Wikipedia Trails: From Hastinapur to Qutb Minar

Wikipedia Trails: From Hastinapur to Qutb Minar

I started the trail off with the article about Hastinapur. I was curious to learn more about it because it is one of the kingdoms mentioned in the Mahabharata. I wanted to learn about how modern-day Hastinapur is and how the culture is in that city now.

From that article, I went to the article about the Mughal Empire. I was curious about the Mughal Empire because a few years ago I watched an Indian movie based on a Mughal emperor who took over India. I wanted to learn how long the empire lasted in India and who all the emperors were. 

The next article I went to from that article is the article about the Delhi Sultanate. I wanted to learn more about this because I got to learn a little bit about it when I went to India in 2015. The tour guide would give us some info about the sites we were visiting but I don't remember much of what he said so decided to look more into it. 

The last article I went to was the one about the Qutb Minar. I actually got to visit the Qutb Minar when I went to India in 2015. The whole area is called the Qutub Minar Complex and it is filled with Indo-Islamic architecture that is partially preserved and partially deteriorated. It was really cool to see in person and I wanted to learn more about its history. 

Image Information: personal photo of the Qutb Minar I took.
Photo from January 2015.

Image Information: personal photo of the Qutb Minar with Parso-Arabic and Nagari characters.
Photo from January 2015.

Reading Notes: Epified, Part F

Epified: Mahabharata

 Part F

Pandavas leaving for their exile. Source: Wikimedia.

Continuing from Part E, this part of videos talks about the outcome and aftermath of the dice game. The Pandavas go on their exile and they meet Krishna who wants them to fight the Kauravas. Arjuna receives Shiva's weapon and 

The disrobing of Draupadi was the beginning of their long period of hatred for Duryodhana and the Kauravas. The Kauravas had been so greedy and evil that they called the Pandavas back for another round of dice and mainly to humiliate them again. I think if I were to write a story, I would write about the Pandavas and their emotions of having lost everything and being exiled. I specifically liked the part in the video about them being exiled where they are leaving and the people of Hastinapur are trying to stop them from leaving or are following the Pandavas into their exile. I think it would be something different to write a story from the point-of-view from one of the people in their kingdom. 

Reading Notes: Epified, Part E

Epified: Mahabharata

Part E

Subhadra driving a chariot away from Dwarka with Krishna and Arjuna in it.  Source: Wikimedia.

In this part of the Epified videos, the narrator starts off by talking about Arjuna and Subhadra. The videos also mention one of the parts of the Mahabharata that I hate: the dice game and the outcome of it. 

One part I focused on mainly was in the very beginning of this part of videos when Arjuna brings Subhadra back to his family. Everyone happily greets her except one person, Draupadi. I mean, I don't blame her though. If my husband brought another one home I wouldn't be too happy about it either. There was a difference I noticed about this Epified version and the PDE version. In this version, Arjuna sends Subhadra as a maid to Draupadi. In the chapter, Arjuna and Subhadra of the PDE version, Subhadra herself approached Draupadi and introduced herself as Draupadi's handmaiden. 

Another part I focused on was the son, Abhimanyu. I like that in the video, Birth of Abhimanyu, it shows more of the relationship between Arjuna and Subhadra after their marriage and during her pregnancy. 

I feel like not much was mentioned about either Subhadra or Abhimanyu. Abhimanyu becomes more of a bigger part in the epic around the time the big battle begins between the Pandavas and Kauravas. I could write a story about Abhimanyu's life growing up and his relationship with his mother and father maybe. 

Wikipedia Trails: From Draupadi to Elizabeth of Russia

Wikipedia Trails: From Draupadi to Elizabeth of Russia

Brihadishvara Temple. Source: Wikmedia.  

I started the trail off with Draupadi article. I wanted to read more on her to see if there could be anything on her Wikipedia page that wasn't mentioned in any of the readings. I got to learn some more information of her life with the Pandavas. I also learned that she has over 400 temples dedicated to her throughout various Indian states. 

From that article, I went to the article about Tamil Nadu. I have always been curious about the South Indian states. The languages down in the south are completely different than the ones I've grown up hearing. I got to learn from the article that the language of Tamil was the first language to be recognized as a classical language of India. 

From the Tamil Nadu article, I went to the article about the Seven Years' War. I remembered learning about it in a world history class but I don't remember much about it so I decided to research more. I learned that it spanned over 5 continents and it involved every European great power. It has also been described as "World War Zero" because it was similar in scale to the other wars.

