#stories from hindu epics

[mplanetleaf]

సముద్రంలో అగ్ని పర్వతాలకీ ప్రళయ కాలానికీ సంబంధం ఏంటి? Submarine Volcanoes

[compassionmattersmost]

Ramayana No. 18: The Curious Case of Rama Hearing His Own Story: Reflections on the Ramayana

Inspired by Chapter 1.4 of the DeBroy Translation of the Ramayana When reading ancient texts, one often encounters moments that seem to defy the logic of modern storytelling. One such moment came to me while reading Chapter 1.4 of Bibek Debroy’s translation of Valmiki’s Ramayana. In this passage, something quite strange happens: Rama, the hero of the Ramayana, listens to the story of his own…

[room-surprise]

PSA: Mana doesn't exist in Dungeon Meshi

Some translations of Dungeon Meshi (specifically the English anime and Yen Press manga) have used the word mana to describe magic, when the original Japanese simply said magic (mahou, 魔法) or magical power (maryoku, 魔力).

Ryoko Kui does not appear to use the word mana (マナ) at any point in the manga, the published extra materials, or her blog, so calling magic “mana” is an addition made only in some translations.

For example, the French translation does not use "mana." If you know of other translations that do or don't use mana, let me know!

The use of the word mana in English comes from Maori and its earlier Proto-Oceanic ancestor language.

It describes a form of supernatural power tied to social status, respect and strength. Mana is a religious concept for many Austronesian cultures, and is not really "magic" in the way pop culture has defined it.

As best as I can understand it from an outsider's perspective, mana is more like attributing a supernatural quality to a person's charisma, or the awe one feels when faced with a natural wonder like a mountain or the ocean, or the intimidation one feels when facing a powerful group.

The use of the word mana as a generic term to refer to magical power has been criticized as being cultural appropriation of a real religious term, still used by living people, to describe fictional magic.

In addition to this, using an Austronesian word at random in Dungeon Meshi for one of the most important and fundamental forces of the universe (magic) is inorganic to the world that Kui has constructed, which is rooted primarily in Greco-Roman, Hindu/Buddhist Indian, Middle Eastern, and Germanic cultures.

Using mana to refer to magic would suggest that the Ancient culture from before the cataclysm was Austronesian, but the rest of the manga does not support such an idea at all.

There are references to Austronesian and Oceanic cultures in Dungeon Meshi, but they are mostly tied to the orcs, who don't appear to use magic, and whose culture clearly doesn't, and has never had, the social power to define what word the rest of the world uses to refer to "magical power."

How did a Maori word get so popular in English?

The concept of mana was introduced in Europe by missionary Robert Henry Codrington in 1891 after he wrote a book about his time in Polynesia. The concept was then popularized further in America in the 1950s by Mircea Eliade, an extremely influential religious history scholar at the University of Chicago.

Mana was first introduced as a magical fuel used to cast spells in the 1969 short story, "Not Long Before the End", by Larry Niven. Around this time it also became popular with new-age religious groups.

It has since become a common staple in fantasy fiction and games.

So why translate it as mana?

The choice to translate "magic" and "magical power" as mana was probably made to try and make Dungeon Meshi sound more like a video game/RPG, since so many Japanese fantasy manga feature video game or RPG mechanics, and translators working on Dungeon Meshi would have no reason to assume it would be any different, especially at the very start of the manga.

However, Dungeon Meshi is much closer to High/Epic Fantasy, like Lord of the Rings, and throwing random gaming terminology into the translation when it wasn't in the original text ("mana", "newbs" and "inventory" instead of "magical power", "newcomers" and "supplies") feels out of place.

I think adding the term mana is a disservice to the hard work that Kui has done with her careful attention to linguistic detail and culture.

In the process of working on my Dungeon Meshi research paper on real world cultural references, I have studied over 100 names and words used by Kui, and I have found that she is remarkably thoughtful and consistent in what real world cultures and languages she pulls from, and what fictional cultures she pairs them with.

Obviously I don't blame the translators for not knowing this, they had to make translation decisions before the entire manga was complete, and most likely they were doing work for hire, with no idea what Dungeon Meshi was about.

They had no way of knowing Dungeon Meshi wasn't a video game fantasy comic, and were just trying to rush through their work as fast as possible in order to get paid, and move onto their next project.

Once it became apparent that Dungeon Meshi was High Fantasy and not a world that functions like a video game, they'd already used the word mana, so there was no going back.

In an ideal world, if the translators had known the type of story Dungeon Meshi would become from the beginning, if they really wanted a single word to translate "magical energy" into, they could have picked a word that belongs to one of the language families I mentioned before, rather than using mana just because "everybody uses mana, so readers will know what it means."

What should I call magic power then?

If reading all of this has made you want to stop calling it mana, hooray! Thanks for listening to me rant. You could just call it magical power, if you wanted. Nothing wrong with that!

But if you want something a little less clunky, here's an incomplete list of possibilities in some of the languages most commonly referenced in Dungeon Meshi. Please note I have not done due diligence on every one of these, I believe none of them are exclusively religious terms still in use, but just words that could mean magic (both fictional and real) in various languages. If I'm wrong about any of them, let me know.

