Story: The Master Carpenter

An ape plays at carpenter.

Illustration by E. Boyd Smith.

One day, many thousands of years ago in a distant country, a young carpenter, Rajendra, was making a long table as a gift for his new bride. He spent all day crafting it, but was never able to get it how he wanted. It was always a little too rough or a little too wobbly for his taste.

Each day, a great many neighbors would come by Rajendra’s workshop to see how his table was coming along. They would look through the open window and talk with Rajendra. He had made progress and it was a decent table, but the carpenter was never satisfied with it. True, the villagers thought, it wasn’t fit for a king, but it would do well enough for a young man and his rather modest family.

After a year of working on this table and trying to perfect it, he gave up. He had accidentally cut a gash across his palm with the corner of the table and this proved the last straw. He moved on to other projects and never told his bride about the table. Nor did he tell the neighbors that he had given up on it; he was embarrassed to even think about it.

One day, when the neighbors came by to see how Rajendra’s table was going, they were astonished. It was sanded so well that nary a bump could be felt on its surface. It was lacquered so well that it shone as brilliantly as the sun. One of the men sat on it and found that there wasn’t even a hint of wobble to the table.

They shouted for Rajendra to come talk, which he did.

The eldest among them asked, “Rajendra, how did you create such an amazing table?”

“I…” Rajendra turned around and saw what looked like his table, but which shone brilliantly in the morning light. He pressed his hand against it and saw that it was extremely sturdy.

“Surely,” the eldest continued, “you are a master craftsman.”

Rather than telling them the truth, Rajendra claimed the work as his own. Each morning  after this, Rajendra would wake up to find that whatever project he had started the previous day would be completely finished. He thought he must be a master craftsman after all, but only when he was sleeping. He figured that he had been crafting the amazing furniture in his sleep before returning to bed.

So popular did Rajendra’s pieces of furniture become that even the royals started to make orders for it. Rajendra made a great deal of money off of these orders. Soon, he and his wife had more money than they knew what to do with.

On one particularly stormy night, two pilgrims from a foreign land showed up at Rajendra’s door and asked for shelter. Now, Rajendra’s house was still very small and could barely hold he and his wife. He told the travelers he would house them, but they would have to be content with the workshop. Being perfectly content to be out of the rain, they accepted Rajendra’s offer. He showed them to the workshop, which stood a few hundred feet from the house.

In the middle of the night, these two travelers were woken up by the sound of saws and hammers and sanding. Before fully waking up, they thought it strange, if not rude, that the carpenter should be working at this hour. They stood up and spied a monkey at work in the shop. It was running around, grabbing tools, measuring logs, and doing all that a carpenter did.

“This is surely a brilliant monkey,” one of the men said. The other man agreed.

In the morning, the two men continued on their way and told each person they met about the brilliant monkey in Rajendra’s workshop. Before the day was through, all of the villagers had heard the story of the carpenter monkey. In the evening, when Rajendra came out of his workshop to speak with the other men of the village, they all laughed at him.

“Why are you laughing at me?” he asked.

They replied, “You are no master craftsman! You have only taken credit for the work of a monkey!”

From that day on, Rajendra vowed to never take credit for someone else’s work. He also began to appreciate his own work more. True, it wasn’t perfect, but he had made it himself.  

Author's Note

This is an adaptation of the story, "The Carpenter and the Ape" from Dutton's Fables of Bidpai. It's quite a departure from the original story. In the original story, the monkey tries to act like a carpenter, but soon gets its tail stuck between two pieces of wood and is punished by the actual human carpenter. In my own version, I decided to give the monkey a much happier story. Rather than being quite foolish, this monkey is actually a prolific carpenter and tremendously skilled. Nothing bad happens to the monkey in my own story; instead, the carpenter receives his own moral lesson.

Bibliography

Maude Dutton. The Tortoise and the Geese and Other Fables of Bidpai (1908).

Reading Notes: The Tortoise and the Geese and Other Fables of Bidpai (Part B)

The hawk tries to “befriend” the partridge.

Illustration by E. Boyd Smith (1908).

The Rustic and the Nightingale

One should treat other just as they deserve. One should not become too angry with them or punish them too harshly.

The Partridge and the Hawk

Even those who profess friendship may someday treat their “friends” poorly.

