Week 2 Storybook Topics

Possible Topic: Shiva. My first possible topic that I thought would be interesting to write about would be the god Shiva. The reason I choose Shiva first is because in one of my previous classes I learned a little about Shiva, and I thought he was a very interesting god. Before looking at any information on Shiva from the links provided, I remember that Shiva plays a major role in culture/religion not just in India, but in other countries as well. Shiva is known as the god of “Creation and Destruction”. It is said that with his bending leg he is crushing the evil demon spirits, and the other is raised up in a dancing position.

Shiva in the Nataraja Dance

Photo Taken by: Kenneth Lu

Possible Topic: Ravana. This may not come as a surprise for you Mrs. Gibbs, but for my second topic choice, I thought that I would pick to write a story about Ravana. Last semester in the Mythology and Folklore class I wrote my storybook over Odysseus. It was called “The Legend of Odysseus”.  It would be neat to also to the same about Ravana. I am obsessed with main protagonists and antagonists. I mean, what is there not to like about writing about a dude with 10 heads and a billion arms! Awesome! Doing a storybook over Ravana would be the opposite of what I did last year, and a cool way to compare and contrast the two.

Possible Topic: Gods and Goddesses (Ganga: River and Goddess): The Ganges River is one of the most sacred rivers in India, and the Hindu religion. Hindus consider the water from the Ganges to be purifying and pure. It is also a source of a lot of stories. The river is sacred and is often personified as a goddess called Ganga. There are some mentions of the Goddess in the Hindu epic Mahabarata as well. The river seems like a source of a lot of spirituality, and it would be an interesting topic to write about.

Possible Topic: Love stories/ Birth and Death Stories. Last but not least I would like to write about one of these topics, or both if available. I know that it is two separated topics, but I just couldn’t decide which one to pick. I would like to write about the origin stories of some of the Characters in the Ramayana like Rama or Vishnu. I also like Tragic stories for example the Romeo and Juliet story. 

Week 2 Storytelling: The History of the River Ganges

“I have never seen a river quite like the Ganges. It flows so violently. Why is that?” the boy said.

The man replied, “There are many different stories of the River Ganga. It is referenced in many different Indian works. Here are some of these stories.

“King Bali and Ganga”. First of all, you must know that Vishnu had ten different forms on Earth at different times and locations. Each incarnation of his life he helped get rid of the demon problems on Earth. One of the avatars came down in guises, of a dwarf Brahmin. His name was Vamana.

Bali was a rich asura king who had elephants, houses, and army and more! He was an avid devote of Vishnu. Since he devoted to him, it is said that his power grew exponentially. It got to the point that Indra, who was the King of the Gods, was scared of losing the Heavens from him.

Indra went to ask Vishnu for help. During a yagna, Bali, donated to the Brahmins, whatever they wanted. Vishnu, if you remember was in guise of a dwarf Brahmin, went up to Bali. Bali knew it was him beforehand because his guru, Shukracharya recognized Vishnu and told Bali. Bali bowed and asked “Vishnu” what he would like to have. 

The Brahmin, Vishnu, asked for three footsteps of land. Right away the king agreed and asked him to measure it out. And then something magical happened. The dwarf grew into a massive size — Trivikrama. With one footstep, he covered the Earth. With the second footstep he covered the skies. For the third footstep nothing was left. King Bali offered his head. With one foot on Bali’s head, Trivikrama pushed Bali into the patala loka (lower world of serpents and demons). While Trivikrama’s foot covered the skies, Brahma washed his foot (as it was a magnificent form of Lord Vishnu’s) and collected the water into his kamandala. This holy water became Ganga, Brahma’s daughter.

“This is one of the main stories of the river Ganges” the man said to the boy. There are many, many, many other stories out there, but I am sure you don’t want me to ramble on and on. Anyways, last but not least. You have to know that Ganga has always been referred to as a goddess. She was a godly form of four arms and 3 eyes to see the past, present, and future.” 

The Ganges River powered by Google sites

Authors Note:

I decided to base my first Storytelling post off of the history of the Ganges River. There are many different Stories of the Ganges like in the Ramayana. I Just wanted to tell some of the Origins of a few characters and also the Goddess Ganga.