Reading Notes: Shri Krishna of Dwarka, Part A

Shri Krishna of Dwarka

from Shri Krishna of Dwarka and Other Stories by C.A. Kincaid. 

Krishna with butter. Source: WordPress.

I decided to do more Krishna readings for two reasons. The first being I know different people write the same story in their own version so I wanted to see how this version would be. And secondly, I wanted to write a second part to my last Krishna story so I'm hoping I found some more adventures of Krishna that I can write and incorporate into my own story. 

In Chapter 2: The Childhood of Krishna, there is a part where Yashoda was taking care of Krishna who had just a toddler at that point. She briefly leaves Krishna to go attend to the pot of milk that was boiling over inside their house. Krishna being left alone outside was furious. He overturns he milk that she had been churning and then he crawls inside, climbs on a pot and starts to eat the butter that Yashoda had been. 

• I really liked this scene because in my last story about Krishna, I gave him the power of telekinesis. I feel like if I decide to write a part two to that story, I could have a flashback scene of this exact moment. Instead of him overturning the milk with his hands, I could have him do it with his mind but he wouldn't know that he's doing it. Same with him climbing on the pot and eating the butter. He could get the pot of butter to him instead of climbing on another pot to get to it. 

Tech Tip: Canvas Mobile App

I recently started using the Canvas app for phones again because I got so tired of having to go to Safari on my iPhone and having to use Canvas that way. I got it last year but didn't like it because there weren't many options to do things on their except look at grades, modules, etc. The app definitely makes it much easier to access classes and see stuff. I wish there was a way to download stuff onto the Canvas app for later use though because my app does crash sometimes.

Reading Notes- Epified: Krishna, Part B

Epified: Krishna

Radha Krishna. Source: Wikimedia. 

I missed the Part B reading during the week so I'm making it up by finishing it and using it as extra credit.

I continued watching the videos for Part B and right off the bat I could tell the illustrator for these videos was someone else. The drawings were much for intense and in-depth which is great. I think that adds great detail to the story.

The one video I found very interesting was the The Savior of Dharma. This is the part of Krishna's story where he finds out who he really is from the family priest, Garg Acharya. Garg Acharya tells him that he can't marry Radha because his destiny was something else. Krishna finds out he is the savior of dharma in this world. He even finds out his birth parents are Yashoda and Nand. This made him so sad. He thought so much about his destiny and finally decided to accept it.

Another video I really liked was Krishna's Farewell. This is when Krishna and his brother Balram set out on their journey to fulfill Krishna's destiny. The people of Vindravan are initially really sad and try to convince him to stay back but he tells him that he can't stay back because he has a destiny that he cannot just ignore.

I really like that both of the videos had emotional moments in them. I've gotten really good at writing stories that have inner thoughts portrayed or a lot of dialogue so I think I could use one of these two parts as reference for a story.

Wikipedia Trail: From Devaki to Koh-i-Noor

Wikipedia Trails: From Devaki to Koh-i-Noor

The palatial office of Goa Inquisition. Source: Wikimedia. 

I started the trail off with Devaki. I was curious to know more about her besides what I all learned from the Krishna readings. I feel like not a lot is known about Devaki considering she isn't a prominent part of Krishna's life except in the beginning. I got to learn that in the Indian state of Goa, there is a temple that is dedicated to not just Krishna, but Devaki as well. During the Goa Inquisition, the deities from the temple were moved to city of Bicholim to avoid persecution. 

From there I went to the article about the Goa Inquisition. I was very curious to learn about this because I have heard about the Spanish Inquisition before, but never have I heard about the Goa Inquisition. The Goa Inquisition was a colonial era Portuguese institution established by the Roman Catholic Holy Office between the 16th- and 19th- century. It was proposed by Francis Xavier in a letter to King John III of Portugal in 1546. The Inquisition persecuted anyone in the state of Goa that was Hindu and Muslim. The Inquisition ended in 1820 but the persecution of Hindus and Muslims by the Portuguese Christian government with something called the Xenddi tax which is a religious tax. I have always wondered why Goa had such a huge Catholic background but never really researched into but I'm glad I know more about it now.

The next article I went to is an article about Alauddin Khalji. I was curious about him because in a recent Bollywood movie, Padmaavat, Alauddin Khalji was the main antagonist. The movie is an epic period drama so his character was obviously dramatized. I wanted to read up more on him so I could compared and see how his character in the movie differed from the real life Khalji. He definitely did seem like the villain he was portrayed as in the movie. He wanted to become the next Alexander the Great, so he conquered many Kingdoms across India. 