The King, the Falcon, and the Drinking Cup

Acts made in anger will probably have negative consequences, not just for the person acting in anger, but for their friends and companions.

The Merchant and His Iron

One should not treat others as stupid. Ridiculous stories will inevitably be revealed as just that: ridiculous.

The Lean Cat and the Fat Cat

The trope of someone being unsatisfied with their position, acting on this lack of satisfaction, and coming to a bad end, is a frequent trope in Hindi and Buddhist folktales. This isn’t surprising when one considers that these religions stress acceptance of one’s given role.

The King, the Hermit, and the Two Princes

Humility and asceticism is far better than riches. A selfless hermit is more likely to come to a good end than a selfish king.

The Lion and the Hare

Those who have wit and cleverness are more likely to come out on top than those with only physical strength.

The Crane and the Crab

One should not expect one’s enemies to become allies in times of trouble. They may become even more desperate.

The Crow, the Jackal, the Wolf, and the Camel

Do not expect others to sacrifice themselves to the greater good. They may simply be trying to look good to others in order to fulfill some darker objective.

The Camel Driver and the Adder

One should not expect gratitude. One is more likely to receive, like the story says, “evil for good.

Bibliography

Maude Dutton. The Tortoise and the Geese and Other Fables of Bidpai (1908).

Reading Notes: The Tortoise and the Geese and Other Fables of Bidpai (Part A)

An ape gets his tail stuck between two pieces of wood.

Illustration by E. Boyd Smith.

The Tortoise and the Geese

One’s anger is likely to have negative consequences. How would the tortoise have fared if the geese hadn’t taken him? What sort of lesson would the geese have learned?

The Fox, the Hen, and the Drum

Don’t give up a sure thing. How would the hen have tricked the fox into thinking that there was an even tastier treat (the drum) in the tree?

The Carpenter and the Ape

The moral of this story is pretty clear: don’t put your nose where you don’t belong. What would have happened if the ape had actually proven a great carpenter? He might become famous all over the kingdom.

The Poor Man and the Flask Oil

In hoping for something far greater, one risks losing whatever good you already have. How could the story be changed to have the poor man become a wealthy merchant from that first trading of the oil?

The Rich Man and the Bundle Wood

The wealthy should make sure that the poor have what they need.

The Scorpion and the Tortoise

One should never take advantage of one’s friends, lest they abandon you completely.

The Partridge and the Cow

Imitating others will cause one to lose one’s own unique traits. One should settle for what one is given. Dharma is an important part of this story.

The Youth, the Hawk, and the Raven

Do not rely on others for your own survival. It is better to work hard than expect others to help you.

The Bleacher, the Crane, and the Hawk

This story touches on the concept of dharma, too. The crane isn’t content with his current position, so he is taken by the bleacher.

The Gardener and the Bear

The gardener didn’t choose his friends very well. He shouldn’t expect a bear to be very civilized.

The Hen and the Falcon

We should think more about others’ situations and why they do what they do.

The Three Fish

It is better to rely on one’s wits than on luck.

The Frog, the Crab, and the Serpent

Even the seemingly best plans can go south.

The Tyrant who became a Just Ruler

One should not go through life without considering the implications of one’s actions.

The Fox and the Piece of Meat

Risking one’s fortune for greater gains will likely end in the loss of everything.

The Blind Man and the Snake

One should listen to the advice of one’s friends.

The Ape and the Boar

The boar’s gluttony and ingratitude ultimately cause his demise.

Bibliography

Maude Dutton. The Tortoise and the Geese and Other Fables of Bidpai (1908).

Wikipedia. "Dharma."

Portfolio Introduction

In my portfolio, I intend to have stories that share a common theme, such as sacrifice or duty. In stories such as the Ramayana, these concepts are considered important to the cohesion of society. Those who have sacrificed themselves or who have followed their duty are praised, while those who are greedy are presented in a negative light.

Index

The Celestial Weapons
After they help Rama fight a horde of rakshasas, some of the celestial weapons feel as though the prince hasn't given them the credit they are due.

Hanuman and the Curse
After the events of the Ramayana, Hanuman gets himself into all kinds of trouble.

The Elephant and the Dog
An elephant and a dog become best friends but are torn apart by war.

The Elephant and the Dog

x

The elephant is reunited with the dog.

Illustration from More Jataka Tales by Ellsworth Young (1922).

