Extra Reading: The End of the World

Fruit Tree (image source from Wikipedia)

There was this little hare that sat under a fruit tree and thought, "What will happen to me when the earth comes to an end?" as the fruit fell from the tree. He got up and ran as fast as he could and not looking back. He called on his brother, "The earth is breaking to pieces!" and he started running faster and faster as other hares joined him. Hundred thousands of hare were running through the forest and deep into the jungles with other wild animals. The other animals like the elks, deers, boars, buffalos, oxen, tigers, elephants, and lions heard the earth was breaking. There was this wise lion noticed thousands of animals were running away because the earth was coming to an end. The lion asked who told them the earth was ending? The animals responded like the domino effect. The elephant said the lions saw it, the lions said the tigers saw it, the tigers said the rhinoceros saw it, the rhinoceros said the oxen saw it, the oxen said the buffalo saw it, and it went on. It ended at the little hare, who said the earth was breaking. The lion asked, what happened? The hare explained how he sat beneath a fruit tree and heard a noise of the earth breaking so he ran. The lion thought maybe a fruit fell, so he asked the hare to take him where the earth broke. They got back to the location and there was a fruit on the ground. The lion explained how the "noise" was the fruit falling off the tree.

Noor Inayat, The End of the World, Link

Reading notes: PDE The Guilty Dogs

Guard dogs (image source from Wikipedia)

One days there were a chariot of six white horses in the courtyard with harness. They were out there all night when it started to rain. The palace dogs decided they wanted to have fun andsaw the harness was wet and softened by the rain. The dogs snuck down to the court yard and bit the wet straps. They were playing it all night and eventually left before the sun came out. 

The stablemen yelled "The straps of the royal chariot, eaten!...destroyed!" and was scared to the King. When he told the king, he told him it was definitly the dogs that had been gnawing the straps. The King demanded to kill every dog in the city, all 700 hundred of them. 

But there was a dog that the chief loved and protected for and they were set out to find him too. The chief questioned and asked, "Why are you putting all the dogs in danger when they did not do anything wrong?" The King was furious for even questioning his order and wanted all the dogs to be blamed for. The chief explained how it is impossible for guard dogs to enter the palace and unreasonable to kill innocent dog. 

The chief told the King why would the city dogs be guilty and the palace dogs be innocent? He told him there was no justice in that. So the King asked the chief who was the guilty dogs and the chief responded saying, "The palace dogs". 

The chief fed the palace dogs kusa grass and buttermilk to eat. Soon after their meal, shreds of the harness and leather came out of their mouth. The guilty dogs were found.

Noor Inaya, The Guilty Dogs, Link

Reading Notes: PDE - Sati and Shiva

Shiva Mourns Sati (image source from Wikipedia)

In this reading, it talked about Sati being a consort for Shiva. Sati is the goddess Uma and the daughter of Daksha. When Shiva first saw Sati, he was impressed by her devotional practices and he wanted to marry her, but Daksha refused. Her father did not want Shiva to marry his daughter and always scorned at him. But Sati wanted to be with Shiva so she left riding on Nandi. Time went by, Daksha still continued on to insult Shiva. He just hated him so much and could not bear his daughter being with Shiva.

Sati decided to take matters in her own hands. She decided to cast herself into the fire and died. She wanted to be reborn as a daughter for a father that was worthy of her. When she casted herself, a huge fight came between Shiva's attendants and the demons loyal to Daksha. Shiva's attendants retreated to Mount Kailash to inform Shiva what had happened. Shiva was so furious that he knew he had to take matters in his own hand.

Shiva pulled out a single clump of his hair and created Virabhadra and Mahakali to attack Daksha.

Another fight broke out when Indra helped defend Daksha from Virabhadra and Mahakali. Vishnu also attacked Virabhadra but couldn't stop him. Virabhadra ended up tearing Daksha's head off and threw it in the sacrificial fire. Vishnua and Brahma convinced Shiva to revive Daksha to complete the sacrifice, but he would have a head of a goat.

Meanwhile, Sati was reborn as Parvati so she can be Shiva's consort again.

Kamala Chandrakant, Sati and Shiva, Link

Reading Notes: PDE Hanuman Returns to Rama

Hanuman and Sita (image source from Wikipedia)

Hanuman was worried that Sita lost her life in the fire. He felt like he had failed to bring her back to Rama, but he thought she might have lived. He thought, she could have been saved by her own virtue. He went back to the Asoka tree and found her seated there. He greats her and spoke of Rama how he is there so rescue him.

Flourishing through the sky, he found Sita. There were other monkeys flying around and brought Hanuman fruits and roots to eat. Hanuman reported all that he had done to Angada and Jambavan. While the monkey hosted around there on Mahendra’s summit. When all that had been told, Angada said, “Our work is done, and the time has come for us to return to Sugriva without delay.” All the monkeys left in the sky, roaring through the clouds. Angada met with Rama and told him the work Hanuman had done for Sita.

