Reading Notes: Krishna: The Upholder of Govardhana, Part A

p. 57

Painting of Lord Krishna playing the flute
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

The Girls

This part of the book describes life from the women's and girls perspective. They are enchanted by Krishna when he plays the flute.

They go to take a bath in the river and are pranked by Krishna.

• This was his way of testing their loyalty to him.

At this point, it feels like Krishna and Balarama's friends depend on them for everything.

• They get hungry and tell Krishna to satisfy their hunger so he sends them to the Brahmin's and then the Brahmin's wives who wholeheartedly give them food. 

⭐They are worried they will not be accepted again by their husbands since they left everything to serve Krishna but they are reassured that they will be accepted because of how devoted they are to him.

This is what should've happened when Sita was accused of infidelity. I could use this piece of information for my project since Karma knows everything that happens. 

Yajna - Krishna is now 7 years old 

A ceremony was supposed to be performed for Indra,  the god of rain and storms , but Krishna convinces them to have a ceremony for the mountain instead. 

• Indra gets angry and attacks the village by causing a storm and flooding the village. 
• Krishna protects the people by lifting the mountain.

I think Krishna was testing Indra to see how good he is as a god. Because the people did not worship him, he attacked them. Indra realizes how strong Krishna is and sets his pride aside. 

p. 71 gives a timeline of everything Krishna has done so far

Infancy - kills a demon named Pootana 

• Pootana tried to poison Krishna by breastfeeding him poison
• 3 months - overturned loaded cart
• 1 year - Throttles Demon Trinavarta

Child

• Defeats Asunder the demon Heron  
• Uprooted Arjuna trees

Krishna Saves Nanda (his father)

Nanda is his adoptive father.

Nanda is fasting and decides to take a bath. demon drowns Nanda. Krishna goes underwater to confronTS Varuna , the lord of the Nether World. When Varuna sees Krishna, he apologizes.

• Varuna's servant drowned Nandas

Revelation

Krishna shows his true form to the people. He plays his flute and enchants the women and lures them to him. 

I could probably make Krishna seem like a flirt since so many women adore him. I also feel like he has a little bit of an ego since he knows so many people are loyal to him. 

Krishna cloned himself so each of the Gopikas (cowgirls) would have his attention.

Pareekshit makes a good point when he asks Shukadeva why Krishna behaves the way he does with the Gopikas if he was born to eliminate sin.

🌟Shukadeva reminds him that Krishna is not an ordinary human and that he acts a certain way to inspire faith (lilas) in people.

Reading Notes: Krishna: The Subduer of Kaliya, Part B

p. 29

Setting: Hot summer in the forest of Vrindavan. The villagers moved from Gokul because they were concerned for their safety.

Kaliya

• 101 headed serpent that poisoned the Yamuna (water bank)
• Krishna playfully defeats him. 
• Kaliya's family beg Krishna not to kill him and they all leave the pond 

Krishna fights Kaliya
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

Not too long after arriving, Balarama defeats an asura (evil character) in the forest so that everyone can eat the fruits in the forest. 

A demon disguised a boy is tricked by Krishna and his brother in a game of hide and seek.

Forest Fire

Krishna and his friends lose their cows and get caught in the middle of a forest fire. Krishna puts it out by swallowing by swallowing the fire.  

Reading Notes: The Darling of Gokul, Reading Part A

Overview: The whole story is narrated by Shukadeva to Pareekshit

p. 1 -28


Setting: Village and Forest

Krishna eating butter as a baby
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

Kamsa- Krishna's evil uncle

• Kills all of Devaki's newborns because he is told by a prophecy that one of them would try to kill him
• Only manners he has is not killing his cousin because she is a woman and his cousin 
• Imprisons Devaki and Vasudeva

Devaki and Vasudeva - Krishna's birth parents

• Vasudeva is the prince of Dwaraka

Yashoda and Nanda - Krishna's adoptive parents

• Nanda is the leader of Gokul 

Krishna and Balarama

• both mischievous
• Krishna has been killing demons since he was a baby
• He likes butter

Demons in Disguise

Krishna's Infancy

• Innocent woman 
• Hurricane 

Child

• Black calf
• Large Crane ( 4-5 years old)
• Serpent

I think it's a Krishna's adoptive parents are a bit neglectful by leaving him by himself and allowing random people into their homes. Although it is a village the demons that entered disguised as people are reasons why they should have been more careful with baby Krishna. 