In a mountain temple in northern India, the Brethren were all seated before the mountain temple, talking amongst themselves. They had fasted for several days and were waiting for the Master to appear, so that he may impart some of his wisdom to them. They were now talking about a pair of farmers who, although not related, were very good friends. They had been friends since childhood and never seemed to argue. Whenever one of them fell on bad times, the other would help him.z
When the Master finally appeared, he asked the Brethren what they had been talking about. They told him of these two farmers, who lived in a village at the foot of the mountains.
The Master said to them, "They have been friends for a long, long time, and in many different ages. Although I could tell you the story of every age of their friendship, I will tell you perhaps the most important one."
Thus did the Master begin this tale:

Once upon a time in India, the king had mile-long stable of elephants. There were dozens of elephants. They lived an extraordinarily relaxed life. They had a wise and diplomatic king, so their country never experienced war. All they did most days was eat hay and grass and play tricks on one another. It was a happy life.

During the monsoon season, a soaking wet dog crept into the elephant stable. All of the elephants were afraid of the dog. He had sharp teeth and looked just like a wolf. Only one elephant didn’t panic when she saw the dog. This pachyderm was more intrigued by the dog than afraid of him. She went up to the dog and asked him what his name was.

“I am Rama,” he replied, shivering, obviously afraid of the huge creatures which stood in the stable. Rama thought he would be eaten.
"Rama?"
"I spent a lot of time exploring the forest as a puppy, so my pack gave me that nickname."
The elephant, being very bright, could tell that he was afraid and tired. She said to him, "My name's Hanumana, because I liked playing tricks on my brothers and sisters. Don’t be afraid. We are all vegetarians here. I’ll talk to my friends and tell them that you are a friend.”

Rama thanked her profusely.

In time the dog and the elephant became great friends. The dog slept in the elephant stable every night and they played games together every day.

One day, a farmer saw the dog by the stables and asked the elephant-keeper whether he could buy the dog. The elephant-keeper didn’t like the dog, thinking he would spread fleas to the king’s elephants, so the elephant-keeper sold the dog to the farmer for only a few rupees. Hanumana became very sad. She barely ate and barely slept.

Soon after, a war started between the king of India and the king of Hindia, a neighboring country. Soon all of the elephants were sent into battle. This was the first time Hanumana had been to war and she was extraordinarily frightened. When she arrived at the front, she saw all of the dead bodies and the dying men being carried in carts. Hanumana only wanted to go home. She had seen enough of this war.

As it turned out, Rama had been depressed since having been sold and refused to do any work. Because of this, the farmer had sold Rama to the army of Hindia.

On the second day of the battle, the elephant was walking across the field when she spied a great pack of dogs running towards her. The elephant reared up, ready to smash the dogs, not because she wanted to, but because she didn’t want the king, who was riding on her back, to be hurt.

Rama was the leader of this pack and recognized the elephant. He stopped and so did the dogs following him.
"What's wrong, captain?" one of the dogs asked.
Rama replied, "This elephant and I were good friends many years ago. I cannot fight against someone who has been so dear to me for so long."
The kings of both sides saw these animals talking and were befuddled.
The chief advisor of the king of India said to his ruler, "Truly this a miracle. If these two animals, who have been trained to kill each other, can become friends, surely you and the king of Hindia can become friends."
"You are wise," the king replied, "but why should we learn lessons from two animals?"
"Did you not learn lessons from animals in the fables of old? Did the ancient epics not describe wise and courageous animals such as Jatayu?"
The king was convinced. He called for a ceasefire and the other king agreed. The two monarchs, being very wise, talked about the issue which had caused this war. They saw that it had been a misunderstanding over borders and soon settled the issue.
These two kings decided to ally themselves, should some enemy attack them. From then on, each year, the elephant and the dog spent six months in the Indian king's palace and six months in the Hindian king's palace. The dog and the elephant never again had to go to war and they remained best friends for the rest of their days.

"So," the Master said, "these two farmers have been friends for a long time. You, Brethren, have likely guessed who that minister was. If you haven't guessed it, he is the one who has told you the story of these two great friends."

