Monday, February 6, 2017

Reading Notes: Pattanaik's Seven Secrets of Vishnu: Mohini

Mohini was the form of Lord Vishnu during the churning of the ocean. During the churning of the ocean, amrita, or divine nectar, had come out. In order to stop the asuras from consuming this nectar and becoming immortal, Lord Vishnu assumed the form of Mohini, took the nectar from the ocean, and gave it to the devas.

The churning of the ocean is one of my favorite stories.

Click here for a reading guide to Devdutt Pattanaik's Seven Secrets of Vishnu.

Lord Vishnu as Mohini. One of my favorite stories of that time period.
Source: (Google Images)

Week 4 Story: Khushi Gets Justice

Upon her birth, Khushi's mother had to leave Khushi in a temple because her husband and in-laws were against having a daughter and they wanted a son.

Dayabhabhi finds her in the temple and brings her home. Dayabhabhi asks Jethabhai to get all the members gathered at their house. As soon as all the members get there, Dayabhabhi tells them about how she found her and that they need to find out who her mother is and get her back to her mother.

After many tries and going to many places, they find her mother, but her mother, Surbhiben, tells the Gokuldham Society members that she can't take her back and that she was left at the temple because of a helplessness.

To find out her helplessness, Bhidebhai and Madhavibhabhi, in disguise, go to her house and are unable to find out, but they do find out that Surbhiben has an older daughter whose name is Suhani. They call Jethabhai and Dayabhabhi on their way back and tell them so. Dayabhabhi says that they are going to have to call Surbhiben to their house somehow in order to find out. They are told to come back to the society. Dayabhabhi gets an idea and asks Tapu and Sonu to make a card from Khushi's perspective and asks her mother to come to the society.

A few hours later, when Surbhiben comes to Dayabhabhi's house, she is asked what her helplessness is to have to leave her precious daughter at the temple. Surbhiben tells everyone that her in-laws and husband wanted a son because they think daughters are useless and are burdens; that's why she had to leave her daughter in the temple. The members are disgusted with their mindset and vow to change their thought and mindset and tells Surbhiben not to worry because they will surely succeed and give justice to both of her daughters.

After coming up with a plan, Babita, Anjalibhabhi, Popatbhai, and Sodhibhai to go Surbhiben's and tell her family that she lied to them, and that she gave birth to a son, not daughter. Upon hearing this, they get mad at Surbhiben and come to GS with them. Surbhiben brings Khushi down to compound a few minutes after they arrive, but she tells her husband that he has to leave his parents if he wants his "son". Her husband makes up his mind and says that he will leave his parents in order to get his "son". Suhani asks her dad, "who will take care of dada-dadi and give them their meds if we leave them?"

In the meanwhile, the Gokuldham Society members tell Shekhar (Surbhiben's husband) that his "son" is in fact a daughter.

Surbhiben's in-laws were in shock and instantly realized their mistake. They realize that they were wrong about daughters and they say that in order to correct their mistake of giving the wrong mindset about daughters to Shekhar, they will live happily with Surbhiben and her daughters and give them the love and respect that they deserve.

Shekhar and his parents apologize to Surbhiben and all the GS members for their wrong thinking, take Surbhiben and her daughters, and go home.

So in this way, the Gokuldham Society members gave justice to Surbhiben, Suhani, and Khushi.

***Author's Note: This story came from the idea of looking for Sita after she was abducted by Ravana. This story also involves the "beti bachao, beti padhao" (save daughters, let them study) campaign set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi a few years ago. Daughters have just as much right to live and study as sons do. They are also capable of accomplishing anything in the world. It was initiated to decrease, reduce, and diminish female foeticide.***

Click here for a reading guide to Sister Nivedita's Ramayana

Here's Khushi with Dayabhabhi, Jethabhai, and Bapuji. Isn't she just adorable?
Source: (Google Images)

Reading Notes: Sister Nivedita's Ramayana, Part B

The second part of the book was about Hanuman burning Lanka down, the war between Rama and Ravana, Sita's agnipariksha, and their "happily-ever-after".

Upon finding out that Hanuman was in Lanka, Ravana ordered his tail be set to fire. Using his tail, Hanuman burned all of Lanka down and returned to Lord Rama.

