Microfiction: Two Small Stories on Humanity and Rakshasas

What Defines Humanity?

Humanity is loving, laughing and living.

Demon or Rakshasa?

Are rakshasas truly demons? They are not innately evil, there have been rakshasas who do good. Vibhishana, for example, turned on his rakshasa family and joined Rama. Because of him Rama won the war and was able to defeat Ravana. They can love, laugh and live just as we do.

Vibhishana bowing before Rama

image found here

Author's Note:
The idea of these two stories (a 6 word story and a 50 word story) was from thinking about the different rakshasas we have read about who are obviously not evil. For example Vibhishana in the Ramayana tries to prevent the war at the end of the story by telling Ravana that he should return Sita to Rama. There is also the part in the Mahabharata where a rakshasi wants to help the Pandavas (after falling in love with one of them). These really show that rakshasas are not evil and so I picture them to be just like any other people, just a different race.

Bibliography:
Ramayana, Public Domain Edition by M. Dutt, R. Dutt, Gould, Griffith, Hodgson, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Oman, Richardson, and Ryder. Web source

Week 10 Story: Belonging

In a small farming village there was a middle aged widow who found a baby and became his mother. She named the baby Ahvi and cared for him as her own. Ahvi was a beautiful baby boy seemingly normal and in perfect health. However as he grew, two little bumps on his head began to grow as well. They were small little horns. It turned out Ahvi was part rakshasa.

Hoping to protect him, his mother hid his little horns with various hats or wrappings around his head. She would tell him, "Ahvi, it's very important you do not reveal your horns to anyone except me." And when he asked her why, she would only smile sadly and hug him tightly.

Also as he grew, Ahvi discovered the powers of illusion inherited from his rakshasa parent. He enjoyed these powers and would practice and play with them in secret deep in the forest. Because of this, he grew stronger and better at illusions the older he got.

One day, the small farming village he lived in was attacked by a crazy bear. This bear destroyed some of the villagers property and killed some of the livestock. Thankfully no one was harmed. This attack though gave Ahvi an idea. What if he used his illusions to keep dangerous wild animals away from the town? And so he began to use his illusions to send any dangerous animal away before they could do any harm. The villagers had no idea they were being protected until the day the village was attacked by a hungry rakshasa who had long ago thrown his honor and morals away.

This day began like any other normal day. Villagers were working in the fields and Ahvi was helping where he was needed while keeping an eye out for signs of wild animals. Then a stranger entered the town. But this stranger had large horns growing from his head and two sets of arms. He was also larger than any normal human. The stranger bellowed the order, "BRING ME YOUR LIVESTOCK FOR ME TO EAT OR I'LL KILL YOU ALL INSTEAD!"

Before the villagers could move to obey, Ahvi approached the stranger and simply stated, "No. You will not have our livestock or our lives." And he created the biggest illusion he could to scare the rakshasa away. The evil rakshasa took a step back and Ahvi used this chance to strike him down quickly. He grabbed his hunting knife and slashed through the intruders neck.

The villagers stood there shocked. Then Ahvi's mother rushed forwards to stand between Ahvi and the villagers with her arms spread wide. But Ahvi simply smiled at her and gently pushed her behind him. He looked at the crowd of villagers and, with the evidence of his defense of the village behind him, addressed them, "You all know me. You have seen me grow up and know I have never hurt any of you. Does what I am really make a difference when you already know who I am?"

Ahvi, with the woman who raised him as her son behind him, watched the crowd. What will they decide? And as he watched, the crowd relaxed and slowly approached...

Painting of a Rural Village

image found here

Author's Note:
The inspiration for this story is the Jataka tale Granny's Blackie. In this story, an older woman is given a baby elephant that she names Blackie and raises. The elephant gets along with all the villagers and never has to work. One day, he realizes that the woman is getting old and can't work as much as she used to so he goes to find some work to help make money. He does manage to make money and then helps her with any hard work after that.
I wondered what the story would be like if the woman raised a boy who is part rakshasa instead of an elephant. And from that came this story where I wanted to show that a person's heart and mind are more important than their appearance or race.

