Storytelling Week 4: Dear Diary

Dear Diary,

One fine day I was flying through the forest, headed back to my nest when I heard shot. Then I heard another bird cry out for her mate. I then spotted Valmiki. I landed on a branch out of sight. Valmiki spit out a curse, directed towards the hunter who killed my fellow feathered being. The curse rippled out in the form of a peom. A beautiful poem.  Every time the mate missed the presence of her once beloved the hunter would feel her pain. The hunter dropped his gun as he felt the first stab of the Songbirds pain. It knocked him off his feet, but that’s what true love does.

 Then God Brahma appeared before Valmiki. He began to share the story of Rama. I knew this was a story to be told at the watering hole later tonight, so I had to get the details just right. I would be the one in the spotlight tonight with the story of the hunter and that I witnessed Brahma in the forest.  It wasn’t often that one of the true Gods graced the forest with their presence. When it happened it was a big deal.

I heard Brahma tell Valmiki that he was to share Rama’s story to his two sons.

Brahma: “You must share the story of their father to Kusha and Lava”

“Or there is no hope for dear Sita”

Valmiki: “How will I do that?!”

Brahma: “You are wise, and now a poet. You will find a way.”

With that Brahma was gone. Valmiki started to pace, with a concerned look on his face. He paced and he paced. Then he looked to the heavens with a smile. He knew what to do. If only I knew what he was thinking.  I blinked and Valmiki was gone.  I knew nobody was going to believe me. I wanted to go to the watering hole right away but nobody would be there in middle of the day while the sun was blazing.

(Flower near watering hole: Flickr: James Rickwood)

Sadly I would have to keep this story till later.  Instead I flew home and began this entry. I had to account for every detail and this was the way to do that. I also have to wait for my brother to return from looking for food before I could head to the watering hole. He always took forever. Eeeekkk! I have to tell someone.

Authors Note: I chose to tell the story about Valmiki, the curse, and Brahma from the eyes of another bird. This stems from Buck, William (1976). Ramayana: King Rama's Way. 

Week 4 Reading Diary A: Starting Buck's Ramayana

This book starts with an address by the Indrajit the invisible demon warrior. He speaks of Vishnu and Valmiki a poet.  Then an invocation to Vishnu, Lakshmi, Hanuman and the goddess Saraswati takes place. The book then transitions to Sauti and Saunaka in the Naimisha forest. They are sharing stories of the Mahabharata and Ramayana.

We then get a little more info on Valmiki. He is called to rescue Sita and teach Rama’s story to his two sons. Valmiki puts a curse on a hunter who killed a bird, the curse comes out in a poetry verse, he then becomes a poet. The god Brahma shares Rama’s story with Valmiki who then teaches it to Kusha and Lava. The boys then sing the song a festival that Rama organized. 

(Blue Bird: Wiki)

This is the type of bird I pictured...

It then goes into the back-story, the birth of Rama, Bharata, and Lankshmana and Shatrughna who are the sons of Dasharatha. Rama and Lankshamana become Viswamitras students. So that Rama can fight the demons. Rama is able to break the bow of Shiva so he is able to marry Janaka’s daughter Sita. His brothers marry other daughters of Janaks’s. They return to the capital city Ayodhya.

For whatever reason, this story was harder to follow in my opinion. I couldn’t get into it and had to force myself through the reading. Maybe because the story jumps around, or because I know the other version…who knows.