Reading Notes: Sacred Tales of India, Part A

The Divine Brothers

• A rich farmer had 7 sons, all of whom were married. 
• Their 7 wives were sitting around one day talking about what their wish would be if they were granted one.

             - The youngest did not talk until called upon to state her's but she was hesitant she finally said
                hers.
          *I could write a story about how since she was patient her wish came true and all the other
            wives were jealous.

• I could write a story about her time spent with the snakes. I would like to do something different though. Not with snakes or if I used snakes they would only have a minor role in my story. 
• I would like to focus more on the 7 wives and how they share jobs and gossip to one another. Maybe the youngest wife is bullied by them or something like that. 

Snatched from Death

(Savitri and Satyavan)

• Savitri is a princess and is able to choose her own husband. She chooses a blind hermit's son, Satyaban. 
• Unknown to him, he is cursed and will die at the end of the first years marriage.
• Savitri knows this and prays to the gods every day to let him live. 
• Yama's messengers went to collect Satyaban when he died but could not bc the chastity of his wife Savitri. 
• I already have one story about Yama I would love to write another one!
• Savitri tricks Yama into giving Satyaban's life back.
• I really feel like I can do something with this story. 
• **In my story I think the messengers will act as the middle men between Yama and Savitri. Neither of them willing to give in.**

By Itu's Favor

• 2 daughters, Isani and Rama, were banished in the forest for eating loafs of bread the wife made. 
• I do not really like this story.
• Their dad basically tricks them into thinking he was attacked but then they still wish wealth for him... so they knew he was alive the whole time?
• After years the girls returned home and, their father was rich due to them wishing this upon him, but he gets mad at them again and says the next guys the pass will be their husbands.
• Isani was married and no longer worshiped the god, Itu Thakur, so every town they passes would go up in flames or an epidemic would break out

                 - People called her a witch 

• Rama continued to worship Itu Thakur on the daily. The towns she passed would flourish along with their crops. Even brought a dead girl back to life with her holy water. 
• **I could write about the fortune of the girls but in modern day** Maybe they won the lottery and one lost her money trying to play the lottery again or she is just flat out unlucky.**
• A lot of banishing going on in this story. 
• Itu has lots of power. 

Bibliography: Scared Tales of India by D.N. Neon. Illustrated by P. Ghose. 1916.