Bibliography:
"Granny's Blackie" from Jataka Tales by Ellen C. Babbitt found here

Reading Notes: Babbitt's Jataka Tales Part B

Jataka Tales by Ellen C. Babbitt Web source found here

The Wise and the Foolish Merchant:

• One group lead by foolish Merchant gets tricked by demons to empty water jugs and then they are all killed
• Next group realizes there are demons and refuse to be tricked

Granny's Blackie:

• A woman raise an elephant from when he was a baby and then later when she is old the elephant helps her with hard work

A big kind elephant - image found here

Ideas:

• What if instead of an elephant, the woman raises a demon who is good because of how she raises him?

Reading Notes: Babbitt's Jataka Tales Part A

Jataka Tales by Ellen C. Babbitt Web source found here

How the Turtle Saved his Own Life:

• Pretending to be unable to swim and acting like that is the worst thing they could do is what saved the turtles life.

The Sandy Road:

• Group of travelers carelessly throws away water only to find that they needed it because they got turned around in the desert.
• Determination to find water wins out and they survive.

The Quarrel of Quails:

• A group is stronger when acting as one (duh).
• A group divided won't survive.
• Group of quail could save themselves by flying away with a net over them until they begin to fight and refuse to work together.

A couple of quails - image found here

Microfiction: Two Small Stories on Bows

The Craftsman's Creation

Mighty bows for the mighty princes.

The Bows of the Princes

There are five bows for five sons of Pandu created by a skilled craftsman. The bows are given to their owners in the coming of age ceremony of each prince. One bow has elegantly carved elephants to symbolize the wisdom of its wielder. Another is strong and sturdy like the stature of its wielder. The next is tall, flexible and gold tipped to showcase the great skill of its wielder. The last two are twins in might and strength to parallel their wielders. The bows are perfect matches for their wielders and will be most loyal companions on their journeys.

Five bows for the five princes 

image found here

Author's Note:
The inspiration for both the 6 word story and the 100 word story above is the scene in The Five Tall Sons of Pandu where Arjun has the prince of the kingdom they are staying in take him to a specific tree. In the tree are some wrapped sacks that contain the weapons of Arjun and his brothers including 5 bows. I found it interesting that this story specifically shows us that each of the Pandavas has their own bow. This also got me thinking about the craftsman behind the bows (forgetting the part where they are supposed to be created by the gods). And that's where these two short stories came from.

Bibliography:

The Indian Story Book: The Five Tall Sons of Pandu by Richard Wilson found here

Week 9 Story: The Many Outweighs the One

It is a dark day for the pandava brothers. A war is brewing between members of their family. This is something they never wanted to happen. They do not wish to see the destruction and chaos that war will bring.

In the hopes of avoiding it, Yudhishthira comes up with an idea, "If we issue a one-on-one challenge against Duryodhan and our cousins we might be able to resolve our issues without bloodshed. There is no guarantee that they will accept but if they do, we will need to determine who among us will fight. What do you think, my brothers?" Yudhishthira looks around at each of his four younger brothers as he asks the question.

The brothers have a long discussion on strategies, strengths and weaknesses before they continue to the battlefield. They bring their army with them as a sign of their strength and resolve. They do not intend to start a war, but they will fight one if they have to. When the other side arrives, the five brothers step forward and walk out to the middle of the field. There they wait for five of their opposition to arrive.

Duryodhan with one of his brothers along with Drona, Bhisma and Karna meet the brothers in between the two forces. Duryodhan takes the opportunity to speak mockingly to the brothers, "What's this? Are you surrendering to me already?"

Bhima's face grows red and he opens his mouth to respond. Before he can, Yudhishthira raises his hand to stop him. In a calm, cool and collected voice but with fire in his eyes, Yudhishthira answers, "We are here to issue a challenge before too much blood is shed. We challenge you to a one-on-one fight against our chosen champion, Arjun. If our side wins, we get our kingdom and our status back. If your side wins, then we'll leave and you'll never have to see us again."

Drona gathers his companions to discuss the challenge. There are mixed opinions but Karna convinces them to accept with a plea for the chance to finally fight Arjun uninterrupted.

At this, Bhisma takes Karna aside to talk. "There is something you should know," Bhisma takes a deep breath to steady his heart, "Arjun and the other Pandavas are your brothers. Kunti is your mother by birth."

Karna grinds his teeth and clenches his fists for a minute before stopping. Then after a long pause, Karna accepts this fact with a small sad smile, "Then I have even more reason to fight in this challenge. It will prevent their deaths just as much as Duryodhan's and his brothers' deaths."

