Shivani's Blog!

I chose a new design for my blog site. I changed the background to a maroon background with pink flowers. The bottom 75% of the page is a solid pink color. I really like this design because it is different and gives a girly feel to my blog site. Changing up the design of the blog site every so often gives a different feel and makes things unique. You can add your own photos to the background, if desired and make it your own.

Notes Shiva - a mountain mendicant Parvati - a mountain princess Ganesha - son; has head of an elephant Kartikeya - son; holds a spear Having 4 arms, or a river flowing out of a god's head is a normal concept for Hindus because they have been raised knowing this is just the way it is and no one ever has the need to rationalize the reasoning. The divine can take different forms: as animals, plants, human beings, etc. God is not singular in Hinduism Narat visited Shiva and Parvati and offered a mango to the better son. To determine who was better, Narat suggested they race around the world 3 times and whoever arrives first, wins. Kartikeya hopped on his peacock and took off. Ganesha stayed with his parents and did not move. As Kartikeya was returning from his third time around the world, Ganesha quickly got up and ran around his parents three times and stated that he won. Ganesha went around his world (his parents) as Kartikeya went around the world. The world is viewed th...

Valmiki with Lava and Kusha. Source: Wikipedia "How can my Rama just abandon me like that?" Sita thought "I have been through everything with him, even followed him through his exile from his own home." Sita was having mixed thoughts, while she was washing the only other pair of clothes she had at the riverbank. It had been 3 months since she saw another human and Sita was getting lonely and feeling depressed. Sita confirmed to herself, " If I wasn't pregnant with these twins, I would have ended my life the moment I was banished by Rama." All of a sudden, Sita heard some rustling in a nearby bush. Having a large stone ready to launch, Sita advanced towards the rustling, step by step. A figure popped out of the bushes, flailing his arms, begging Sita not to throw the stone at him. Sita recognized the man who came out of the bushes. It was the sage, Valmiki. "How long has it been since I have seen another person. What are you doing here...

Image showing Sita as being contaminated so Rama abandons her. Source: Wikipedia Sita announces her pregnancy to Rama and tells Lakshmana to leave Sita in the forest, assuming that the child is not his Lakshmana is really upset that Rama told him to do such a thing, but still does as he was told and leaves Sita Sita thinks about suicide but doesn't do anything since she is pregnant Sita is rescued by Valmiki She gives birth to twins and named them Lava and Kusha Rama discovers the twins singing in the forest and realizes that they are bore from him Sita proves her purity and leaves Rama. I believe Sita did the right thing because Rama didn't believe her in the beginning, when she needed it the most. How can a husband abandon his wife in the forest with just assumptions of unfaithfulness? Lakshmana should have intervened and done something to change the story. Bibliography: Paley, Nina. Sita Sings the Blues.  Source .

Rama and Sita with some of the Gods. Source . This film makes the Ramayana easier to understand, without all of the elaborate language that was in the books. It is really similar to the PDE edition of the Ramayana in the way of story telling. Sita, Janaka's daughter Rama, son of King Dasharatha - one of 4 sons Kaikeyi, one of Dasharatha's 3 wives  - exiles Rama, the king dies after. Sita and Rama go into the forest, Rama slays rakshashas. Ravana - devoted to Shiva but is still a villain Surpanakha, Ravana's sister, mad at Rama and suggests that Ravana take Sita away from him. Ravana sends Maricha to turn into a deer and lure Sita towards Ravana. Rama tries to capture the deer (Maricha) and Ravana take Sita away in a chariot. Hanuman goes to find Sita and ends up setting Lanka on fire and goes back to Rama Rama battles rakshashas, as he brought Hanuman's army to fight Ravana and they win Rama rejects Sita because she was with Ravana and in his house and...