Lastly, I ended at the article of Elizabeth of Russia. I wanted to learn more about her because I've heard of Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom, but this was a first to see a Queen Elizabeth of Russia. Elizabeth was the Empress of Russia from 1741 to her in 1762. She led the country throughout two wars: the War of Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War. 

Tech Tip: Blogger Template

Tech Tip: Blogger Template

I used this tech tip because I felt like changing my blog. I got bored with the design. I followed the instructions to see how I could change the design. I decided to change my background image to an image of a place in India. I think it fits well with the theme of this class. 

Week 12: The Long Lost Son

The Long Lost Son

*I have updated this story for my portfolio project and the newer version is here on my website. I gave the story a new name as well. 

Cousins battling. Source: Wikimedia. 

“I can’t wait for the tournament,” Bhima announced loudly to his brother. The five Pandava brothers had been so excited all morning for this tournament. 

This tournament was between them and their cousins, the Kauravas. The purpose of the tournament was to see how much they had learned in their training from Kripacharya and Drona. Their skills would be tested today. Their talents would be exhibited in front of everyone including the royal family and the public. 

“I hope none of my sons get hurt today,” hoped Kunti. She had bene excited for the tournament as well. She knew her sons had all trained so hard. They had so much energy in them that she knew this would be a perfect way for them to exert all of that energy. 

At the tournament, all of the cousins had went and showcased the talents in front of the crowd. The one who stood out the most was her son, Arjuna. Everyone was stunned by his skills in archery and use of weapons. They watched in awe and admiration. She felt immense pride for her son. But then came along a man named Karna.

Karna said he had trained from Parshuram himself, so he wanted to challenge Arjuna. She watched as Karna surpassed all the feats Arjuna had made. She could tell from her son’s face that was getting angrier by the second. She watched as Arjuna refused to let Karna be crowned the victor.

Kunti couldn’t help but stare at Karna. For some reason, she felt a connection to this man. He looked familiar to her. She listened as Kripacharya stepped in and said they couldn’t let him fight if Karna wasn’t from a royal bloodline. They wanted to know his lineage.

“I don’t know about my lineage. All I know from my parents is that I was found in a basket floating down the river. I was brought up a charioteer and his wife, my mother. They are the only family I know,” explained Karna.

Kunti was in shock. She couldn’t believe what she had just heard. “Could this… could he… is this… no, that’s not possible. But it can be. But how?” thought Kunti. She started to panic. She started to feel dizzy and her vision was getting darker. She lost consciousness the moment she realized that Karna was her firstborn. 

Author's Note: I based this story off of an interaction from an Epified: Mahabharata video. In the video, Karna becomes King, Kunti finds out for the first time that the man challenging Arjuna is actually her firstborn she had given up. In the video, the narrator focuses more on the tension between the men, and the part about Kunti fainting is briefly mentioned towards the end. I thought since I had already written a story about Kunti giving about baby Karna in her perspective, I would write this in her perspective as well. 

Bibliography:

Karna becomes King. Epified: Mahabharata. 

Reading Notes: Epified, Part D

Epified: Mahabharata

Part D

Draupadi's Swayamvar. Source: Wikimedia.

In the Part D videos of the Epified: Mahabharata series, the focus was more on Draupadi and her husbands. This was the part of the Mahabharata that I felt like things were picking up and the tension was starting to build, especially between the Pandavas and Kauravas.

I focused more of my attention on the character of Karna because I plan on writing this week's story on him. The part where Karna is mentioned is during Draupadi's Swayamvar and Karna's Humiliation. Karna feels like he is always tainted because he is a "soot-putra" or a charioteer's son. However, he still tries to win the challenge that Draupadi's dad put forward. Draupadi, however,  insults him by saying that he would never be worthy of marrying a princess because he is soot-putra. Karna returns to his seat with this fire of humiliation burning inside of him.

I have grown to show more sympathy for the character of Karna and for the character of Kunti, so I think in my story I can incorporate him being insults by Draupadi and show how he decided to be the bigger person and not fire any insults back.

Reading Notes: Epified, Part C

Epified: Mahabharata

Part C

Epified. Source: Viki.

For these next two weeks of reading, I'm going back to the Epified: Mahabharata videos to finish all of the parts. 

Part C starts off with the story of Karna and then moves on to the Pandavas. 

The video Karna's Quest. In this part, it gives a great introduction to Karna. Karna was born with the earrings and the armor and they grow with him as he grows. In the next 2 videos, it shows the stories of how Karna grows up, finds a guru to teach him and his interactions with the Pandavas. In the video, Karna becomes King, Karna and the Pandavas take part in a competition. When Karna tells the Pandavas about his lineage, he mentions how he was found in a basket floating down the river. Kunti upon hearing this faints because she realizes this is her first son. Duryodhan helps save Karna from more humiliation in this situation.