Then when he gets older they continue to let him roam about despite all the dangers. Even though he can protect himself, he is still a child. What if he didn't know how to control his powers or used his powers to do something bad? 

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Reading Notes Week 5: Stories of Indian Gods and Heroes: Rama and Sita, Part B

Sita's honesty is tested
Image Source: Dr. Laura Gibbs

Section 4 continued

p. 79

10 years later

• Ravana's sister tries to kill Sita, his siblings try to avenge there sister 

• Maricha warns Ravana about Rama 

• Sita is kidnapped
• She taunted Lakshman when she heard "Rama's" voice.

Sita is a little full of herself before she gets kidnapped. 

Section 4 - Example of Husband/King's Dharma

⭐The Tale of Pururavas and Urvasi⭐

Urvasi was powerful but was exiled to earth by some of the gods as a punishment for entering a land forbidden to women . Some conditions were made for the exile:

• Urvasi takes two Rams wither

• Pururavas will not separate from her 

• Urvasi stays queen 

p - 76

This section is a perfect example of how dharma can be fulfilled as a king AND a husband. Despite the exile, Pururavas still stayed with Urvasi after she returned. He also fulfilled the people's wish of exiling her for her crime. He trusted her and ensured that they would not be separated and even had 6 sons. 

Rama should have laid out similar conditions before becoming king or even after becoming king or better yet, let the people know that they have no right to interfere in their marriage. 

Rama blames Lakshman for Sita's kidnapping and accuses Jatayu of eating her.

Rama is quick to judge without assessing the situation.

p. 84

Sugriva's older brother Bali got into a fight with a demon over a woman.

• Fought in a cave while Sugriva stood guard outside for a year

• Sugriva closed the cave thinking his brother died

• Bali misinterpreted this

• As Bali is dying he apologizes to his brother and his wife,Tara, (who was originally Sugriva's) mourns his death 

• Tara is still queen when Sugriva becomes king.

Bali's wife mourning is an example of dharma. After Sugriva becomes king he neglects his duties as a king. Despite Bali's relationship with his brother, he performed his dharma as a king, husband, and father.

Ravana and his counselors discuss what should happen to Sita:

• Ravana's brother Vibhishana tries to persuade him to give Sita back for the safety of the kingdom

• Other counselors agree with him

• Ravana threatens to kill his brother 

• His brother flees with four men and helps Rama

Section 6 

Ravana sends his spies to spy on Rama but they are caught. Rama treats them with kindness and let's them go. 

Ravana tricks Sita into thinking Rama is dead with a spell but one of the rakshasi's tells her its a trick. 

Not all the demons were bad.

Garuda (Vishnu) heals both of the brothers after Indrajit (Ravana's son) defeats them and kills Lakshman. 

Lakshman kills Indrajit.

Ravana kills Lakshman (who died AGAIN) for saving Vibhishana but is saved by Hanuman AGAIN. 

After Ravana's death Vibhishana doesn't want to perform his brother's final rites because he was evil. Rama convinced him and told him that there shouldn't be any hate for the dead. Vibhishana becomes king of Lanka.

Rama rejects Sita

• Reveals that he saved her not because he loved her but to protect his honor.

• The gods get mad at him for making his wife suffer.

• It's also revealed that this is just a test to the kingdom that Sita is innocent.

This version of the story doesn't talk about Sita's exile but it did give a little more detailed version of the Ramayana

Reading Notes Week 5: Stories of Indian Gods and Heroes: Rama and Sita, Part A

Section 2 - This section has a lot of Karma 

The Tale of Viswamitra

Viswamitra wanted to become a Brahmin but was not born into that caste and challenges the caste system and succeeds.

