Wikipedia Trail: From Jatayu to Polymath

Page 1- Jatayu

I wanted to read a little more about Jatayu because I found his story so interesting. He was one of those characters that showed up precisely when Rama needed him (which, if you'd read anything else from this blog, you know annoys me), and investigating what about him specifically led him to do that it what led me to his page. The story about him flying close to the sun also reminds me of the Greek story of Icarus.

Page 2- Sampati

In a similar vein as Jatayu, I was interested in Sampati because of his interaction with Rama in the Ramayana. I also find his decision to save his brother, and thus lose his power of flight, to be an example of the kind of self-sacrifice that characterizes so much of the Indian mythology that we've read so far. Unfortunately, this page didn't have too much information that wasn't already covered in the Ramayana.

Page 3- Madhya Pradesh

I chose this page because I'm always fascinated by the intersection of real, geographic spaces and mythology. This location is believed to be the birthplace of Sampati, and is often referred to as the "heart" of India. The region is especially notable for its folk music and its status as a center of Hindi culture/religion. 

The Narmada River (in Madhya Pradesh) at Sunset by Wikipedia user Rbsrajput

Source: Wikipedia 

Page 4- Polymath

I was led to this page because of the line in Hamilton: The Musical where Alexander exclaims that he's a "polymath, a pain in the ass, a massive pain". I had a good grip on what the term meant, but it was interesting to read more about it in a formal setting. I find that there are a lot of similarities between this word and the person encapsulated by the phrase "renaissance man (or woman/person)". Indian history, and the history of Madhya Pradesk specifically, was filled with rulers who doubled as polymaths.

Review: Creativity

Quote by Joseph Chilton Pearce, Graphic by Dear Handmade Life
Sourde: Dear Handmade Life

Announcements: September 11th

Famous Last Words: Orientation

Today, at 4pm, I am welcoming about 30+ new OU students into the Student Government Association. After a difficult week interviewing 50+ applicants, my team and I decided on the students that we thought would best serve the student body in the Undergraduate Student Congress. These were not decisions that we made lightly... this is a body that is responsible for allocating over $600,000 to student organizations, administrative bodies, and a number of other campus entities; it's a job that we take very seriously. That being said, I couldn't be more excited to welcome all these new people into the fold. We do some amazing work in Student Government, and I'm especially excited for the new freshman to get involved so early in their careers. I find it fascinating to think that this was me only a short 12 months ago. Last spring, I applied for Congress on a whim, and found it to be one of my homes on campus; now I'm the one doing the interviewing and appointing. I feel like I'm a little young to say that I've come full circle, but in this area of my life, I think that I might have. I've spent so much of today, and this last week, stressing over every little part of Orientation. What would I say to the new members? How could I present information in the most accessible way? Would they like me? However, now that it is time for it all to go down, I realized that I'm mostly just excited to share something that I"m passionate about with other people who might very well share that passion. What an exciting opportunity I've been given. Today, I'm thankful for the people that have poured their love and mentorship into me, which will hopefully allow me to do the same with these new members.

President Barack Obama speaks to a joint session of Congress regarding health care reform by Lawrence Jackson
Source: Wikipedia

Learning Challenge: Time Meme

Image generated by MemeGenerator

I think that it is often important to differentiate between having every minute of your day planned out, and having your time spent in the most effective way possible. At OU, there seems to be this idea that a busy day is a successful day, and while I think that one can certainly lead to the other, always remember that working smarter is more useful than working harder.

Growth Mindset: Reading for Understanding

Image generated by MemeGenerator

Tech Tip: Following at Twitter

This week, I decided to take a closer look at some of the accounts at Twitters that I could following using the "Who to Follow" option on the right-hand side of the desktop UI. I chose to follow @OU_Unheard because they release a good deal of content and announcements from their social media pages, and as a Student Government official/Social Justice minor, I like to know how students believe that OU is doing as it relates to creating an inclusive and welcoming community.

Story: In Which Sita Goes Off on Rama and Then Totally Takes Over

Author's Note- The original source for this story is the 73rd story in the PDE Version of the Ramayana, Sita and Rama. I was really frustrated by Rama's treatment of Sita, so I wrote a story wherein Sita kind of revolted against Rama/patriarchy and claps right back at her husband. 

Scene: Immediately following Rama telling Sita that she might be unpure

Sita: Wait, Rama, you’re kidding me, right? You really think that I languished for years in this palace, surrounded by some of the most repulsive, horrendous creatures, just to be rejected by you when I finally get back to your side because you think that I’m somehow unpure?

Rama: But my deares-

Sita: NO. DON’T EVEN GO THERE. I was TAKEN by a freaking DEMON because even though you were supposed to protect me, you DIDN’T. Is this you feeling bad for your inability to save me? You realizing that, despite your holiness and godly weapons and magical abilities, you’re not perfect?

Rama: I can only imagine what you went through, but how could Ravana have looked at you for all that time and not forced himself on you?

Sita: So the all-powerful, all-knowing Rama didn’t know of the restrictions that Brahma laid upon 

Ravana?

Rama: but..

Sita: No, seriously, I’m done with you. Hanuman?

Hanuman: Yes Sita?

Sita: Leap me back to the palace. Ravana may never have married me, but if everyone seems to think that I was his consort, then let me rule his Kingdom as if I were his second in command. I shall be Queen of the Demons. If Rama believes me to be unpure, then I shall be unpure. Oh Great Brahma, grant me the power of Ravana.