INDIAN: Maya, prana. MIDDLE EASTERN: Sihr, kiisum/kesem. GRECO-ROMAN: Ergon (as a euphemism), goteia, physis, numen/numina, mageia. GERMANIC: Seidr, galdr.

(This post is an excerpt from my Dungeon Meshi essay with additional elaborations.)

[velvetvexations]

While I entirely understand Indians who have been traumatized by Hinduism and would never deny them those feelings, asserting that it is a uniquely oppressive faith just isn't true. All religions, like any social technology, have the capacity to empower or oppress based on an infinite number of factors. I'm white, so my positionality here is far different from that of a Desi person and I'll therefor never know what it's like to be a queer Indian or someone of a lower caste, there has certainly been a lot of harm done to those groups in the name of faith, but the same is true the world over.

I don't practice, but I study Hinduism at a university level and have seen its flaws and the ways it can be surprisingly empowering (Arjuna when he's in exile in Virata and Shikandi -both a part of the Mahabharata- are two of my favourite examples of stories that you can read as queer and more specifically trans).

Likewise, my academic sister and someone who has more or less adopted me is a middle aged Indian woman who is an extremely devout follower of Krishna. She has nevertheless welcomed me into her home as a trans man and spoken about how she loves the acceptance of Canadian society, she also talks about how she abhors the caste system and the harm is causes.

Like I said at the top, I will never argue against people who have been hurt by the faith, but the generalizations of hatred hurt my heart.

(P.S. i'm too scared to go off anon here, but if you wanna talk about Hinduism Velvet just say so and i'll DM you lmao)

and btw an Indian woman having trauma doesn't make her racist for not liking her own culture's dominant religion but it is

absolutely

racist that a lot of White people are cheering on her epic dunk on a religion of more than a billion people because they would recognize that please-get-therapy response would be bugfuck if she directed that hostility towards a trans Christian but it being something outside of their own cultural context means everyone is totally thrilled to go along with "it inspired the Nazis! you can't be Hindu without being transphobic!"

like literally that is the entirety of her complaint

I pointed out the OP was not about her and she IMMEDIATELY pivoted away from that issue to me being "obsessed" with her because I briefly discussed her book one month ago and apply the term she uses for her ideology to others who share it with the framing that I'm doing an Operation Freakout because she's apparently gone on rants about Hinduism before

so regardless of her meltdown being triggered by something she now is undeniably aware was not about her she still gets her W from the cheering crowds because she ripped the mask off her bubbling trauma making her lose her shit at anyone who practices or is working towards practicing Hinduism which everyone loves because to them it's just some backwards foreign cult akin to a browner version of Scientology

God, can you imagine how they feel about Jews if they're this angry about Hindu atrocities? No fucking wonder they can't go five seconds without accusing anyone they dislike of being a Zionist the second they find out they're Jewish. It's unimaginably racist. Not of Talia, she just needs time off the internet, but of every White person who will uncritically share it in spite of the fact that no they truly would not say some dumb shit like this about the major religions that fit into their cultural context. This is exactly how TERFs are with Muslims, but it's not praxis right now for TRFs to hate Muslims unless China is the one putting them in concentration camps.

"transfeminized people are at the bottom of the caste system" ohhhhh my God and Christians have murdered queer people FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS but to act like a trans person being Hindu is a unique act of betrayal or short-sightedness you have to conveniently ignore that because it would be so obviously wrong to say that queer people can't be Christian

[aahanna]

hi aahanna, i really want to read stories about Hindu mythology, where do I get started?

Glad to help you !!

Books

1. "The Bhagavad Gita" by Eknath Easwaran: A spiritual guidebook and a key scripture in Hinduism.

2. "Hindu Myths" by Wendy Doniger: A comprehensive collection of Hindu myths and legends.

3. "The Upanishads" by Eknath Easwaran*: A translation of the ancient Indian scriptures.

4 . Read Amish Tripathi book series

Apps

1. Offline Pooja book (all mythological scripts are available)

2. Hindu Stories: An app with a collection of stories from Hindu mythology, along with quizzes and games.

3. Indian Folk Tales: An app with a collection of folk tales and stories from Hindu mythology.

4 . Veducation

Podcasts

1. The Mahabharata Podcast*: A podcast retelling the epic Mahabharata.

2. The Ramayana Podcast*: A podcast adaptation of the Ramayana.

YouTube Channels

1. Devdutt Pattanaik: A channel by the renowned mythologist, featuring videos on Hindu mythology.

2. Epic Channel: A channel with animated videos and documentaries on Hindu mythology.

3. Amar Chitra Katha: A channel with animated videos based on Hindu mythology stories.

4. Katha by Premanand Maharaj

[athenaareia]

hello PLEASE i am here for the yap about lalthambika i want to know everything you coudln't include because of outsider pov

there's actually a LOT brewing in the fic, because one point we have to remember is that except apollo (because sight) and annabeth (tartarus) have really seen her yk?

the idea actually began with a "hm... desi rhea + ma durga is in every girl/woman = fic?" and then I went down a rabbit hole of epic proportions.

