Week Fourteen Storytelling: The Letter of the Golden Goose

Dear Ananda,

                I could not be blessed more than what I have been.  Over the past twenty-three years you have given me two amazing daughters and a warm home filled with laughter and love.  You may not understand why I have chosen to leave you, but I feel that I must serve a greater purpose.  I could not bear hearing neither you nor our daughters crying during the night because there was no food in our cupboards; and I hated the sight of looking at you knowing that all hope was lost in your eyes.  I hate that the king had dismissed me of my job duties.  I was his most faithful worker. I must tell you that I was given a grand opportunity from a lady who I came across in the woods on my way home.  She is an elderly woman and she hurt herself while she in search of her runaway mule.  There, near the tree where we crave our initials she lay crying out for help.  I rushed to her aiding her to stand tall.  She told me she had watched the sunrise a total of three times, and two men passed her not wanting to help.  They took her staff and bag of fruit, and told her that she would not live long. When she saw me, I gave her hope.  I walked her three miles away from our home and sat with her as she instructed me to bundle some herbs for her.  She placed those herbs around her ankle and immediately I saw her ankle become normal.  She walked to her kitchen window and saw her mule and began to curse.  I never heard such words come from an old woman’s mouth! She wandered around and started to look at me aimlessly.  As I started for the door, she told me that she knew I was in trouble.

“What do you mean?” I asked. 

“You’ve lost your job and you’ve been shoveling pastures near the king’s land, correct?”

She handed me a vial of liquid and told me that it would be of help to us. 

She said “Those who are work hard and help others should be blessed, and this was a blessing in disguise.”

She dismissed me from her home and never gave me her name. I was given clear instructions to take the liquid by nightfall away from our home, and I would find my way back home.  I hope I find myself back into your arms Ananda. 

 

Sincerely,

Madesh

Wondrous Water Bird

Author’s Note:  This story is based off of the Jataka tale “Golden Goose”.  The story is about a family whose luck begins to change.  One day the father leaves home and turns into a golden goose to help change his family's wealth. When he finds his way back home, and his wife becomes excited when she finds out the gooses feathers are made of gold.  She plucks the feathers frugally until she becomes greedy. 

Bibliography: Twenty Jataka Tales retold by Noor Inayat

                     Illustrated by H. Willebeek  Le Mair (1939)

Week Thirteen Storytellng: Eye of the Beholder

Queen Elizabeth and King George

“We have to marry our son’s off soon David.  I have met with a midwife, and there is a baby to be born later this afternoon.  I shall travel to the child’s home and speak to Sarah the mother about arranging a marriage with her child and one of our sons if it turns out to be a girl.”

King David wondered about his wife Queen Mary.  She was eccentric most times, and believed in preparing for their sons future. A girl had not been born in the past twenty years in their kingdom and she did not want to search elsewhere.  Whenever she hears of a child being born, she ends her daily tasks and waits to find out if the child is a boy or girl. She was known around the kingdom as “Crazy Mary,” but no one would dare say the name outside of their homes.

King David and Queen Mary shared three sons, James, Mark and Jacob.  James was fifteen years old, Mark was eleven and Jacob was eight. They were very different from each other and did not have marriage on their minds.

“Father, where is Mother off to?” asked Mark. 

“Witch hunting,” King David replied.

The boys understood what their father meant by witch hunting. There were forty-eight births within the last three years, and all the babies turned out to be boys. Their mother Queen Mary attended every birth.  She even encouraged families to reproduce more children and if they successfully bore a girl, she would give their family wealth and nobility. 

Many hours passed, and Queen Mary returned home.  She walked up the grand staircase that led to her room, and collapsed on the bed.

“Any luck?”

“Yes. There were twin girls but one did not survive.  I was able to name the child and I named h- - ”

“You did no such thing Mary! You do not take away the privilege of naming a child from its parents.  I am starting to believe that you are crazy!

“Excuse you sir, but I named the young child Rebecca with the Sarah’s approval. She was going to name the girls Rebecca and Ann, so I suggested naming the surviving child Rebecca Ann Smith.  The child who died was named Bethany, after her husband Jim’s deceased mother.”

The two lay in the bed not speaking to each other until King David became curious.

“Who is this child to marry?”

“I will have each of our sons meet her, and they can decide. Goodnight Sir.”

Years passed as Rebecca Ann became older.  When she was twelve, James met with the Smith family.  He was not happy to marry such a young girl and decided against the act. He noticed that she had not received all of her permanent teeth, and it bothered him greatly. Without his mother’s approval, James found a wife in the next kingdom. 

At the age of fifteen, Mark saw Rebecca Ann getting fruit out of the town’s market. 

“She’s ugly he protested! Her face has all of these red bumps, and her hair…I would never want to look upon anything that looks that disheveled. I would rather die.”

Queen Mary did not know what to think of Mark’s opinion of the young girl, so she visited the Smith family to get a peak of Rebecca Ann.  When Mary arrived at the Smith’s home, she was greeted warmly.

“What brings you to our home Queen Mary?” Sarah asked.

“I just wanted to see how things are going for you and your family.  How is Rebecca Ann?”

“She is out in the garden.  Let me escort you back there.”

The Queen looked at Rebecca Ann’s face and chatted with Sarah a bit longer before excusing herself before they began dinner.  When Queen Marry arrived home, she marched into the dining area and yelled

“She’s becoming a woman Mark.  There is nothing wrong with her face.”