I wrote a story about Kunti having to leave her son Karna and what her thoughts would be on it. I think I can write a second part to that story, with like a big time leap into the adulthood of her kids and have her see Karna again at this competition. 

Tech Tip: Canvas Dashboard

Canvas Dashboard

I figured out how to change the names of classes on Canvas during last semester so I've changed the names on all of my class modules ever since. You can also change the color of the modules as well so I color coordinate the module color, my pen color for my planner, and my notebook for that class. Yes, I am weird but it works for me. 

Week 11 Story: The Secret Superhero, Part 2

The Secret Superhero: Part 2

Cards. Source: Pixabay.

When Krish got back to his apartment, he couldn’t help but think about his morning. He had used his power for the first time in a long while. He didn’t want to admit it, but it felt good to feel that power surge through him. The last time he had used his power, it hadn’t ended well.

For as long as he could remember, he was told to hide his power. Krish knew he couldn’t let anyone know. He recalled the one incident when he was younger that made his power known to his mother. 

His mother had been teaching Krish a new card game when she had seen a pot of milk boiling over on the stove. She had left him briefly to go attend to the milk, but those few moments of being left alone had made him so angry. He didn’t realize he was doing it but he saw the other pot of milk suddenly overturn itself. Krish had just stared at it with wide eyes. He couldn’t comprehend what had just happened.

But his mother could. She knew what had happened. She had feared for the day his power would show up in full form. Thinking back to when he was a toddler and had unconsciously moved his toys around, she had hoped that he wouldn’t figure out about his ability until he was much older. She wasn’t ready to explain to him how he was special just yet.

“Mom, what just happened?” asked Krish. Yashi, his mother, was looking at him funny. 

“Krish, there is something I need to tell you but I need you to remain calm and not freak out, okay?” said Yashi.

“Okay, what is it?” questioned Krish. 

“Well, umm, there’s this thing. You have this power called telekinesis. It means you can move things with your mind, just like you did with the pot of milk.” 

“Wait, you mean to tell me, that was me? Idid that?” 

“Yes, but listen Krish. You cannot tell people about this ability. There are people in this world who don’t like people who are different, and I don’t want anything to happen to you. So promise me you won’t tell anyone,” said his mother.

Coming back to his current situation, Krish felt conflicted about telling the kid at the park about his power. “Maybe I shouldn’t have told him,” thought Krish. 

He remembers not being able to tell his friends about his power as he was growing up. There was instances where he couldn’t control his ability and things happened, but he never knew how to explain it without not giving away his secret. So he kept quiet and let people think he was weird.

But he had to admit it. Telling someone about it had made him feel so much better. It made him feel more confident in a way.

“Maybe I shouldn’t hide it anymore,” he thought. “I need to be me now. No more hiding. I can use my power for good, like I did today.”

Author's Note: I wanted to continue on from my last superhero story and give some more information on why Krish wanted to Sri to not tell anyone about his power. In The Childhood of Krishna chapter of the Shri Krishna of Dwarka reading, I found a little part where he and his mother Yashoda are playing but she has to leave him and go inside for a few minutes to go attend to the milk that was boiling over. This makes Krishna angry and he goes and overturns another pot of milk. I thought that would be a perfect scene to tweak with and have him overturn the milk with his mind instead of him physically do it. That would be a perfect way for his power to show up. 

Bibliography:

The Childhood of Krishna by C.A. Kincaid.

Reading Notes: Shri Krishna of Dwarka, Part B

Shri Krishna of Dwarka

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

The demon Sambara. Source: Wikimedia. 

In the Part B readings for this week, I finished up the Shri Krishna of Dwarka book. These readings unlike the Part A were more about the adventures of Krishna with other people. In my opinion, I think Krishna wasn't the main character of each chapter's focus. Although, he was a big part of them. 

In Chapter 9: Adventures of Balarama and Pradyumna, the story starts off with Balarama as he is going back to Vrindavan to visit his people. Then the story shifts to Pradyumna who is Krishna and Rukmini's eldest son. When he was six days old, he was flung into the sea by the demon Sambara. Sambara had been told that Pradyumna would kill him so he went to kill Pradyumna first. And then it goes on to tell the story of his life. 

Overall, these chapters were fun to read. I found some characters that I think I could incorporate into my story while doing the readings.