Bhisma nods at this in acceptance and gives his blessings to Karna to fight, "Then may Duryodhan accept the outcome of your challenge, whatever it may be."

Meanwhile, Drona approaches the Pandavas and tells them the decision for Karna to accept the challenge against Arjun.

They discuss the challenge and determine it will take place in the field they are standing in and will begin at the break of dawn the next day. Then each side turns away and walks back to their side to report the decision to their forces.

The next day, Karna and Arjun walk to the center of the field just before the sun is up. As soon as the sunlight reaches them, the challenge will begin. Each champion stands ready to fight, bow in one hand and a single arrow ready to notch in the other. They wait as the sunlight slowly creeps across the field. When it is barely a foot away, each one notches the arrow in hand, raises the bow and prepares to fire. The sunlight touches their feet. Both arrows fly towards their respective targets. Both arrows hit their mark. Arjun and Karna both fall down.

The closest spectators rush forward to check on their champions. Arjun lays on the ground clutching his arm. The arrow flew right into his shoulder. It's a very painful wound but not a mortal one. Karna lays on the ground with a peaceful smile, he's not clutching his arm or any part of his body. And nor would he ever again, the arrow pierced straight through his heart. Bhisma, the first one to arrive at Karna's side, is the only one who truly understands the peaceful smile. Arjun is the only other who understands that he didn't live by chance, but by Karna's skill.

Duryodhan is angry but the honor he has, little though it may be, keeps him from breaking the agreement of the challenge. He will surely try to rid himself of the Pandavas again, but for now he has something else to focus on. Instead of war, both sides prepare for the funeral of a man who saved many lives.

Old Indian Funeral - image found here

Author's Note:
I began writing this thinking about a way for the brothers and their cousins to avoid the war in the second half of The Five Tall Sons of Pandu. In the original, many many people die. And I honestly hated the fighting between family (and ya I know I did the same thing with putting Arjun and Karna against each other).
As I was writing I ended up completely changing the end and made Karna decide to die to prevent a war and the deaths of all of his family and friends.
Also, the title (which I thought of after I wrote the end) is inspired by Spock's quote "The needs of the may outweigh the needs of the few."

Bibliography:
The Indian Story Book: The Five Tall Sons of Pandu by Richard Wilson found here

Reading Notes: The Five Tall Sons of Pandu Part B

Bibliography:
The Indian Story Book: The Five Tall Sons of Pandu by Richard Wilson found here

Plot Points:

• The war is the majority of the second half.
• Arjuna's bow breaks in the war fighting Karna.
• The 5 brothers learn of Karna being their brother after the war is over. (What would have happened if the brothers had met Karna at the beginning of their exile?)
• Ends with the kingdom united through mourning Drona and Bhisma and Karna.

Archer and Driver on Chariot 

image found here

A Story idea:
Wanting to prevent full out war, the brothers issue a challenge in one on one combat to determine the winner.

Reading Notes: The Five Tall Sons of Pandu Part A

Bibliography:
The Indian Story Book: The Five Tall Sons of Pandu by Richard Wilson found here

Plot Points:

• No magic or divine weapons are in the story.
• Duryodhan is still trying and failing to kill his cousins.
• Each brother has their own special bow. (Who creates these bows? How are they given to the princes?)
• Draupadi asked for boon to accompany her husband and his brothers.
• Ends with the brothers revealing themselves after Duryodhan's attack to steal cattle.

Five bows for five princes

image found here

The bows:

• Tall and stately and gold tipped (told this one is Arjuna's)
• Stout and heavy with elephant carvings in gold (elephants are symbols of intellectual strength - Yudhishthira)
• 3rd "fit for a giant warrior" (heavy duty, strong/thick limbs - Bhima)
• "A fourth and fifth, mightier and more beautiful" (twins in shape but slightly different design? - the twins Nakula and Sahadeva)

Style

• Plot focuses on the 5 brothers.
• The reader finds out things along with the brothers.

A Story idea:
For the protection of the five princes, a craftsman carves five mighty, beautiful bows so that they can fully put their skills to use.

Microfiction: Two Small Stories on Good and Evil

Love and Betrayal

The demoness protected love through betrayal.

Good or Evil?

Is a demon automatically evil once born? Or can a demon choose to be good or evil through their actions? I have heard of a demoness who betrayed her brother to protect the human she fell in love with. So I ask you, is she good? Or is she evil?