“I don’t care she’s ugly, and I will not marry her.”

It was Jacob’s twenty-eighth birthday and Queen Mary decided to throw a ball in Jacob’s honor.  She invited the Smith family and hoped that Jacob would settle for Rebecca Ann. As Jacob greeted his guests, his fell upon a young woman who was more ravishing than any other woman he had seen.

“What is your name my lady?” Jacob asked.

“Becca.”

Rebecca

Author's Note: This story was inspired by Ellen C. Babbitt's The Red-Bud Tree from the book More Jataka Tales. The story is about three brothers who come across a red-bud tree during the different stages of its life.  On brother visits the tree during the winter wondering why the tree is not red, while the other two brothers visit the tree when the red buds begin to grow and bloom.  Each brother compares their story of the tree, and it is the father who tells his sons that they did visited the same tree. 

Rebecca represents the tree in this story.  As she becomes a woman, the boys are able to see her at different times as she matures into a woman.

Bibliography: Written by Ellen C. Babbitt 

                       Illustrated by Ellsworth Young (1922)

Week Twelve Storytelling: A Father with Unknown Intentions

I could hear Vaayu’s wails even after I covered his mouth.  His warm tears would travel down his cheeks and touch my hands. I held him down as tightly as I could while he tried to squirm from beneath me.  I repeated to him,

“It won’t last long.  We are doing this for goddess Chandi.”

He tried to roll around and his small legs would kick. I then proceeded to cut him from limb to limb, with my large blade that I carried when I went doe hunting.  It was a prized possession of mine, a gift from my father the night that I became a man after I married my wife Hema.  After each kill I would slit the doe’s throat and wait to feel the spirit leave its body. I would watch the blood sprayed from its neck, and when it was done, I would taste the blood and that the god that blessed with such a beautiful kill.  Vaayu’s death would not be any different. I wanted my son to endure the same treatment.  Separating each body part, I would cut him from limb to limb. I threw his parts at different ends of the river leaving his head for last.  I smoothed his hair down as I gazed into the eyes that his mother gave him. His blood was of a sweet scent and he displayed much innocence. A year old he would be tomorrow, but I knew that I had to prove Hema wrong.  Who was she to claim that the goddess Chandi would always reverse the evil doings that happen on this earth? 

Sunrise Seen Through Forest [Manitou Springs]

I sat near the riverbank, and the sun started to creep in from the dark sky. I lay in the pool of my son's blood waiting for her Chandi to “bless” me with her presence.  Where was she when my mother died? Or when my sister lost her dear daughter in birth? Pray Hema says-- pray! I pray to no one who does not show me favor. She is only a picture that stands on the wall in my home.

[Bajra grew impatient waiting on Chandi to appear.  He rose from when he lay and stepped into the river to wash the remains of his son.  When he finished submerging his body is the cold waters, he walked to the shore, shivering and seeing his breath in the air after each breath that he took.  Bajra lived closed to the river and knew someone was bound to find his son’s body parts.  As the sun rose from the sky he said happy birthday in his mind. Bajra walked home and changed into something warm.  He lay next to Hema until she woke.] 

“You are cold, Bajra. It is time to wake and begin the planning for Vaayu’s birthday. Wake him please and take him to your father’s home.”

[Hema was too busy to realize that Bajra left the house alone.  Later that evening everyone gathered to the river to begin the pujah for goddess Chandi.]

                                             

“Bajra, where is Vaayu?”

“With you mother,” Bajra answered.

[Hema went to her mother and began to question everyone where her son was.  She walked into the forest where she met an older woman.]

“Hema, Vaayu was lying here.  You must watch him closely my dear.”

Baby in the Woods

[Hema did not know the woman, but thanked her for finding her son. The women and Vaayu walked back to the river and began the pujah to goddess Chandi.]

“Hema, you found him!” Bajra said in delight.

[Bajra felt guilt as he watched his wife hold their son in her arms]

“Of course, Chandi is always watching over this family Bajra.”

[And Chandi was watching over their family.  She was the older woman in disguise who returned Vaayu back to his mother.]

Author’s Note:This story was inspired by “The Joymangalbar Ceremony, Joyabati -The Gift of Joya” from "The Sacred Tales of India,” written by Dwijendra Nath Neogi.  Joya, a servant to the goddess Chandi, disguises himself as a poor and hungry Brahman.  When he is approached with food, Joya refuses to eat food from a daughterless man by the name of Kanak Sen.  Kanak Sen apologizes to Joya and asks him to be kind and bless him with a daughter.  Joya gives Kanak Sen and his wife a drug to take to help them reproduce a child.  With much success the couple is blessed with a daughter and they name her Joyabati, after Joya. When Joyabati is of marrying age, she exchanges nuptials with a young man by the name of Joydev.  After the two are married, Joydev notices his wife’s devotion to the goddess Chandi.  He does everything in his power to prove to Joyabati that Chandi is not real.  His determination soon becomes desperation, and ends in him killing their son.

My inspiration for my story came from Joydev.  His character was unlike any other character in “The Sacred Tales of India.” I enjoyed finding out the mischievous acts that he was planning, and I loved the outcome of each situation.  No matter how hard he tried to bring ill will to his wife, Chandi reversed the act as if it never happened. 

