Week 14: Reading Diary B

I really enjoyed the descriptions of what the festival was like and all of the separate events that occurred at it this week. It was Yudhisthira's idea (or so he would want us to think). I would love to have attended this festival because everyone who came was given free food and presents. There was an interesting golden (grains) mongoose... and that was an interesting story. Eventually it actually turned into gold, so that was really lucky considering that was its goal all along.

Week 13: Reading Diary B

Wow, the death of Drona was written very well here in comparison to Narayans version. Drona kills Drupada because he is his enemy. While Drona is mourning over the death (or so he thought) of his son, he puts down his defense for one moment and is then beheaded. Kind of messed up. Not a very fair fight.

Week 12: Reading Diary B

My favorite parts of this section of the reading was Savitri's story and Mount Kailasa. With Mount Kailasa it was really the interest, detail, and significance that Buck expresses here that arise an interest in me. In comparison with Narayan's version, it appeared that Buck is much better at using detail in this section, specifically when Hanuman blocks Bhima's path. I really like Arguna because he seems like he is just one of the good guys-- very moral and strong in his heart. Even when he is learning how to use the divine weapons, it is as if he doesn't want to hurt anyone.

Week 11: Reading Diary B

I really like this version a lot more. I didn't make a post yesterday but I read both readings. It just seems like Buck presents the story in greater detail in both the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. I liked the way he descriptively defined how Duryodhana caused "all creatures to be slain and wastes the Earth"... It was not explained that way in Narayans version and I think this way makes it more clear. The fire trap scene was really alarming for me. I was really happy that Yudhisthrita was warned and able to escape in time. Draupadi married the five Pandava brothers, as expected. It's all the same plot line but is told in a stronger overall tone with more detail. I like Bucks version more so far.

Week 9: Reading Diary B

More with the complicated names and locations... I am just happy that Pandu's sons are exploring the land. I do not like how prominent lying and deceit is in this book compared to the Ramayana. The ethics and morals of every character seem to be off. Bhima is the only one so far.

Duhshasana and Duryodhana suck. I love how the gods protect Draupadi when the two brothers attempt to force her to undress.

I'm sorry, but what kind of a name is Kunti?

Week 7: Reading Diary B || the last reading

I really liked all of the symbolism throughout the end of this story. My favorite aspect of this last reading was how everything started to come full circle. As with Rama’s sandals that Bharata had placed on the throne to hold Rama’s spot in hopes for his return. The way Buck narrated it was much more satisfying than the way Narayan did.

As with Narayan’s version, I still do not understand why Rama banishes Sita. Throughout both stories all we read of is the strong love shared between them and it seems as though its unbreakable. Maybe Rama just did not want to start out his dynasty as king with the idea of having a wife who has betrayed his honor by possibly banging other guys (Ravana).

Anyways, Rama bans Sita, and she tried to kill herself and Rama just does not budge? It just confuses me how he could love her so much throughout everything, I mean, risks his life and the lives of others just to retrieve her from Ravanas capture, but now he does not want her anymore? Seems a little over the top to me.

Then Kala and Rama have a meeting where anyone who was not invited and attempts to intrude upon them must die? A bit extreme, but okay Rama. Do the people who intruded and then had to die know of the consequences of intrusion? Was there a sign on the door or anything?

So then Hanuman shows how loyal he is by opening his chest and showing that Rama’s name is inscribed on his bones….. And then they all go to heaven……

Week 6: Reading Diary B || Fight in Lanka

This week I did not make the deadline to post a reading diary for part A and I do not have a long period of time to invest in my reading diary part B, so it is going to be a bit shorter than usual!

As I read the assigned pages for today, I couldn’t help but notice that there was a completely different vibe and inconsistancies between Buck’s telling of this story and Narayan’s. Although it is arguably more realistic, I did not enjoy Buck’s retelling as much as I did Narayan’s.

I felt sorry for a lot of the characters throughout this part. I really did not enjoy how the squirrels were depicted to be such small creatures in comparison to Hanuman while they built the bridge to Lanka. Hanuman is only a monkey, why is he and his race envisioned as such large creatures and the squirrel race isn’t?

As with Narayan’s version, when Rama became mad at the ocean and cursed it, it surprised me. I also became curious as to the extent of his cursing abilities. We saw him curse the person who scared Sita earlier in the story. I do not understand why he does not use this ability to curse people and things more often in his experience in the woods. Is it because he does not want to hurt people or influence them to do things and make decisions based on what they do not believe? Maybe it is because he already knows or at least has noticed that he has the gods on his side? Whatever the reason, it seems like a rather good moment to utilize this ability to cross the ocean. Sounds like a familiar story?  

Another thing I found strange was the description of the interaction between Ravana’s cronies and their attempt to spy on Rama and his followers. They all failed in their attempts and I guess I was just surprised that Ravana would subject these people, who are clearly not intelligent, witty, or creative, to perform a very crucial task in attacking their enemy- discovering their plan! Maybe Ravana just utilizes these people because he has no one else and all of them are pretty much forced to follow him anyways?

I was really upset when I read about Ramas death. After reading Narayan’s version, and observing a different type of storytelling but with most of the same plot lines, I thought that everything would end up the same in Buck’s version. What does the death of Rama mean for Vishnu?

Week 4: Reading Diary B || Interesting Notes

At the beginning of this weeks reading, we experience the decision to make Rama King and the arguments that follow. I noticed that King Dasaratha spoke with more logic as he explained his desire to make Rama King. On page 61, he said, “the opinions of disinterested men are different from the beliefs of a father.” I do not recall him speaking with such logic in Narayan’s version.

