Week 3: Storytelling: The Brothers

The Brothers 

Once upon a time there was a happy family who lived in a small city in Oregon: a mom, dad, and two brothers. They had lived in Oregon their whole lives, and Mom and Dad were thinking about moving to the east coast in North Carolina. The brothers were older now: Vali was twenty years old, and Sugriva fifteen. Vali was a tall, strong, and outgoing young man who wasn't afraid of anything. Sugriva, on the other hand, was more reserved than his brother, and he liked to keep to himself. Either way, both were excited about moving to the other side of the U.S and experiencing a whole new lifestyle. Over the next few months it was decided. The dad got offered a nice job, and would begin within a week. The family would move out after Vali took care of some things with his friends in northern California.

 “I will be back in a couple of days, Mom, Dad, and Sugriva,” said Vali. “I am excited to move out, and when I get back we can go."

“Alright, bye, Vali! See you soon,” Mom and Dad said while giving him a hug and returning back into the living room. Vali approached the door and was on his way out.

He turned around right before he left and saw Sugriva standing there. He said, “Make sure you don’t leave without me! I will be back within a few days. One week max. “

Sugriva replied, “Okay, okay. I get it, bro. See ya soon.”

And with that Vali went through the door and was gone. Anxious to leave, the family decided to finish packing everything up and load it up in their truck. After only one day, the family was sleeping on the floor in anticipation of Vali returning soon.  After four days Sugriva became worried about his brother. Vali was not answering his cell phone, so they couldn't get in contract with him. 

“Come on, Sugriva, I’m sure your brother is fine,” Mom said. “We gave him directions  to get to North Carolina before he left. Besides, he is taking way too long and your father has to start his new job next week.”

Sugriva angrily said, “We cannot just leave him! He said that he would come back. I know it has been later than expected, but we cannot just leave him to be alo-“

Dad interrupted him, “Look. He is a growing young man. He knows his way there. Remember that we are meeting in Ohio on our way to North Carolina to visit your aunt for a week. Vali will be able to meet us there if worse comes to worse, so don’t worry about it, okay?”

Unsure of himself, Sugriva reluctantly replied, “Okay… But I still feel weird about it.”

And with that the family left the next morning without looking back. Vali would return the same afternoon that the family left. He couldn’t believe that his family decided to leave him behind, and especially after talking to Sugriva. He became enraged and went to find his family again. 

After searching for his family for days, Vali ended up at the address his parents gave him before. It was their new North Carolina house. He entered the house to find Sugriva sitting there, all alone, like he was waiting for someone to come home. Some of Vali's anger cooled of by now, but when Sugriva mentioned that Mom and Dad were not coming back he became confused. Sugriva further explained that after they arrived in North Carolina, Mom and Dad were involved in a horrible accident on a trip to the store. They didn't make it. When Vali heard this news he did not know how to feel anymore. His first choice of emotion was rage. He was mad at the fact that he never got a chance to say goodbye or spend those last couple days with his parents like Sugriva got to. Vali then wrongfully took his anger out on his little brother. Sugriva tried to explain, but Vali would not listen. Sugriva ran away from home, and Vali yelled to never come back or he would kill him. 

Gumpy Hill, Oregon

Taken by: McD22

Author's Note: 

Hello.

 This is my first story for my writing portfolio. I chose to make a writing portfolio instead of a storybook for this class. Last semester I did a storybook for the Mythology-Folklore class, but this time around I wanted to have some more freedom with different stories. I wanted to be able to work with a broad variety of stories that were not necessarily connected as well as work on my storytelling skills/revising.

I decided to write my story based off the story of Sugriva and his brother Vali. I chose to write about this because I enjoyed this part of the Ramayana. The story wasn’t really that long, but I think that it sends a big message. Sometimes you cannot let rage consume and control you from seeing the truth. Sugriva loved his brother deeply, and would never do wrong toward him. He was driven to a decision that was better for everyone during the time of Vali’s rage. I didn't tell the whole story, but there are some major changes I would like to note. First off I did not include Rama. I just wanted to get the main point of the story across exclusively with the two brothers.  I also changed the reasons for Vali to become angry at his brother. I wanted to try and make it more modern. I know that Vali and Sugriva's parents were gods, but I wanted to include them more into the modern story and have prominent roles. It is hard to give a god a main part into a story when you can't talk to them. 

Another major change that I added into my story is the reason for Vali's anger. In the original story Vali becomes angry because after a year, Vali returned to find that a stone was barricading the cave he entered. Also Sugriva was the king. He thought that he was trying to take over his kingdom. Vali took Sugriva's wife and vowed to kill him if he ever stepped foot in the city again. In the end Sugriva gets Rama to help him and Vali is struck down by one of his arrows, finally realizing his wrong doing. 