some of this is addressed in the beginning notes, wherein I contextualize why exactly I had rhea take on characteristics and powers etc of both maa AND krishna - because if you keep looking further, they're the same.

other random facts:

as the tags say, sally and yashoda ma would get along so well in terms of their weirdly powerful prophecy babies that they love so so much. and notice how rhea steals cookies the way krishna steals makhan??

everyone sees her differently because a, she has many forms but more for this, b, for their own understanding. notice how I say hera sees women and mothers where artemis sees young girls? it's a matter of being your domain

grover is barely conscious, but basically rhea channels navdurga when fighting the minotaur (and I just realised that's unintentional symbolism because mahishasur was also half-buffalo). in my head it's mainly ma katyayani

rhea having that charming smile? actually krishna canon.

yes. she is literally everywhere, which is why she appears suddenly to give advice. also it's very funny to me.

I did imply that leo had taken brief sanctuary at a hindu temple, and that's where he heard the hymns/aartis rhea was singing. ashwatam keshvam is stuck in my head so she definitely sang that once, and also 100% can confirm she likes singing yada yada hi dharmasya for the bit.

did I casually ripoff annabeth's realization moment in tartarus from the mahabharat? yes. I even built up the exposition of them being a best friend duo who also happen to be cousins. plus I even made tartarus akin to a battlefield for annabeth. truly created kurukshetra!tartarus ft. arjun!annabeth and krishna!rhea before gta 6.

jason's scene? also a ripoff because I can't let my baby die and also it was the PERFECT opportunity. I'd be stupid to let that go. basically, you know how draupadi prays to krishna during the vastraharan and her saree becomes never-ending? jason asks rhea for help and so he gets more strength and also rhea takes one look at caligula's spear and says "not on my watch".

also personal fav moments: having her keep one foot over medusa because her iconography often has her standing over the demons she defeated. and ofc, manhattan bridge. the story goes that ma kali is technically a representation of ma durga's wrath. and we know she cares for and protects her followers like they're her children. so that's the aspect rhea taps into after annabeth is stabbed. also, in some iterations, ma kali is translated as "invincible" (I think?), which is what kronos later calls her.

apollo can see her properly because he's god of both knowledge and prophecy. he sees all her forms, but primarily, I think he can see ma adishakti herself (hence the subtitle name for his pov). the gods are old, they've met other pantheons, so they definitely suspect. apollo is just completely sure, and he's right.

another fun fact! ten points to you if you figure out what I mentioned without even meaning to in the last paragraph.

[noxsatvrn]

Wrekodara and the Sea Serpent.

Ink, watercolor & colored pencils on paper.

© noxsatvrn

The artwork depicts one scene from Serat Dewaruci, a narrative poem by Yasadipura I, the royal poet of Kasunanan Surakarta based on an even older text, Nawaruci, by a hindu priest Mpu Çiwamurti.

Wrekodara, also known by the name Bhima and Sena is a figure from the Hindu Epic Mahabharata. The 2nd eldest of the five Pandawa born ritualistically through the blessing of Lord Vayu, short-tempered yet kind and compassionate he's the strongest one among his siblings.

In the Pre-islamic Java, Wrekodara was adored by the common folk especially in the agriculture community as he was venerated as the symbol of masculinity and fertility, proven by many archaeological findings of ancient statues depicting Wrekodara. Traditions and myths surrounding Wrekodara persists to this day through the tradition of Wayang Kulit (Javanese shadow puppetry) telling stories about him during harvest festivals in several remote villages as well as the myth about the origin of a sacred spring near Dieng Highlands called Tuk Bima Lukar.

[dauntlessdraupadi]

WIPs MasterList

I am a newbie so pardon me if this isn't how masterlists are supposed to be done. I had an epiphany and the outcome is below. *Ahem* WIP changes for the ♾️th time.

The Crimson Keep : A supernatural thriller. Misthi is going through a lot lately. Losing her job, ending 7 years of relationship aren't easy. All she needs is a break. A beachside stay and wine can fix her wounds, definitely. A holiday turned into something Misthi can never comprehend.

Wings : A paranormal thriller. Mundane day for my FMC turns into nightmare as she is gets into the center of centuries of sacrifice. Betrayal, manipulation, revenge, with whole lot of satanic rituals. One of my FLFs.

Project Mahayana : Indian hindu mythology but make it 21st century. Reimagine the epic Mahabharata and Ramayana through a vibrant, modern lens. Draupadi, Sita, and other legendary women are reborn in the 21st century, navigating careers, relationships, and the unexpected reappearance of their divine counterparts. Draupadi, a bold veterinary student with love for art, while Sita's journey of self-discovery being leads her to unexpected friendships and a reevaluation of love. Expect witty banter, sizzling romance, and a powerful message of female empowerment as these iconic figures reclaim their narratives and rewrite their destinies. A funny, heart-whelming story from a unique feminist view.