Rama talk’s with Hanuman and asks him all these questions about Sita. Hanuman explains how she gave him the crow message and painted brow-spot then showed him the jewel from Sita’s hair. It was all signs of entrusting Hanuman to get the message to Rama. Rama was happy but still in grief. He was glad that she was still alive, and that Hanuman found her. Rama felt so grateful for Hanuman for doing more than what is required of him to do. Hanuman explained he has done his work and cannot do anymore service in return.


Sister Nivedita, Hanuman Returns to Rama, Link

Reading Notes: Hanuman Speaks with Sita

Hanuman (image source from Wikipedia)

Sita, known to be Rama's wife, had been kidnapped by Ravana. He tried to convince her stay and she would be full of wealth, power, and comfort with him- but she denied Ravana. He was infuriated with her rejection, so he gave her a two-month term to give her a choice to choose. If she did not choose correctly, she would be tortured and killed. Once he told her the terms, he left her with his guards and preceded to return to his other wives. Sita is horrified what had happened and hopes for Rama to save her.

There was this monkey name Hanuman, who hid in trees, but known to be loyal to Rama. He travels across the land and forrest, and climb up trees. Hanuman had been up in the trees, eyeing at Sita. He's been trying to be very secretive so no one could notice him or the guards surrounding Sita. He caught Sita's attention when she looked up in the tree, then he came down. Hanuman explained who he was and he told Hanuman who she was then wanted to know where and how was Rama. He explained how Rama has befallen and trying to find her. Hanuman tried to persuade her that he was Rama's friend so gain her trust. When Sita got a closer look at Hanuman, she was scared that it was Ravana in disguise. Hanuman asked her to leave with him so he can get her back to Rama, but she didn't believe him.

Sita said she was sorry and glad that Rama's was okay, but if he was to save her, he would do it. She gave Hanuman a piece of jewelry to bring back to Rama and Lakshman. She also told him a story about their adventures with a crow that only her and Rama knows. Sita did all of this in hopes of Rama and Lakshman to save her.

Hanuman listened, took the items, and bowed his head as he left to find Rama.

Sister Nivedita, Hanuman Speaks with Sita, Link

Reading Notes: PDE The Wise Physician - Part D

Herbs (image source from Wikipedia)

Kisagotami was married to a wealthy man. She had one son and when the beautiful boy ran, he died. The young girl carried her dead child in her bosom and went house to house asking for medicine for him. The Buddhist mendicant thought she did not understand. He said, there is no such thing as good mood she asked for, but there is one Buddha that could give you medicine.

She went to Gautama and show her respect then said, "Lord and Master, do you know any medicine that will be good for my child?"

He responded he knows of some. It was custom that the patient had to provide herbs for the doctor. He asked for mustard-seed herbs that must come from houses that has no son, or husband, or parent, or slave has died. She went on carrying her dead child around the neighborhood and asking her friends if anyone sons or husband or parent or slave died in there. They all yelled at her saying how could she ask such a foul thing.

Finally, not a single household where no one had died and began to clear her mind. She left her child'd dead body in the forrest and returned to the Buddha for homage. He asked if she found her mustard seed and she said no. She explains how the people living are a few but the dead are many. The Buddha explained how the essential part of his system is the impermanency of all things until all her thoughts were cleared away. Then she would accept herself and become a disciple and enter the first Path.

Marie L. Shedlock, The Wise Physician, Link

Reading notes: PDE How the Antelope Was Caught - Part C

Antelope (Image source from Wikipedia)

King of Benares had a gardener named Sanjaya, who plucked various fruits and flowers for the King. One day, an antelope came to the garden and ran away as soon as it saw Sanjaya. Later on, it came back and started walking through the garden.

The next day, the King asked the gardener if he saw anything strange that happened recenetly. The gardener said he only saw an antelope wandering around occasionally. So, the King asked if the gardener could catch it and bring it inside the palace.

The gardener requested honey to lure the antelope to get inside the palace, so the king gave the gardener honey. The gardener spread the honey around the grass where the antelope hides itself and runs around. When the antelope came, it ate the honey-smeared grass. Every time the antelope saw the gardener, it ran away. Eventually, the antelope kept coming back to eat the honey and grew confidence around Sanjaya. When Sanjaya figured out the antelope grew confidence around him, he made a path that led to the palace surrounding it with thick branches then covering it. It hung a gourdfuls of honey over his shoulder, carried a bunch of grass at his waist, then kept sprinkling honey-smeared grass in front of the antelope until they were at the palace.

Once the deer got inside, the doors were slammed shut. The antelope saw the men and began to panic and ran around the halls. The King came down and saw what was happening and knew he could not keep the antelope. It has become accustomed to the outside world where it runs around and becomes easily frightened.

The King released the antelope to go back in the forrest.

Marie L. Shedlock, How the Antelope Was Caught, Link

Reading Notes: PDE Jataka, The Horse That Held Out to the End- Part B

Seven Headed Flying Horse (image source from Wikipedia)

In this life, the Buddha came to life in the form of a horse that was a thoroughbred small horse. The horse was the King's Destrier who was surrounded by pomp and state. He was well fed with exquisite three-year-old rice that was served in a gold dish worth thousand pieces of money. The ground in his stalls were perfumed with four odors. His stall also have crimson curtains while a canopy studded with golden stars. He had fragrant flowers and a lamp with scented oil.