In my story I felt as if the parents had to die in order for Vali to truly be angry enough to take his rage out on Sugriva. His anger is not justified, but the parents' death makes it to where Vali cannot just blame his parents for leaving. Instead he can pin everything on Sugriva. 

The Story that inspired my own came from Narayan's version of the Ramayana. 

Narayan, R. K. (1972) The Ramayana.

Week 3 Reading Diary B Ravana's End

Reading Diary Part B:

Hanuman now arrived on Lanka to begin searching for Sita.  Upon searching, he shrank himself down to an unnoticeable size and searched through every building and home. He came across a beautiful woman who he thought was Sita, but it was Ravana’s wife.

Hanuman then went to search one of Ravana’s favorite parks. There he found Sita. 

I was surprised when I read this part of the story. I didn’t know what to think about how Sita would be treated. I figured that she would be treated like a queen. I was surprised to see that this was not the case. However, it does made sense of what Ravana is trying to do. He is using frightening women to beat and scare her to death. Then after Ravana comes in to comfort her. He is trying to break her into wanting Ravana. It is quite sinister and evil if you ask me.

Another scene that interested me was the one with Ravana’s Council. You heard different points of view from Ravana’s Council some of which included his brothers and sons. Most of the people all agreed in favor of Ravana, but one person (Vibishana) who was Ravana’s youngest brother disagreed and warmed him of all his misdoings. He was told to leave, and then he went to Rama’s camp.

The Battle raged on with the help of Vibishana. Both sides sent messengers and tricks to try and get an advantage on the other. Both sides spilled a lot of blood. Ravana’s side has suffered the most losing his commander-in-chief- and his brother Indrajit.

In the end Rama won against Ravana and got Sita back. He had one last trail to test her loyalty and she passed. They then returned home and Rama was named king and lived in peace. 

Rama in Battle

Found http://www.harekrsna.de/108rama.htm 

Week 3 Reading Diary:Vali

Reading Diary Part A

Rama arrives to Kiskinda to meet with Hanuman (Anjaneya). He was in the form a little scholar boy which I thought was weird. I am not sure why he chose that form, but is through form was a giant monkey for he was the king of all the monkey in that land.

In this next section Hanuman is telling the story of Vali, which is Sugreeva’s elder brother. Apparently he is a God-like figure and was blessed by Shiva with unimaginable strength and speed. Interestingly enough, it is even mentions that then Vali passes by Ravana even he is scared to death of him. I will have to highlight this and maybe include Ravana’s fright of him in my later storybook.  Continuing in the story Hanuman recognized that Rama is an Incarnation of Vishnu and asked him to test his Archery to prove he was capable. Rama feel sorry for Sugreeva and offers help to vanquish Vali. On top of mountain Rama sees bleached bones and asks what it is. Sugreeva then begins with Dundubi’s story.

Vali in the Ramayana

Source: Wikipedia

Vali kills Dundubi and throws his body on the Sage Matanga’s sacred site. He then cursed Vali so that if he steps foot back on the land his head will explode.

The Reading part where Sugriva fights Vali is my favorite part of the book so far! It does such a good job at explaining the motifs of Rama and Vali. Then Rama strikes Vali with an arrow at first he doesn't understand why Rama would meddle in the affairs of two brothers, and at first I could reason with him. In time, Rama explained that it was Vali who was seeing unclear, and in the end he finally realized his wrong doing. If I decided to retell this story then I can definitely see each side of the story. 

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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. 

Week 2: Reading Diary A & B: Rama and the Fight with Ravana's Sister?

Part 1: 

• Ayodhya was the capital of the Kosala Kingdom.
• It is located on the Sarayu.
• The king is Dasharatha and his advisor is Vasishtha.
• It is sad that Dasharatha cannot have kids because he needs to have them very badly. Also the gods need  a human to defeat the ten-headed demon Ravana. Ravana is sort of like how I saw him portrayed in other works of art or film.
• The whole Incarnation thing became really confusing to be if I didn’t read the Reading Diary notes. In my previous class I learned about Vishnu and his Incarnations, so I was more familiar with his incarnate as Rama.
• Rama is born and is able to kill the demon Thataka
• Rama and Sita fell in love with each 

Sita and Rama by:All God Wallpapers

Part 2:

Lakshmana and Sita want to go with Rama into Exile and they are enraged. Sumutra gives Rama a chairiot for his exile, and at night he gets away from the crowd of people. When the news is sent to Dasharatha, he died.

It is Crazy how Ravana's sister is a beautiful woman named Kamavalli

Rama and Sita fell in love with each other at first sight because Rama is the incarnation of Vishnu and Sita is Lakshmi. Then the Battle of the boy Rama begins!!! It is funny how interested Ravana’s sister is in Rama. It was pretty graphic with how Lakshmana mutilates her.