Project Avidita : YA Fantasy( planned duology ) . In the ancient realms of Ponuri and Mithika, a fragile peace teeters on the brink of collapse. Political ambitions and deep-seated mistrust fuel a brewing conflict, while an ominous force stirs in the shadows, its presence felt but not yet fully revealed. Amidst this chaos, whispers of beasts—once thought to be mere legends—begin to surface, their true nature shrouded in mystery. At the heart of this unfolding drama is Gervi, a young woman whose destiny is intertwined with the fate of both kingdoms. As alliances are tested and secrets unravel, Gervi finds herself at the center of a web of intrigue and danger. Her journey is fraught with peril, but her role is crucial in the impending struggle that will determine the future of Ponuri and Mithika. The stakes are high, and the true battle is only just beginning.

The babysitter : psychological horror. A small village tucked next to the ocean. Family trip for others, babysitting for FMC. What could go wrong. Three children can't be handful. right ? Losing mind, Grief, mental health clubbed into one short tale.

Under his mercy : A science thriller. Human brains are fascinating. Arnav a neurobiology PhD candidate befriends Razia ; a microbiologist with social anxiety. As the time passes these two share an unbreakable bond, becoming two peas in a pod. But things aren't always what they seem, are they? Revealing their hidden secrets from the past, sinister intentions they can't be the same people they were. Are they going to face it or bury them deep down to save the friendship. UGH ! THINGS WE DO FOR SCIENCE.

Let me help you : When the world you were building collapses in front of you, you don't have much choice. You either die or kill. Which one would you choose ?

Mom, do you love me ? : A happy family. No secrets no regrets. But fate had a different plans for them all along. Swara is the only thing mother calls these days. But what Swara can do for her mom ? or Swara can do to her mom.

[jinitak]

Rant about the book Jom is reading

The book Jom is reading from is Khan Chang Khan Phaen, a Thai literary classic. It is folklore from Siphon Buri and was only written down long after it was conceived.

The story by modern standards is quite problematic, I have summarised the story below but there is a TL;DR below this paragraph;

Khun Phaen (previous name, Phlai Kaeo), Wan Thong (previous name, Pham Phi La Lai) and Khun Chang were childhood friends, Shun Chang is handsome whilst Shun Phaen is balding. Wan Thong would fall in love with Khun Phaen and Khun Chang would fall in love with Wan Thong and they marry but he was sent to command an army to Ching Mai. During his absence, Khan Chang came up with a scheme to get Wan Thong to marry him, by lying that Khun Phaen was killed in action, it worked and Wan Thong was unwillingly married to him. When Khun Phaen came back, he found what happened and tried to get Wan Thong back, despite him finding a wife in Chiang Mai already. He kidnap Wan Thong from Khan Chang, getting a 3rd wife in process. Each side would kidnap Wan Thong back and fourth a couple times which led to a trial by Phra Phanwasa (meaning the Queen mother), the matriarch of the Kingdom, which ended in Wan Thong being executed for not wanting to commit to either men.

TL;DR a woman gets stuck in a love triangle between a man she loved which betrayed her trust and a man she didn't love who treated her well but their relationship was based on lies. In the end she was executed for not committing to a relationship. (Who could blame her to be honest)

Parts of this epic is actually mandated in Thai schools (I had this for one of my Thai midterms, lol) and in the education system, they focus on the literary rather than the historical context behind the epic.

Many scholars such as Sujit Wongthes believe that this epic is actually a story about a fictional hero of the Suphannaphum Kingdom, one of the kingdoms that would become Ayutthaya in the 14th century. The Suphannaphum dynasty would rule Ayutthaya for much of its early history, which might explain how the story is so widespread.

Sujit believes that many aspects of the epic is representative of the early history of the Suvarnabhumi (not the airport) region, such as

Khun Phaen being a name for the Hindu god of creation, Brahma

Khun Phaen's magical sword, the "Fa Fuen" is named after an ancestral god of the Nan and Luang Prabang region.

When presenting the "Fa Fuen" to Phra Phanwasa, she placed it next to the Chai Si sword, which is representative of the Lao-Khmer origins of Ayutthaya.

All in all, Sujit argues that this folklore is more rooted in the ruling classes than the popular folk. This analysis of Khun Chang Khun Phaen is not present in the episode though, as this would ruin the mood of it so much.

But its inclusion even though it seems out of place (Suphan Buri is in the central parts of Thailand whilst the story is set in the north), is actually not that weird. In the period of the series, Bangkok has just had a major reforms to local administration, ditching the Mandala system in favour of western style centralisation based on colonial administration in the Dutch East Indies. This had the effect of Bangkok suppressing Lanna culture and a "Siamisation" of Lanna. Yai's family who I presume is local administrators sent from Bangkok shows this very cleary, he doesn't try to blend in with locals, he speak the central (Siamese) tongue and reads Siamese literature.

The inclusion of this epic rather than using something most Thai people already know to create the scene, it also creates the historical backdrop in which the series is set.

Thank you for coming to my TedTalk. I might talk about Sunthon Phu, which Yai recited whilst drunk and also talk about the historical context behind the series too. Please tell me if you are interested.

[talonabraxas]

Lord Surya Talon Abraxas Lord Surya is the chief of the Navagraha, the nine Indian Classical planets and important elements of Hindu astrology. He is often depicted riding a chariot harnessed by seven horses which might represent the seven colors of the rainbow or the seven chakras in the human body. He is also the presiding deity of Sunday. Surya is regarded as the Supreme Deity by Saura sect and Smartas worship him as one of the five primary forms of God.