Author’s Note

For this story, I decided to adapt one of the Jataka tales. Jataka tales tell of Gautama Buddha's previous lives. Often, these stories will be framed within another (such as the Master telling the Brethren a story). They usually teach some sort of moral lesson.
In my story , I decided to elaborate on some of the circumstances surrounding the animals’ reunification. In the original story, the elephant and the dog are separated; then, the king and his minister recognize this and reunite them. In my story, the elephant and the dog must go through the terrible circumstances of war in order to find each other again.
Their reunification also offers a chance of reconciliation to the two kings. They wisely decide that if the animals of both sides can get along, then their two kingdoms can too. This serves as the moral lesson of the story. Without a proper dialogue with those you come into conflict, you're likely to make the situation much worse. By not talking out the issue, you might even hurt those around you.
This moral is somewhat different from the one in the original story (unusual friendships). Given the circumstances of these animals' reunion, the morals of reconciliation and dialogue seem more fitting within my own version of the story.

Bibliography

Robert Chalmers. The Jataka (vol. 1). 1895.

Ellen C. Babbitt. More Jataka Tales. 1922.

Wikipedia. "Jataka tales."

Story: The Elephant and the Dog

The elephant is reunited with the dog.

Illustration from More Jataka Tales by Ellsworth Young (1922).

Once upon a time, the king of India had a whole stable of elephants. There were a dozen of them and all they had to do most days was to eat hay and grass and play tricks on one another. It was a happy life, for the most part.

One day, a dog snuck into the elephant stable. All of the elephants were afraid of the dog. It had sharp teeth and looked just like a wolf. Only one elephant didn’t panic when it saw the dog. This pachyderm was more intrigued by the dog than afraid of it. It went up to the dog and asked what the small wolf-like creature’s name was.

“I am Fido,” it replied, shivering, obviously afraid of the huge creatures which stood in the stable. It thought it would be eaten.

The elephant, being very bright, could tell that it was afraid and said to the dog, “Don’t be afraid. We are all vegetarians here. I’ll talk to my friends and tell them that you are a friend.”

The dog thanked it profusely.

In time the dog and the elephant became great friends. The dog slept in the elephant stable every night and they played games together everyday.

One day, a farmer saw the dog by the stables and asked the elephant-keeper whether he could buy the dog. The elephant-keeper didn’t like the dog, thinking it would spread fleas to the king’s elephants, so he sold it to the farmer for only a few rupees. The elephant became very sad. It barely ate and barely slept.

Soon after, a war started between the elephant’s king and the king of a distant. This was the first time the elephant had been to war and it was extraordinarily frightened. When it was back in the king’s camp, it saw all of the dead bodies and the dying men being carried in carts. The elephant only wanted to go home. It had had enough of this war.

As it turned out, the dog, having been just as sad as the elephant and not wishing to do any work, had been sold by the farmer to a soldier in the other country. It served as a war dog in the army and it was only with a great deal of prodding that it would attack the opposing army.

On the second day of the battle, the elephant was walking across the field when it spied a great pack of dogs running towards it. The elephant reared up, ready to smash the dogs, not because it liked war, but because it didn’t want the king, who was riding on its back, to be hurt.

The dog was the leader of this pack and recognized the elephant. It stopped and so did the dog soldiers under it. They asked their captain what the problem was. It replied that the elephant had been a good friend years earlier.

The kings of both sides saw this and considered it a miracle. They both called for a ceasefire. The two men, being very wise, talked about the issue which had caused this war. They saw that it had been a misunderstanding and decided to ally themselves, should some enemy attack them or threaten war. From them on, each year, the elephant and the dog spent six months in the elephant’s king’s palace and six months in the dog’s king’s palace. They never again had to go to war and they remained great friends for the rest of their lives.

Author’s Note

In this story, I took a Jataka tale and decided to elaborate on some of the circumstances surrounding the animals’ reunification. Rather than simply being lonely and the king recognizing this, the elephant and the dog must go through the terrible circumstances of war in order to find each other again. Their reunification also offers a chance of reconciliation to the two kings. They wisely decide that if the “war” elephant and the “war” dog can get along, then their two kingdoms can too.

Bibliography

Ellen C. Babbitt. More Jataka Tales. 1922.

Reading Notes: More Jataka Tales (Part B)

The elephant is reunited with the dog.

Illustration from More Jataka Tales by Ellsworth Young (1922).

How the Monkey Saved His Troop
The wisdom of the monkey chief caused the human king to respect him. In other words, wisdom is rewarded. What would a human-monkey battle have been like, if the monkey chief relied more on military prowess?

