Indian Epics

For this reading I would would like to write about Draupadi suffering humiliation. Her husbands were in the court. Yudhishtir also called Draupadi to come out of her chambers. She did not come so someone named, Dushasan, drags her out. In the court, Karna said that since the Pandavas and his wife were slave they did not need the clothes or jewels they had on. He started to pull on Draupadi's clothes. The Pandavas did nothing but watch in defeat. Draupadi began calling out for Krishna's help. Luckily, he heard her prayers because Karna kept pulling on her skirt, but to no avail. It seemed like there was no end to her skirt. Bhim finally got fed up and said something. He said that he would avenge for Draupadi's humiliation. Bhim said he would kill Duryodhan. Duryodhan laughed and slapped his legs telling Draupadi to take a seat in his lap. The Pandavas all grew angry and vowed they would take revenge. This story stood out to me because Draupadi has five husbands and they did

For this reading note, I would like to dedicate it to the theme of violence. To set the scene Yudhishtir was planning on performing a Rajasuya Yagya. He did not want to do it, because it may cause a revolt. Yudhishtir sought for Krishna's advice.  Krishna advised him to do it because it was tradition in becoming an emperor. He also suggesting in slaying Jarasandha for the Rajasuya Yagya. Jarasandha was an emperor from a powerful kingdom called Magadh. Therefore Yudhishtir's brothers went forth to Jarasandha's kingdom disguised as brahmins. That's when the brothers challenge Jarasandha to a fight. Bhim and Jarasandha fought forever. Bhim thought it was over when he tore Jarasandha. However, Jarasandha came back to life when his body came back together magically. It was when Krishna threw a hint a Bhim that he was able to kill Jarasandha. Krishna had a leaf that he tore and threw the two pieces away from each other so that was what Bhim did to Jarasandha. Bhim tore Jarasa

A New Theory of Human Intelligence  by Scott Barry Kaufman really hit home for me. Dr. Kaufman discusses the system that is in place that measures our intelligence. Tests such as IQ test do such things. However, due to these measurements it allows for some people to "slip through the cracks." He brings up his own experiences such as how he was diagnosed with a learning disability called central auditory processing disorder. He was held back and placed in special education. It was a teacher who saw his potential and inspired him to do more than what society labeled him to be. Therefore, when it was time for him to go to college he applied to Carnegie Mellon University. He wanted to research a new theory of human intelligence. He was rejected. His SAT scores were too low. However, Dr. Kaufman found another way to get into Carnegie Mellon University. He joined through the opera department. He was able to change his major later to psychology. He graduated and got his degree. He c

Draupadi is married to the five Pandava brothers. Narad Muni saw this situation and grew worried. He proceeded to tell Draupadi and the Pandavas his concern. He told the story of two brothers, Sundha and Upasundra. These brothers were very close knit just like the Pandava brothers. Sundha and Upasundra were also very powerful. The only way they could die was by each other's hands. Sundha and Upasundra both fell in love with the same woman, Tilottama. She became the cause of their deaths. The two brothers who were so close began to fight over the same woman. This fight occured when Upasundra saw Sundra and Tilottama together. They ended up killing each other. After Draupadi and the Pandavas heard this story, they sought for a solution so that they would not fight over Draupadi. The solution was that one brother would have Draupadi for a year. For that year, if another brother was to intrude their time together then that brother would go to exile for twelve years. I thought this st

For today's reading notes I wrote about Bhima Kills Bakaura. After the escaping the fire, the Pandavas seek refuge. They settle in the city of Ekachakra when a scholar offers them shelter. One day, Kunti hears the scholar scream. When she asks what is wrong, he tells her about Bakasura. Bakasura is an Asura who wrecks havoc in their town. To satisfy his hunger, Bakasura would go into town kill people and eat them. One day, the townspeople and Bakasura came to an agreement that one person in town would provide food for him once a week. However, when this agreement came into play Bakasura ended up eating the person who delivered the food. This week is was the scholar's turn to be the person to deliver the food. After hearing this, Kunti offered for her son Bhima to go in his place. Bhima obliged and went to Bakasura. When Bhima arrived, Bakasura saw that the cart was empty. Bakasura was big mad. They started fighting. No matter how Bakasura was he was not a match for Bhima. The

In a little town, there was a family that was known for their wealth. This family accumulated their wealth by the grandfather gambling. He was a "go big or go home" kind of guy. From his first win, he acquired a diamond. He kept the diamond in a glass container in his room. He did nothing with it but simply admire it. After his first win, he was on a winning streak. The grandfather continued on accumulating riches, but one day he lost it all. His family became dirt poor, and tragedy struck his family. His daughter and his son-in-law passed away from a car accident leaving their daughter in his care. Soon after, the grandfather also passed from grief and old age. The grandmother and little girl were left on the streets with only a sack of their belongings.  There were two merchants who would go into town to sell their items. One of the merchant was a greedy con-man. The other merchant loved trading items of value for he was a collector. The bad merchant was the first to e