All the seven kings envied the kingdom of Benares. They told the king of Benares to give up his kingdom or to battle them. 

The king of Benares sent for the Knight to fight the seven kings. The Knight responded, "Give me but your noble Destrier, and then I could fight not only seven kings but all the Kings in India." He provided the Knight with his horse and went into battle.

As they went into battle, they abducted six kings and brought them back as prisoners. The horse was wounded and bleeding which caused him so much pain. The knight made the horse lay down but he refused. Destrier knew that no horse will help catch the seventh king and he would lose. He was so close to accomplishing on capturing the seventh king that he did not give up. 

The horse got up and captured the seventh king. The horse went back to the King's gate and saw the King again. He gave the king orders to not slay the seven kings. Do honor for them both, exercise charity, and rule the kingdom in righteousness and justice. As the took off the armour of the horse, he passed away. 

The king buried the horse with respect and great honors. He send the kings to their homes after giving an other to never war upon them again. 

Marie L. Shedlock, The Horse That Held Out to the End, Link

Reading Notes: PDE Jataka Tales, The Hare That Ran Away- Part A

Little Hare (image source from Wikipedia)

Buddas came and go, but this Budda reborn into a Lion- he spends his life helping others. There was this nervous little Hare that was always nervous and worried that something dreadful was going to happen to her. She always repeats this saying, "Suppose the Earth were to fall in, what would happen to me?" She said this phrase so often that she thought it was going to happen one day. It was like she believed it was going to happen too. One day, she heard the slightest noise and it was a heavy fruit that had fallen upon a rustling leaf, which made her believe that the earth was falling in. The hare ran away so fast and told the older brother hare, "the earth is falling in, and I am running away." 

When the brother hare heard it, he told his other brother hare which his brother hare told others. It was a telephone game where everyone knew the earth was falling in. The deer heard it, the sheep, the wild boar, the buffalo, the camel, the tiger, and then the elephant. 

The wise Lion heard all this noise and asked what the big fuss was. There were no signs of the earth falling in so he had to get to the bottom of it. The source of the problem came from the Little Hare. He asked what made her think the earth was falling in? She explained how she saw it by the tree. The Lion took her back to prove to her that the earth was not falling in. He explained how the fruit fell and made a frightening noise, but it does not mean the earth was falling. 

Marie L. Shedlock, The Hare That Ran Away, Link

Reading Notes: PDE Mahabharata - Part B

Karna (image source from Wikipedia)

Karna is the son of Surya the Sun God and Kunti, the mother of the Pandavas. She gave birth to Karna before she married King Pandu. When Karna was born, he had earrings and armor showing that he could not be killed. Kunti had to release him from her posession and set him adrift in a river to be adopted by Adhiratha. 

Karna grows to be a formidable warrior that Indra worries that Karna might kill his son, Arjuna. Indra wanted to deprive Karma of the supernatural protection with his earrings and armor. So Indra disguises himself as a brahmin and begged Karna for the earrings and armor. Karna is not an idiot but sees right through the disguise, knowing it is Indra. He offered to give Indra the earrings and armor in exchange for the an invincible weapon. Indra gives Karna a deadly dart that can only be used once. 

Karna cuts off his earrings and gives it to Indra. As Indra took the items, he ascendeda smile to heaven. The news went around how Karna was no longer invincible.

Sister Nevedita, The Arrow of Death, Link

Reading Notes: PDE Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists: Mahabharata - The Boar Part A

Arjuna with his bow and arrow (image source from Wikipedia)

Arjuna is the third Pandavan brothers. He was out worshipping one morning by offering flowers and clay image of the Great God then a boar came by. He decided to try and kill the boar with his bow and arrow given from his worshipper. Once his bow was up in the air; suddenly the atmosphere got quiet, the birds were not chirping, streams not flowing, and suddenly it was dead silence. Arjuna still had the mindset of killing this boar no matter what. As he pulled back the string, he shot the boar.

After a couple of seconds, the boar was shot again with a dart and died. Arjuna did not know who shot the boar and called it his "unknown rival". As the other hunter stood there towering over Arjuna, which seemed like a king that was being accompanied by his queen. 

Arjuna was upset someone shot the boar because it was his quarry and demanded for a battle. As he saw the huntsman swallow up the darts, he knew he could not have beat the huntsman. He wanted to duel for a wrestle and threw himself at the opponent. Once he threw himself at the huntsman, he felt the touch of the Great God on his heart. 

Arjuna was crying out for the Great God because he did not know it was him, so fell on his feet. He apologized and was worshipping at his feet. The Great God placed out his hand and blessed the worshipper with divine weapons as he could be hurled by the mind, eyes, words, and by the bow. 

In the end, the Great God gave Arjuna a divine bow and blessed him. Then he walked away into the caves and snow that went up into the sky with all his train. 

Bibliography: Sister Nivedita, The Boar, Link