Surya or the sun, often identified with Aditya, Savitr and Pusan, is another important Vedic deity. He is compared to a bird that flies in the sky and is described as the jewel of the sky. He gives light, produces day and night, gives power and strength to the living beings, makes them active and destroys their laziness and disease.

Surya had three wives, namely, Sharanya (also called Saraniya, Saranyu, Sanjana or Sangya), Ragyi and Prabha. Saranyu was the mother of Vaivasvata Manu (the seventh, i.e., present Manu) and the twins Yama (the Lord of Death) and his sister Yami. She also bore him the twins known as the Ashvins, divine horsemen and physicians to the Devas. Saranyu, being unable to bear the extreme radiance of Surya, created a superficial entity from her shadow called Chhaya and instructed her to act as Surya’s wife in her absence. Chhaya mothered two sons Savarni Manu (the eighth, i.e., next Manu) and Shani (the planet Saturn), and two daughters, Tapti and Vishti. He has two more sons, Revanta or Raivata with Ragyi, and Prabhata with Prabha. Surya is the father of the famous tragic hero Karna, described in the Indian epic Mahabharata, by a human princess named Kunti.

Surya’s sons, Shani and Yama, are responsible for the judgment of human life. Shani provides the results of one’s deeds during one’s life through appropriate punishments and rewards while Yama grants the results of one’s deeds after death.

Karna from the Mahabharata is also believed to be a son of Lord Surya.

In astrology

In Vedic astrology Surya is considered a mild malefic on account of his hot, dry nature. Surya represents soul, will-power, fame, the eyes, general vitality, courage, kingship, father, highly placed persons and authority. He is exalted in the sign Mesha, is in mulatrikona in the sign Simha and is in debilitation in the sign Tula. Surya is lord of three nakshatras or lunar mansions: Krittika, Uttara Phalguni and Uttara Ashadha. Surya has the following associations: the colors – copper or red, the metals – gold or brass, the gemstone – ruby, the direction – east and the season of summer. The food grain associated with him is wheat.

The Surya mantra is:

Namah Suryaya Shantaya Sarvaroga Nivaarine, Ayurarogya Maisvairyam Dehi Devah Jagatpate

Meaning- Surya Deva, ruler of the Universe, you are the remover of all diseases, the repository of peace. I bow to you, and please bless your devotees with long life, health, and wealth.

[cg11555]

On Ankarna

BLeeM said the Rage God's name for the first time, and because I'm certifiably insane, my first thought was damn isn't that a Hindu demigod? Then it came to me, the Hindu epic the Mahabharata. OF WHICH KARNA IS A MAJOR PROTAGANIST AND TRAGIC HERO!!!!!

Now, I don't know who here is familliar with the plot of the Mahabharata but if you're not I'll do a quick TLDR so you don't have to google.

The epic follows two opposing factions of cousins vying for power. The crux of this power struggle centers around the line of succession. These two factions are the Pandavas and Kauravas. The Kauravas are the senior line in the order of succession but the Pandavas' eldest member is older then the Kauravas' eldest member. The whole epic details the conflict through births, deaths, and MARRIAGES. In the end, The Pandavas ascend to the throne.

This is important for us because of the demigod Karna a member of the Kauravas faction. WHO IS THE SON OF THE SUN GOD SURYA. ALSO - in Hindu his name translates to - Husk Of A Grain - . This guy is a tragic hero who falls in the final battle. He narratively is important in the epic because he serves the purpose of bringing up Dharma ( the Indian religious ideal of actions that serve the purpose of upholding life and balance in the universe ) This guy is a flawed hero that is an archetype for any protaganist that suffers through rejection as a result of circumstances, ( HIs mom Abandons his ass Moses style bc she was 16 and pregnant )

NOW, we have to connect this info to a dnd campaign on the internet.

Ankarna is a God that has lost their original domain (Summer / Sun) presumbly at the same time as their wife Cassandra (Doubt / Night). Both of them are corrupted into perversions of their original states. Cassandra becomes the Nightmare King and rules over Fear and Terror. We are currently unaware of what emotion that Ankarna started with before their shift to rage (I've seen some people on here provide very good cases for conviction). Ankarna begins as a member of the Giant Pantheon and sibling of Ruvina ( Goddess of winter and sorrow that was worshipped by Lucy Frostblade ) At some point in their story they lost this original domain and became Fiendish and was stationed over rage. We see a mirror of this relationship between Ankarna and Ruvina in Cassandra ( Night / Doubt -> Fear ) and Galicaea ( moon ). Most importantly, we know now that Sol is Cassandra and Galicaea's brother.

Reviewing these facts, I believe that there was a war over who would hold domain over the sun ( Sol or Ankarna ) and Sol won. After their loss the other gods sundered Cassandra and Ankarna names from existence to stop them from rising again and threatening their power, mirroring the central confict of the Mahabharata.

Here's an insane person theory that I also have relating to this

As previously stated, Karna means husk of grain in Hindu. Going off the idea that Ankarna was sundered from existence by Sol IT IS POSSIBLE that he was absorbed into Sol's domain and instead of morphing into something similar to the Nightmare King they Became Helio. This is a crazy idea so feel free to disregard.