Finally, the last article in the trail is the Koh-i-Noor. For me it's weird to spell it like that because I've always read it as a full word like Kohinoor. I was curious about this because this is a famous diamond that I've always heard was stolen from India by the British. It is widely believed to from the Kollur Mine which is in Andhra Pradesh, India. The diamond is one of the largest cut diamonds and it weighs 105.6 carats. The diamond is currently on display at the Jewel House at the Tower of London. 

Week 10 Story: The Secret Superhero

The Secret Superhero

Trees in a park. Source: Public Domain Pictures. 

“Help! Please, someone help me!” screamed the boy from the top of the tree. Sri was holding on tightly to the biggest branch he could find. He knew the branch could break any moment now, and he was afraid of falling to ground and breaking a limb. His friend had dared him to climb the tallest tree to prove he wasn’t scared of heights. Sri had to prove to them he wasn’t scared but he didn’t want to look like a loser either so he took the challenge. Now here he was, about to fall from 50 feet up.

From a few feet away, Krish heard the call for help. He was on his daily jog through the park. He ran faster towards the voice. He soon found the source of the voice. Hidden in between many trees, he saw something in one of them. As he looked closer, he could see that it was a little boy hanging from a tree branch.

He rushed to the boy. “Let go, I’ll catch you,” he called to the boy. The boy looked down and shook his head. “No, I’m scared!” Sri screamed.

“I can catch you, I promise,” Krish told the. But Sri adamantly refused. 

Krish looked around to make sure no one was watching and concentrated on the boy. Before him he saw the boy floating down to the ground. In a matter of a few seconds, the boy stood right in front of him.

“How did you do that!” exclaimed Sri at Krish. “Are you a magician?”

Krish laughed at that. “No, I’m not. But I do have this secret superpower. I can get things to move with my mind. It’s called telekinesis. But you can’t tell anyone about what just happened, okay? No one can know,” said Krish.

“Why not? You’re a superhero! Everyone should know,” said Sri. He looked so confused as to why this man wouldn’t want to tell everyone about his powers.

“Because… people won’t understand. People think I’m weird anyway. But just promise me you won’t tell anyone,” Krish looked at the boy with pleading eyes. 

“Okay. I promise I won’t,” Sri told Krish. Krish breathed a sigh of relief and looked at the boy and said, “thank you, I appreciate that.” 

"Um, can you show me what else you can move with your mind?" Sri asked Krish. "Well, I guess I'll show you just once and that's it."

"Okay!" smiled an excited Sri. He watched as Krish looked attentively at a big log. He saw the log start to float. Krish looked at the boy through the corner of his eye and smiled as he saw the boy's eyes get bigger. Krish used his power to throw the log almost 25 feet away. 

"Wow! That was so cool! Can you do that again?" asked Sri. "I really can't, I have to be somewhere now. Sorry kid. You need to get back to your friends anyway," said Krish. 

“Oh okay. By the way, what’s your name mister?” asked Sri. Krish smiled at the boy. “I’m Krish, what’s your name?” 

“Sridhama, but you can call me Sri. Everyone calls me that.”

“Well, it’s nice to meet you Sri. Now try not getting stuck in a tree again. Who knows, I won’t be around to save you next time,” laughed Krish.

“Oh, don’t worry. I won’t ever make that mistake again. But at least now that I know you’re a superhero, you’ll come help me if I ever need help again right?” asked Sri.

Krish laughed again. “Sure kid. But remember, you can’t tell anyone else.” 

“I know I know. Thanks for saving me, Krish!” And with that, Sri ran back to his friends thinking about his new superhero friend Krish.  

Author's Note: Krishna is known for being this divine being who has all these kinds of powers that he uses to help people. I thought it would be cool to give him a modern day superpower like telekinesis. I got the idea of him having powers from different Epified videos that show him being almost like a superhero.

Bibliography:

Dreams and Music.  

Krishna Humbles Brahma.

Reading Notes- Epified: Krishna, Part A

Epified: Krishna

Krishna dancing on Kaliya's head. Source: Wikimedia.

For this week's Krishna/Jataka tales readings, I decided to go back to the Epified series for their Krishna videos. I decided to read up on Krishna because he is the Hindu god that my family prays to daily. My mom has always told me stories about Krishna, but I wanted to read up more on him and see that differs from what my mom has told me.

