Week 4 story: Life of Kumbhkarna

Kumbhkarna, destroying the town Danville

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Once upon a time, there was a big monster named Kumbhkarna, who lived in Danville. He was known all over the town as the biggest evil monster and everyone feared him. He goes around the town messing up people's lives by eating their food, messing up their houses and also eating some of the people. Many people were tired of his behavior so they all decided to go to the king's palace for some help.

People: "We are tired of Kumbhkarana and all his evil doings, can you do something about it."

King: "I know his deeds are getting worse day by day, I will come up with a plan to defeat him. Just be patience my people."

People: "We can not wait any more, that evil troll is eating people. We are all going to die soon."

The king was furious and had to come up with a plan to kill the beast. One day he decides to call a meeting with all the nearby kings. They eventually end up confronting a brave man, who decides to take on the challenge. The brave man, named Indra goes and tries to destroy the monster, but before he could Kumbhkarna takes all away all his weapons. He is helpless so the monster ends up killing him. The great being is mad at him for doing such and destroying many other innocent lives so he curses Kumbhkarna, who will sleep for six months and eat for six months. However, when the monster is awake, he causes more trouble then ever. The god is mad and finally sends Vishnu, as a form of Rama to earth. Rama is destined to go to Jungle for fourteen years due to a boon that his father was responsible for. While in Jungle, one day Rama is passing by the town and he hears people talking about this evil monster. He feels like he can help the people so he goes up to them and talks to them about it. Eventually, Rama finds about more about the monster. Where he stays and when he will be up. Rama and his brother both goes to the monster and see him sleeping. They try to wake him up, but they had no luck. Then one of the townsman, hit a rock into Kumbhkarna's eyes and he wakes up.

Kumbhkarana: His eyes are red and smoke is coming out of his ear, "Who dares to wake me up, while I am in my hibernating period."

People: In fear, they all rushed to their home

Rama: "It was me, you big monster. I am here to put an end to your evil behavior."

Kumbhkarana: "HAHAHAH, No one can defeat me. I would like to see what you got.'

Kumbhkarana throws a big rock towards Rama and his brother, which luckily they pass by. Rama was furious too now so they start fighting. Rama knew he was in a big danger as he saw what the monster was capable off. They go through many rounds of throwing things at each other. Gods are seeing that Rama is struggling, so they send a fire weapon for him to use. Rama uses the weapon, which eventually ends up killing Kumbhkarana as the fire weapon passed through his head and body.

The king is pleased with the Rama's deed so he ends up crowning him as a prince for the town of Danville.

Author's note:
This story was actually about Kumbhkarana, who is cursed by Brahma when he defeats lord Indra. Therefore, he is a monster, who sleeps for six months and eats for a day. I wanted to make the story into a children's version so I added extra details. Rama kills him in the actual story and I wanted to keep it same because I like the way he defeated him so I used the same story line.

Bibliography: PDE ramayana, Kumbhakarna Link

Reading Notes: Ramayana Part D

One of the story that I was interested in was the one about Kumbhakarna. I always use the name for people, when they sleep a lot. This has been a common word to use in our culture for lazy people. Kumbhakarna is basically a big monster in Ramayana, who defeated lord Indra and he got cursed for doing so by Brahma. He was cursed to sleep for six months and only wake up to eat one day. I have always learned the story in a different way like he slept for six months and ate for six months. I know it sounds like a life you would like to live. However, he was evil and ate anything he could chew with his teeth even humans. I could make this story into almost children's storybook version. I could use him as a big monster, who goes around the town harassing people. I can talk about how when he gets super hungry, he goes into random people's house to steal their food and sometimes even ate the people. Then came a hero in town, who was known for defeating many monsters, this is where I can introduce Rama. Then with is powerful weapon, bow and arrow he is able to kill him bringing peace to the town.

Another story, I could talk about is Rama's return to Ayodhya. Rama returns to his hometown after defeating till the evil monster Ravana. When he returns he gets a big welcome and also gets crowned the king. It's one of the happiest ending in the story. I can make it like a disney movie, Jungle book. It can be set like the movie where Sita goes to the jungle and finds his prince and they fight the monsters for fourteen years before returning. Once they return, they are greeted by everyone and they get married. Rama gets crowned and they live happily after. I can also then talk about Diwali, which is the festival celebrated for returning of Rama. It is the festival of lights, which shadows the overcome of darkness with light. It is celebrated with lots of fireworks, foods and gifts. It is kind of resembled to Christmas. It is one of the biggest festival in Hindu religion.

An image of Rangoli, decorated during Diwali 

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Bibliography: PDE Ramayana, Part D Link

Reading Notes: Ramayana Part C

One story that interested me was about Hannuman, how was he was born to be one of the most powerful creature. I remember some vague details about his birth, when I first watched Ramayana. As I read the story, I understood it completely. The story says, he got his form due to Hanuman going towards the sun to eat it because he was really hungry. He gained so many boon from the gods form the heaven, making him really strong and powerful. I could change the reason behind why hanuman decided to eat sun, make it more dramatic by making it a challenge for him. As he eats the sun, he is visited by other gods, as they are all astonished. I was also thinking about adding a twist to it, like create one of those ninja turtle movie scene, where they are faced with a villain.

Hanuman showing his love for Ram and Sita

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Another story that I could possibly use to retell is Hanuman getting captured by Indrajit. Indrajit figured out how powerful hanuman was and used his brain to capture him without using any ordinary weapons. He captures him by the Brahma's shaft, which was one of the strongest weapon. Therefore, hanuman could not be free and ended up being captured. I could talk about few battles they go through before hanuman is captured. How Indrajit got hurt and got really angry so he decided to call for help from his kingdom, who gave him advise about hanuman's weaknesses. He then used the shaft acquired by his father through hard work to get him. He then ends up taking him to Ravana, where he asks him to kill him but somehow hanuman escapes it. 

Bibliography: PDE Ramayana Part C, Link