ago, I would not need to intervene any further. After all, they are divine soulmates. Not everyone is lucky enough to get one of those. Apparently I should have kept a closer eye on the pair because Rama might be more idiotic than the rest of humanity combined.

I will say he started off strong. The appropriate response when your wife is kidnapped by an evil demon overlord is certainly to mount an all out rescue, which, to his credit, Rama did.The inappropriate response when you finally rescue said wife is TO BAN HER FROM YOUR SIGHT UNTIL SHE PROVES HER PURITY BY FIRE.

I asked Rati whether I was just overreacting to the situation. If anything she is even angrier at the situation than I am. Sita still longs for Rama to love her and pursue her as he did in the beginning of their relationship. Rati cannot understand how a husband could grow so cold from his loving wife. She told me that she has  been more consistent than checking in on Rama and Sita than I have. According to Rati, Rama's passion seemed to have dimmed slightly before Ravana kidnapped Sita but not enough to worry her. Apparently she underestimated just how much that passion had faded. 

Honestly, the ideas of trust and respect cannot be absent from Rama's mind. I know they exist because I remember blessing his godly self with them. Maybe it's because my domain is passion, desire, and love, but I cannot contemplate throwing away the wife you just rescued for the sake of your own pride. I must be biased, as all gods are, about my own speciality. However, I feel I am justified in the high premium I place on my gifts. 

I gave humans (and gods) the most powerful gifts aside from their minds. Their capacity to love deeply and wholly, however short their mortal lives may be, separates them from all other beings. I did that. I made them special. What does pride give to a soul that love cannot? Nothing! So why anyone would chose anything over love I cannot comprehend.  I gave humans something lovely and unique and now even the best among them would squander my gifts. 

Well, enough. In Lakshmi's next incarnation she will have the most beautiful love that I could ever bestow on a human incarnation. She will be respected, treasured, and at peace. However, Vishnu is on his own. If he is reincarnated as a human again, I will not assist in his life at all. He will be rejected for another's pride, and wander alone for the rest of that mortal life. Perhaps a dose of what Sita currently feels will make Vishnu reconsider any of his mortal forms ever rejecting my gifts again.

Author's Note:

Narayan's Ramayana, Link to Reading Guide D.

The incident referenced by Kamadeva happen in the original story. Ravana kidnaps Sita and takes her to his palace. Rama rescues her ,but refuses to allow her back in his presence because she has slept in the house of another man. Sita is understandably hurt. She steps into a fire to prove her purity and is not burnt. Only after Sita is unburnt by the fire does Rama take her back. I was appalled by that section of the story, especially since Rama is suppossed to be the hero. I thought Kamadeva would be equally upset and would probably need to rant about it in his diary.  I wanted to keep the sarcastic flippant tone of my original Kamadeva diary while also giving more depth to the character. I hoped that by reaching outside the bounds of the actual plot and having Kamadeva muse about the importance of love I could give more insight into his mind. I also thought it made sense to have Kamadeva look at appropriate punishments for Rama's behavior. I don't think I will write another diary dealing with the aftermath of his threat. I would prefer to just let it linger as a potential future consequence. 

  

Reading Notes: Narayan's Ramayana Part D

Sita Tested (Unfairly)
blogspot.com

- I think its interesting, and indicative of the author's views, that Hanuman places such emphasis on why he does not think Ravana's wife could be Sita. The idea that Sita was so perfect that she could never sleep sprawled out or snore is absurd.

 - I appreciate the cleverness of Hanuman. Letting the opposition capture you in order to either gain information or give it is a clever strategy. It is a also a fairly common literary trope.

- I again think that it is interesting that even the villains in this story seem to be highly intelligent and capable of providing wise council. I think a lot of times villains are written as one dimensional evil idiots. Giving them depth actually makes the heroes triumphs more impressive since they were not inevitable.

 - I don't particularly love the lack of stakes in the story. When Lakna is burned to the ground I feel it should have a larger impact on the story. Inside it seems only to show that the gods can destroy and rebuild very easily.

- Honestly Vibihishana is the best character in this whole story so far. He consistently gives good advice and Ravana is an idiot for not listening. (Potential story from Vibhishana's point of view would be really fun)

- Predictably, Ravana's lack of wisdom is going to come back to bite him. I was very glad that Rama chose to trust Vibihishana instead of listening to Sugriva and Jambavan. The story about his ancestor was also a nice touch of parallel storytelling similar to the experience of Sugriva.

 - I love that Sita is once again shown to be very smart. She doesn't fall for Ravana's trick with Rama's decapitated head.

 - The reading guide says "the gods were puzzled by Rama requiring Sita to prove her purity" - same, Indian Gods, same. That whole scene is just ridiculous.

Bibliography

Narayan's Ramayana, Link to Reading Guide D.

Reading Notes: Narayan's Ramayana Part C

Jatayu, Sita, and Ravana
blogspot.com

- I thought it was really interesting that the story of Ravana abducting Sita had some similarities to Snow White. Ravana arrives at the cottage in the guise of a hermit, similar to the Evil Queen arriving as an old hag. (See if you can parallel another myth tradition in your story this week)

 - I enjoy giving Sita a lot of dialogue in this part. Up only now the story has been primarily focused on Rama and his actions and feelings. I think seeing how outspoken and bold Sita is to Ravana helps give her character more depth.

 -I think that Jatayu's conversation with Rama sheds light on a well used writing trope. A lot of times a dying character will use their last moments to share important information. However, they almost always end up dying before they are able to give the most critical piece of information, in Jatayu's case where Ravana was headed.

- I find it interesting that a common theme seems to be the nuanced differences between the heroes/otherworldly creatures and the actual gods. I have trouble distinguishing who is god and who is some other sort of supernatural creature. To the best of my understanding, gods can be reincarnated as humans or other creature but aren't always. Some heroes/powerful humans are gifted with powers that make them just as great or greater than the gods (Ravana) and there are also demons (also Ravana)?

 - I like Sita's intelligence in throwing down her jewelry. This epic has shown several times now that Sita is ever bit Rama's equal.

- The parallels between Rama and Sugriva serve to allow Rama's emotions to be explained through his sympathy for surgriva. I think in my next storytelling or project assignment I will try and give insight to my characters through a parallel story.

Bibliography

Narayan's Ramayana, Link to Reading Guide C.