Reading EC: Tales of Durga

Comic Book Cover Art (Indian Epics: Amar Chitra Katha)

Source:

Tales of Durga: Tales of the Mother Goddess, Subba Rao (writer), Souren Roy (artist), Anant Pai (editor), Amar Chitra Katha (publisher).

http://ackguide.blogspot.com/2015/07/guide-tales-of-durga.html

Story 2:  Chmundi or the birth of Kali

1.       Parvati brought Durga out of her body to fight Shumbha

2.       He drove the Gods out of heaven

3.       Shumbha wanted to marry Durga

4.       She vowed only to marry who could defeat her in battle

5.       Durga grew angry when his army attacked her

6.       Kali came out of Durga’s head

7.       Kali killed the army by throwing an elephant and crushing them

8.       Then killed Chanda and Munda (Shubha’s commanders)

9.       Durga renamed Kali Chamundi

Story 3: How Durga Slew Shumbha:

1.       Female versions of Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshwara, and Durga came to help Durga and Kali defeat Shumba

2.       Everytime they struck him down more of him rose from his blood to take his place

3.       Kali killed all the Shumbhas and prevented his blood from touching the ground

4.       Shumbha claimed there is no victory in her win because she had help.

5.       Durga said all Godosdesses are just different forms of her

6.       Durga obsorbed all the Goddesses into her

7.       Shumbha flew into the sky with Durga

8.       Durga killed him mid air, then threw him to the ground

Wikipedia Trail: Kali to Brahman

Ashta-Matrika (Wikipedia)

Article 1: Kali, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kali

I started with article to help with my decision about my class project.  I am thinking about doing a story book about Kali.  Turns out that she is one of ten Mahavidyas, or group of Hindu Goddesses.  She most known for killing demons.  Over time she has also been viewed as a protector who grants liberation from life and death cycles.

Article 2: Devi Mahatmya https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devi_Mahatmya

This is the text that Hindu Goddesses appear.  It is divided into three episodes.  The first is about Devi in as Shakti (universal form), and is involved in creation.  The second episode is about Durga killing Mahishasura, and restoring order.  The third episode is about Kali coming out of Durga's head to kill three demons.  The image I used for this blog is from this Wikipedia article.

Article 3: Shakti https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakti

Shakti is a concept or personification of feminime creative power.  Shaktism thinks that the Goddess is the supreme Brahman.  Other Godesses are just different aspects of her.  The Shakti Goddess is called Amma (mother).

Article 4: Brahman https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahman

Brahman is the highest universal principle in Hinduism.  It is also known as the ultimate reality in the universe.  It is mentioned with Atman (soul, self).  It is mentioned in the Vedas.

Story Lab: Crash Course

Thought Bubble (Max Pixel)

For todays story lab assignment I choose the crash course video series.  I have watched some of the world history crash course videos and I enjoyed them a lot.  The myth videos were just as good, I like the animation, their sense of humor, and the way he would ramble on.  

You can watch the same three videos on you tube at:

 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrWYQjLLbXcigjUCnKKR86F5zrcQqfiP-

The first video explained the that myths are stories of significance and staying power.  Also, I highly recommend watching it for the Persephone story, I got a good laugh out of it.

The second video I must confess was a little boring.  He did talk about Jung and his archetypes, which I found interesting.  It is interesting how the same types of characters pop in stories from different times and cultures.

The third video was all about Campbell's Hero Journey.  I think this one was the most beneficial one for me.  I just finished reading the Ramayana this week, and it was no big surprise that the Ramayana fell perfectly in line with Campbell's Hero Journey.  The hero must leave home, faces trials, returns home, and tries to gain acceptance from the people at home.

Reading Notes: Ramayana PDE Part D

Hanuman and Medicine Hill (Indian Epics: Images and PDE Epics)

Sources:

Hanuman and the Mountain: Myths of Hindus and Buddhists, Sister Nivedita, 1914, website.

http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/pde-ramayana-herbs.html

Rama Departs: Myths of Hindus and Buddhists, Sister Nivedita, 1914, website.

http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/pde-ramayana-ramas-ring.html

More about Hanuman:

1. Hanuman's awesomeness just gets better
2. after a major battle many of Rama's allies were killed or wounded
3. Hanuman was asked to save the lives of many monkeys and bears
4. he was told about the four life giving herbs on the Himalaya Mountain
5. so he jumped across seas, hills, cities, woods, and rivers to get there
6. when he reached Himalaya, he could not find the 4 herbs
7. being clever, Hanuman picked up the entire mountain
8. when he brought back the mountain to the battle field he saved many lives
9. because Hanuman is a demigod he is immortal
10. Rama told Hanuman that he will live as long as the poem Ramayana is remembered

Reading Notes: PDE Ramayana Part C

Hanuman's Ocean Leap (Indian Epics: Images and PDE Epics)

Sources:

Hanuman's Leap, Myths of Hindus and Buddhists, Sister Nivedita, 1914, website.

http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/pde-ramayana-hanumans-leap.html

The Burning of Lanka, Myths of Hindus and Buddhists, Sister Nivedita, 1914, website.

http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/pde-ramayana-burning-of-lanka.html

Hanuman:

1. coolest charater yet to be introduced
2. he is a monkey
3. he is a demigod
4. his mother is Anjana (monkey)
5. his father is a wind god
6. his superpowers include
1. can increase or decrease his mass (body size), think Antman
2. can jump great distances
1. over 3000 leages as a child
2. can jump farther as an adult
7. defeated an ocean demon at Lanka jumping in it and growing large enough inside to make demon explode
8. does not face danger alone, his father protects him
1. when Ravana sets Hanuman's tail on fire his father doesn't let the fire burn him
9. Hanuman is extremely clever
1. since he can't feel the fire he runs around Lanka setting the city on fire
10. Hanuman is cares about his friends well being
1. he checks on Sita after setting fire to the city to make sure she is not hurt