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Showing posts from March 11, 2018

Reading Notes: Mahabharata: Karmic Revolution - Part B

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Plot Summary Pandu's Curse This story was very much like the story of Dasharatha in the Ramayana. By accidentally killing someone, they both cursed themselves. These curses eventually cost themselves their lives and caused trouble for their kingdoms. Despite Pandu's inability to have children the gift that Durvasa had given Kunti allowed the family to have 5 celestial children. Three were born the Kunti, and two to Madri Gandhari's Children By watching the video for this section it painted a much crueler picture for the birth of Gandhari's one hundred sons. It seeing the lump of flesh was visually disturbing. The growth of the children in pots was more so like a child factory than anything else. This horrid birth laid in the hands of Vyas. A man who had cursed many others already. Vyas giving the 'gift' of 100 sons to Gandhari ( source ) Tragedy of Ekalavya This was a sad part in the story that I did not really pick up on in the original rea...

Reading Notes: Mahabharata: Karmic Revolution - Part A

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Plot Summary Story 1 Shantanu and Ganga were married. He promised to ask her never question her decisions. Seven of their children were killed by Ganga They were Vasus The eighth child lived and went away with Ganga The River Ganga ( Source ) Story 2 16 years later Shantanu was on the Ganga He heard fighting An archer had tamed the river Ganga Ganga appeared and the archer was his son Devavrat Shantanu got the keep his 8th sun Shantanu fell in love with Satyavati, but she was a peasant Devavrat took his fathers sadness into his own hands Story 3 Devavrat swore an oath that he would never marry or have children This was to convince the fisherman's to allow Shantanu to marry Satyavati Devavrat became known as Bhishma - he of the terrible oath The prince got a boon that he would be able to choose the time of his death Story 4 Bhishma keep his promise He trained his step brothers to be members of the state After this one of the brothers di...