Indian Epics: Week 12 Reading Diary

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Arjuna is turned into a eunuch for a year because he wouldn't reciprocate Urvashi's affection.
The story of Mankanaka illustrates the apparent dangers of eating grass.
Manakanaka lived in the forest and only ate plants. He in turn bled plant juice and danced with joy.
He danced so hard he started to get the whole world into which worried the gods that the world may fall apart.
Manakanaka realized the gods were worried so he stopped.
Rishyashringa was born after his father came in a river and a deer swallowed it.
He had antlers and a pure heart which was needed to end a drought in Anga.
He ended up marrying the princess from Anga and stopped the drought.
Jayadratha kidnaps Draoupadi but is chased down by the Pandavas.
His life is spared after Yudhishthira begs Draupadi to let him live.
Vyasa tells Draupadi the story of Savitri and how she found the love of her life.

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Once again there is a dice game.
Draupadi is lost to Duhshasana who keeps trying to rip off her clothes but Krishna keeps her covered.
One more throw of the dice is made to see who will go into exile.
Yudhishthira loses and the Pandavas, along with Draupadi have to go into exile in the forest.
Arjuna meets his dad in the forest on a mountain. He then goes hunting and runs into Shiva.
Arjuna then travels to the pleasure forest with Shiva who introduces him to Urvashi.
Urvashi falls in love with Arjuna.
The love story of Nala and Damayanti commences.
Nala and Damayanti were in love but the gods Indra, Agni, Varuna, Yama and Kali all wanted to marry her.
Nala ended up losing everything in a dice game with Pushkara his brother who was possessed by Kali.
Resulting in Nala and Damayanti having to live in the forest.
The two end up getting separated.
Nala gets poisoned and works for a king.
Nala is later recognized and gets word sent to Damayanti that he is at the palace.
They end up reuniting and living happily ever after.

Indian Epics