Reading Notes: Mahabharata, Part A
I was very surprised at the story of King Shantanu and Ganga by Donald A. Mackenzie. King Shantanu fell in love with Ganga. Ganga is actually the goddess of the Ganges River. King Shantanu did not know this because when they met Ganga was in her human form. She agreed to be his as long as King Shantanu did not speak harshly towards her. Whenever Ganga and King Shantanu had children she would drown them in the Ganges River. She did this seven times. By the eight time, King Shantanu had enough and went off on Ganga. She left him and revealed that she was the goddess of the Ganges River.
I appreciated the fact that Ganga was a strong woman who knew when to leave, unlike Sita in Ramayana. Ganga agreed to stay with King Shantanu did not speak harshly towards her. However, I feel like Ganga abused this statement. When she drown their children in the Ganges River, Ganga should have told King Shantanu she did this so they could return to their celestial state. If I were to retell the story I would stick to the plot but provide more details as to why she did not let King Shantanu know about her true identity until after she leaves him.
I was confused with Lady Amba's actions in Amba's Story by Sister Nivedita. Bhishma had taken Amba and her two sisters to be Vichitravirya's queens. However, Amba already had another man, King Shalwa, in mind. When the wedding was starting to approach, Amba talked to Bhishma about her situation. Bhishma granted her permission to leave. However, when she went to King Shalwa he basically rejected her. She left, but she had nowhere to go. From then on she dedicated herself in destroying Bhishma. She prayed to the gods. Shiva heard her prayers. He told her that she would be reincarnated as a man and slay Bhishma.
I feel like Amba was projecting her anger at the wrong person. If anything she should have been angry at King Shalwa and dedicated herself in destroying him and not Bhishma. I thought that Bhishma was kind enough to let her leave and not force her into the marriage with Vichitravirya. Obviously, if King Shalwa did not want to accept Amba because he was humiliated by the fact that Bhishma was able to take the princesses then he did not deserve Amba. His pride was bigger than his love for her. If I retell this story I will go more into depth about how King Shalwa is undeserving. I will also redirect Amba's anger to the right person, King Shalwa.
I appreciated the fact that Ganga was a strong woman who knew when to leave, unlike Sita in Ramayana. Ganga agreed to stay with King Shantanu did not speak harshly towards her. However, I feel like Ganga abused this statement. When she drown their children in the Ganges River, Ganga should have told King Shantanu she did this so they could return to their celestial state. If I were to retell the story I would stick to the plot but provide more details as to why she did not let King Shantanu know about her true identity until after she leaves him.
I was confused with Lady Amba's actions in Amba's Story by Sister Nivedita. Bhishma had taken Amba and her two sisters to be Vichitravirya's queens. However, Amba already had another man, King Shalwa, in mind. When the wedding was starting to approach, Amba talked to Bhishma about her situation. Bhishma granted her permission to leave. However, when she went to King Shalwa he basically rejected her. She left, but she had nowhere to go. From then on she dedicated herself in destroying Bhishma. She prayed to the gods. Shiva heard her prayers. He told her that she would be reincarnated as a man and slay Bhishma.
I feel like Amba was projecting her anger at the wrong person. If anything she should have been angry at King Shalwa and dedicated herself in destroying him and not Bhishma. I thought that Bhishma was kind enough to let her leave and not force her into the marriage with Vichitravirya. Obviously, if King Shalwa did not want to accept Amba because he was humiliated by the fact that Bhishma was able to take the princesses then he did not deserve Amba. His pride was bigger than his love for her. If I retell this story I will go more into depth about how King Shalwa is undeserving. I will also redirect Amba's anger to the right person, King Shalwa.
(Picture of Amba, a Javanese shadow puppet Wiki)
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