Another thing I noted from the beginning of this book was how the word “Time” was capitalized. We see never see this word with a lowercase letter. I noted each instance of this word throughout the readings and I became curious as to why time was being characterized as a person. In one instance they said, “Time approaches you” or “looking into the water saw Time cast his shadow over Kaikeyi’s heart”, and my favorite “Time causes change.” The few instances I have named here could hold the same meaning if it were not named. Is this a Hindu literature normality? I remember reading the Odessey and other Greek literature where they would often capitalize such words. I would be interested in learning why they capitalize Time, Truth, and Fire, and many others, I’m sure.

On page 62, Dasaratha tells Rama of his strange dreams saying, “I dreamt of stars falling to the ground in daylight with terror and noise.” Buck uses many analogies, but this phrase really stuck out to me. I wondered if it was symbolic of the final battle between Ravana and Rama when the Yakshas and Rakshasas were falling from the sky. It could be simply that he is fearing that his stars, or his youth, dissipates to the earth too early and the terror and noise could be the fear that Ayodhya would no longer have a ruler.

A few instances I noted that were much different in Bucks version was how desperately Kausalya desired for Rama to stay in Ayodhya. I wondered why or how one writer could visualize a character one way and the other writer to visualize her in a completely different way. I also noted how the conversation between Rama and Sita made so much more sense in Bucks version. Sita counters every argument Rama has for her to stay in Ayodhya and finally he decides that her will is not going to falter and he allows her to join him. Allowing her to join him may not have been the greatest decision on Ramas part, but it sure does lead to a great story!

Week 3: Reading Diary B || Rama and Ravana's Battle

The dialogue between Rama and his subjects regarding whether or not they should allow Vibishana into their camp is very clearly one sided until Rama hears the opinion of his close advisor Hanuman. Everyone else is of the conviction that Vibishana should not be allowed into camp because he cannot be trusted as a result of his abandonment of his brother and the argument that his profession of virtue is a disguise. To emphasize his opinion of Vibishana and to attempt to gain the agreement of Rama, Sugreeva said, “In spite of all his noble speech, this person is really an asura.”

After hearing Hanumans judgement of Vibishana, we are witness to another moment when Rama professes his duties and reiterates his opinion on right and wrong. Similar to when Rama argued with Vali regarding the awareness of right and wrong that accompanies knowledge, regardless of race, he reiterates this certainty when he says, “...it is our first duty to protect. Even if I am defeated because I have taken him at his word, I would not mind it; I shall still have done the right thing. On the other hand, if I am victorious in war by rejecting him, to me that victory would not be worth having” (132). This statement exemplifies the character of Rama so well. He believes in always acting in an honorable and fair fashion. This is displayed many times throughout the story, but a memorable instance is when Ravana and Rama were in battle. Ravana fell into a faint and, although Rama could have shot his bow and ended the battle while Ravana rested, he refused to continue the battle and allowed Ravana to rest.

An out of character moment I noted was when Rama was standing by the ocean, frustrated because he and his army needed to cross it but had no resources to do so, and he threatened to shoot his all-powerful arrows into the sea, threatening the sea god. Although the sea god eventually helped Rama and his army cross, it was simply out of character for him to allow his anger to get the best of him. For someone with as much virtue as he, I would have thought he would simply offer a sacrifice to the sea god or something of honor.

Held in accordance with the aftermath of Vali’s death, when Rama killed Ravana it appeared that Ravanas negative matter fluttered off of his body and he was left with a noble and pristine figure. Later on, Rama mentioned that he wanted his spirit to reach heaven and ordered a formal funeral for his adversary. This just proved, once again, that Rama is a nice guy and cares about the afterlives of his enemies as much as his friends.

Week 2: Reading Diary B || Rama's Exile

Throughout the second part of the reading, the reader becomes witness to Rama’s physical and emotional strength. It seems as though Rama is the only character able to notice and thrive from any positive moment. Upon being notified of his imminent exile by his step-mother, Kaikeyi, he translates the loss of the throne into a type of learning opportunity to progress his spiritual existence. As Rama begins his journey, we are able to comprehend the depth of Rama’s spirit when Dasaratha, Lakshmana, and Bharatha define their detest for Kaikeyi, twice calling her a serpent and renouncing her as a member of the family.Rama only acts in ways that ultimately improve the goodness of the world surrounding him.  

I made note of when Rama was notified of his father’s death and it was the first time the reader witnesses a moment of weakness in Rama’s character. The reader perceives Rama’s strength, honor, and spirit as unfaltering, even when faced with the news of his father’s death. Although fleeting in comparison with Lakshmana, who mourned for five days, Rama lamented and “after a while” began the resting ceremonies for his father. In comparison with his brother, Lakshmana, who is short-tempered and illogical at moments, Rama calming calculates his every move and the emotions and movements of those around him.

On page 68, we read of the effect Ramas existence has on Soorpanka. Appearing almost as love-sick as Sita and Rama once were for each other, Soorpanka is in torment to be with Rama again. We saw this type of emotional breakdown before in Ayodhya when news of Rama’s exile spread. These emotions for Rama made me wonder if everyone loves Rama or if it is the underlying desire to be attached and affiliated with a god (Vishnu) that drives the frenzied loss of Ramas presence.

Later, on page 76, the same uneasy, lovelorn emotions are poured out of Ravana when he hears only of a description of Sita. Sita is the incarnate of Lakshimi, Vishnu’s wife, so maybe the same elements are at play here as well.

When Lakshmana cut off Soorpanka’s nose, ears, and breasts after she attempted to capture Sita, I wondered if those three body parts were symbolic and if so, what was the underlying message. Other than the pain she suffered, the loss of her body parts went almost unnoticed. She used her mutilation as a motive for her brothers to enact revenge, but she was not bothered by it. I still wish to learn of the symbolic meaning behind the choice of taking those three parts from a person.