[primordialsoundmeditation]

DAILY ANGEL MESSAGE!

Take a deep breath, let it out slowly, say this prayer and then keep reading: “Thank you angels for revealing to me what I need to know!”

MESSAGE

You have a great opportunity to experience heart healing at this time. In the past, you may have found it difficult to trust and let yourself be loved, and therefore had many barriers up that stopped others from seeing your true worth. Now you find yourself in an empowered position where you are open to the possibility of partnership. This is very exciting! You know for a fact that you don’t need anyone else to validate you or complete you, but this doesn’t mean that it wouldn’t be nice to be cherished and supported.

If you aren’t in a relationship, the Universe is presenting opportunities for you to experience a real soul���to‑soul connection. This can only happen, though, if you stop letting past experiences cloud your judgment in the present. If you are already in a relationship, know that there is an opportunity to take it further at this time. Either way, enjoy the experience.

ABOUT

Rama and Sita are Hindu personifications of the divine masculine and feminine and are associated with the festival of light, Diwali. Embodiments of divine love and holy union, this magical couple can be invoked for help with overcoming challenges in relationships and can help those who are ready to open their heart to love. Rama and Sita are the central figures in the Indian epic the Ramayana. In short, the story is that Rama and Sita were royal rulers and a great demon lured Sita away by impersonating a wounded animal and an injured beggar in the forest. As Sita had great compassion, she fell into the trap and was stolen away from her one true love. On his quest to find her, Rama led an army of monkey warriors, including its leader, Hanuman, into a battle between good and evil. They prevailed and the royal couple were united once more. Their coming together is still celebrated today.

DECK: Divine Masters Oracle

ARTIST: Jennifer Hawkyard

Thank you for sharing this card if it relates to you!

Kyle Gray

[kyrieren]

Doumeki's irezumi

Irezumi (入れ墨, lit. 'inserting ink') is the Japanese word for tattoo, and is used in English to refer to a distinctive style of Japanese tattooing.

In chapter 53, Doumeki's back tattoo is revealed to be a "celestial maiden". Typically, irezumi incorporates motifs such as dragons, Buddhas, samurai, koi fish, and more, each carrying specific cultural and symbolic meanings referred to as wabori (和彫り). Intrigued by Doumeki's tattoo, I went asking if Doumeki’s tattoo is identified as any wabori and received responses suggesting it could represent either Nuwa (女媧) or Benzaiten (弁才天), given the details of snake and the stone in the goddess’ hands. After some research, Nuwa (女媧) seems to be more aligned with the story than Benzaiten (弁才天). However, I still present both of them and their possible interpretations in the story.

I. Nuwa (女媧)

Nüwa, is a mother goddess, cultural heroine in Chinese folk religion, Chinese Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism. She is credited with creating humanity from clay by the river bank and repairing the Pillar of Heaven. Let’s focus on the myth of “repairing the Pillar of Heaven”.

The world of the first beings was very different from ours now. The earth was just in its infancy and was only separated from the sky by four very large pillars. One day, Gonggong (龔工), the god of water, and the god of fire, Zhurong (祝融) became locked in a massive battle that would determine the ruler of heaven. Gonggong, who was motivated by evil, ultimately lost the fight and crashed his head against Buzhou mountain—one of the four pillars holding up the heavens. The earth began to tremble and the pillar collapsed and ripped a hole in the sky. At this point, the earth was completely in tatters from Zhurong and Gonggong’s epic battle. Fires had scorched the earth, water was pouring incessantly from the hole in the sky. The ancient Chinese historian Sima Qian (司馬遷), recorded the following account of Nüwa’s heroic deed: “Hereupon Nüwa melted stones of the five colours to repair the heavens, and cut off the feet of the tortoise to set upright the four extremities of the earth. Gathering the ashes of reeds she stopped the flooding waters, and thus rescued the land.” From that moment on, the water in the heavenly palace no longer cascades on earth to cause harm to the people.

In mythology, Nuwa played a crucial role in repairing the sky hole and preventing heavenly water from pouring onto the earth. As rain – the water from the sky, the befallen suffering, is one of the main themes of Saezuru, the parallel is pretty evident. Given Doumeki’s persistence to stay in the yakuza world and his decision to have a wabori that big on his back, he is doing everything he can to manifest his devotion to stay on Yashiro’s side, end his suffering and protect him from any potential harms, even though up to the newest developments of the story, it doesn’t seem likely at all. They’re both confused and hurting each other.

II. Benzaiten (弁才天)

Benzaiten ( 弁才天 ) is the “goddess of eloquence" who originated mainly from the Hindu Indian Saraswati, goddess of speech, the arts, and learning. While Benzaiten retains many of the Indic attributes of Saraswati (as patron of music, the arts, eloquence, knowledge), she also has many unique aspects, roles and functions which never applied to the Indian goddess. As such, Benzaiten is now also associated with dragons, snakes, local Japanese deities, wealth, fortune, protection from disease and danger, and the protection of the state. Benzaiten is depicted in a number of ways in Japanese art, one of which is her portrait wielding a sword and a wish-granting jewel (cintāmaṇi). Eloquence and wish-granting? I haven’t been able to draw the parallel to Saezuru yet.