Bibliography: The Sacred Tales of India by Dwijendra Nath Neogi (1918) 

Week Eleven Storytelling: Love for Death

There is always haze, and the tumultuous screams that surround me have become white noise. This is an everlasting punishment I was once told.  My soul is being devoured by the engulfing flames, and I can feel my skin melting as I crawl on the ground from being suffocated by the heat.  Crying does not help.  The salt from our tears welt our faces before we feel the evaporating stings.  More and more women and children are thrown into the fire each day.  Yesterday, I saw Yama fling a three year old into the fire by her leg.  It was there where she lay on the ground screaming piercing cries, before she was accompanied by her mother.

“Dare you throw a child into the depths of hell Yama?” The woman cried out. “I only steal bread for my children to eat! Should she too suffer from my sins?”

Woman in hell

I looked at who I believed to be the man that I would marry. He wore dark clothing and stood six feet high.  Broad-like shoulders and he has beautiful eyes. When seeing him, you would have not have known that you were encountering death. His words were sweet, and his touch was gentle. He would gain your trust, and believe that the words he speaks are true.  The capture was never sudden nor felt immediate.  He enjoyed being a predator comforting his prey. The day he met me, I was sitting near the shore of the Godavari River watching my brothers capture fish for our dinner. 
There he stood looking at me, and I blushed each time I looked away.  I would see him in the market where I would buy fresh fruits, and walking near the school I attended. As time passed, the stranger that watched me from far away asked me my name.

“Sumatra,” I told him. He whispered that my name was beautiful and matched me perfectly.  I began to meet him daily at the Godavari River and share my life stories to him. Months began to pass, and he was well known by my family and friends.  We would share our lives together--forever.

It was the day after we announced our engagement, I told Yama I had a secret. We left during the night when the moon filled the sky.  The Godavari River shone as the moonlight reflected its beauty. We held hands as we sat along the shore listening to sounds around us.

“Yama, I must tell you a secret that no one knows.  I have guilt in my heart that I cannot bear. Two years ago I saw a woman laying in the street. She was crying and begging for food. I stared at her like she was infected with disease.  Her hands were dirty, and hair disheveled. Her clothes were rags that barely covered her skin. A man walked by and gave her money for her and her child to eat.  As the man walked away, she continued to thank him generously. She looked towards the sky and thanked the gods for her small fortune. I stared at her in disgust and looked at her child as she watched me.   I grabbed the money from her hands and told her that she did not deserve it.  I told her that beggars must earn wealth, not be given it.  Do you believe that too Yama?”

Poor Woman and Child in Kanyombya

[Yama sat in silence and watched the ripples in the water.]

“Yama?”

“Sumatra the life we are given we do not choose, but the choices we make can better our lives.  Not all people choose to be poor, and what you see as poor some see as wealth.  You took her wealth and food from a child’s mouth. That woman stole because of you. She committed a sin so she could feed her child. Because she stole, she had taken wealth from another man and his family. I gave you many chances to repay the woman all those times I saw you in the market.  That woman sat in her same place with her hungry child, and you were only concerned with me. Do you remember the day when she stopped you by pulling on the hem of your skirt? She asked you for forgiveness for being poor, and you scoffed. I cannot be with a woman who steals from the poor and is vain. ”

“I will repay her back!”

“No you still don’t understand. You knew what you did was wrong and guilt shall remain in your heart.”

Yama rose from where he sat and walked into the brush.  I followed him only to see a horse and a dark chamber behind it.

“What is this Yama?”

“Sumatra I am the god of death and you are no longer apart of the living. When we held hands I separated your spirit from your body.  Your body will lay where we sat near the river.  It will be recovered by your family in the morning, but your spirit shall stay with me.”

Woman by A River

Author's Note: This story is inspired by the Budhastami Ceremony: The Bride if Yama, the King of the Dead.  In the story there is a woman by the name of Bijaya who is in search of a missing bull that was stolen from her and her younger brother Kausik.  They find the bull being danced around by celestial beings, as they traveled deep into a forest.  One of the beings tells them that they must go home and perform the Budhastami Ceremony in order to receive the bull back.

After the siblings perform the ceremony, goddess Paravati grants them one boon each.  Bijaya prays for a devout husband, and her brother Kausik prays for wealth.  Goddess Paravti guides Bijaya to her husband.  Bijaya meets a man, and Paravti lets her know that he is the devout man that she seeks. The man turns out to be Yama, the King of the Dead. 

When Yama and Bijaya get married, he warns her not to travel to the southern grounds of their property.  Out of curiosity and disobedience, Bijaya travels to the south grounds and sees women who are being burned by the eternal fires of hell.  In that fire, she sees her mother who is crying out for help.

Since Bijaya sees many women who are entrapped by the fire, I wanted to create a story that involved one of the many women that she sees.  When Yama met Bijaya, his appearance and demeanor was not one that seemed threatening.  I pictured Yama as a man of great stature an d morals, and wanted him display those characteristics in the story. 

Bibliography:  The Sacred Tales of India by Dwijendra Nath Neogi (1918) 

Week Six Storytelling: Calming Waters

Draupadi, Arjuna, Bhima, Nakula, and Sahadeva stood around the body of Yudhistira.  He laid peacefully in his royal robe with his arms on the sides of his body, and palms up facing towards the skies.  They checked his breathing regularly, but had not seen him move in over a week. They called upon sage Vyasa, but his only advice was to make sure that Yudhistira was not to be disturbed until he awakes. 

“What do you think he’s dreaming of?”

“I don’t know.  He’s been sleeping for days since we fought the war.”

“Someone nudge him.”

“No! Don’t do it!”

“Why?”

“If he’s meditating and we move his body, his spirit will roam.”