He sees a magic cow and gives several offers to buy her from Vasishtha, a well-known sage. The sage refuses so Viswamitra tries to take it away by force. 

He gets defeated and goes to the Himalayas to ask for a wish from Shiva and then attempts to attack Vasishtha again.

Vasishtha

• powerful sage
• Brahman priest
• He abuses his power and curses people

Viswamitra goes to live the life of a Brahmin to purify himself.

King Trisanku goes to the priest and his sons to ask for help to go to heaven as a human and they refuse and curse him so he goes to Viswamitra for help.

It sounds like the priests are full of themselves because they are the highest caste and don't care for anyone below them. It's ironic because priests are accepting of others. 

⭐Karma: Vasishtha abuses his power and curses a man which backfires because his son, Saktri, ends up getting killed.

• Cursed him to become cannibal and the first person eaten is Saktri 

• Vasishtha tries to die because he is so grief stricken by his son's death 
• He can't die

12 years later

• Vasishtha removes the spell from the man in order to save his reputation 

• He asks for death but the gods ignore him 

Viswamitra becomes a Brahmin with Vaishtha's help and gains powers which he uses for good.

Viswamitra and Harischandra

A king is willing to sell his wife and boy off for money so that he can pay Viswamitra back. 

Section 3 - This section has a lot of examples of Dharma

The Tale of Rama and Sita

The gods devised a plan to defeat Ravana which is where Rama (Vishnu) came into the picture.

Viswamitra threatened King Dasaratha if he broke his promise.

• Requests Rama and Lakshmana fight a demon (Rama is 12 years old)
• battles Maricha

The king keeping his promise is an example of Dharma.

Rama marries Sita and his brothers marry her sisters

• Lakshmana & Satrughna
• Bharat & Urmila

Manthura was ill-minded and manipulated Kaikeyi by crying talking about Rama.

• Manthura planned Rama's exile

It looks like all the drama started because of Manthura. Dasaratha is a a humble but weak king. He wore his heart on his sleeve which is different since most kings did not. 

• Constantly being threatened by everyone and gives in to their threats

• Fulfilled dharma as a king but neglected his dharma as a father. 

Rama's mother (Kausalya) is full of grief and says she'll go with him in the forest or fast herself to death. Rama responds with:

"A woman's happiness stands and falls with her husband's welfare."  

•  wife's dharma

A wife is faithful and helps her husband to ensure his happiness. 

Dharma is a tricky concept and Dasaratha is a perfect example of that. Rama is too. He technically neglect his dharma as future king by going into exile but fulfills his duties as a son. 

The story reveals that Dasaratha was cursed by the boy's (whom he killed by accident) father. 

• die from grief for his won

Bharat had foreboding dreams about his father's death. When Bharat returns and find out what happened, Manthara taunts him. 

• He got the kingdom because of his mother.

• She wears expensive jewelry and clothes to the King's funeral 

10 years later

• Ravana's sister tries to kill Sita, his siblings try to avenge there sister 

• Maricha warns Ravana about Rama 

• Sita is kidnapped
• She taunted Lakshman when she heard "Rama's" voice.

Sita is a little full of herself before she gets kidnapped. 

Section 4 - Example of Husband/King's Dharma

⭐The Tale of Pururavas and Urvasi⭐

Urvasi was powerful but was exiled to earth by some of the gods as a punishment for entering a land forbidden to women . Some conditions were made for the exile:

• Urvasi takes two Rams wither

• Pururavas will not separate from her 

• Urvasi stays queen 

p - 76

This section is a perfect example of how dharma can be fulfilled as a king AND a husband. Despite the exile, Pururavas still stayed with Urvasi after she returned. He also fulfilled the people's wish of exiling her for her crime. He trusted her and ensured that they would not be separated and even had 6 sons. 

Rama should have laid out similar conditions before becoming king or even after becoming king or better yet, let the people know that they have no right to interfere in their marriage. 

