Week 2: Reading Diary B

Thataka's Story: 

A yaksha is a demigod of valor and might and purity. Her 'powers' consisted of being beautiful and full of adventurous energy. Once she got married she had two sons: Mareecha and Subahu who were gifted with the power of physical strength. Because of their great strength, they would have contests to see who could do the best pranks. Because of this, Agasthya (whom had a hermitage in the forest) put a curse upon the perpetrator of the pranks. Soon after Sunda fell sick and died. His wife became enraged with anger and seek out the man who cursed her husband Sunda. Since they were cursed to become asuras (degraded to demonhood), they transformed. This transformation created Thataka, a fearsome creature whose presence will turn a region fertile less. That is where Rama ties into the story. 

  Mahabali's Story: 

Mahabali seized the heavens and the Earth under his subjection. In his celebration he invited all of the people whom had suffered in their encounter with Mahabali, with help of Vishnu, Mahabali soon learned a lesson. Vishnu took the form of a person of small proportions, but with great power to get the attention of Mahabali. Of course, Mahabali sensed greatness in him and greeted him at the front gate. Vishnu tricked Mahabali into granted him three strides of land. Mahabali granted him the three strides of land and was warned by his guru that it was a disguise. While Mahabali poured some water from a vessel on the palm of the little man assumed a majestic stature spanning the earth and the sky and condemning Mahabali to the netherworld.  

  

Ganga's Story:  

Ganga is the essence of rare herbs and elements found on the earth. Ganga cleanses and transforms every inch of earth that it touches. Just a sip of water can help a dying person. However, to be tamed and controlled her ancestors had to get involved. Sakara ruled the earth with distinction. He planned to perform a sacrifice known as the 'Horse Sacrifice'. In preparation for the ceremony, a horse is set free and trots along the kingdoms of the world. If anyone tries to tame the horse they take a challenge and which causes a war. The owner continuously attacks each city that their horse is tamed to set it free until they make their way back home. All the countries through which the horse passed through became vassals of the King, soon became known as the Horse Sacrifice.  When Sakara's horse out Indra abducted it and kept it out of view. When Sakara found out that her horse was lost, she sent her sons to go and rescue the horse. Once they found the horse they tormented the Saint that kidnapped the horse.  

Ramayana Conceptual Characters.