I learned quite a lot just through this Part A of the videos. Right off the bat, I learned that Krishna's mother, Devaki, would have eight children. I never knew that. Krishna's uncle, Kansa, was told that Devaki's eighth child would be the dead of him. This made him so angry that he threw Devaki and Vasudev into jail and would kill each of her newborns. Devaki's seventh child was transferred into Vasudev's first wife, Rohini's womb. Krishna was born as the eighth incarnation of Vishnu. 

Something else I liked watching was the part where Krishna's adoptive mother, Yashoda, looks into his mouth and sees the universe. This is when she realizes that her son isn't just a normal boy, but a god. 

Also, another part I really liked is when Krishna is by the lake with his friends. This lake is poisoned by a snake named Kaliya, and the poison had managed to kill his friends. Krishna challenged the snake that Kaliya had to revive everyone that had died because of the poison. Krishna started playing his flute and he started dancing on Kaliya's head. The snake got so annoyed that he withdrew back into the water and the water was cleaned from the poison. The village people started seeing Krishna as a god as well.

I think for a story it would be cool to imagine Krishna has a superhero but in modern times. Because that is basically how he was portrayed in Dreams and Music part. 

Wikipedia Trails: From Karna to Margaret Jones

Wikipedia Trails: From Karna to Margaret Jones

I started off the trail with a character from the Mahabharata, Karna. I was curious about knowing more about Karna because he is one of those characters that made me question if he is really a hero or an anti-villain in the epic. I felt like I needed to do more research on him to decide what I wanted to categorize him as.

From the Karna article, I was led to the article about the University of Cambridge. I've always had an interest in Cambridge mostly because of my fascination with England. I've always wanted to go to England and know how universities across the pond are. I got to learn quite a bit of the history of this university through the Wikipedia page. 

Next, I went to the page of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. I felt curious about this because this is one of the topics from any US history class I've had that has always been really interesting to me. I love knowing the history behind early settlements such as the first 13 Colonies. 

Finally, from the last article I went an article about Margaret Jones. She was a Puritan wife that was the first person to be executed for witchcraft in the Massachusetts Bay Colony during the witch hunt. I thought this would be cool to read about because I've alway had an interest in the Salem Witch Trials. This was the first time I saw anything about a witch hunt on the other side of the country so naturally I was curious. 

Courtyard view of the Peterhouse College at the University of Cambridge. Source: Wikimedia. 

Tech Tip: Adding a Video

Tech Tip: Adding a Video

During this week, I made some more revisions to my portfolio story and I decided to add a video to it. I found a video that had the war theme music that was used in the exact same fight sequence in the tv show, Mahabharat, on the Star Plus. I thought it would be perfectly because my story, What Arjuna and Karna Were Really Thinking, is about the major battle they had that ended with Karna's death. I also put a little note to play it while reading my story for a more optimal experience. 

Reading Notes: Epified, Part B

Epified: Mahabharata

Epified. Source: Viki.

For the second reading of this week, I continued watching the Epified videos. I was actually more eager to watch these because these videos are when the main characters of this epic, such as Karna and the Pandavas, are all introduced. 

The Epified version definitely has some differences than the PDE version. One difference that I saw was how Karna came to be. In the PDE chapter, Kunti and Her Son, it said that secretly and in time Kunti became pregnant with Karna. In the Epified version, it made it seem like Kunti magically got Karna instantly by hugging the Sun God, Surya. 

Another thing that I was slightly confused about was in the Ekalavya chapter, where Drona demands a reward from Ekalavya because Drona is his teacher. I thought it was weird that Drona would ask for  his right thumb. In the Epified version though, it all made more sense. It is called "guru dakshina." This means that the student repays the teacher/guru in some way. In the PDE version, there isn't more to the story about Ekalavya except that he went back to the arrow shooting contest. However, in the Epified version, the story is more expanded and you can see Drona's emotions and how he felt about making Ekalavya sever his thumb. 

Overall, I'm enjoying watching these videos because it gives more insight into emotions and perspectives of all the characters than the other readings. 

Reading Notes: Epified, Part A

Epified: Mahabharata

Epified Source: Viki.

For this week's Mahabharata reading, I decided to watch the videos option instead of doing more reading. I watched the videos for the Part A portion. I really liked watching the videos because the illustrations were being drawn right as the narrator was speaking. This made it very easy to follow. Plus, I am a visual person so I was able to understand the story much more easily this way.

In the PDE version of the Mahabharata, it's also pretty easy to follow but there was definitely somethings that I couldn't fully grasp. Such as, the differences between the sons of Vyasa. They're characteristics are briefly mentioned when they are first introduced. In the Epified version, they are all characterized and drawn distinctly so the reader/watcher can easily tell the difference.