“Yudhistira …wake up…”

Calm waters and breezy winds swiftly touch my skin as I talk to god Yama, about the day that I met him.  I sit with my legs crisscrossed across from Yama as he changes his form from a crane to an old man who looks as if he’s seen the whole world.  Yama has become my guide for many things.  I often call upon him asking for advice.

This place is still as serene as I remembered.  Engulfed by the darken woods that surrounds it.  The waters still look indulging with their blue and purple hues.  I reminisce about seeing my brothers in their death.  Peacefully they laid, next to each other as if they were sleeping side by side like when we were young boys.  Many people have lost their lives to these waters, but to Yama he calls it sacrifice. 

“Yudhistira , do you know why I fill my ponds with tranquil waters that make people think they are the cure to all diseases and famine?”

“You want to test people of their worthiness, and see if they are of subservient character who displays selflessness and courage. Right? ”

“No. I make them this way because it reminds me of women.”

“What?”

“You’re wife Draupadi, wouldn’t you say that she is as beautiful as this landscape? She is breath taking, upstanding, and a woman who is not just defined by her looks right..?”

“Yes of course.”

“So looks can be deceiving?”

“Yes they can, and I feel as if this is child’s play Yama.”

“How so Yudhistira ?”

“You once told me the character of the Brahmins.  I disregarded the information you foretold me after I learned that Arjuna defeated Kripa, Bhishma, and Drona while Uttara drove the chariot.  This is unusual for any of our conversations.  Our conversations are intellectual, not on the basis of women and looks.”

“Yudhistira , your story begins with water, and it will end with water.  Our past does not define us, but it molds us into the people we are today.  Ganga was seen as a woman of beauty and stature by King Santanu, and without her beliefs of curses Bhishma would not have been the only son to survive.  Draupadi ia is a woman with five husbands.  When people look at her, they misjudge her, like these waters.  These waters have replenished you soul of thirst, and have allowed you to continue to live.  Ganga is a river goddess, but her water is lifted into the heavens and brought down to earth when it rains.  She replenishes us all, including the filling of these waters.”

Yudhistira and Yama

Author’s Notes:  I enjoyed the characters Ganga, Yama, and Yudhistira the most from “The Mahabharata”.  I wanted to connect the characters together in my story, noting the tragedies that involved water in the epic.  Although, Ganga had not crossed paths with Yudhistira and Yama in the epic, I did however keep the story close to the epic.  In “The Mahabharata”, Ganga is seen in the beginning of the tale as a river goddess disguised as a woman who marries the king.  She kills seven of her sons after their birth because they are cursed to live as humans, and she wanted to end their misery. 

With the encounter of Yama, Yudhistira and his brothers were roaming the forest and are dying of thirst.  Each brother one by one encounters the water of Yama and are told not to drink the water.  Each brother disobeyed Yama and fell to their death after drinking from the pool.  When Yudhistira encounters a talking crane who is Yama in disguise, Yudhistira listens to the words of the crane acknowledging that the water is what sent his brothers to their death.  Because of his obedience and selflessness,  Yama gives Yudhistira's brother’s lives back to them. 

Bibliography: "The Mahabharata" written by R.K. Narayan (1978)

Week Five Storytelling: Yudhistira

"Why is there blood everywhere?" Yudhistira thought.

Yudhistira ran to the river trying to rinse his bloody hands.  The more he washed them, it seemed like more blood reappeared.  He looked down to see his reflection, but only saw the moon with a red tint.  Scared that the gods were showing him a sign, he looked up to the sky and saw that the moon was still white. Yudhistira looked at his clothing and jumped inside of the river believing that it would cleanse his whole body.

Man Bathing in Buriganga River

“It won't come off!” he shouted in his mind.

Frantic and panicking while dousing his face with water, he stopped.  He heard heavy breathing and the crackling sound of leaves near him. Wiping his eyes, Yudhistira turned around looking to see if there was anyone behind him. Bringing his hands together underneath the water gently and quietly, Yudhistira collected water in his palms to cleanse his face.

“You have awakened me, Yudhistira.” It was a voice of a woman.

“Who’s there?”

“Why worry who I am when it is you who wants me to wash away you bloody hands?  Do you want to know why the blood remains on your clothing?”

Yudhistira slowly walked near the shore of the river and was stopped before he could step out.  Wondering what was tugging on the back of pants, he turned and saw the woman standing behind him.

“I’ve watched you since you were a little boy, and I often wondered when you would come back.  It has been years since you last bathed in my waters. Your brothers, your cousins…”

“Who are you?”

“Why ask me who I am, when you can tell me why you have blood on your body?”

“I know nothing of what you speak, and I ask for you to let me go.”

The woman walked away from Yudhistira and began to submerge half of her body beneath the water.  She bent her back fluidly and began to float. As she hummed a song that he once heard his mother sing, Yudhistira became enchanted by the woman’s hymns.  She was beautiful he thought.  She was mysterious in a weird and creepy way, but beautiful nonetheless.

“Who are you?”

“Answer my question first,” the woman said while floating past Yudhistira.

