Indian Epics Journal

Ramayana by M. Dutt , R. Dutt , Gould , Griffith , Hodgson , Mackenzie , Nivedita , Oman , Richardson , and Ryder   link Rama and Sita after leaving into exile. Source: flickr   There were once two kings: Dasharatha and Janaka. Dasharatha was the Kingdom of Koshala and lived in Ayodha. King in the Solar dynasty.: father of Rama. Janaka: Kingdom of Videha, lives in Mithila: father of Sita Capital of Koshala: Ayodhya, beautiful and full of prosperous people. King Dasharatha of Koshala was mighty and powerful, but did not bear any sons. So they perform a Ashwamedha horse sacrifice (for the purpose that the gods will grant him heir who would perpetuate his race) and ends up with four sons. It was the chief queen, Kaushalya, who slew the horse. Drama in the heavens: Ravana, king of the Rakshasas, needs to be defeated but only by a human or monkey. So the god Vishnu borns Rama as the son of Dasharatha. Of the four children, Rama was the most beautiful. Great sage Vishvami...

Why rejection hurts so much — and what to do about it link The title of this article really caught my eye because this topic is something interesting to ponder upon. Most everyone can agree that any type of rejection hurts or at least, does not feel good. Having a lot of self-confidence is one way to combat rejection because if one can be reminded about the all the good accomplished or what he/she can offer to the world. A strong social connection, whether thats through social media or just taking to your coworkers affects everyone's self-worth and the higher this is, the less rejection negatively affects one. Reminiscing my early days as a college student, I used to react very poorly to negative feedback or criticism of any sort. This may have been due to not feeling confident enough or since college was such a new venture for me, I was afraid. Now, I have learned that any feedback helps you grow and develop not only as a student, but as a person in general. Feedback has allowed...

Below are the project topics I am interested in exploring. 1. The Goddess Parvati From the list of goddesses, I began exploring Parvati who represents fertility, love, and devotion. I think this is such an empowering role that happens to be feminine. I would like to be more educated upon the power and strength of the goddesses as opposed to the gods. Was there any patriarchal domination? I am also interested in researching about this goddess because I watched the Bollywood movie, Devdas, and I greatly admire the major leading female character named Parvati. When I noticed Parvati on the list of goddesses, it reminded me of one of my favorite movies and thus, sparked my interest. I am unsure of whether or not this movie is related to the goddess but I definitely want to research more about this topic as well. Online source link 2. Reincarnation: Moksha The idea of reincarnation is fascinating. For this assignment, I learned of Moksha, which is 'liberation from rebirth'...

There was once an evil master with an obedient, yet miserable slave, Androcles, who endured torturous working conditions in hopes to be returned with freedom someday. One morning, as the master strolled around his enormous and opulent castle, he pondered upon the thought of having a slave animal to guard his premises. Androcles was instructed to go on the search for such a request. He wandered into the woods and soon began hearing melancholy cries of pain. He then encountered a terrified Lion, whose paw was unfortunately pierced by a thorn. Androcles meticulously tended to the wound, which the Lion reacted to admirably, licking the slave's hand. After caring for him, a bright idea lit his mind: this was the prime opportunity to escape from the master with his new friend, the Lion. The two of them hurriedly began their venture when suddenly, the master appeared and exclaimed, "How dare you attempt to flee from my reign?! Now, you will never be granted your freedom and every wi...

The Man in the Moon by W.A. Briggs link   The blacksmith pushed the wise man to his limit-which I initially thought was nonexistent since he transformed him into anything he wished to be: stone on the mountain, stone-cutter, sun, and finally, the moon. And ever since, the ungrateful man has been on the moon. The Hare that Was not Afraid to Die by Marie L. Shedlock link This reading tells the story of the Buddha born as a hare, who sacrificed his own flesh when told of the assignment of Holy Day: no lives can be taken and you must feed the beggars. Hare's actions was to be self-sacrificed to please the Brahmin. Surprisingly, when the hare was thrown into the fire, the flames were "icy cold" and the Brahmin (Sakka) revealed he was there to put his virtue to test.  The Eight-Forked Serpent of Koshi by E.W. Champney and F. Champney link This is the Japanese story of the god of the seas and storms, Susanoo, and his opponent, Orochi, the eight-forked serpent. Super...

Throughout this semester, I hope to be educated upon the many Hindu gods and goddesses, along with the great epics of India. Rama: Retold from the Ramayana  link I am already familiar with the famous series of comics known as ACK. Although I have not yet read through the stories in the link above, I am interested in exploring. I admire the idea of learning the Indian story traditions through short stories as in these comics.  Monkey Stories: Jataka Tales of Wile and Wisdom link This is another comic from ACK that grabbed my attention due with the allusion to Buddha storytelling. The Mahabharata by C. A. Kincaid  link   This story was intriguing just based on the description: the story of the Mahabharata, but with an especial focus on the Pandavas. Also, there is an illustration on each page, which makes the story so much more visual. A moment of action in the Ramayana story. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Time management strategies are useful skills to have, especially in college. Using Google calendar helps me plan for assignments and exams in my courses. I struggle the most with procrastination. I've experienced too many sleepless nights to be counted. Yet, I continue to engage in this toxic habit. I truly wonder sometimes what it is that causes me to wait until the last minute. Perhaps it is the fact that I do well under pressure just like the saying, "stress brings out the best". For this class, I will make a strong commitment to not procrastinate. I will strictly follow the schedule I laid out, instead of trying to complete assignments on the day they are due. I also plan to take advantage of the extra credit opportunities offered to ensure I do well in this course.  The Important Habit of Just Starting I thought this article was very relatable. More often than not, the fear of merely starting on a particular assignment prevents us from completion in a timely mann...