I think for anyone who is also a visual learner like me, they should try watching these videos. They are short and straight to the point. They use simple language as well so it's easy to understand.

Week 8 Progress

Looking back at everything I've done this semester for this class, I have to be honest and say I'm not completely happy with it all. I think I definitely can do a lot better if I had put in more time and effort. Unfortunately, I couldn't find time for the longest time but now I think I can work out some time for this class. I think the one assignment that takes the most of my time is the storytelling. It took me a while to even think of an idea for my first story. I'm not a good writer so unlike when writers get "writer's block" sometime, I usually get that all the time.

I definitely enjoy the readings. I've especially enjoyed the Mahabharata ones because my mom used to tell me stories growing up and all of the books were in Hindi or Gujarati, but now I can read them myself so it's been really fun. I'm excited for more readings in the next few weeks.

I think I have a pretty good schedule down for when I should do my readings so I can have ample time to focus on my story for the week. I need to avoid procrastinating and putting it off till the end/due date. I want to see my progress just go up from this point on.

Need to see some progress. Source: Pixabay.

Week 8 Comments and Feedback

I love the feedback that I've been getting from everyone! It's nice to know what other people think of your writing because most people are either like "oh, my writing isn't good" or like "oh, my writing is so good" and the feedback they get from people can be so surprising. I like the comments I get back on reading notes from people that tell me that they like the way I do notes or that they find it interesting because it's different from their own style. I used to think my style was weird but now, not so much.

I have been behind on the whole giving feedback process so I need to pick up on that. I hope I will be able to give people good feedback that will help them in their writing.

Giving Feedback. Source: Public Domain Pictures.

Week 8 Reading and Writing

The Pandavas and Draupadi. Source: Wikimedia.

Firstly, I can't believe we're already halfway through the semester. It honestly feels like it's been at least 12 weeks, not 8.

It definitely took me a while to get a good schedule down for this class. I tried different techniques but I think I have a good schedule down now. I hope my progress in this class will keep getting better.

I'm pretty happy with my blog and project website. I think I have a pretty good theme going on in both. I might decide to change it later on, but for now I'm pretty content with how they both look.

I enjoyed reading Mahabharata the most because that was the one epic my mom has told me a lot about. I grew up listening to her tell me what happened in the Mahabharata because I couldn't really read in Hindi or Gujarati so I liked that I finally got a chance to read it myself. I think the best thing I've written so far is my Arjuna and Karna story. I consider it an accomplishment because I got that written in record time. It usually takes me a good few hours to write a story but this one literally took me about half an hour. The idea just came to me so quick, so writing the story itself was pretty quick too. I haven't really followed my reading notes exactly even though I know I should. I think I've picked up ideas and used notes from different weeks to put together a story so I'm not completely bad at not using the notes. I definitely need to take better reading notes though.

Overall, I'm happy with how this class is going, and I'm excited to for the next few weeks.

Comment Wall

Here's a link to my Portfolio!

The Tales of Karna and Kunti

Week 7 Story: What Arjuna and Karna Were Really Thinking

*I have updated this story and the newer version can be found listed under Inner Thoughts on my website. 

Arjun and Karan battle. Source: Wikimedia. 

Arjuna’s POV

Arjuna watched as his brother Karna stepped onto the battlefield, bow at the ready. “Look at his stupid face,” thought Arjuna. 

He looked around at all of his soldiers and his brother’s soldiers to see them all watching. He knew in that moment. He knew this was going to be the last fight. The winner though, that he didn’t know. He wasn’t sure who was going to come out victorious in the end but he knew he was going to give his all. So slowly, he started making his way onto the battlefield. 

“I have to win this fight. If Karna beats me, my soldiers are going to make fun of me. Bhima is going to crush me to death. Literally crush me to death,” thought Arjuna.

As he took his place on his chariot, he looked up to see Karna staring at him.

Karna’s POV

“Oh brother, you are so going down today,” thought Karna. “There is no way I’m losing to my little brother.” 

Karna couldn’t help but cringe when he saw his brother. He looked like a fly and a fly Karna so badly want to smash. 

He began shooting arrows at Arjuna, hoping one of them would pierce him in the heart. His arrows were hitting Arjuna spot on and he knew from the way Arjuna reacted that they were stinging like snakes. 

Arjuna’s POV

“Bloody hell! These arrows are stinging so badly. Karna is getting it now.” He set off his own set of arrows and they it looked like a rain shower of arrows had descended on Karna. 