The Hawks and their Friends
It is good to have friends. You must have them if you expect to be safe or to prosper.

The Brave Little Bowman
Looks can be deceiving. It’s not always the biggest and strongest who prove the best warriors.

The Foolhardy Wolf
You shouldn’t overestimate your abilities. Foolhardiness will inevitably have bad consequences. What would have happened if the lion and the wolf had worked together in actually killing the elephant?

The Stolen Plow
Your lies will eventually catch up to you, especially if they’re ridiculous.

The Lion in Bad Company
Beware those who offer great rewards. They made lead to your ruin.

The Wise Goat and the Wolf
As in “The Hawks and their Friends”, it’s good to have allies. You shouldn’t believe what someone says if they’ve acted bad in the past. What would have happened if the goat had brought her friends unannounced?

Prince Wicked and the Grateful Animals
You should be grateful for the help you’ve received in the past and should help those who helped you.

Beauty and Brownie
Respect your elders’ advice. It’s foolhardy to ignore advice given by those who know more than you.

The Elephant and the Dog
Friends should not be separated.

Bibliography

Ellen C. Babbitt. More Jataka Tales. 1922.

Reading Notes: More Jataka Tales (Part A)

Illustration from "The Penny-Wise Monkey" by Ellsworth Young (1922).

The Girl Monkey and the String of Pearls
Monkeys are almost always portrayed as mischievous. This monkey is no exception.
Dharma, in a way, seems to be stressed in this. The chief of the guards perform his given role well and is praised for it.

The Three Fishes
Home is the safest place to be. Perhaps this tale was meant to keep children from running off. What other stories could have been told to give this lesson?

The Tricky Wolf and the Rats
You should never turn your back on a wolf. What could the rat nobles and rat sages have discussed if their king had been eaten? What lessons would they have derived from this event?

The Woodpecker, Turtle, and Deer
We should help those in need. Doing so while risking harm to one’s self is admirable.

The Golden Goose
Don’t complain when someone acts perfectly charitable towards you. This story is a lot like “The Goose that Laid the Golden Egg”. What other variations could there be on this theme?

The Stupid Monkeys
If you want it done right, do it yourself. This story also relates to Dharma. In not doing his duty to the king, the gardener caused a great deal of harm.

The Cunning Wolf
You must look out for clever people, even if you consider yourself exceedingly clever.

The Penny-Wise Monkey
You should not risk something certainty for a minor improvement.

The Red-Bud Tree
Our views are highly dependent on our position. For example, someone who works the night shift at a store may have a very different view from someone who works in the afternoon. How could this story be applied to a modern setting? Maybe people who know a politician before and after he went to Washington.

The Woodpecker and the Lion
Don’t expect people to return favors, especially those who consider themselves high and mighty.

The Otters and the Wolf
It’s better to solve your own problems than rely on someone else.

Bibliography

Ellen C. Babbitt. More Jataka Tales. 1922.

Hanuman and the Curse

Statue of Hanuman in Haladiagada, Kendrapada, Orissa, India.

Photograph taken by Sujit Kumar (2007).

When Hanuman promised to remain on earth as long as Rama’s story was told, he didn’t expect it to be repeated quite so much. It took but a few years before he determined that the Ramayana would be told long after the Himalayas had crumbled into dust and India had sunk into the ocean. He wasn’t entirely enthusiastic about this. He enjoyed life but one can only eat so much fruit before getting sick of it. After several millennia, having exhausted whatever pleasures he could gain from food, he moved onto pranks and tricks. He would throw papayas, mangos, and pears at whoever happened to pass by.

One day, while lounging on a tree branch, Hanuman woke to the sound of footsteps. They were coming from down the path and getting louder. Through the foliage, Hanuman soon spied a hooded man making his way down the path. This traveler was muttering some prayer. Without hesitation, Hanuman picked up a half-eaten mango, aimed it at the man’s head, and threw it as hard as possible.

The mango hit its mark and the man let loose a flurry of expletives. Hanuman soon saw that this was a very old man with a long, gray beard. The monkey now felt some remorse at his actions. Had he known the passer-by was a decrepit old man, he would have thrown something smaller. Hanuman leapt down from the tree branch and went up to him to apologize.

Before Hanuman could speak, the man said to him, “Do you normally throw things at passers-by?”

