Indian Epics OU

Danger of the single story. Chimamanda used her experience of growing up in Nigeria in a happy home. She realized when she came to America that people often associated her with an African stereotype that she did not fit. As she came to realize she also was subject to judging and stereotyping people. She says that when people only rely on a single story of a person that they narrow their view and often are quick to judge others. I thought many of the points she made were very true. If people did more research and were not relying on a single narrative they may understand the world a little bit better. Her points made me reflect on my life and that I think everyone could be better about judging others less and trying to understand cultures unlike their own. Imaginary friends and real-word consequences- I found this video very interesting because it is a subject that I had never thought about. Even though I never thought about the effects of this I feel that it relates to me very much.

Kali is nature and Gauri is culture where not only the fit thrive but the unfit may also. In the Puranas men and women are used to explain the relationship between mind and the world around. It is important not to think of the stories as man and woman but as mind over matter. Do not think of them physically but symbolically. Yoga-maya is perceived reality filtered through the human mind. Shiva is the destroyer of culture because he withdraws completely from nature. His mind is completely clean and pure void of thoughts. Shiva's seed gives rise to six boys from the six star goddesses. The six headed skanda is made by fusing all the children together. Shiva is immortal so does not need to bare children because he will never need to be reborn. Parvati wants a child that shiva will not give her so she creates a child without a man. The child is beheaded but when realized that it was her child he replaced the head with the elephants head. The god who removes obstacles is what that child

Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva were all born from the unfertilized eggs of Adya. Vishu agreed to be her lover as the other two would not but she had to give him a third eye. She said yes but he used it against her and turned her to ash. Three goddesses were born from the ash and became the wives of the three sons. Males fighting for the attention of females- due to insecurity men create social laws such as marriages. Men are not needed for reproduction for each woman. Many women become celebrated and you see groups of women pictured with only a single male. Females dominate in Mahabharata where women had the choice of the man and they would not be rejected. Virginity used to be thought of as a woman who was ready to give birth. Also a woman after childbirth. The shift of this meaning also showed the shift in worshiping women to looking down upon them. Urbanization was focused on obedience and was often enforced by men. Women are often associated with nature and just as men domesticate na

December 10th was a cold day at Wild Lake Elementary school. The school was preparing for the first snow of the winter. The kids had all arrived bundled up in coats, hats and winter boots. Mrs. Meek was a Kindergarten teacher. Her classroom was filled with 18 five-year old kids. She had been teaching at the school for fifteen years and was used to days like this at school. Due to the weather the school planned an indoor playtime, since going outside was out of the question. After lunch it was time for the Kindergartners to play in the gym. Each class lined up in a single file line and made their way down the hall and into the gym area. Mrs. Meek and the other five teachers all lined up against the wall and kept an eye on the children. Voices seemed even louder than usual as they echoed against the tall ceilings in the gym. "Mrs. Meek! Mrs. Meek! Catch the ball," yelled one of her students as he flung a giant bouncy ball her way. It bounced off of her hands as she failed t

Account of how Karma functions.... 1- The king married the river goddess but she made him promise that he would never question her decisions. Everyone was happy for them but after she drown their first child the king was sad. She did the same for the next six children and he said nothing, he did not question her. When she was about to do the same to their eight he learned the truth. They had been cursed to live mortal lives so she was to kill her eight children. She left with their last remaining child. 5- After the three princesses are kidnapped the eldest wanted to be let go. She went to her king who she loved but he rejected her because she had been taken by another man. She went back to the other king and asked for him to marry her. He was celibate and did not want to marry her even though he had kidnapped her and her life was ruined. She wanted to punish him for his crime. She found someone to fight him to the death. After 23 days nobody had won. Amba never got her revenge.

Emily ran down the hallway. "Its Halloween!" she yelled. Emily was 10 years old and had decided to dress up Jasmine her favorite Disney princess. Halloween was by far her favorite day of the year. Her love of candy and princesses all combined into one day.  Every year her family would go trick or treating around their neighborhood. Emily's favorite house was Mrs. Smith. Mrs. Smith always gave out a hand made surprise goody bag full of toys and chocolate. As dusk approached Emily got dressed in her Jasmine costume. Her mom, dad and brother all got ready to go trick or treating. As they left the house Emily saw ghosts, skeletons and spider webs. She went door to door happily saying "trick or treat" and receiving candy in return. The house on the corner had a bowl out front with a sign saying "please take one". So Emily happily took one piece of chocolate and continued to trick or treat. Finally Emily approached Mrs. Smith's house. To her surpri