“I was in trouble.  My brothers and cousins have fought since we were children.  My brothers and I believed that it was innocent play until we became older.  It was always a competition between us, and then we were sentenced to exile.  My addiction to gambling was exposed in front of everyone in Hastinapura. I wanted to confront my uncle Dhritarashtra, so I sneaked away from my brothers and wife and left for Hasptinapura.  When I went into the palace, I saw who I believed to be my uncle walking in his room. When I tried to confront him, it turned out not to be him.  Duryodhana, my cousin was dressed in my uncle’s evening robe and there was blood everywhere on the marble floor.  When I questioned Duryodhana we started to tussle and I rolled in the blood.  The palace guards heard our struggles, and Duryodhana screamed as if I stabbed him and I ran off.”

“Yudhistira, Duryodhana planned the death of his father when he was a child. He will harm himself and blame you for it.  Go back into exile and serve your sentence.  You must not speak of this to anyone including your brothers.  We will meet again.”

Author's Note: This story was inspired by the epic tale, “The Mahabharata.”  In the beginning of the epic, a backstory is told involving the river goddess Ganga and King Santanu.  Ganga drowns seven of  her children, and when confronted by King Santanu, she frees their eight son, Bhishma who plays a large part in the tale.  When Bhishma is older, he takes on a vow of celibacy and helps his father's second wife find a woman to help bear children in order to take King Santanu's place on the throne.  In later years, there is a division that is seen in the family. Competitions become a way of life between the Pandavas and the Kauravas.  Throughout their childhood and adulthood, jealousy and hatred brews amongst the Kaurava brothers towards their cousins the Pandavas.

In my version of the story, I wanted to highlight the character Yudhistira who is a Pandava.  Yudhistira displays some of the qualities that the character Rama did in “The Ramayana.”  Yudhistira is confident, complex, and obedient.  Although he is a character that is many admire, his flaws are never brought to attention by those who are close to him.  Moreover in Yudhistira's case, his cousin Duryodhana uses his weakness of gambling in order to gain his kingdom and to place Yudhistira and his brothers into exile.  I wanted Yudhistira to speak up for himself and talk to his uncle who is a fickle character that wants to please son Duryodhana. Duryodhana's depravity is expressed throughout the story, and I wanted to show a side of him that seems to be true to his character.  Although he did not kill his father in the original tale, I thought it would be great to a twist. 

Bibliography: "The Mahabharata" written by R.K. Narayan (1978)

Week Four Storytelling: Lakshmana

He often sat alone crying in silence in the back room.  There were lit candles placed everywhere and the fragrance of myrrh filled the room.  The drapes were always shut, and the fireplace was lit. It was there in the corner of the room where you would find him. Sitting on the floor behind the chair and leaning against the wall.  In this place he was able to escape from his mother and brothers, and think about the love that he wished was his.  His mother would tell him,

“Be careful not to shame our family, and admire the things that Rama does. He is after all, the wisest and most responsible out of you and your brothers.” 

Rama was the eldest and deemed wise beyond his years. However, to Lakshmana there was nothing special about Rama.

It was not long ago when my brother Rama married a beautiful woman from a city nearby.  I often wondered what she saw in him that made him pleasing to her eyes.  Many days we would go into the garden behind our parents’ palace, and we would sing and dance around the well and play in the fields of flowers.  I would watch her hair as she would spin around, and listen to her bangles clank as her laughter filled the air.  She was free.  She would run to the stone bench where I sat, wanting me to hold her hands and swing her around in circles.  My brother would sit with his back against the rocks sharpening his arrows, telling me to entertain her. 

“Dance,” Rama would say, “Twirl her around like the angel she is.”

I would peek at her face while she squinted her eyes when we twirled around.  I would admire her beauty.  Beautiful she was indeed.  Her skin was kissed by the rays of the sun and her eyes reminded me of the honey that we would take from bees. She would laugh until she couldn’t laugh anymore, and we would always fall into the grass and gaze at the sky. She would hold my hand and ask me if I ever dreamed of dreams, and if I would ever find a love like the one she shared with Rama.

 Sita in the garden

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” Sumitra yelled.

“Nothing,” Lakshmana said while wiping his eyes,

“Your wife Urmila is looking for you, and your brother is back from his journey.”

I didn’t want to go see Rama.  I had not forgiven him for what he made me do to Sita.  Many nights I would sneak away to go see Sita after Rama banished her from Ayodhya. It was she who kept us together when Rama was sentenced to exile twenty-six years ago, and inspired us to push ourselves to defeat Ravana when we were in battle.  Sita worshiped the very ground that Rama walked on, and now when he hears her name, he pretends to hear nothing at all.  I replay that day every day in my mind.  Seeing her screaming and crying while Rama dragged her out of the palace doors telling her to leave because he felt betrayed. He told me take her across the Ghaghara River where he knew she would be isolated from the world. He punished her for something she did not do.  Rama wanted her to die, and he sentenced me to take her to her death. In a field of marigolds she lay when I saw her last.  She gazed upon the stars asking the gods to bless Rama with good health and energy. Her belly was filled with children and she was too weak to move.  I fed her and then carried her inside the home that I built for her.  I wanted her to idolize me the way she did Rama, but I know she believes that her and my brother’s souls are connected.  

Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana

Author's Note: In The Ramayana written by R.K. Narayan, the character Lakshmana is portrayed as a faithful brother who possesses close ties with his eldest brother Rama.  Rama and Lakshmana’s relationship is different in comparison to their relationship with their other brothers.

Before Rama and Sita married, sage Vishwamitra asked for Rama to journey with him to kill the Rakahasas who were disturbing his fire sacrifice. When sage Vishwamitra received the approval of King Dasharatha, Rama left with sage Vishwamitra and was joined by his younger brother Lakshmana.  When the three traveled to Mithila, it was there where Rama and Sita first connected eyes.  When the two wedded, the men and Sita traveled back to Ayodhya where Rama and Lakshmana’s father ruled.  Rama and Sita’s marriage was filled with happiness and love.