Hanuman replied, “Living out here can get pretty boring.”

“I’m sure this is the best way to deal with it,” the man said sarcastically, rubbing the bump on his head. “Since you obviously don’t care much about your fellow creatures, I’m placing a curse on you. Maybe then you’ll stop throwing fruit at people’s heads.”

“Oh no. Please don’t!”

“Apparently, I have to. As you may have heard, there are brothers by the name of Pandava who have been wandering these parts for several years. You will remain in this very clearing until one of them should tug on your tail.”

“Great. At this rate, I’ll never leave earth.”

It dawned on the old man that he wasn’t talking to just any monkey. “You must be Hanuman! I’d love to hear of Rama and his great deeds.”

“I will, but only if you break that curse once I’m done telling the story.”

The old man was just about to reply when an enormous rakshasa ran into the clearing. Both Hanuman and the man were frightened. The old man, contrary to Hanuman’s preconceptions, hadn’t any magical powers. He was but a simple villager and nearly powerless against the demon. The rakshasa picked this old man up and swallowed him whole. Hanuman could hear the old man’s cries from inside the demon’s stomach.

“Help me! Help me!” the man cried.

Hanuman tried to leap back into the forest but the old man’s curse held and he couldn’t leave the clearing. He thought he would die. However, he soon realized the implications of his promise. If he was to remain on earth until the Ramayana was no longer told, he likely couldn’t be killed. And if he couldn’t leave the clearing, the rakshasa couldn’t take him away. Hanuman gathered up some of rocks nearby and began to toss them at the rakshasa. The demon seemed annoyed, but it didn’t go away. Hanuman realized that he would have to fight the demon barehanded. He punched, kicked, bit, and scratched the demon with all his might. The rakshasa soon swallowed him whole.

The inside of the demon’s stomach smelled of putrid meats of unknown origin.

“Disgusting!” cried Hanuman. He nearly retched.

From somewhere else in the stomach, he heard the old man cry, “Hanuman, is that you?”

“Old man?” Hanuman replied. “You’re still alive?”

“From what I could hear, you fought very bravely,” the man said.

“Thank you, but this fight isn’t over.”

The rakshasa tried to run back into the jungle but an enormous weight in its stomach stopped it. It couldn’t move out of the clearing. To add to the rakshasa’s troubles, Hanuman began to scrape and bite at the demon’s stomach. The monster made a horrible cry. Hanuman tore a hole in the stomach and all of its contents spilled out.

After giving the dead rakshasa a good kick in the head, the old man thanked Hanuman profusely. He said to the monkey, “Is there anything I can do for you?”

“Yes, lift this curse.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, but a curse can’t be lifted by the person who cast it. It will only be lifted until its terms have been fulfilled.”

“Great. Well, thanks. I guess you can go now.”

“I will still do something for you. I am a carpenter. I will build you a great house and there you will be able to move about as you wish. It’s the least I can do.”

The old man brought his sons and neighbors over to the clearing. There, they worked night and day to build Hanuman as elaborate a house as they could possibly build. Thus began a tradition among the local villagers to visit Hanuman each day and give him as many fine foods as he could eat. In turn, Hanuman told them the story of Rama, of the prince’s strength and of his wisdom. Hanuman eventually tired of the house. Hanuman appreciated the villagers’ attentions, but he soon tired of the house. Again and again he would try to find some way out of the clearing. He became extraordinarily sad. One day, while Hanuman sat in the middle of the road, contemplating all that had happened in his life, he felt a tug at his tail.

Author’s Note

Like some of my other stories, I decided to focus this narrative on someone who plays a rather minor role in the their epic. Hanuman is different, though, in that he plays a minor role in the Mahabharata but is very important in the Ramayana. In the Ramayana, Hanuman is important because he brings to Rama a mountain with magic herbs. These herbs help heal Rama’s soldiers. Without Hanuman’s help, it’s unlikely that Rama would have been able to defeat Ravana.

Hanuman has a rather distinct personality. He is known as a trickster. When he was a child, Hanuman tended to mess with those sages who lived in the forest. While I didn’t know about his reputation as a trickster prior to writing my story, it now seems only natural that he should while away the hours by tossing fruit at passers-by.

Of course, this story isn’t set just within the timeframe of the Mahabharata. It spans that time period from shortly after the events of the Ramayana to Bhima’s time in the forest. I thought that it would be interesting to provide some information about how Hanuman spent that time between the two epics.

