Reading Notes: The Indian Heroes- Mahabharata, Part A

Notes: 

• Could write a story about the moon god (would need to do some research)

            - or about Sun god (but that's from the Ramayana) 
           - maybe do a story about both Sun and Moon god

(The sun god)

• Hastinapura = Elephant City
• People whispered that Prince Yudhishthira's father was Dharma, the god of justice. He was also the wisest and eldest bring

                                               Prince Bhima's father was Wayu, god of the winds. most cunning with
                                                     mace
                                              Prince Arjuna's father was Indra, who rules over the broad sky. the best
                                                        Archer.

• King Drupada hates the Pandavas because they helped their teacher Drona defeat him.

               - King Drupada wished the Bharata line be destroyed
              - a young girl, Krishna, rose from the flames and King Drupada raised her as his own.
                I could write a story about how King Drupada raised Krishna. People called her Draupadi.

• I could write a story about the house Prince Duryodhan had built for the Pandavas and their mother, Queen Kunti, burnt down.
• I could write a story about the Pandava brothers and Queen Kunti about when they made it to the shores of the Ganges, queen of rivers.
• I could write a story about how Prince Bhima went looking for water
• I could write a story about Prince Bhima and his conversation with Hidimvi (the monsters sister)

                        - or about the fight with Prince Bhima and the monster Hidimva.

• I could write a story about how Prince Bhima and Hidimvi wandered in the forest together

                 - eventually Bhima wanted to see his mom and brother again so they sadly parted ways

• Bhima's family had been living as beggars in the town Ekachakra ruled by the evil Vaka

                - Bhima shows up just in time and kills Vaka

• I could write a story about how King Drupada's archery contest to win his daughter Draupadi. 

                      -gigantic crowds
                      - at first Karna went to shoot the bow but Princess Draupadi said no
                     --> I could write a story about how that angered him and where he is really from pg 60

• Prince Arjuna wins Princess Draupadi. 
• King Dhritarashtra learned that the Pandava's were not dead 

           - Prince Bhishma (his uncle) was on his council
            - his mom, the mighty ganges river
          -Bhishma thought the pandavas should be invited back to the Elephant city

• I could write a story about Arjuna and how he was banished 

              - The Ganges river and Ulupi the water- nymph pg. 66
             - The alligators and nymphs
            - the fire- god Agni asks for Arjuna's help in burning down the Khandava forest pg. 69
               - he married the maiden of Panchala, King Krishna's sister

• Bhima and jarasandha have a wrestling match 

              - Bhima kills Jarasandha

• I could write a story about how Prince Duryodhan fell into a tank of water because he could not tell where the floor ended and the water began.
• King Shakuni challenges Yudhishthira to a dice game

            - Yudhishthira lost everything including himself, brothers and Princess Draupadi.
            - The curse from King Drupada called down on the Bharatas came true
            - Draupadi, as an Aryan Princess had wishes and she wished her husbands be freed and they
                gain their wealth back

• Second dice game

            - Prince Yudhishthira lost again this time they are exiled for 12 years
            - most of the town followed them into exile but there was to enough food to eat
            - I could write a story about how Prince Yudhishthira prayed to the sun- god and was given
              a warrior clad in golden armour, a copper pot (endless food supply)

• Vyasa told Yudhishthria to send Arjuna to the god, Indra (his father) and he would give him celestial armor. 

            - He walked to the highest summit of the Himalayas
            - met a Brahman who turns out to be god Shiva who he needs to meet face to face into order
                to see Indra.
            - I could write a story about how Arjuna got into a fight with a young man on the mountain
               over a bour. Turns out it was an immortal.  pg. 92

• Brim doesn't come back from a hunting trip so Yudhishthira goes and looks for him. He finds him in a cave with a snake wrapped around him

             - Yudhishthira must answer questions to free Bhima or both of them will get devoured
              This is like the pond form Narayan's version
            - The snake is really King Nahusha who had been cursed by an ancient sage to become a
               snake

Bibliography: The Indian Heroes: Mahabharata- The Princes of Elephant City by C.A. Kincaid.