In later years, King Dasharatha believed that his eldest son Rama should rule the kingdom.  When Rama’s stepmother Kaikeyi found out, she reminded King Dasharatha of the promise he made to her.  He promised Kaikeyi that he would crown their son Bharata the king of Ayodha.  She also had Rama sentenced to exile in the forest for a period of fourteen years.  Lakshmana joined his brother Rama and wife his exile.

Unlike the traditional version of the epic, in Sita Sings the Blues, Lakshmana plays a small part but the audience is able to visually see his emotions being expressed.  When Sita is abducted by Ravana, Rama and Lakshmana go to war and defeat the demon king Ravana.  When they return back to Ayodhya, the townsmen begin to question the fidelity of Sita during the time of her captivity.  Rama believes that in order for his people to take him seriously, he must send Sita to exile.  Lakshmana takes Sita away from Ayodhya.  The two travel by boat and Lakshmana drops Sita off in the middle of nowhere.  It is in this scene where the audience sees Lakshmana affected emotionally by Sita's banishment more so than Rama, who only wants to test Sita's fidelity no matter the cost. 

Bibliography: "Sita Sings the Blues" Nina Paley (2008)

                         "The Ramayana" written by R.K. Narayan (1977)

Week Three Storytelling: The Uncertainty of Rama

Rama had not regretted saving Sita from Ravana, but he felt that their souls disconnected. For centuries, their souls always found each other no matter the circumstances.  In their past life, Rama and Sita were children playing in the rivers behind their homes.  Sita loved the water and would jump from high cliffs even when she was told not to. It was not until Rama died from sacrificing his life for Sita, who was drowning.  Vishnu watched Rama's act of bravery and selflessness from the heavens, and knew Rama was to be reincarnated into something greater.  

Rama as a child

When the festivities had commenced in Kishkinda after the battle, Sampathi met Rama in secrecy on the palace balcony.  Not understanding why Rama showed a lack of interest in his defeat against Ravana, Sampathi began to share his story.

“I heard what you told Hanuman.  I see you have grown your feathers, but love does not grow like feathers. It is not a seed that can be planted, nor is it a river that can be refilled by the rain from the sky.” said Rama.

“You interrupt me Rama.  You are eager to speak, but not wise to listen.  I did not tell Hanuman the whole story, please sit in the chair.”

Rama unsure of his feelings for Sita

Rama sat contently and wondered what kind of love had Sampathi experienced that was comparable to his and Sita’s.  After his encounter with Vali and Sugreeva, surely love that was shared between animals was different from humans.

“I remember her sitting on the mountains of Himavan. I flew down from the clouds in admiration of her beauty, and to the cries that sound like those of doves.  Her lips were the color of plums, and her hair was as black as coal, but shimmered in the sun as if diamonds were in it. She told me her name was Parvati, and she felt unloved.  I sat on the cliff near her only in concern. I thought she would jump to her death because of the things she told me, but the longer we talked the calmer she became.

Pavarti "Goddess of Love"

It became a ritual of ours to meet without anyone knowing.  We would share our thoughts, dreams, and the past memories of our reincarnated lives.  Our connection was deeper than anything I had known.  One day I told her to meet me when the sun shined the brightest, and the sounds of the animals from the forest was the loudest.  I wanted her to meet Jatayu.  I spoke of her much to my brother, and he wanted to meet the unknown woman.

While in flight, I spoke of her beauty and I flew in circles around Jatayu.  The more I reminisced about her beauty, the higher I flew.  I felt a jolt and then opened my eyes.  I could smell my flesh and see that my feathers were seared.  Jatayu took off in flight and guided Parvati to our home while she carried me.  For months Pavarti stayed to nurse me back to my health even when I told her to go. My appearance had changed, and she did not care.  When I was well enough to fly, I only did so at night. I felt ashamed and pushed her away.

I never spoke to her again after the day she left. Sometimes I fly near our spot and when she appears, I soar high so she does not recognize me. In my heart I know she knows it is me watching over her.”

“Sampathi, your words I understand.  I fought for our love, and she too in her captivity. I questioned  her allegiance towards me when I faced her after the battle, and for that she walked through fire.”

Author's Note: In the ending of "The Ramayana", I noticed that Rama soon feels different about Sita.  He questions her virtue because of the amount of time she spent in captivity with Ravana and tells her  to walk away from their marriage. Sita cries out not understanding why Rama has continued to fight for her freedom and in the end rejects her.  It is then when Sita asks Lakshamana to set fire to an area, and she proceeds to walk in it. Sita proves her purity to Rama, and is then lifted out of the fire by Agni, the god of fire.  It takes Sita to risk her life to show Rama her value.  I wanted to put emphasis on the matter of devotion in friendships/relationships.  Throughout the book, characters are tested on their faith and loyalty primarily towards Rama.  There are people who do admit defeat because their devotion towards someone is continuously question even when it should not be. I wanted to show the consequence of that action through Sampathi.  