Yin-yang image

Author's Note:
Both the 6 word story and the 50 word story are inspired by the story in the Mahabharata about the rakshasi who fell in love with Bhima. She decides to warn him of her rakshasa brother who wants to eat them instead of bringing them to her brother. The two of them actually get married afterwards and have a child. I used this story to convey the idea that no one is born evil which I whole heatedly believe. This little message also happens to go along with my storybook which I found interesting when I originally read the story.

Bibliography:
Mahabharata by Arnold, Besant, Devee, Dutt, Ganguli, Kincaid, Macfie, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Seeger, and Tagore.

Week 8: Progress

I feel the class is going well and I have most enjoyed the story and Microfiction blog posts. I am also enjoying the project (which is more stories of course). I have edited both the blog's layout and the sites layout some and I am happy with the way they look.

I might find things to change about the site or the blog post as the semester goes on (I mentioned a couple things I was thinking about in my previous week 8 post). I am most looking forward to the comments and thoughts I'll get in my storybook because it is mainly my own story that I've created for two rakshasa brothers. I have basically had it planned out from the beginning with a few things I didn't include so as to not ruin a surprise. I'm really curious what people will think.

Sometimes all you need is a good laugh to keep going:

Motivation meme

Week 8: Comments and Feedback

Overall I am really enjoying reading the comments and feedback on my stories. Though I actually only have a true feedback comment one one of my stories (2 on the same one), they were both helpful. They picked up on what I was trying to do with the story (make Lakshmana and Rama have more even roles) and they both had ideas that could help with that even more. If I was going to go back and edit that story I would definitely consider their suggestions. On the other hand, the feedback I have on my project so far has not been very helpful (except for Laura's feedback through email and the 3rd comment which I still wonder how best to give that info). The first two really make me wonder if they just skimmed the story or are they really that confused? So I've added some info to the home page (the info the 3rd comment mentions).

As for feedback I've given, I would like to think the writers would find it helpful. I've tried to be specific and point out anything that stands out to me (either by impressing me or by throwing me off a bit). I'd be interested to see what they actually do think of my feedback though so I might go read their Week 8 feedback post when it's up. Also, I really enjoy seeing all the different styles of writing and a few stories have given me ideas of things to try (like creating my own characters and putting them in a situation similar to one of the readings).

I'm sure my introduction does a good job of showing my character but I wouldn't actually care enough to go back and change it if it didn't. The required comments on people's intros are interesting to read but I don't much like writing them. I much more enjoy commenting on stories (and if I'm gonna do the comments on the stories I might as well comment on the intros and get the points for it).

I have considered changing my comment wall a bit. Maybe adding another picture that's more interesting as an eye catcher. Also I might add my synopsis like thing that's currently on the home page of the project.

Here's an infographic that I feel really shows the kinds of feedback and what is really useful:

Constructive Feedback

Week 8: Reading and Writing

I feel like I have gotten less detailed in my writing notes as the weeks go by. At first I seem to try and include the major plot points of the stories but then I move to only including plot points that sound interesting to me. The second is more helpful because they end up organized by possible story ideas. Although I will admit that I do not go back and read the notes when I'm trying to come up with an idea for a story unless I have no idea what I want to write about.

As for my stories I have tried a few different styles and I enjoy trying to write in a way that feels like the reader is right there watching the story happen. My favorite that I've written is either "The Brothers and their Battle" or "Demons at the Lake" (both include fighting and I always enjoy action). I'm not sure if I'll try and stick to one style from now on or if I'll continue to try different styles. It might depend on what my story is and what fits with it.

I've actually been having fun with the project and creating a completely new backstory for Ilvala and Vatapi (and creating Abhavi). I keep looking at the site and changing little things and I know there's still something I want to change. I want at least one more picture for the first story up and I think it would be helpful to have a link at the bottom of each page that goes to the next story (which is easy to do but just haven't done yet).

My favorite picture from my stories so far would have to be the one from "A Crew's Salvation" just because it fits the story so well with what the crew is doing at the end of the story. But if I include the project as well I also like the pictures I've found of the cave temples in Badami. If I have to choose I'll say the picture of the faceless statue on the Intro page because it really shows what the brothers see in the cave and it's easy to see where the hidden compartment is as well.

Faceless Statue in Badami Cave