Week 10 Storytelling: Satya-Narayan-Vrat

Here continues the story of three sisters: Mary, Sarah and Ally. As usual, Mary will be sharing a story using the Mickey and Minnie cartoon characters.

As Sarah and Ally were being prepared to listen to a bedtime story, Mary said, “Wouldn’t that be awesome if one of you be a story teller for today.” 

Sarah and Ally both shouted at the same time, “NOO.”

Then Ally continued in her innocent voice, “I do not know how to create great stories like you do, 

Mary. But I can try to tell a story about Cinderella, which I watched last night.”

Rudely Sarah said, “No thanks, Ally.”

As always, Mary continued, “Today’s story will be concentrating on Hindus rituals and their way of life. However, our story will be based on Mickey and Minnie as our characters, who will be following those rituals. So, sounds good girls?”

Ally replied, “Yes, great! That will be a new and interesting story, Mary.”

It is a story of newlywed couple, Mickey and Minnie. As in Hindu culture, there is not a huge concept of love marriages. So, Mickey and Minnie got married with the choice of their elders, mostly the decision was made by their parents. A couple has to follow some rituals for a successful happy married life. For the desire for a happy life manifests in many rituals called Vrats, which Mickey and Minnie had to follow. They were encouraged to perform Satya-Narayan-Vrat as their first household ritual. However, Satya- Narayan-Vrat can be performed any day, but by a married couple. So, Mickey and Minnie’s family wanted them to begin their married life by performing Satya-Narayan-Vrat. The purpose of the Vrat was to bring happiness, good luck and health into the household. Satya-Narayan-Vrat cannot be done without a priest. The reason between performing Satya-Narayan-Vrat was that Satya-Narayan is seen as Vishnu. Its purpose is to resolve household issues and problems which is performed by household or housewives by praying front of Vishnu. During the Satya-Narayan-Vrat, the couple chants thousand names of Vishnu, while at each name offering him a sprig of tulsi. Through chanting and the determination of the couple the God pleased to fulfil the wishes of the couple.

The rituals are to express one’s desire to the deities through fasting, hearing tales, singing songs, staying awake through the night and visiting holy places. That helps in seeking blessing from god and goddess for a happy and successful life. After performing the Satya-Narayan-Vrat, the family elder also gave their blessing to Mickey and Minnie and wished them all the best for their future.

 Satya-Narayan

Author's Note: My retell story was based on Hindu’s rituals. Which were discussed in Brahma’s secret part 2 video. The story is written with all true facts about Hinduism. Since I wanted to make it a story out of it, I decided to Mickey and Minnie as newly married couple who are performing the rituals for their good life.

Bibliography: "Public Domain Edition of the Seven Secrets from Hindu Calendar Art." by Pattanaik.Website: Image library for MLLL-4993, Epics of Ancient India

Week 10 Reading Diary, continued: Seven Secrets of Hindu Calendar Art

Title: 7 Secrets from Hindu Calendar Art
Author: Devdutt Pattanaik
Link:http://iereadingguides.blogspot.com/search/label/Guide%3A%20Pattanaik.%20Calendar%20Art

Vishnu's secret part 2: Ram is a only form to worship as king. He leads the move from nature to culture. The goddess sits on his lap because she feels secure and comfortable in his arm. The money Hanuman sits at his feet. I found these facts interesting that wife sits with his husband most of the time.  The entire story of Ram is written in the Ramayana. Which we read in the beginning of the course. It was interesting the comparison between Ram and Krishna how these two are different from one another.

Brahma's secret part 1: It was an unique fact that Hindu do not worship Brahma. Brahma's daughter turned it a cow and then Brahma later turned into a bull was very interesting facts. He kept changing into the male form of his daughter's female form because he was very onto controlling her. She was a great delusion of life. Since Brahma was chasing the material worlds rather then trying to understand himself, so no one worships him one such as Brahma. The fifth head shows the ego, the part of the mind that controls the material reality. Shiva is everything Brahma is not. Shiva destroy what Brahma creates. 