Rama blames Lakshman for Sita's kidnapping and accuses Jatayu of eating her.

Rama is quick to judge without assessing the situation.

p. 84

Sugriva's older brother Bali got into a fight with a demon over a woman.

• Fought in a cave while Sugriva stood guard outside for a year

• Sugriva closed the cave thinking his brother died

• Bali misinterpreted this

• As Bali is dying he apologizes to his brother and his wife,Tara, (who was originally Sugriva's) mourns his death 

• Tara is still queen when Sugriva becomes king.

Bali's wife mourning is an example of dharma. After Sugriva becomes king he neglects his duties as a king. Despite Bali's relationship with his brother, he performed his dharma as a king, husband, and father.

Hanuman fetches the herb-bearing mounting
Image Source: Wikipedia

Week 5 Story: Rama the Mafia Boss

My brother Lakshmana and I were sitting in our cabin smoking cigars while we discussed how we were going to get Sita back. One of the enemy gangs leader, Ravana,  kidnapped her and is holding her for ransom but what he doesn't realize is that he messed with the wrong gang.

While we were discussing our plans to ambush Ravana and bring Sita back, and man walks in. We looked at him ready to pull out our guns in case he was one of Ravana's men but he put his hands up saying he was here for our help. Lakshmana and I exchanged looks before looking back at him. He said his name is Hanuman and that he was from the Monkey Gang. His leader, Sugriva sent him here to ask us for help and told us that Sugriva wanted to speak with us and the Hanuman would take us to him. This guy seemed pretty genuine so we accepted and got into our black Royce Phantom and followed him to the destination. 

We ended up at this Italian restaurant where a man was just casually by the bar sipping his drink. "Sugriva, I did what you asked. Don Rama and his brother Lakshmana are here." Sugriva looked over at us and told us to have a seat. "Thanks for coming." he said. "I called you here because my brother Bali has throw me out of my territory and claimed it for himself. From my understanding, I hear your wife's been kidnapped and being held ransom so I thought I'd make you a deal. How about you help me get my territory and I send some of my people to help you get your wife back. " 

I thought about this a for a few minutes. I could use some help to get my beloved wife Sita back so why not? "Fine. I'll help but if you don't hold your end of the deal, let's just say my dear brother here will be paying you a visit and not just for drinks." With that, we shook hands and discussed our plan to ambush his brother Bali and his gang. 

Eventually Bali gave up and gave the territory back to his brother. All I had to do was look at him and he looked like he was about to pee his pants. I'm still waiting for Sugriva to return the favor but he hasn't been answering my calls. It looks like someone forgot about our little deal. 

"Lakshman, what do you say we go pay our friend Sugriva a visit. He still hasn't held his end of the deal. We should go remind him.", I slid over the gun to him which he took and put in his pockets.

"Yes Boss." and with that he left the den. A few hours later he returned with Sugriva and threw him in front of me. I took a puff of my cigar before speaking. "Sugriva, long time no see. Did you forgot your friend already?" I asked him in a mocking tone. "I'm sorry I-I forgot  he replied with a shaky voice. "Fine I'll forgive you just this once but we still have a deal. Either you get your men here now or it's lights out for you." I cooly replied. "Sure anything for you Rama." he replied and quickly pulled out his phone. Within a few minutes his men were at my den ready to help. I smirked. 

Let the games begin. 

(pxhere)

Author's Note: So I decided to retell part of the story where Rama meets Hanuman and Sugriva who promises to help Rama defeat Ravana if he helps him fight Bali. Sugriva never fulfilled his promise so Lakshmana had gone to confront him and threatened to kill him if he didn't help them. 

I thought it would be kind of fun to make the characters be part of a mafia since they basically threatened to kill Sugriva if he didn't do what he promised. I wanted to make the story a little cynical to add some suspense to it and thought the turning them into mafia gangs would make it exciting. 

The story is based on Stories of God & Heroes: Rama and Sita by W.D. Monroe