Bibliography: "The Raymana" written by R.K. Narayan (1972)

Week Two Storytelling: Sita's Secret

As they both stared out the double-paned windows that covered each wall of the office, Dr. Kevorkian wondered if Sita would answer his questions.  Each time they would meet, she looked for the chaise lounge that was adjacent to his desk.  It was there where she lay down with her legs crossed and arms dangling from both sides, twisting the strands of the white shag carpet.  Dr. Kevorkian had never encountered a patient like her, but then again after twenty years, he had only had three clients. He found his calling in the field of psychology and being a part-time life coach to those who were in need of motivation and confidence-building.  When he started his practice, the courts assigned Sita to Dr. Kevorkian after her abduction.

Dr. Kevorkian: Sita, are you going answer my question?

Sita: And what question was that?

Dr. Kevorkian: How did you feel when Ravana abducted you?  From the court's transcript, you never answered the question.  You said, and I quote...

“When Ravana took me from my love, I only imagined that I would be lost from his arms forever.  Each day I spent at Ravana’s palace became another night, and another night became another week, which turned into months at a time. I would kneel in the room of jewels and gems near the fireplace that burned an everlasting fire, while Ravana would stand behind me breathing what felt like a warm mist on my neck and whispering things in my ears. He then would put his hands on my waist, two on my shoulders, and one in my hair.”

So, what I asked you, and have been asking you for the past twenty plus years is, how did you feel? What emotions came over you? Did you think that Rama would save you?

Sita: Maybe you’re asking the wrong question.  Maybe you should ask if I went willingly.

Dr. Kevorkian: Did you?

Sita: Rama stated in court that day, “Sita had an opportunity to jump from Ravana’s shoulders, but then again she is afraid of heights.” Did you not tell Rama that I blame myself for the abduction, and the reason why I continue to have nightmares is because of a guilty conscience?

*Sita sits up looking at Dr. Kevorkian after not receiving an answer.*

Sita:  What are you writing?

Dr. Kevorkian: My grocery list. Would you like to see?

Sita: No…but I want to tell you something.

Dr. Kevorkian: Okay?

Sita: Sit next me.

Dr. Kevorkian: You can’t tell me while I sit here, and you sit there?

*Sita pats the chaise lounge signaling Dr. Kevorkian to sit next to her.  He stands up and walks near the chaise lounge with his yellow legal pad in hand, and proceeds to sit down.*

Sita sitting

Sita: When I was four, my mother had a best friend who built her home next to our palace.  I could see her home from my window.  It was covered in ivy vines and golden-colored bricks.  Each day, my mother and her friend would go into the garden, and my mother's friend would bring her son Aakarshan.  He had a gift of attracting butterflies, and he would call upon them so they would sit on the flowers and fly around in the garden.  Sometimes, Aakarshan would whisper to one whenever he knew I was watching him from behind a tree, and tell it to fly near me and land on my shoulder.  We became close over the next few years until my mother died.  From then on, her friend and son was banished from the palace because Papa was overwhelmed by the memories of mother. I always looked out the window to see if I could catch a glimpse of them from their patio, and I never did.  As the months passed, those windows were boarded up, and the house was left empty.  When Papa finally gave me freedom to walk to the market with Pahdam, my governess, it was there in the market where I saw the beautiful butterfly boy.  I ran up behind him and put my hands over his eyes.

“Guess who?” I said.

The man started to smile and turn around. He looked me in my eyes and said,

“Girls like you should be more careful when touching men they do not know.  It may come off as promiscuity unless that is what you are aiming for.”

I was confused, and I did not know why he was being cold.  I knew those chestnut brown eyes, coal black hair, and skin that was the color of amber.  He even smelled of honey and lavender.  I just stood before him, and he yelled at me to go.  Each night I thought of him until the day I met Rama.  When Ravana abducted me, I began to think of Aakarshan. Our mothers would tell us the stories of the Gods and demons that walked amongst us here on earth, and the story of Ravana was my favorite.  Aakarshan and I would run around the garden and pretend that Ravana had taken me far far away, and each time Aakarshan would save me.  When Ravana did abduct me, I wanted Aakarshan to save me. I hoped for him, and I prayed for him. Rama ended up defeating Ravana, not Aakarshan.  When I dream, I don’t dream of Ravana.  I dream of Aakarshan and of him holding me in his arms.  When I wake up, I see an unrecognizable man lying next to me.  Can I tell you a secret?

Dr. Kevorkian: Yes.

Sita: Before I married Rama, I found out that Aakarshan was actually the first man to complete Father’s task with the bow of Dhanush Shiva, not Rama.  Phadam told me that Aakarshan proved to papa that he was worthy to take my hand, and Papa told him no.  So when I was abducted by Ravana, truth be told… I did go willingly.

Sita's Abduction

Author’s Note: This story was inspired by the Indian Epic “The Ramayana” written by R.K. Narayan.  In the epic, a princess by the name of Sita fell in love with a Prince named Rama after only seeing him once.  Rama too fancied Sita.  Rama did not know that Sita was the daughter of King Janaka. Sage Vishvamitra ordered Rama to complete King Janaka's bridal task. Any man who was able to complete the task would marry King Janaka's daughter.  King Janaka's bridal task consisted of a man stringing the bow of Dhanush Shiva. In Rama’s attempt, he broke the bow into two pieces showing the great power that he possessed.  Rama and Sita wedded after receiving the blessing from Sita’s father.  When  the wedded couple arrived to Rama's palace, Rama's father felt that he should be the chosen one to rule over their land.  When Rama's stepmother discovered this, she protested and reminded the king that he promised the throne to her son. Rama was later sentenced to exile in the forest for a period of fourteen years.  Sita followed her husband into exile, and was abducted by the demon king Ravana.  Ravana took Sita to Lanka where he resided and later was defeated by Rama in battle.