Brahma and his Vahana

Week 10 and Review

From daily announcements, I found the fact about the sugar how the word is from French sucre and medieval Latin succarum. It is great how we make our own words by using the words from other languages. Arabic came up with sukkar from Europe and Persian. It is nice to know that because I was unfamiliar with this sugar fact.

Different kind of  sugars

Tech Tip Theme

For the redesign of the website, I wanted to make it look colorful because I love colors. So, I added some colors to and font design as well to make it look nice and interesting. Here is the link: googleSiteWebsite.

Week 10 Reading Diary: Seven Secrets of Hindu Calendar Art

Title: 7 Secrets from Hindu Calendar Art
Author: Devdutt Pattanaik

Link:http://iereadingguides.blogspot.com/search/label/Guide%3A%20Pattanaik.%20Calendar%20Art

For this reading diary post, I am watching videos by Pattanaik titled "Seven Secrets of Hindu Calendar Art - Gods and Goddesses."

The first video is about Devi's Secret, she is desire and destiny create life. Kanyakumari, the virgin goddess and her temple is located in southern tip of India. She wanted to marry Shiva and plus their marriage was fixed and Shiva had to come from the north on one night before he could reach the gods made a rooster crow and Shiva assumed that it was a day break and his missed the hour of their marriage. So, he went back. It was sad that the bride waited and waited and the groom never came. The bride got really mad and kicked the pots and pans and wiped her makeup and for that reason the southern tip of India is so multicolored. Since she never married, she was gifted with raw power to destroy demons. If married the goddess energy is channelised to provide  for a home if not then the energy is channelised for protection.

The second video is about Vishnu Secret: Detached Engagement Brings order part 1. It was interesting how Hindus praise cows. Go Pala the care taker of the earth's cow. That is why the Vishnu is the preserver and the sustainer. Vishnu also enjoys the milk of the cow. It was interesting how in the video they did compare and constrast between Shiva and Vishnu.

(Kamadhenu:The mother of cows:Source:Wikipedia)

Week 9 Storytelling: Shiva

Here continues another unique story of three sisters with their favorite cartoon characters, Mickey and Minnie.

Mary said, “This bedtime story will be based on real. Where Mickey will be played by one of the Hindus’ God, Shiva.”

Ally with excitement said, “Nice! I like stories based on real.”

Once upon a time there was a destroyer, Mickey. He was known as a destroyer of desire, death and three worlds. He believed that there is no such concept of death, rebirth nor wheel of life. So, his goal was to destroy Yama because without Yama there will be no death, rebirth and wheel of life. In addition to that, the three world will be destroyed with the destruction of Yama and Kama. Mickey showed his indifference to the world by half closing his eyes, which indicated that he is not observing anything that is going around the world.

Then, Ally in mad voice said, “Why is he considered a God in Hinduism?”

Mary answered, “Because Mickey’s destruction desire of karma make him worthy of worship. Hindu beliefs that destruction is not arbitrary, but in fact helpful for the world. So, for these reasons Mickey was considered good and bad.”

Then, Ally questioned, “What about his personal life? Was he married?”

Sadly Mary said, “His first marriage did not go well.”

Mickey got married to a priest’s daughter, Minnie. However, the father was against their marriage. Later, the priest held a prayer ceremony where he did not invite Mickey. Minnie on the other side did not like the way her husband was being treated, so she scarified herself by jumping into the scared fire. When Mickey heard about her death, he got very angry and locked himself in a cave. Where he meditated for many years while ignoring the entire world.

After many years, Minnie was reborn as Pinnie, the princess of mountains. She prayed and forced Mickey to come out of meditation and run the world as he was with Minnie. Through her love, Pinnie succeed in bringing Mickey back to normal life by showing him the importance of the world and his godly duties. However, Pinnie’s mother was not happy with Mickey because she thought he has no grooming sense or anything. But, Pinnie taught him everything. At the end, they lived happily ever after. However, Mickey changed her name from Pinnie to Minnie because he could see Minnie in Pinnie.

