Week 9 Story Telling: The Riddler Strikes Again

Author's Notes:
This story is based off of "Riddles at the Lake". In the original the pandavas brethren went to leave the forest they had lived in. On the way out they came across a body of water, and a voice asking them a riddle. The first few brothers ignored this, but the wisest of the brothers answered the questions thoughtfully. The first of the brothers died, but the wise brother was able to survive due to his ability to answer the riddles. Robin represents the first three brothers. Batman is the wise brother, and the Riddler represents the voice. The voice in the original story goes on to reveal itself to be Yaksha.

Bat Symbol

Story:

It was pouring rain in Gotham one evening. The bat-symbol was shining in the sky, and Batman was preparing to go to whatever the disturbance was. He slid down from Wayne Manor into the Bat-Cave, and then he jumped into his suit. Now that he was ready he hopped into the bat mobile, and raced away towards his newest destination. It turns out that he was on his way to solve a riddle left by none other than the Riddler.

As Batman arrived on the scene he noticed a body lying on the ground. It was his sidekick, Robin. "Robin must have tried to solve this riddle himself, and met the consequences of a wrong answer.", Batman Said, as he checked on his friend to see if he was still alive. Robin was only unconscious, so Batman placed him in the bat mobile, and set off to solve this riddle.

Batman approached the wall in which the riddle was inscribed. It read, "  I have billions of eyes, yet I live in darkness. I have millions of ears, yet only four lobes. I have no muscle, yet I rule two hemispheres. What am I?". Batman thought what robin might have answered out to solve the riddle. Whatever it was, it ended up knocking out his friend. Next, Batman turned his attention to actually solving the riddle. " What could this be?" he asked himself, as he wracked his brain for a potential solution. Suddenly, he figured it out. "I've got it!", he shouted, " The answer is the brain!".

After shouting out his answer, batman heard a rumbling coming from the wall the riddle was written on. A compartment had opened up in the wall releasing a tube along with a note. The gave a hint as to where the Riddler was located. The tube then began spraying out a gas that would knock out anyone if too much was inhaled. Batman then darted for the bat mobile, and left towards his next clue.

Bibliography: Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie

Reading Mahabharata: Karmic Revolution part B Favorites

Son of the Sun:

Kunti was wise when she was growing up

Sage Durwasa paid a visit to their village

Everyone was afraid of the sage except for kunti

Kunti served the sage and kept him company

Durwasa was used to being avoided, and enjoyed her presence

When Durwasa had to leave he whispered a mantra into Kunti's ear

This gave her the power to summon any god she wanted

She did not believe this so she tried it, and summoned the sun god

She winds up in the possession of the son of the sun god, but can not keep him as she is unmarried

Kunti puts the baby in a basket and sends it down the river

Sons of Pandu:

Pandavas

Pandu accidentally kills a hermit and is cursed

Kunti first calls upon Yama

Yama responded to kunti's chant

He gave her a son that would be the embodiment of virtue and patience

Pandu is very happy with his new son

Kunti then calls upon Vayu dev, the wind god, and was given yet another son

Kunti went on to do this everal more times with several different gods

Each time resulting in more epic sons

Pandu was still cursed, and soon perrished after pushing himself on madri

Madri went into the flames with pandu as he was cremated

Kunti could no longer bear the sight of her old home

She took off with the pandavas

Bibliography: 

Title:  The Mahabharata: Karmic Revolution

Author:  Epified TV (India)

Year:  2015-2016

Reading: Mahabharata Karmic Revolution favorites

Mahabharata: Karmic Revolution:

I. Introduction

• The Mahbhrata is a story that spans the entire subcontinent.
• Vias dictated the story to Ganesha, the lord of beginnings       
• The story has been retold by many other story tellers. Each have put their own touch on the story.
• The Mahabhrata is the story of kings, queens, heroes, villains, and a great war.

II. Shantanu the Unfortunate

• The Mahabharata is said to begin at many points, but can be seen as an account of how karma functions
• King Shantanu fell in love with the river goddess, and asked her to marry him.
• Ganga said yes
• She mad Shantanu promise to never question her decisions
• He agreed, they married, and were happy for a time
• They had their first child and it was drowned by Ganga
• Shantanu was devastated, but did not question his wife as promised
• Ganga killed their next six children without question from Shantanu
• As ganga was about to kill their final child, Shantanu finally questions Ganga
• She replies, and leaves shantanu, walking off with his only remaining child

III. Devavrat Returns

Devavrat

•  16 years after his wife left him, Shatanu found himself at the banks of the Ganga. 
•  His sadness was interrupted by fighting. The man he saw possessed skill that he had not seen before
•  Shortly after the fighting he saw his wife, and found out this young man was his son
•  Shantanu brought back to its kingdom its new prince
•  Shantanu fell in love, but could not marry due to already having a son. He was depressed
• Devavrat decided to do something about this.

IV. Devavrat becomes Bhishma

•  Prince Devavrat goes to the Fisherman and begs him to allow his father to marry his daughter
•  The fisherman still refused
•  Devavrat vows to never mary so that his father can marry. He vowed to never father any children before all the gods.
•  Prince Devavrat becomes known as Bhishma- he of the terrible oath.

Bibliography:
Title:  The Mahabharata: Karmic Revolution
Author:  Epified TV (India)
Year:  2015-2016