Bibliography

Quora. “What fruit grows in India?”

Various authors. The Mahabharata (public domain).

Various authors. The Ramayana (public domain).

Wikipedia. "Hanuman"

Week 8 Growth Mindset

Motivational poster from Goal Setting Guide

In college, I’ve found that I tend towards highly structured subjects. Classes such as economics and calculus tend to be easier to study than, say, a class on Chekhov or British literature. This is largely because economics and calculus require that I learn the fundamental concepts and build on those. In other words, I can’t learn about basic supply and demand concepts and move immediately to econometrics.

What makes classes such as this (Epics of India) different is that I often have to come up with something completely new, rather than following very specific instructions to reach one number or one precisely worded answer. The weekly storytelling posts are a great example of this. While I do get some source material to work with, I can’t apply a formula and get the answer. It takes a lot of imaginative/literary thinking in order to complete the assignment and produce a full story.

Entering this class, I thought that I’d be terrible at pulling ideas out of thin air. There have been a few weeks when it took a lot of time to come up with an idea for an assignment, but I’ve found that I can come up with decent ideas much faster than before. I remember agonizing over the very first storytelling assignment of this class. Now, it seems that I can find an interesting perspective in the source material and expand on it within my own story.

This isn’t the only improvement I’ve made. In addition to coming up with stories faster, I’ve found that I can better analyze the stories we read. In other literature classes, I was able to come up with only a few interesting points. Having spent so much time writing notes over the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, and other stories, I’ve found that I can provide notes on, not only my opinion of characters, but of potential threads and trends throughout the story.

I used to think that I was almost hopeless when it came to literary analysis. The fact that I felt so hopeless probably stopped me from taking more literature classes. All it took to improve this skill and give me more confidence in these sort of open-ended assignments was trying. I’m more than glad I took this class. It’s made me try harder at something I thought I hadn’t much aptitude for. In order to improve this skill further, I plan to read those stories that don’t seem (at first) to offer easy adaptations. For example, a story with limited characters is more likely to prove difficult to adapt than one with dozens. This isn’t such a large change now that I’ve written several adaptations of the epics, but it’ll still make a large difference.

Week 8 Reflections

The Tortoise is carried away by the Geese. Illustration by E. Boyd Smith. Published in The Tortoise and the Geese and Other Fables of Bidpai by Maude Barrows Dutton (1908).

Reading

I think that I have been making good choices in terms of my reading. While I’m sure I’d enjoy the Narayan versions of the Ramayana and Mahabharata, picking the public domain versions allowed me to get an idea of how different the storytelling styles are. Reading the lyrical versions of these two epics is likely more authentic, in that the stories were likely told as songs, just like The Odyssey or The Iliad.

I have to admit that the sheer number of names and places of the Mahabharata made it difficult to follow along. For this and other reasons, I preferred the Ramayana. The Ramayana, in being focused on a smaller number of characters, seemed to be able to provide a more intimate account of the people involved. I could more easily image how Rama would react to events than Arjuna. I tend to read books that are focused on small sets of characters rather than huge set pieces and (literal) armies of characters. This makes my preference for the Ramayana less surprising.

When I read books that aren’t part of a school assignment or a class, I rarely take notes. This is half the result of a disinclination towards doing so and half not wanting to write on a book. The latter used to seem almost sacrilegious. It took a lot of English and literature classes before I started to take good notes that were more than just vague statements. While I don’t take notes on a regular when it comes to my free-time reading, I find myself critically analyzing small passages and thinking about them a lot more as I continue on in the book.

The note that I’m taking in this class are really helping. Rather than writing my thoughts after I’ve read the passages for that day or that week, I take notes whenever some line or some situation intrigues me. In this way, I can record my more precise thoughts on the story, rather giving my general feelings about it. In addition, these more precise notes allow me to come up with story ideas based on relatively minor events (such as Arjuna and Hanuman’s meeting). I can look back at my notes and use an idea that I’ve written about to create a story.

I intend to focus my reading efforts on folktales. While great kings and warriors are all well and good, I’d like to read more of those stories that relate to those of more humble origins. In reading these folktales, I’d get a perspective of the royalty and of the commoners. The specific tales I’d focus on are the Hindu legends, such as Dutton’s Fables of Bidpai.