Reading Notes Part A: Ramayana Online PDE

Thataka. Image Source: Wikipedia 

Reading Notes: Thataka 

- Dasharatha's son's Vishvamitra and Lakshmana went into the jungle

- Thataka is the mother of Maricha

- she is a Rakshasa woman, meaning that she is a humanoid being or a maneater 

- She is challenged by Rama, who has twanged his bow 

- Vishvamitra and Lakshmana were reluctant to kill Thataka because she was a woman 

- Thataka's arms were cut off by Rama; her nose and ears by Lakshmana 

- Thataka becomes invisible, but can still cast evil 

- Thataka is killed by an arrow that is shot by Rama after Vishwamitra urged him to kill her by sound 

Topic Brainstorm

Yoga Silhouettes 

1. Yoga 

I have always had an interest in yoga. Actually, I have been trying to get more and more involved with doing it and learning more about it. From my experiences thus far, it's very relaxing and calming. I enjoyed looking at one of the previous projects about the origins of different poses.

Source: Yoga (Wikipedia)

2. Creation Stories 
In reading the articles about creation, the Hindu cosmology and view on evolution were very interesting. I have always been a science person, so this struck my attention quickly. The cosmology divides time into four epochs or Yuga.
Source: Wikipedia 
Hindu on evolution Wikipedia 



3. Festivals and Holidays 
Out of all of the holidays and festivals that I looked at, I thought that the Ganesh Chaturthi was the most interesting. Though it is unknown when the festival started, it became popular after the Indian freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak championed it as a means to circumvent the colonial British government ban on Hindu gatherings through its anti-public assembly legislation in 1892. Further, I liked getting to explore through the Hindu events calendar of Oklahoma- it definitely makes it more personable for me to see what goes on in my own state!

Source: Hindu Temple of Oklahoma 
Source: Ganesh Chaturthi (Wikipedia)


4. Food 
FOOD! Definitely not a hard choice for me to look into for a project! I like getting to dig deeper into different customs and learn about the foods that they eat and why. If I did food for a project, I think that I would mostly focus on foods that are sacred or given on religious holidays, most specifically the Vasant Panchami and the Maha Shivaratri.

Source: Maha Sivaratri (Wikipedia)
Source: Vasant Panchami (Wikipedia)

Feedback Thoughts

(growth mindset memes)

Recalibrating the Perfectionist Mind 

For as long as I can remember, I have been an absolute perfectionist. Seriously, like there’s a certain way that I like my laundry done, folded, etc.

In this article, I learned that perfectionism and performance anxiety go hand-in-hand. This leads to focus on preventing negative possibilities, instead of zooming in to look at my strengths.

I really liked this article and the advice and information that it has to offer to someone like me, who is constantly battling herself because of how high my expectations are.

The Emotional Weight of Being Graded, for Better or Worse
This article seriously spoke m e a s u r e s to me. Growing up, my dad always drilled it in our heads that we needed to make A's- a B was not acceptable. Because of this, I've gone throughout life in middle and high school, and now through my college career, constantly measuring my success on the grade that I make in my courses. It's true that because of this, I have doubted so much of my abilities, so-much-so that I changed my major of my dream to be a Physician's Assistant. I've also always dealt with bad test anxiety because of the pressure to perform. If I were to be put in front of my professor and verbally asked the same questions on an exam, I would be able to answer them. However, in a test setting, I lose any sort of relaxation and preparation I had previously. I think that this article is such a good read for anyone who has struggled or still struggles with these!




**** I wrote this bottom review & thought process in red, because when I think about grading or being graded, I think of red markings on my papers or tests.

Week 2 Story

** This story is now published on my portfolio site that be accessed here** 

The Very Clever Hare

Image from Terrierman's Daily Dose

Deep in the southern plains of Oklahoma there lived a coyote 

As the winter months came and warm weather disappeared, the coyote’s hunting wasn’t as successful. He hadn’t eaten yet that day and his stomach continually reminded him. 

"I need a plan" thought the coyote. The first animal I see, I will tell them that I had just barely gotten away from a bobcat and will convince them that I am trying to help save their life. 

