Epics of India

~~~   "Hey, if you haven't quite mastered physics, blame a God!"   ~~~ I have always loved learning about myths and diving into the stories of different cultures. These videos provided a wonderful overview of the origin of myths, the various ways that we can define myths, the theories behind mythology that have been formulated over time, and the elements of the hero's journey that appear throughout mythic tales. Various Definitions of "Myth" -"Stories that people have used in a variety of ways over time" -"A story that is false and not to be taken seriously" (But they have! By many generations! Where does that leave us?) Note: Myths have also been referred to by some thinkers as a type of primitive science The Two Most Important Elements - Significance: what these stories mean to the people who hear them and pass them along to future generations -Staying power: the way in which these stories are able to endure over time The ...

Small But Mighty Characters: -Garuda: Mighty eagle who helps vanquish the attacks of the serpent soldiers -Matali: Driver of the chariot Rama fights Ravana in -Trijata: One of Ravana's women, reassures Sita that Rama only appears dead, and is actually in a faint Hanuman's Powers Hanuman is able to cross the sea with a single step after tapping into the Godly powers that he possesses. The Ramayana describes how his father has cursed him so that his powers remain hidden until he finds the inner strength to uncover them in times of need. What other amazing powers does Hanuman possess? It would fun to write a story about him discovering all that he is capable of, and testing out his newfound abilities. Perhaps he could discover them in the form of quests, each one forcing him to unveil a new aspect of his identity so that he may complete the task at hand. Powerful Women  "Lakshmana... discovered an army of women approaching him with determination." -Strong women...

Some of the Important Characters -Sugreeva: King of Kiskinda, restored to the throne by Rama -Vali: Brother to Sugreeva, defeated by Rama -Tara: Sugreeva's wife, stolen by Vali but ultimately restored to him -Angada: Sugreeva's son -Hanuman: Monkey God, bestowed with the task of serving Rama -Ravana: Demon lord, kidnaps Sita, engages in a war against Rama -Vibishana: Asura who defects to help Rama in the fight against Ravana and his armies Story Idea: The Villains Fight Back There is a common theme among all the battles in the Ramayana: Rama ultimately defeats the enemy he is facing, restores justices, and prevails as the hero. Despite the fact that the evildoers he faces have committed wrongdoing in the world, they all have unique backgrounds and are exciting characters in the story. I believe their stories deserve to be told! And a fun way to do this would be to have all of them team up to take on Rama, with an epic battle ensuing. Perhaps in the end they will all l...