So I’d stick to the interpretation that Doumeki’s tattoo is Nuwa.

[rrcraft-and-lore]

The Celtic Goddess Danu - the Mother Goddess, the goddess of and manifest divine waters. The waters that fell from heaven to create the sacred river, Danuvis or the Danube.

The Tuatha De Danaan are translated as "The Children of Danu."

There are similarities here between this Ganga and the forming of the Ganges. But more notably, Danu from Hindiusm - the primordial mother goddess of ancient/first old waters - liquid. There is also a river named Danu in Nepal.

She is the mother of the Danavas, a larger category of the Asuras - celestial/supernatural beings of god like powers, but calling them gods exactly is incorrect. Asuras and Devas are larger in some ways than that - celestial/cosmic beings of princely domains/abilities is slightly more accurate, but for all intents an purposes. There are more similarities between Celtic and Vedic/Hindu culture/myths.

Why?

Well, recent research has shown Celtic genetics shows paternal and maternal ancestry from ancient India (R-M269 deriving via R1b, and H & U haplogroups) - is it really that weird then we see echoes of the ancient Indian epics echoed throughout other parts of the world, especially with the history of Eurasian/South Asian trade, migration, and more?

There is a story well known in the South Asian stories, but let's talk about the similar Celtic one. A tale of how a hero has to build a causeway across the waters to reach his foe, and how his wife must outsmart her captor/villain.

Some Indians are already nodding their heads. We begin with the Celtic hero: Fionn mac Cumhaill, a hero who is born just after his father dies. 

Does this sound somewhat familiar?

Well, here we have Rama, born to Dasaratha, who is cursed to die soon as his son leaves him. His father dies as soon as Rama is exiled from Ayodhya. 

Finn goes on to study with poets, warriors, and hunters in the forest of Sliabdh Bladma.

Rama goes to the forest hermitage where he learns similar arts under Vasitha. 

Finn later in his youth goes on to destroy the fire breathing demon Áillen of the Tuatha (Children of Danu analogous of Aditi here btw) who destroys the capital of Tara every year on Samhain (a celebration very similar to the Indian Pitru Paksha btw) 

Rama as a teen kills the Asuras attacking the hermitage - the enemies of the Devas (children of Aditi), interestingly enough just like I've talked about in the Norse (how you have two bodies of celestial/god beings - Aesir and Vanir), the Greeks have it, there is also a flipping that happens in a lot of these ancient cultures.

Aesir and Asura come from the proto indo European asr - but in one group one is good, the other bad. However in the Iranian - Zoroastrian, there is a reverse. The Ahura (Asura) are GOOD and the Devas are bad (down to including Indra from South Asian mythology), and in the Celtic we see something similar - a flipping of roles.

Rama, Sita, and her protector Lakshmana were all in exile together in the forest. The demon king Ravana sends a golden deer to tempt/seduce and lure away Sita from Rama but it is really the demon Maricha in disguise. Sita is tricked and ends up sending her protector to Rama, leaving herself vulnerable, and thus abducted by Ravana who wishes to marry her and this leads to a war in where Rama eventually gets her back also, kidnapping of a women sparking a war? OH HI, HELEN OF TROY. HI.

Fionn meets his wife Sabadh while hunting, and guess what? She is turned into a deer by a druid she refuses to marry. She returns to her true form once in Fionn's home and they marry...only she's turned into a deer again by the druid Fear Doirich when Fionn was off at war, and Fionn must spend years searching for her. Wow. Coinky dinky dinky. 

Now to the original part of my talk here, the causeway in Ireland was built by Fionn to travel to battle a giant. Rama Setu, his causeway, was built by Rama's army so he could enter Lanka to do battle there - (Sri Lanka).

The Celts also have four major cycles of time just like the Vedic Indians did. The tricky thing here is that linguistically, PIE (proto Indo European) has been shown to be behind a lot of story/cultural influences as it spread through Europe/Asia, but...the thing that's hard to account for here is how geo-located Ramayama is in/to India, so why do specific echoes of it show up in Celtic mythology so much so?

Yay comparative mythology and echoed storytelling/beats tropes across the world.

[evolvingmonkey]

Shikhandi: The Gender-Defying Hero of the Mahabharata

Hindu philosophy holds a simple yet profound belief: within each person resides an everlasting atman (spirit or soul) that exists independently from the physical body, surpassing characteristics such as race, gender, and sexual orientation. Stemming from a common divine origin, every atman forms a spiritual kinship, deserving of love, reverence, and fair treatment.

In the epic Mahabharata, there is a captivating tale that revolves around Bhishma's commitment to celibacy, which leads to a grand swayamvara (a ceremony or event where a bride chooses her husband from a gathering of suitors). This ceremony is where Amba, Ambika, and Ambalika are given the opportunity to choose their life partners. However, Bhishma's interference in Amba's love life sets off a series of events that ultimately culminate in her tragic destiny.

