Extra Credit Reading Notes: The Giant Crab Part B

In "Spend a Pound to Win a Penny," there are some villagers who are preparing peas to feed to their horses. In the tree above them is a monkey who is plotting to take the peas from the humans. The monkey's plan went seamlessly as he snuck down the tree, unseen by anyone, and filled his hands with peas. While the monkey was enjoying his meal, a pea fell from his hands. Filled with greed, the monkey panicked and jolted, attempting the catch the pea before it fell to the ground. In this frantic attempt to save the pea, the monkey dropped all the peas that he had stolen. When he went down to collect the peas, he was caught by the humans and shooed off with nothing to show for all his efforts.

Monkey

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Reading Week 15: Savitri Part A

Maharajah Ashwapati was the Father of Savitri. He and his wife both wanted a child that would one day take over the throne that they were to have. When Savitri was born, everyone was happy; however, when the maharaja learns about Satyaban the maharajah doesn't want Savitri to marry him due to his impending death that he has but he concedes and allows them to marry and Savitri has a son.

Savitri

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Reading Week 15: Seven Secrets of the Goddess Part G

Vitthai's Secret

Affection dissolves boundaries. For some poets, gender was just a tool to convey emotion. This contrasts the trend to masculinize the feminine in modern society. In the Vedas, there are many more male gods than female and there is a preference towards them. The male deities reside above the earth, in the sky, and are associated with cultural order, while the female deities are associated with the earth and natural order. The gender divide is clear. In the Upanishads, the idea of a cosmic consciousness or brahman starts to become more important than gods and goddesses. The popularity of Buddhism forced Hinduism to redefine itself.

Vitthai

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Extra Credit Reading Week 15: Seven Secrets of the Goddess Part F

Saraswati's Secret

Imagination can expand or contract the mind. The Sarasvati has dried up according to experts but people don't know what this means. It can be taken literally or symbolically. Saraswati is a well- defined goddess. Her stories are rare but always relate to language. The devas invoke her just when the demon Kumbhakarna is about to ask Brahma for a boon. In this, Saraswati is the first creation of Brahma and even the first woman created by Brahma and he becomes infatuated with her. This 'incestuous' affection is frowned upon and Rudra-Shiva keeps Brahma from pursuing her. Again, this can be viewed literally or symbolically. Brahma's creation is a mirror that reflects his own personality.

Saraswati

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Reading Week 14: Seven Secrets of the Goddess Part D

Durga's Secret

Everyone lives on the edge of fear. Offerings to the Shiva and Vishnu include food, flowers, leaves, and insects. This its to invoke god who is otherwise dormant. Offerings to Devi are different. There is something more. Turmeric, red powder, kohl, and pieces of cloth. The cloth is so that she is less Kahli and more Gauri. This is to awake the mind and domesticate nature. Only invoking the mind without domesticating nature is the trait of Shiva, the withdrawn hermit. Only domesticating nature is the trait of Brahma who manifests as Daksha, the controlling priest. This tension between the mind and nature is important. Durga is the preferred form of the goddess. Riding her lion defying domestication. Unbound hair shows she is wild but her nose ring shows she is domesticated. The weapons in her hands show a different kind of violence. One that is restrained and offers protection but can dish out punishment. She is Brahma's defiant daughter, Vishnu's protected and protective sister, and Shiva's affectionate wife. Her affection cannot be taken for granted. She will not be exploited. Domestication of the goddess, nature, must be mirrored with the awakening of god, mind.

Durga

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Extra Credit Reading Week 13: Seven Secrets of the Goddess Part C

Gauri's Secret

Culture is dependent on the human gaze. Before humanity there was only nature but after came culture. Kali is nature, the mother, naked with hair unbound. Gauri is culture, the daughter, the sister or the wife, demure and dressed with hair bound. Hindu mythology has and emphasis on the mind and perceived realities. What came first. Who came first. Who witnessed the creation. Are the gods creation of the mind. Who created the mind. There are many different schools of thought and it is discussed in different tales from different views. This shows the impact of the mind on the world and the world on the mind. Semen, in the mythic vocabulary, can be a physical representation of thought that becomes reality, the child, through the woman, mater. So the man can be mind and woman matter. The goddess is nature, present even when nobody else is. The mind is what creates culture. The mind needs nature but nature does not need the mind. Brahma, the unenlightened mind, attempts to control nature. This makes Brahma the creator. Shiva is indifferent to nature. He doesn't know what it is and is unbothered by it. This makes him the destroyer of culture. Shiva is so deep in our consciousness we aren't even aware of it. Vishnu is a wise mind, capable of perceiving nature and seeing the value of both Brahma and Shiva. He is the balancer of culture.

Gauri

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Reading Week 13: Seven Secrets of the Goddess Part B

Kali's Secret

Nature is indifferent to the human gaze. The idea of Kali is older than the name and face we have of it today. We can find drawings and sculptures of naked women next to bulls. These untamed bulls represent strong men. The Vedas reveal a great yearning of bulls, sun, and gold. There is one reference to a goddess who disrupts nature and is asked to stay away. She is described as dark and linked with death. It is considered that she is an early reference to Kali. The post rise of Buddhism leads to a rise in purity scripture. There were many manifestations of Kali and Kali like goddesses. Kali began to be seen frequently as a part of several groups of goddesses called the Tri-Devi, Tri-Ambika, Matrikas, Maha-vidyas, and Yoginis. These collectives included benevolent and malevolent goddesses and had an elaborated view on nature.

Kali

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