Arjuna felt his bow snap and knew he was in trouble. “Stop, Karna! You can’t attack me like this. You know that’s against the rules.” But from the look on Karna’s face, he knew his brother didn’t care.

Karna’s POV

“HAHA you little brat. That’s what you get,” thought Karna. He continued to shoot arrows at Arjuna until he knew he was gravely injured.

However, he saw Arjuna get up and restring his bow, and his brother did not look too happy. But Karna wasn’t scared. As he was about to send another set of arrows on Arjuna, he felt his chariot sink into the ground.  

“Oh no. No no no!” cried Karna. “Stop, Arjuna! You can’t attack me right now.” 

Arjuna’s POV

“Oh heck no. What a hypocrite!” thought Arjuna. Before he could reply, his friend Krishna started talking.

“Karna, what you said is right, but you’re being a hypocrite you know? Didn’t you shoot arrows at Arjuna even though he was injured? Didn’t you and your soldiers surround Abhimanyu and kill him brutally?” asked Krishna.

As he heard his son’s name, Arjuna felt the rage he had subdued rise again and he snatched his bow. He looked at Karna with all the rage he had and let the crescent-bladed arrow go.”

He saw his brother’s head fall off his shoulders, and in that moment all he could think of was his son. 

“That was for my son. Rest in peace, Karna. You won’t be missed.”

Bibliography

Arjuna and Karna. Indian Myth and Legend. Donald A. Mackenzie.

Reading Notes: Karna and Indra, Part C

Karna and Indra

from Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists by Sister Nivedita.

Indra giving the dart, Vasava, to Karna. Source: Wikipedia.

• Plot: Indra saw that Karna wore natural armor and earrings and became anxious for Arjuna's protection. He knew one of the two, Karna and Arjuna, were going to defeat the other. He goes to Karna disguised as a brahmin, and tries to coerce him into giving up his natural armor and earrings. Karna denies to give it to him and repeatedly says that the armor and earrings are a part of him. Eventually, he says to the brahmin "give me something in exchange for my earrings and armor." Indra says "I will give you anything except the thunderbolt." Karna then asks for an invincible dart in exchange. Indra agrees and gives him Vasasa, a dart. He explains to Karna that it will hit just one powerful foe. Indra leaves, content that he got the armor and earrings. He spreads the news about what he did, however no one knew about the arrow of death that was given to Karna.
• This story reminds me of the Disney movie Hercules. Towards the end of the movie, Zeus tries to convince Hercules to stay on Olympus with him and Hera and be a god. Hercules decides to keep his life on Earth and remain as he is. I can maybe write a story of this movie plot and mix it up a little with this story of Indra and Karna.
• Indra reminds me of Zeus.
• Karna reminds of Hercules.
• When Indra tries to convince Karna to give him the armor and earrings just like Zeus tries to convince Hercules to stay. 
• Hercules doesn't give in to the offer but Karna does in exchange for something so maybe I can add in my own twist to this.

Readings Notes: Arjuna and Karna, Part D

Arjuna and Karna

from Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie.

Arjuna beheads Karna. Source: Wikipedia.

• Plot: Arjuna and Karna are facing each other in battle. They are throwing arrows each other while Krishna and Shalya guide the chariots. The arrows they were hitting each other with were deadly. At one point, Arjuna's bowstring severed after being struck. He tells Karna to stop because the rules of battle state that you can't attack a disabled foe. Karna however doesn't listen and proceeds to shower arrows on Arjuna. When Arjuna had restrung his bow in his rage, he shot many arrows at Karna. A wheel on Karna's chariot sank into the ground and Shalya couldn't control the horses to go forward. Karna calls out to Arjuna to stop and not fight because he can't attack a helpless enemy. Krishna interjects and tells Karna how hypocritical it was of him to say that when Karna attacked Arjuna when he was helpless and how Karna and his soldiers had murdered Arjuna's son, Abhimanyu. When Arjuna heard his son's name, he was filled with rage and he shot his arrow straight at Karna, severing his head. In the end, a brother had fallen by a brother's hand.
• Strong points: 
• The figurative language when describing when the arrows were shot
• "The arrows of Arjuna fell upon Karna like to summer rain."
• "Karna's arrows were like stinging snakes and they drank blood."
• The figurative language when describing Arjuna's rage.
• "Rose up like a stricken and angry tiger held at bay"
• I think for a story based on this chapter, I could extend the ending and show it from Karna's point of view up till the point where he is beheaded.
• I can maybe have something like his soul leaving the body and him looking down at his severed head and body, and show the emotions he's going through.