Amba's heartbreak is twofold - first, her intended husband Shalva rejects her, and then Bhishma, bound by his vow of celibacy, refuses to marry her. This leaves Amba in a state of despair, fueling her desire for revenge against Bhishma. Determined to seek justice, she pleads to the mighty god Shiva for assistance in her quest to end Bhishma's life. Miraculously, Shiva grants her wish, but tragically, Amba chooses to take her own life to expedite her ultimate goal.

There are various versions of the next part of the tale. According to certain narratives, Amba is born as the daughter of King Drupada. Upon learning from Shiva that she will eventually undergo a transformation into a man, Drupada names her Shikhandi and raises her as a boy. In this particular version, a formidable entity residing in the forest indeed bestows upon her the transformation into a man. However, in alternative accounts, Shikhandi is born as a male but develops a trans-identity due to Shiva granting them the ability to recollect their previous life.

As the Mahabharata unfolds, Shikhandi emerges as a formidable warrior who defies societal expectations of gender. Their participation in the battle of Kurukshetra serves as a powerful symbol of authenticity, challenging the conventional gender roles imposed on individuals. Shikhandi's strength goes beyond mere physical abilities; it stands as a testament to the immense power that comes from embracing one's true identity.

Shikhandi's character is truly captivating because of their personal quest for self-discovery. They challenge societal expectations of gender and proudly embrace a non-binary identity. This exploration of identity is a key theme, showcasing the intricate and ever-changing nature of being human.

As we come to the end of our journey through Shikhandi's story in the Mahabharata, we honor a figure whose legacy surpasses time, defies conventions, and forever marks the intricate fabric of mythology. Shikhandi, the ageless fighter, still instills bravery and self-exploration in the souls of those who come across their legend.

[thgfanfictionlibrary]

Crossover Fics Masterlist (2)

Part 1 /

Created: Sept 12th, 2024

Checked:---

Just Wrong Enough-angylinni (ao3) Summary: He really was the most obnoxious git. Tall and with perfect blond hair that fell just to his collar, deep blue eyes that missed nothing and that viperous Slytherin tongue that could charm the knickers off of a harpy. She hated him, she really, really did. So why did she keep thinking about him? Katniss Everdeen and the Half-Blood Baker-mrsbonniemellark (ao3) Summary: Katniss and Peeta are in their seventh year when Hogwarts hosts the Triwizard Tournament for the first time in over a century. Katniss Everdeen and the Veil of Shadows-papofglencoe (ao3) Summary: “Are you,” the disembodied voice moaned lowly, its tone shaking her guts, rattling her lungs, robbing her of air, cleaving her heart into halves. “Are you coming to the tree?” Of Chasing Quaffles and Katniss Everdeen-kaceywithak (ao3) Summary: Peeta Mellark is one of the league’s best Quidditch players, a phenomenal flier and charming to boot. But when is childhood crush becomes the team’s healer his world is turned upside down. Suddenly Quaffles aren’t the only thing he’s chasing. Oh, How I Loathe (Love) Thee-JHsgf82 (ao3) Summary: Modern AU (Based on 10 Things I Hate About You). For Rory Hawthorne, it’s love at first sight with Primrose Everdeen. He has a mind (and a plan) to woo the beautiful, seemingly unattainable blonde goddess, but there’s a major snag: her sister. Not only are the Everdeen sisters not allowed to date because of a very strict father, but Katniss Everdeen, the elder sister, is the most unapproachable, vilest she-beast in the entire school. But Rory does not give up easily, and when a new deal is struck lifting the dating ban for the Everdeen sisters so long as Katniss dates, too, Rory leaps into action. What’s a lovestruck boy to do‒aside from paying off the most dangerous guy in the school, a blond, blue-eyed thug by the name of Peeta Mellark, to date Katniss, so he can date Prim? Princess Katniss and Yama, Lord of the Dead-titania522 (ao3) Summary: Katniss marries the gentlest, most noble Prince in the world. But fate has decreed that it cannot last. Adapted from the story of Savitri and Satyavan as recounted in The Book of the Forest, from the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata. Pushing Dandelions-aimmyarrowshigh (ao3) Summary: You never forget the face of the person whose life you saved. right back where we started from-loveleee (ao3) Summary: There’s a boy outside that night, too, standing at the end of his own driveway, and she doesn’t notice him until he’s just a few feet away. He’s blond, tanned, well-fed. His hand stretches out with a match in offering, and after a moment’s hesitation, she leans in. She can feel her heartbeat pulsing through her body, down to the soles of her feet, and the heat of his hands as they cup around the little flame is so close that she can feel it on the skin of her mouth. It’s kind of weird, to be honest. (Crossover with The OC.) Science vs. Romance-loveleee (ao3) Summary: Katniss Everdeen is twenty-two years old, slinging burgers and beer at Hawthorne's Bar and Grill the day the vampires come out of the coffin. THG meets True Blood. she's not there-loveleee (ao3) Summary: The midday sun is unrelenting in New Mexico. An entire field of wild carrots dies overnight, right next to the grounds, and worried whispers follow for days: no one’s seen it this bad before. But Peeta bears the hot sunshine with a grin, because after three days it finally drives the Everdeen sisters into the shade of the mess tent at lunchtime. (Dust Bowl AU, crossover with HBO's Carnivàle.)