Slowly but surely, everyone reached Lanka and from there on, the war ensued between Lord Rama and Ravana. One by one, Ravana sent many warriors down to fight, but they all lost and ended up losing their lives. At the very end, Ravana came to fight with Rama, but his arrogance and pride brought him down as well.

Afterwards, Lord Rama brought Sita back, but because of Ayodhya's people's gossip, she had to go through an agnipariksha to prove her purity. She successfully completed her agniparika, and the people stopped gossiping about her being with Ravana for so long.

Then Sita gave birth to two sons, Lava and Kusha, and they lived happily ever after with Lord Rama being the king.

Click here for a reading guide for Sister Nivedita's Ramayana

Lava and Kush with their mother, Sita
Source: (Google Images)

Reading Notes: Sister Nivedita's Ramayana, Part A

For this week, I read Sister Nivedita's Ramayana online. I really wished that I could've had the physical copy, but I couldn't get it in time, so I just read it online.

The first half of this book is about when Queen Kaikeyi asked for her two wishes to be fulfilled. With heavy heart, King Dashratha sent Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana for exile for fourteen years.

While the three of the were in exile in the forest, King Dashratha dies and Bharata becomes king.

Sita is abducted and the search for Sita begins. Rama and Lakshmana meet the monkey clan of Kishkinda, and they all start to look for Sita. Hanuman is sent to Lanka with a ring of Lord Rama to show Mother Sita proof that he has been with Lord Rama. Hanuman meets Sita and tells her that Lord Rama will soon come and take her away from the evil and cruel Ravana.

I would write about Khushi and her story and about the members of Gokuldham Society sent her back home with her parents and gave her justice.

Click here for a reading guide to Sister Nivedita's Ramayana.

There's little Khushi in Dayabhabhi's arms.
Source: (Google Images)

Friday, February 3, 2017

Review: How Am I Doing?

Today is Friday, February 3rd, 2017, and I am completing Backup and Review assignment.

I'm going to use this post to write about how am doing in school and in life.

In school, I am on top of it and happy that I am doing well. I have been pretty well turning in everything on time and the results are just amazing.

On the other hand, I have started going to the gym on a daily basis Monday through Friday after I get off from work, and it is also making me feel good about myself because I am getting closer to my fitness goals.

"You'll get there. Just keep going." I just will keep going. I do know I will eventually get there.
Source: (Google Images)

Famous Last Words: So Much To Do, So Little Time

Today is Friday, February 3rd, 2017, and I am completing the Famous Last Words assignment.

This week, I had quite a bit of homework to complete. I was quite motivated to get up early and complete it, but when the morning arrives, my devil mind convinced me to stay in bed for "a little while longer" and I didn't quite actually get everything done, but that's ok because Saturday and Sunday are still around for getting my homework done.

I'm not going to let myself remain in bed for longer than ten minutes after my alarm goes off. I will get up at seven tomorrow and Sunday and come to study hall and finish my homework so that I can feel accomplished.

On the other hand, my workplace is experiencing a major cash crunch, and I am trying my very best to help solve the problem. I prayed about it yesterday, and I know that prayers work so I am sure that God will me with this. I don't know why I didn't think about praying over it earlier, but better late than never, right?

Quotes are best, so let's end with one.

"Nothing worth having comes easy." This is my sister's favorite quote and is something she and I both live by.
Source: (Google Images)

Wikipedia Trail: From Raj Ghat To Rajiv Gandhi

Today is Friday, February 3rd, 2017, and I am completing the Week 3 Wikipedia Trail assignment.

My Wikipedia trail started at Raj Ghat. I started there because I've been to Raj Ghat, but I couldn't remember where it is. All that I remember from going there is that my mom, sister, and I got separated and lost from our tour group. We eventually just found our way to the entrance and found our tour group there.

Then I went Jawaharlal Nehru's Wikipedia page. He was the first prime minister of India.

Then I went to Indira Gandhi's page. I learned that she was Nehruchacha's daughter.

And lastly I went to Rajiv Gandhi's page. He was Indira Gandhi's son.

I really liked this picture of Nehruchacha's study, so I inserted it here. It is located in his home, Teen Murti Bhavan.
Source: (Wikipedia)