      For this story, I wanted to give Sita a life before Rama.  In the epic, readers are not given any information on her life previous to her meeting Rama.  I felt that Sita was not her own person, but lived in Rama's shadow. Adding the character Askarshan to the story was eliminating the attention that was given to Rama.  I wanted Sita to experience a love before Rama, a love that she had never quite gotten over.  Moreover, I chose Dr. Kevorkian to be her psychologist because was an advocate for assisted suicide.  He believed that a person should be able to make their own decisions when it came to their personal lives whether it was considered moral or immoral by law. 

Bibliography: “The Ramayana” written by R.K. Narayan (1972)

Week One Storytelling: Untold Truths

Her mother always told her never to walk without an adult when passing the brown house with the numbers 233 hanging from the side, but Hanna was always a child of curiosity and liberty believing the family that lived in the home was no different from her own.  Blake was a ten year-old boy who she sat next to in class, and he never said a word.  The children teased him, for his clothes were always too small, and he walked slow and hunched over like he was old.  Hanna would stare out the corner of her eyes at Blake and wonder why no one passed his house without having someone watching them nearby.  The young boy consumed her mind and she thought to herself that he is a frail kind of guy, and his quietness must be shyness.  One day, Hanna walked up to Blake during recess where he sat nearby the swing set with his knees to his chest and head resting on his arms. “Blake, can we play together?”

 Little boy at playground

No answer came from his mouth and no movement from his body.  She stood before him just a bit longer, and then walked away.  Three days in a row she asked him, and each time he found a new place to sit, with his knees to his chest and his head resting on his arms.  He never spoke a word to Hanna or moved to show any motion.  As the school week passed, Hanna became more curious than usual and set her mind to walking to the small brown house where Blake lived.  When Saturday approached, Hanna did her chores and asked her mom if she could go out and play. 

When her mother asked, “Where will you be?” 

Hanna lied and said she would be at the park with the other girls from her class.  Hanna grabbed her purple jacket and walked out the door, looking back to see if her mother was watching her from the window.  Instead of turning left, she turned right to the small brown house where she heard the dogs bark from the inside with all their might.  She knocked and then rang the doorbell only hearing the dogs. What she did not know is that Blake was standing behind the door looking at her through the peep hole.  As she rang the doorbell again, Blake then opened the door.

 “Can you play?” Hanna asked.

Small brown home

Blake stood there until his mother walked to the door.  She asked Blake who the girl was, and to invite her in.  Blake looked at his mother and then walked away. His mother grabbed Hanna's hand and pulled her in. Hanna then stood in the door way and watched Blake’s mom grab the two large dogs by their collars.  Blake entered a room ten steps away from the front door, and Hanna followed. “Blake you never speak and I always ask you to play.” Blake said nothing. His mother came to the room and gave them both milk and cookies.  She complimented Hanna's hair bows, and started to hug her very tight. Hanna told Blake’s mother thank you, and his mother smiled while walking out the room. Hanna grabbed the snicker doodle cookie from the plate. Blake marched up to her and grabbed the cookie from her hand.  They stood before each other face to face, and then Hanna felt a certain way.  It was not a terrible feeling, but she knew something was not right.  She heard a large thud from the room next to Blake’s and asked what it was. She moved closer to the wall only to hear a low voice and scratching on the walls.  Blake grabbed Hanna's hand and power walked her to the door, and when he opened it, he shoved her out the door.  Blake then said to her in a very low voice, “What you heard was nothing and never come back.  Just know that the Boogeyman watches you from that window, and he wants you as his snack.”

Gloomy Window

Hanna walked back home awfully confused.  She then turned around seeing a shadow in the window, and then the drapes were closed.  She opened her front door and was greeted by her mother who stood there in the doorway. Hanna then told her mother the truth. Her mother embraced her with a hug and her eyes started to water.  Monday when class started, Blake came in and sat in his chair without uttering a word.  Hanna said hi, and Blake looked through her as if she were glass. Hanna had thought of what her mother had told her that Saturday afternoon, "looks can be deceiving and there are secrets behind some doors. You'll understand when you're older, but you cannot go over there anymore."  What Hanna did not know is a story that was more than twenty years old.  Hanna's mother used to visit that same house long ago, and it was there she was told to keep a secret but it was only for adults to know.     

Author's note: This story is based off the tale "The Cat, The Cock, and the Young Mouse".  In the story, the young mouse decides to venture out side of his home and later reports the things he sees to his mother.  He describes to his mother an animal that looked dangerous with raw pieces of meat hanging from its face, and another animal that was covered in fur and had a gentle presence.  The young mouse wanted to meet this beautiful fur covered animal, but the animal that looked treacherous chased him away. As his mother listens to his story, she realizes that her son is describing both a cock and a cat.  She tells her son, the animal who frighten him by flapping its wings and shrieking was trying to save him from being eaten the cat.

          Instead of using animals like the original story, I felt that it would be easier to relate to the characters if I made them human. The message of the story is “Do not trust alone to outward appearances”.  I made sure the character Hanna shared traits that the young mouse possessed. The young boy Blake was the cock warning Hanna to stay away from his home.  Lastly, the mysterious figure in the window  that watched Hannah walk back home played as the cat.    

 

Bibliography: "The Cat, The Cock, and the Young Mouse" in The Aesop For Children written by anonymous with Pictures by Milo Winter (1919)