God Shiva 

Author's Note: My retell story was based on real life of one of the Hindus God, Shiva. The entire story was very similar to the original secret story of Shiva. However, I did change the characters just to make the story interesting. Shiva was played by Mickey, Sita by Minnie, and Parvati by Pinnie.

Bibliography: "Public Domain Edition of the Seven Secrets from Hindu Calendar Art." by Pattanaik.Website: Image library for MLLL-4993, Epics of Ancient India

Week 9 Reading Diary, continued: 7 Secrets from Hindu Calendar Art

Title: 7 Secrets from Hindu Calendar Art
Author: Devdutt Pattanaik
Link:http://iereadingguides.blogspot.com/search/label/Guide%3A%20Pattanaik.%20Calendar%20Art

This diary reading is for the secret of Ardhanari God.A God is stillness within, goddess is movement around. I found that fact interesting that for Hindus God is not limited to one form. It can be seen through plants, animals, minerals, human(female and male form). Another interesting fact, all animals move but the Cobra is different.

Shiva's secret video:Shiva is known as a destroyer. He is calm and controlled and his eyes half shut. It is interesting how he looks calm, but is a destroyer of desire, death and three worlds. Shiva wants to destroy Yama and wihtout Yama their is no death, no rebirth, and wheel of life.When Kama and Yama are destroyed the three world is destroyed. Shiva destroys by closing his eyes and not observing anything. By doing this he shows indifference to Yama and Kama. Shiva destruction desire of karma make him worthy of worship. Kali dances on the top of the Shiva. His positions indicates lack of effort. He does not care about he world. Kali is nude dancing, she wants him to open his eyes and observe. Shiva's first marriage was a disaster. His wife sati was a daughter of a priest. sati killed herself at the sacrifice. He loved Sati a lot and so kept himself once again in the cave after Sati's death. Sati reborn as Parvati, the princess of mountains.She prayed to Shiva and forced him to leave his cave. Shiva agreed and marry Parvati. Parvati mother wanted Parvati to reconsider her decision since Shiva had no groom sense, but Shiva learned.

Shiva and Parvati by Source: Wikipedia

Week 9 Reading Diary: 7 Secrets from Hindu Calendar Art

Title: 7 Secrets from Hindu Calendar Art
Author: Devdutt Pattanaik
Link:http://iereadingguides.blogspot.com/search/label/Guide%3A%20Pattanaik.%20Calendar%20Art

Kartikeya goes around the world thrice while Ganesha was sitting with his parents playing with a rat. Ganesha went around the parents and declared himself winner. Ganesha's feeling for his parents are just great. I liked his idea of considering his parents as his world and won. The entire video of Ganesh'a secret was interesting and unique compared to the other Gods.

Narayan is a God as well. He was a sleeping god and when God sleeps the entire world is still. I found that interesting that he sleeps on the ocean of milk. In addition to that, he sleeps on a serpent named Sesha and she is still. When Narayan awakens, it time to celebrate and angles presents flowers.  On his feet is lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth. She is GO-Mata(the cosmic cow) hold the whole world within her. Narayan is her cowherd. When he is awake called Gopala, the keeper of the cow. At time Vishu transforms into human to set things right. Hanuman is a trouble maker. When the world awakens the trouble also awakens. Brahma starts organizing the world when the world starts. The found the entire secret of Narayan interesting and especially his sleeping concept.

Secrets from Hindu Calendar Art

Tech Tip: GoogleSite website

Here is the link to my new google website: IndianEpic

Week 9 Review

 Interview with a Semicolon

I found this really cute, the interview of a semicolon. I liked it how it described itself as bitter, angry and things like that. Here is the link: Interview with a Semicolon.

Week 8 Reading

For week 9 and 10, I will be watching Seven Secrets from Hindu Calendar Art by Pattanaik and Mahabharata film by Brook. Then will be doing dairy reading and storytelling as usual for both of the weeks.

