Reading Notes: Mahabharata Part C
The Land Tells All
The lands where the Kauravas and the Pandavas reside are described very differently as the two sides prepare for battle; while the countryside of the Pandavas is described as rich, lush, and vibrant, bad omens begin mark the land of the Kauravas as wicked, indicating the imminent destruction of their race at the hands of the mighty Pandavas.
Pandavas
-"The air will throb at all times with the chanting of Vedic hymns"
-"The clouds will gather and precipitate rain at the proper time"
-"The fruits of the orchards will be juicy"
-"The corn ripening in the fields will be full and nourishing"
-"Cows will yield milk that is sweet"
-"People will be cheerful and contented"
Kauravas
-"Out of a clear sky came rumbling thunder and streaks of lightning"
-"Fleecy clouds poured down rain"
-"Seven large rivers reversed their direction and flowed westward"
-"The horizons became hazy and indistinguishable"
-"Loud roars were heard from unseen sources in the sky"
-"A storm broke out and trees were uprooted"
Story Idea: Drapaudi's Protectors
"The men of the world are out of control. They're no more sophisticated than the animals wandering the forests, driven blind by desire; they mount rocks and trees if they perceive them as feminine. It's time we do something about it."
Tamala looked around at the circle of women seated at the table, who were nodding their heads and murmuring words of agreement. She continued,
"We must work to protect the women of the world from unwanted male advances. Each of us has known the discomfort of the unwanted male gaze, of the eyes that strip us down to our flesh."
Ritual Send-Offs
As Arjuna and Prince Uttara set off to challenge the Kauravas and win back the cattle they have stolen, the women present the men with flowers and light incense around the departing chariot. These rituals are employed to wish them luck on their expedition. In my Sexuality and Identity in the Middle East class, we just finished a novel called Winter Sleep, in which a ritual send-off unique to the Arab world is mentioned. When people set off on expeditions, those around them hold up a Quran for the travelers to pass under. It is thought to afford protection and well wishes for the journey ahead. It is interesting to compare the two examples of ritual send-offs from different cultures.
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Bibliography
Narayan, R.K. The Mahabharata: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic.
The lands where the Kauravas and the Pandavas reside are described very differently as the two sides prepare for battle; while the countryside of the Pandavas is described as rich, lush, and vibrant, bad omens begin mark the land of the Kauravas as wicked, indicating the imminent destruction of their race at the hands of the mighty Pandavas.
Pandavas
-"The air will throb at all times with the chanting of Vedic hymns"
-"The clouds will gather and precipitate rain at the proper time"
-"The fruits of the orchards will be juicy"
-"The corn ripening in the fields will be full and nourishing"
-"Cows will yield milk that is sweet"
-"People will be cheerful and contented"
Kauravas
-"Out of a clear sky came rumbling thunder and streaks of lightning"
-"Fleecy clouds poured down rain"
-"Seven large rivers reversed their direction and flowed westward"
-"The horizons became hazy and indistinguishable"
-"Loud roars were heard from unseen sources in the sky"
-"A storm broke out and trees were uprooted"
Story Idea: Drapaudi's Protectors
"The men of the world are out of control. They're no more sophisticated than the animals wandering the forests, driven blind by desire; they mount rocks and trees if they perceive them as feminine. It's time we do something about it."
Tamala looked around at the circle of women seated at the table, who were nodding their heads and murmuring words of agreement. She continued,
"We must work to protect the women of the world from unwanted male advances. Each of us has known the discomfort of the unwanted male gaze, of the eyes that strip us down to our flesh."
Ritual Send-Offs
As Arjuna and Prince Uttara set off to challenge the Kauravas and win back the cattle they have stolen, the women present the men with flowers and light incense around the departing chariot. These rituals are employed to wish them luck on their expedition. In my Sexuality and Identity in the Middle East class, we just finished a novel called Winter Sleep, in which a ritual send-off unique to the Arab world is mentioned. When people set off on expeditions, those around them hold up a Quran for the travelers to pass under. It is thought to afford protection and well wishes for the journey ahead. It is interesting to compare the two examples of ritual send-offs from different cultures.
Yudhistira must answer the questions of the yaksha to save his brothers. Source: Wikimedia Commons
~~~
Bibliography
Narayan, R.K. The Mahabharata: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic.
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