Wikipedia Trails: From Bhima to Monks.

(Bhima. image source: Wikipedia)

First, I started out with Bhima, from there I found that he was a master at using the mace, which is a weapon that has a heavy head on one end. From there, I found that universities display maces in order to symbolize authority. From there, I found that in many of the older universities, or medieval universities, such as Christian cathedral schools or monastic schools, monks and nuns actually taught the classes.

Reading Notes: PDE Mahabharata, Part B

(Bhima standing. Image source: Wikipedia)

I found the part where Bhima carried his whole family on his body was very interesting. The bald baby that Bhima and Hidimbi had that was named Ghatotkacha for "pot-headed" made me chuckle. Baka devouring the men sounds like it could be an interesting component to add to my story. I really enjoyed the story of how Prince Arjuna saved the cursed water nymphs. The story of how Agni came to feed his hunger was fun to read. I liked the idea of how his hunger was subdued by the forest since he was the god of fire. It was an interesting surprise. my favorite part of this section was the part where the soul of Sishupala ended up being drawn to Krishna and therefore entered his body. I like this because it allowed for him to continue to live on but in another form. When Bhima drank his own blood, it definitely caused a fright for me. it was a great, while not to great, way of grabbing the people's attention.

Bibliography
Public Domain Mahabharata, link to the reading online.

Reading Notes: PDE Mahabharata, Part A.

1

(Drona drawing his bow. Image source: wikipedia)

1

Vyasa and Ganesha

Vyasa was the author of the Mahabharata but Ganesha was the one who was the scribe. The semen of Uparicha, king of Chedi fell into a river and after a female fish swallowed it, there was a boy and a girl that emerged. The girl’s name was Satyavati. I kind of got confused how they mention a child being born (Vyasa) out of nowhere.


King Shantanu and Ganga

Ganga made a deal to become the mother of the 8 Vasuses. King Shantanu came to become fond of her and made his wife. Ganga agreed under the condition that they would split up if he ever muttered a word of harshness to her. Every time she had one of the Vagauses, she would drown them in the Ganges River. At first, the king didn’t want to say anything to her about it because he didn’t want her to leave him but in the end he did. She left him but before she did she gave him her last child who was named Devavrata.


King Shantanu and Satyavati

Parashara promises to get rid of Satyavati’s odor if she became the mother of his child. Vyasa left his mother and her odor disappeared as well. She was once again a virgin. Satyavati’s “father” refused to let her marry Shantanu until her son Vyasa would be promised the heir to the throne. In the end she refused because she could not leave her son Devavrata.


Devavrata’s Vow

Devavrata says that if he cannot make the fisherman’s daughter his wife, then he would never accept his place as heir to the throne. Satyavati got married to the king and gave birth to 2 sons, Chitrangada and Vichtravirya.


 Bhishma at the Swayamvara

After Bhishma’s father (Shantanu) died, he wanted to find his half-broter Vichitravirya a wife. The three daughter of the king of Benares-Amba, Ambikia, and Ambalika- were the candidates.


 Amba

Amba was rejected by both Bhishma and the man she truly loved, the king of Shalwas. She tied her failed love to Bhishma and causing his demise was now her goal. She summoned the Great God Shiva by fasting and going through intense regimes. She asked Shiva to slay Bhishma. He said that if she wanted to she must become a man and a warrior. She enters a fire and destroys her old body in order to obtain a new one.


 Dhritarashtra and Pandu

Queen Satyavati asks Bhishma to become the father of the future heirs to the king but he couldn’t so her other son Vyasa did and he had Dhritarashtra (blind) with Ambika and Pandu (pale) with Ambalika.


 Kunti and Her Son

King Pandu had two wives named Kunti and Madri. Kunti secretly had a son with the god of the sun, Surya. He was named Karna. She was ashamed of what she had done so she set Kunti afloat into a river in a basket. The couple, Radha and Adhiratha, found him and were very ecstatic since they could not have a son of their own.


 Pandu and His Wives

Pandu accidentally shot two deers who ended up being a Brahmin and his wife in disguise. He was cursed to die in one of his wives arms.


The Sons of Pandu

King Pandu dies in the arms of his favorite wife, Madri. Kunti and Madri argue. They both want to die for their beloved husband. In the end Madri died by throwing herself into flames.


Gandhari and Dhritarashtra

I loved the use of the word ass. The kind urged Bhishma to abandon his son, Duryodhana because he was cursed. In the end he didn’t.


Pandavas and Kauravas

The blind king, Dhritarashtra, protected the 5 heirs to kind Pandu after hearing and mourning his (Pandu) death.


Bhima and the Nagas

Duryodhana poisoned Bhima and threw him in the Ganges River. There were snakes in the river that tried to poison him but failed since their poison counteracted with his poison. Bhima sunk to the underworld (city of serpents).


Drona, Son of Bharadwaja

Drona thought that he and Drupada were companions but Drupada considered him a “luckless beggar”.


Drona Trains the Princes

Drona trains the princes to become warriors to fight Drupada. Arjuna was had the best warrior skills. Nakula could tame steeds (horses). Sahadeva was a strong swordsman. Drona liked Arjuna the best out of the 3.


 Ekalavya
Ekalavya wanted to be instructed by Drona to be an archer but Drona refused because he didn’t want to teach him how to use weapons. Drona was saved by a man who wanted to become his pupil. Drona said that if he wanted to be his pupil he would have to give him the thumb of his right hand and he did. Since his thumb was now gone he now drew the bow with his middle fingers and everyone followed his style and that is how it all started


The Contest

All the disciples now engage in a tournament in order to display their skills as a warrior.


The Arrival of Karna

Karna is the son of Surya. He states that he will accomplish all of the things that Arjuna did in the tournament and succeeded. Duryodhana liked Karna a lot. Arjuna was very angry about this. They prepared to engage in a battle. In the end, people started to doubt the strength of Arjuna.


Drona’s Revenge

The Pandavas and Kauravas now prepared to battle Drona’s enemies. The Kauravas were defeated. Arjuna was able to capture Drupada. Drupada then asks Drona if he had not remembered that they were once friends. Drona said they could be friends once again if he could possess half of the kingdom and Drupada agreed.


 Duryodhana’s Jealousy

Duryodhana is getting fed up with how he keeps falling behind of Drona.






Bibliography: PDE Mahabharata, Link to reading guide A.