Mahabaratha Film cover page

Week 8 Time Strategies

For the second half of the semester, I will be staying with the same schedule that I have been using. Mainly because that fitted perfectly with all of my classes. I do this class assignments on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays then I have other days of the week to work on my other classes. However, On exam cases the schedule do change at times. In addition to that, I also focus on what is something I have to do at the current moment without thinking of the future. Do what is due first, that is one of my strategy.

focus on today

Week 7 Storytelling: Mickey and three wives

Here continued another bedtime story of three sisters: Mary, Ally and Sarah. As usual it was Mary’s job to tell a bedtime story about Mickey and Minnie to her sisters. So, Mary started on her sisters’ approval of being ready.

Once upon a time there were three princesses: Minnie, Milly, and Millen. They lived in a huge palace and were not allowed to encounter the real world. Their parents always kept them hidden from evil eyes. Suddenly, the king Moro, Minnie, Milly, and Millen’s father had a severe pain on his head, which required him bed rest. As days were passing along, his condition was getting worse and worse. The king wanted to see his daughters happily married before anything happens to him. So, the king Moro decided to visit the king Shant, who was his childhood friend. As Moro remembered from past that Shant has at least one son.

The next day, the king Moro met king Shant and told him about his serious condition along with the proposal of his three daughters. Within a moment, king Shant said, “How is that possible? I have one son and you have three daughters?”

The king replied, “Yes, I know and I am sure your son will treat all three of my daughters the same way as his wives.”

King Shant said, “But my son Mickey would never agree to this. He would happily marry one of your daughter, but not all three.”

Then, the next day, king Shant presented the situation to Mickey and as it was mentioned, Mickey refused to marry all three princesses at the same time. He said, “I can never do this because I know I will not be able to treat all three equally as my wives. I cannot play with their feelings.”

The following day, Mickey went to see the kings’ condition. There he tried to explain himself, but the king Moro was not willing to listen because he was not sure where to find other two men suitable for his daughters. As king Moro said, “I rather give my three daughter to one man, which is you, then to someone who would not keep them happy.” And the king died as he said, “My daughters are yours now, Mickey.”

The princesses on the other side were speechless, so they followed the kings’ decision. At the end, Mickey tried to keep them equal, but it was clear that he had more feelings for Minnie because she cared for Mickey the most and built her position strong. However, Mickey hesitated to share his special feelings for Minnie.  

Ally was unhappy with the story because this time the story did not focused on Mickey and Minnie.
As she said, "Minnie was missing in the story. The entire time I was waiting for her to appear." In harsh voice, Mary said, "That was all I had. Now go to sleep, Ally."

Princess Minnie

Author's Note: I made the story completely different from the Epified animated film "Mahabharata: Karmic Revolution." However, I used three princesses Minnie, Milly, and Millen similar to Amba, Ambika, and Amblika. But in the Mahabharata, they were kidnapped by Bhisma to marry his brother, while in my retell it was completely different situation.

Bibliography: "Public Domain Edition of the  Overview: Epified Mahabharata
" by Public Domain Edition. Website: Image library for MLLL-4993, Epics of Ancient India

Week 7 Reading Diary: Epified Mahabharata

Title: Mahabharata: Karmic Revolution. (Epified Mahabharata)
Link: http://iereadingguides.blogspot.com/2016/01/overview-epified-mahabharata.html

For this week's reading diary I watched animated film Mahabharata: Karmic Revolution. I enjoyed the film because it was visual and showed the characters. The film was less detailed than the original Mahabharata. It felt like that the film was going too fast and quick. I found that interesting how Bhisma had an option when to die, which power was given by his father, Shantanu. In addition to that, I liked his character of how he was worried about who is going to rule. So, for that he kidnapped three princesses: Amba, Ambika, and  Ambalika and were brought to marry his brother. While in the process of that he got punished by Amba, whom he kidnapped not for his own good. I liked it how he was a great warrior and he fought twenty-three days against a great warrior, but no one won because both were about the same strength. 

Bhishma abducts the three princesses