Famous Last Words: The Week of Writing

(Love: Wikimedia Commons)

This week was super crazy. Since it was Valentine's this past week, I tried my best to get my work done early, but I was still on the struggle bus on doing my assignments (haha i cri). But it is okay! I had a great Valentine's Day with my boyfriend. We went to dinner in the city, chilled, and I still managed to turn in all of my assignments. What was different about this week's homework was that I had to do a lot of writing this week, which is abnormal because I generally do a lot of math and science. I had a paper due today, and I can not even remember when the last time I had to write a 1500 word essay was, so it was definitely a change a pace to say the least.

In Indian Epics this week, I got a lot of feedback on my stories, which was awesome because I love reading people's thoughts and critiques on my stories. Also, I have never gotten such in depth feedback on anything I have written until I put up my first story on my profile! Although the feedback was long (because my story was long lol), I really enjoyed being able to receive such in depth comments. It really made me feel really good and very open in trying to further improve my portfolio.

Hopefully, this upcoming week will not be as crazy as last week. Actually, I lied. If anything, next week will probably be more crazy, since I have two of my chemical engineering exams that are on the same day. I better get to studying, huh? Wish me luck, and stay tuned next week to see how stressed out I might be this week and how my tests went! Peace out, girl scout.

Tech Tip: Canvas Mobile App

I have been using the Canvas app for a really long time. I have my notifications on and have them forwarded to me by email as well. It gets a little annoying sometimes, but I definitely need all the reminders I can get.

Week 5 Story: The Support of the Gods

(Tiruchchirappalli Painting of Indra: Wikimedia Commons)

Rama and Sita fell in love at first sight, and now it was time to prove Rama's worth and win Sita's hand. In order to become Sita's husband, the must be able to bend the bow of Shiva. Rama is very hesitant to attempt this task, but Vishvamitra convinces Rama to try. Rama, then, picks up the bow and snaps in perfectly and effortlessly in half.
Other rival suitors heard word of this event and became furious at the idea of an man being able to bend Shiva's bow, let alone snap it in half! One of these rivals was Parashurama. He was extremely fond of Sita was enraged that she had taken another suitor. It became Parashurama's ultimate goal to break any ties between the two, and he knew that if he gathered enough momentum from other suitors that his plan could become a reality, even if it meant by forceful means.
Parashurama sent his messengers to contact the rival suitors, and he got positive responses of agreement almost instantly. Together, Parashurama and the suitors then march to Videha, ready to confront, and even attack, Rama.
Rama sees a sea of men angrily coming in his direction, and terror immediately rushes to his stomach. The mob comes to a stop, and Parashurama yells angrily at Rama questioning how he was able to bend the bow of Shiva. Rama answers honestly, but this only irritates Parashurama and the other suitors even more.
Finally, Parashumara cannot hold in his aggravation and is ready to call upon the other men to battle Rama until a loud crashing noise came from above the in the sky. Everyone crouches in fear as they see a figure come down from the sky. It was the god Indra! Indra declared, in the most ominous voice, that if anyone of those men were to lay a finger on Rama, that they were in for a lifetime of curses. The suitors would not dare to challenge Indra, so they all immediately ran at the hearing of the threat and now knew why Rama was the one suitor for Sita.

Author's Note
I wanted to expand upon the section where Parashumara and the suitors were threatening and questioning Rama, but I wanted to make my own ending. In the original story, Parashumara gives Rama another weapon, the bow of Vishnu, to see if Rama can bend it, and he can. That is how Rama gains Parashumara's respect and honor. In my version, I wanted the suitors the see that Rama had gods that were directly on his side, and that is why I added the part of Indra making an appearance at the scene.

Bibliography

The Divine Archer by F.J. Gould

(http://iereadingguides.blogspot.com/2014/05/reading-guide-week-1-gould-divine-archer.html)

Reading Notes: Week 5 Ramayana Part B

(Rama and Sita As A Couple: Wikimedia Commons)

• Sita, but mainly Rama, overcome Vila, and a search party is sent to find Sita. Hanuman and the search party run into Jatayu's brother, Sampati, and he tells them that Sita is in Lanka.
• Hanuman reaches Lanka and meets Ravana's brother, Vibhishana, and Vibhishana helps guide Hanuman to Sita because he is loyal to Rama.
• Hanuman approaches Sita and tells her Rama is coming, but he tears up the trees and gets arrested.
• Ravana sets Hanuman tail on fire, and Hanuman grows his tail so big that he sets the whole town on fire, except for Vibhishana's house and where Sita is at. Hanuman rendezvous with Sita, and she gives him a jewel to give to Rama.
• Hanuman returns to camp, and Ravana is preparing for war, even though everyone around him tells him to just give Sita back.
• Rama marches to Lanka by betting a bridge built for him. 
• Battle begins and lasts days.
• Rama kills Ravana with the help of Indra. Hanuman brings Sita to Rama, and she has to prove her fidelity by going through a fire. She walks through unscathed, and Sita and Rama are united. Vibhishana become king of Lanka, and everyone else returns to Ayodhya.
• Despite proving her fidelity, the people of Ayodhya still gossiped, so Rama exiled her. She stayed with Valmiki and gave birth to two twins. Rama hold a large sacrifice where many showed up to celebrate, and the twins recited the Ramayana. Valmiki then told Rama that they were his sons and says he will bring Sita to him the next day.
• Sita meets with Rama and proves her fidelity once again by asking Mother Earth to take her if she has been faithful. A golden throne emerges from the ground, and Sita takes her place and disappears into the Earth.

Bibliography

The Divine Archer by F.J. Gould

(http://iereadingguides.blogspot.com/2014/05/reading-guide-week-1-gould-divine-archer.html)

Reading Notes: Week 5 Ramayana Part A

(Sita: Wikipedia)

• Dasharatha births four sons. Rama is awesome.
• The kings lets Rama and Lakshmana leave to help Vishvamitra fight demons.
• Vishvamitra take them to Videha, where they both meet Sita.
• Rama and Sita fall in love at first sight, and Rama becomes Sita suitor by bending the bow of Shiva.
• Rama and Sita marry, and Dasharatha is there. All of Dasharatha's sons marry that day and return to Ayodhya.
• Rama gets exiled for 14 years because of Kaikeyi and her evil servant, Manthara, want Bharata to hold the throne.
• Dasharatha realizes that this event happened because he accidentally killed a blind couple's son, and then he dies.
• Bharata finds out what happened and is furious. He tries to convince Rama to come back but is unsuccessful. He, however, is able to bring back a pair of Rama's sandals as a sign of power.
• A ugly demon named Shurpankha falls in love with Rama and tries to marry him but he refuses. She tries to seduce Lakshmana but cannot. She is furious and calls a demon army to kill them. When they fail, Shurpankha calls on the help of her brother, Ravana.
• Ravana agrees to help Shurpankha and gets another demon, Maricha, to help him.
• Ravana captures Sita.
• Rama and Lakshmana meet Sugriva and Hanuman, which are monkeys. Sugriva was exiled by his brother, Vila. Sugriva and Rama vow to help eachother, and together they go confront Vila.

Bibliography

The Divine Archer by F.J. Gould

(http://iereadingguides.blogspot.com/2014/05/reading-guide-week-1-gould-divine-archer.html)