Days went by and the coyote had yet to see anything he could kill and eat

“I have got to get food. I can feel myself losing strength”

The coyote continued to travel through the plains searching 

Suddenly, in a field that had yet to had its life taken by the changing temperatures, the coyote spotted a jack rabbit eating. He remembered that his father had once told him about jack rabbits, but could not recall exactly what. It didn’t matter to the coyote, though. He was determined to eat him. 

As the coyote grew closer, he began to heavily breathe 

The rabbit, now aware of the coyote, stuck his head up and began to run when the coyote yelled, “Wait! I’m trying to save your life!”

Alarmed, the rabbit turned.

Huffing, the coyote managed to get out “Bobcat. Back there. Come with me”

The rabbit immediately clung to the coyote when they began to run

After it felt like forever, the coyote finally stopped running. 

Not familiar with his surroundings, the rabbit asked the coyote, “Where have you taken me?”

The coyote, licking his lips and drool dripping out of his mouth, the coyote replied, “Oh, you silly little jack rabbit. You’ve fallen for my trick! There was no bobcat! It is winter and I am hungry. And you’re going to be my meal”

The rabbit, however, knew something that the coyote did not- a predator foot trap steaked onto the nearest tree. 

Without hesitation, the jack rabbit began to sprint. As he approached the tree, he headed straight for the trap. 

Right before he himself was about to step on it, he quickly jumped high into the air, causing the coyote to run straight into it.

“HA!” the jack rabbit cried. “You should never underestimate the skill of jack rabbit such as I!”

Chuckling, the rabbit left the coyote in the trap, for he was to become someone else’s meal for that night. 

Authors Note: 

My original idea for this story came from reading The Cunning Crane and the Crab. 

Story source: The Giant Crab, and Other Tales from Old India by W. H. D. Rouse. Internet archive.

Reading Notes: Week 2 Anthology

The Cunning Crane and the Crab 

By: Rouse Jatakas, W.H.D. (William Henry Denham)

Note-taking method: Focusing on the plot
- a crane sees a one-eyed fish in a pool and instantly knows that he wants to eat it
- crane lies to fish and offers to carry the fish to a nicer, cooler pond due to the heat
- crane does end up bringing the fish to the pond and then proceeds to bring the fish back to the pool, where the fish tells of his experience with the crane to all the others
- the other fish in the pool then want to be taken to the pond as well, begging the crane to take them
- the crane decides that because the one-eyed fish trusted him before he knew it was the truth, he deserved to be the first to get out of the pool
- the crane follows through with his plan this time around and doesn't let the one-eyed fish into the water once having reached the pond
- crane pecked the only eye that the fish has out and then proceeds to kill and eat him
- fish after fish the crane promised to take them to the pool and kills and eats them when getting there
- once there are no more fish, the crane discovers a crab and decides to invite the crab to come to the lake with him
- the crab begins to outsmart the crane, asking to ride on the cranes neck with his claws instead of his beak
- the crane reveals his plan to eat the crab; however, the crab proves that he has outsmarted the crane and could kill him if he'd like to
- even after the crane had done as the crab demanded, the crab proceeds to nip the crane's head off, causing the crane to lose to his own filthy game





photo information:
W. Robinson in the story The Cunning Crane and the Crab

Week 2 Reading Overview

 Part One:

I have chosen to read the PDE Ramayana online. In the comparison of the two versions, I think that this one gives the most viable options in that it includes a free online version, illustrations, notes and links, and an audio version. 

Part Two: 

comic books:

Golden Mongoose

I was interested in the summary of the three stories that are in this comic. I think that each of these stories has a good overall message of real-life actions and decision-making. 

Nala Damayanti 

I liked this comic because of the fairytale aspect of it. I mean, who doesn't love a good tale of a princess and falling in love??

videos:

Stages of life 

I liked that this video breaks life up into 4 different stages. It then goes into detail about what occurs in these stages. I have always had an interest in health, as well as psychology, so I thought that this was an interesting video to learn from!

Sacred Trees 

I particularly liked this video because of the connection between nature and mythology. Kalpataru, Yggdrasil, Asoka, Sami Tree, &  Fig Trees are all talk about in this video. I think that with my love for nature, this struck an interest with me!

Image information: 

Nala and Damayanti

(R. Wilson, Indian Story Book,

illustrated by Frank Pape, 1914)

I chose this image because of the emotion in this photo. Without reading any of the comic, I am already interested because of the different questions and theories I have created from viewing it.