*up in Heaven*

Brahma: I mean, we did just kill Ravana after years of trying to do so, but Rama was kind of ridiculous right there, so alright Sita. In addition, I’m also going to give Rama a little curse… may he always buy shirts that shrink too much in the wash! *gleeful cackles*

*Brahma grants Sita Ravana’s powers*

Sita: Rama, come *clap* at *clap* me.

*Sita’s claps actually become thunderous. Her powers have become so great that she flattens the land around her*

*Rama and his armies retreat*

*50 years later*

*Rama sits at his war table*

Rama: These attacks from the South have been relentless these last 50 years. If only I hadn’t doubted Sita…

*Sita breaks down the walls of the room*

Sita: Hey Rama. What’s up? Long time no see! Your shirt looks a little small, and I’m here to take over the kingdom that I should have been queen of.

Rama: Isn’t that a little extreme?

Sita: Not really. After being a submissive, demure beauty for 20 or so years, I really embraced the idea of being a dominant, capturing beauty. So, with that, this palace and your dominion are now mine. I hope they survive under my unpure rule.

Rama: I guess this fight has been a long time coming.

*Rama gathers his weapons/armor/armies*

*Sita has become so powerful that she merely looks at Rama and he fades away into ash*

Sita: That was fun. Anyone else want to stand before me?

*The entire kingdom bows before Sita*

People: Long may she reign!

*Sita rules peacefully and prosperously for millennia*

Rama crowns Sita, Nine Ideal Indian Women by Sunity Devee
Source: Wikipedia

Reading Notes: PDE Ramayana, Part D

Source: PDE Ramayana

The Bridge

Story telling- The God of the Ocean accepted the sacrifice and joined the fight

That’s a very quick bridge

Rama Attacks

Very smart attacking Sita to get to Rama

So who gets to shapeshift and who doesn’t?

Indrajit

Story telling-Indrajit wins

Kumbhakarna

How did they break Brahma’s decree?

Shocking… Rama used magic weapons again to beat the beast

Kumbhakarna Sleeping
Source: Mewar Ramayana

Hanuman and the Mountain

that’ s a really powerful jump to move mountains and then also cast everyone into the sea?

Indrajit

Yay for magical, sacred places that enable the hero to do things that have little to do with his actual ability!

Ravana’s Lament

Story telling- Indrajit is somehow revived much like the monkey army has been revived multiple times

Lakshmama

Why would he offer to die as well

Indra’s Chariot

Yet another exmaple of Rama doing absolutely nothing but still receiving a huge boost

Rama and Ravana

Sounds like the Hydra

Ravana’s Death

Hold up, has it been fourteen years? Can he enter a city?

Mandodari’s Lament

Sita and Rama

You’ve got to be kidding me.

Sita Tested

Wait, Rama gave his permission for the pyre to be built?

SO HE KNEW ALL ALONG?

Pushpaka

Rama and Bharata

Story telling- the people rebelled after being ruled over by sandals

Rama Crowned King

Valmiki’s Hermitage

DUDE. STOP IT. THE GODS SAID SHE WAS PURE.

Sita Departs

You don’t get to be upset when she disappears. You sent her away.

Rama Departs

Reading Notes: PDE Ramayana, Part C

Source: PDE Ramayana

Sugriva and Hanuman

That didn’t take him long to throw off his disguise

Why can’t the song of a Wind God lie?

Sugriva’s Story

Time is such a loose concept in these stories… everyone has years to just sit around and wait

How did he move a mountain on top of the hole? If a mountain was moved there, wouldn’t the elder brother have greater strength and be able to push it off?

Why does Vali have the authority to take away Sugriva’s wife?

Sugriva and Vali

So being respected by Rama is enough to end a blood feud?

Vali’s Death

Apparently Rama invented guerilla warfare pretty early

King Sugriva

I wonder why monkeys are so popular in India

EVEN AFTER HE KILLED THE KING, EVERYONE STILL PRAISES RAMA

The Rainy Season

The Armies

Story telling- Sugriva has actually kept Sita to himself this whole time

Sampati

Story telling- Sampati’s sight is broken, and while his vision is partially true, Sita and Ravan only stopped in Lanka

Sampati and Jatayu

Very Icarus-like

Rama just seems to fulfill all prophecies ever. He’s like the most “chosen” chosen-one of all time. He’s like the spice that suddenly makes a dish work. A key that gets into any lock.

Hanuman’s Leap

Seriously everyone is just born or given these amazing abilities… it doesn’t seem like people work for them.

Hanuman in Lanka

Story telling- Hanuman disguises himself as Sita

Ashoka Grove

Story telling- Sita fights them all off

Sita and Ravana

Hanuman and Sita

Come on Sita. Let the dude take you home

Hanuman Captured

The description of the demons as heroic is interesting

Hanuman and Ravana

Lanka Burning

But Hanuman didn’t get any special powers otherwise than the fact that the tail wasn’t on fire…

The March on Lank

Why wasn’t he afraid of magic before?

Ravana’s Court

Story telling- Ravana’s Court say nah to the war

Vibhishana

So demons can be good?

Vibhishana Bows Before Rama- A Watercolor from the 1970's
Source: Wikipedia