Image editing and graphics creation are new tools I am excited to explore. I am using Macbook laptop so I will most likely be using the Mac Preview. I am very interested in learning how to create new graphics that I can use for assignments in this class and beyond. I am little familiar with blogging and bookmarking, as I have used for other things in life, academic and non-academic. This is the first online course I have experienced, but definitely not my last! The environment is similar to other classes in that there are assignments to be submitted electronically. Hard copies of the assignments are required in very few classes nowadays. Unlike most courses, we are learning about so many useful resources! Although I have some experience with blogging, I continue to recognize the online world as somewhat complex. I really hope to put my newly learned skills and expertise to use. In general, I want to acquire web skills that will allow me to conveniently blog in the future. To blog is ...

I am most intrigued by the reading and storytelling assignments. I enrolled in this course knowing we would be reading the great epics of India and I am excited to get started on this. I have always loved writing short stories so storytelling will be more of a pleasure than an assignment! Similar to other courses, there are mandatory assignments and deadlines. There is also the same possibility of falling behind and performing poorly in this course. However, unlike my other classes, there are no exams. We build our grade with the assignments. There is great flexibility because we complete these assignments based on our interests. I love how there is a surplus of extra credit opportunities, which almost guarantees success in this class. The growth mindset concept grabs my attention and I definitely plan on seizing these extra credit opportunities throughout the semester. My motivational quote for the semester. Source: pixabay

Prior to this assignment, I was not familiar with Dweck's growth mindset. I am fascinated by this way of thinking and I hope I can put this into practice. I can honestly say my academic accomplishments reflect my hard work and dedication. Yet unfortunately, I am just now realizing how often I have merely comprehended material for the sake of my grade in a course. The fear of failing is my greatest challenge when it comes to learning new things because setbacks or hurdles are always difficult for me to face. Whether I overcome these or not, I feel as though I would rather be successful without encountering such challenges. I think a closed mindset can be toxic, preventing one from appreciating the importance of education. My personal learning goal from this semester is to be inspired by challenge. I agree with Dweck: one is not learning if everything is thought to be easy. Learning should not be limited to the realms of academic boundaries. Learning should extend beyond an enriching...

1. Ganesha: The Remover of Obstacles link I enjoyed rehearing this ancient mythology story. The title contains just the right amount of detail to keep viewers intrigued and eager to read more. The introduction provides some background information about the gods Parvati and Shiva, which leads into the story of their son, Ganesha. The unique color scheme of the page grabs my attention. Descriptions and the significance of the iconography objects are explained beside the picture of Ganesha, which I think is a great way to summarize pivotal points, but in a way that is not limiting. There are tabs with interesting titles for viewers to scroll through and explore more of Ganesha's story. Overall, I am inspired by the way large images are used in each tab, allowing the story to be visual. 2. Hindu Goddesses link I appreciate the way this blog is easy to navigate around. For example, the simple introduction page lays out the topic and the tabs on the side contain concise titles, ...

I am a junior pre-medical student majoring in Psychology with minors in Microbiology and Medical Humanities. Upon graduating in May 2019, I hope to attend medical school and become a physician. One of the ceaseless reasons for my career pursuit stems from my advocacy to increase accessible healthcare. Ten years from now, I see myself traveling to developing countries such as my parents’ motherland, Bangladesh, to make healthcare, and healthy lifestyles in general, more opportune. I truly believe we all can live in a better world if we help others delve into happiness as we do so ourselves.  Medical school: a goal of mine for as long as I can remember! Source: flickr Aside from my biggest hopes and dreams, just like most college students, I find myself stressed during midterms, semester projects, and piecing together the puzzle that is life! In the midst of an incredibly busy schedule, however, I am sure to make time for a little fun. During winter break, I vacationed in ...

Paris, France For my sweet 16th birthday, my parents surprised me with a trip to Paris, France. Prior to landing, I fell in love as our plane soared above the skies of the uniquely luminous city. A photo of Paris captured from the skies.  Paris, France: the city of light. The Seine river flows peacefully through north Paris. The Eiffel Tower can be seen brilliantly glowing in the evening. Source: Wikimedia Commons Our first stop was the city's most prominent (and most touristy) landmark. I vividly remember the bitter December cold we faced, but the view from the top of the Eiffel Tower was worth it--to say the least. All smiles in front of the Eiffel Tower.  We toured the city's popular attractions, namely the Arc de Triomphe honoring French soldiers during Bonaparte's reign. Aboard the tour bus, I snapped a quick photo of my mother and little brother in front of the Arc de Triomphe. We then headed to the Louvre Museum, only to find ourse...

What a year to anticipate: I will be taking what I have referred to as the mind-boggling MCAT, applying to medical school, finishing my undergraduate career, and much more. I know there will be highs and lows, since life is continuously oscillating between these extremes, but 2018, I am ready for you!