Mahabarta Reading Notes D (EC)

Ashwatthaman and Shiva.

-Gem of Ashwatthaman gives him the power over living beings lower than humans, and protects him from hunger, fatigue, and thirst.
-He grew up in a poor family, a son of Dronacharya who prayed to lord Shiva for a son of the same valiance.
-Ashw became a bloodthirsty individual, slaughtering many in his raid of the Pandava camp.
-His father Drona was killed because of his rumored death, in his grief becoming weak.
-He commanded Kiravas in the the Kurukshetra War.
-He is eventually embodied by Shiva/becomes a rudra (?) in his rage to get revenge, his sacrifice being himself.
-He got revenge on his fathers death by killing Duryodhana, his father’s killer, in his raid on Pandavas.
-his two allies Kripa and Kritavarman helped him in this slaughter
-Ash tried very hard to finish his promise of killing all the Pandavas, even attempting to kill the unborn child of Uttara to end the Pandavas for good.
-the sage Vyasa prevented the Pandavas from killing him, but to punish him made him surrender his gem and cursed him, letting the god decide if he were to suffer for his wrongdoings or not.

This guys seems to have grow up innocent, but being extremely trained for war and violence and having a weapon like narayanastra...the death of his father created something volatile. Growing up poor may or may not have increased the rage in Ash. I mean, he's so angry he tries/manages to kill an unborn child in his attempt to wipe out the Pandavas.

Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie (1913)

Comments

Topic Brainstorm: Storybooks!

1) Doing a storybook of 3 kings from Indian tales ( Ramayana : Vali , Ravana , an Vishvamitra ) I've yet to read about these kings but going through their tales seems like a fun idea. Learning about the character of them but also their feats or arrogance in these stories seems like a fun idea. I think all three of them are connected in a way and I could probably do something really cool to show that link. Vali The Monkey Kings from Wikimedia 2) Creation stories ! I'm not yet familiar with some of the creation stories in Indian Epics, but I think it would be cool learn about them. I grew up reading mythology book and it would be interesting to see the how Indian Epics tell their side of things. 3) God and Goddesses/ Deva and Devi : I am unfamiliar with all the gods and goddesses from Indian Epics so I'm excited to learn their origins and maybe so epic tales involving them. Specifically their origins and possibly their most epic feats, whether creation or a certain...

Week 5 Story: Brothers Quarrel

Title : The Divine Archer Author : F. J. Gould Year : 1911 Link Rama and Lank had just completed a task given by them to kill a demon terrorizing the local villiage, they were tired, and wanted a place to rest, so they traveled to the nearest city. In the coty they were recognized as heroes, the citizens were estatic that they had been blessed to host such heroines. Rama and Lank were invited to a great feast held by the king. They were given plate after plate of some of the best food they had ever tasted. After the feast, Rama decided to take a nap while Lank walked the palace, intrigued by it’s uniqueness in comparison to theirs at home. As Lank walked the gardens he saw the most beautiful maiden, the princess Sita and her helpers wisped by him as he was awestruck. Lank thought to himself “I’m gonna marry that girl”. How could she refuse him, being such a hero in the eyes of the king. I’m sure the king would even give her to him. Rama awoke from his s...

Reading Notes: Ramayana Week 5

Vishvamitra, a brahmarishi, comes to Dashartha from Siddhashrama and ask for his help. Two devils have been terrorizing his dwelling, polluting his sacred fire and ruining sacrifices. Dashartha promised Vish anything, and Vish asked for the help of his son, the only one able to defeat the devils. Dash was not happy about this, but had to keep his promise so sent Rama and his brother Lakshmana to help. They came across Thataka, a rakshasa. She ravaged the country continuously. Rama challenges her with his bow, but did not want to kill her because she was female. After removing both her arms, nose, and ears, she became invisible and was still able to rain stones down upon the party. The sage urged them to finish her and Rama did with a single shot. The sage summoned spiritual weapons for Rama who in turn asked for them to wait to when they were most needed, and he thought about them, to appear. Maricha and other rashasas appeared for a surprise attack on the offering and Rama summon...

Indian Epics

Search This Blog