Epics of India

A wretched sound echoed from Ghandhari's bathing quarters as she sat hunched over a basin, green slime emerging from her throat in sickening waves. Each morning she was wrenched awake by a terrible feeling in the pit of her stomach, and was held captive by the nausea for hours at a time. Her pregnancy had been extremely difficult, and the illness it caused showed no signs of letting up. The physical sickness had made her weak and stripped her body of its vitality. Her curves were replaced by bony protrusions, and her dewy complexion became dull and lifeless. Welts and bruises of rich burgundy and indigo hues covered her skin, and the slightest touch felt like fire.  These symptoms paled in comparison to the nightmares that haunted Ghandhari. She writhed in bed for hours as horrifying scenes flashed before her eyes, her sleep disturbed by demons and visions of  death.  Ghandhari had watched the wives of Pandu navigate pregnancy with grace. Kunti was mother to ...

Pandu -Mistook a hermit couple for deer and shot arrows at them -Dying in the throws of passion, the man placed a curse on Pandu -Pandu would die in the embrace of his wives; he was therefore forced to become celibate Kunti -Was blessed with a mantra to invoke the Gods and bear their children -Yama's son: Yudhistira      -Blessed with virtue and patience -Vayu: Bhima     -As strong and as fast as the wind -Indra: Arjuna     -"Archer's eyes" Kunti is an essential character and a prime example of a strong woman in the Mahabharata. She bears three of the legendary Pandavas, and is the only parental figure left to raise them after Pandu and Madri perish. Madri -Does not wish to remain childless, and utilizes Kunti's mantra to invoke the Ashwinis -Had two sons: Nakula and Sahadeva Ghandari -Has a difficult initial pregnancy -Is haunted by nightmares of hellish creatures -Gives birth to a lump of "putrid flesh" -Lump of flesh cast awa...

This video series was an exciting visual re-telling of the Mahabharata! I loved that the images were drawn in real time as the story was being told, which made it a much more dynamic viewing experience. Introduction -Provides an excellent description of the overarching themes in the Mahabharata and makes it an easier text to approach -Breaks down the characters and dichotomies involved        -Kings and queens        -Heroes and villains -Alludes to the climactic finale: "A great all consuming war that swallowed the subcontinent" -I appreciate that there is an acknowledgement of the many storytellers who have penned their versions Narration -Hearing the story told with an accent from the region was a very different experience from how I read it in my head -I felt more integrated within the setting of the story through the voice of the narrator and its connection with the culture Karma -I love the idea that everything that happens i...