Story: All Around Me

Ghosts in the Forest
by bluesbby on flickr

I am reborn. I have a new lease on life: I am woman. I am strength. I am power. I am Motherhood. I am energy. I am cosmic energy. I am primordial cosmic energy, the greatest energetic force that this Earth and her inhabitants have seen, nay, will see. I am ALIVE.

Her previous physical form, Mirabai, had thwarted death. Banished to the river to kill herself for shaming her husband, she had been saved at the very last moment. Revived, re-invented, a new woman. 

Power. Sheer power, with the free agency to do with it as I please. What is my purpose now?

She began to float away from the river, and closer towards the forest. She was not destined for anywhere in particular, rather, she was feeling out this new form she had and wondering at its capabilities. She explored, she meandered, she experimented with this visceral power. After many days of using her powers on nothing but trees, or leafs, or playing with fire, she ultimately determined that she was being useless in her new powerful form. 

Enough. This is not what this change was given to me for. I've idled away my time for nothing. Here, look, a lonely aesthetic in the woods. I shall nudge his fire back into life. Aha! There you go ascetic, yes, that was me. No, no, you can't see me, don't look around for me like that, I am not visible to you. Oh, I'm not audible either? What if I shout very loudly LIKE THIS! Oh, no, that didn't work either? What if I nudge you to move your encampment to a safer grove over here, where the Rakshasas likely won't find you as easily......... That's right, there you go, now you've got the idea. Pick up your few pieces of encampment and move over here to this grove. MOVE, I SAID! I'll even restart your fire for you..... Bravo! Good move! You may not see me, or apparently hear me, but you certainly felt the force compelling you to move to safety! Well, that's the proper use of this power then: imposing upon humanity what is good for them. 

And then a glint twinkled in her eye, akin to the very first inkling she had when she realized the magnificent power she held within her. 

Imposing on humanity what is good for them.....

She thought maniacally. 

I can save the humans from their own stupidity! I can salvage the rivers, the oceans, and the atmosphere from the brutal trashing it has received from negligence! I can settle peace between the warring tribes! I AM POWER! 

She set off to wield her influence upon anyone whom she could find. But, alas, No! She quickly stumbled upon a problem! She could only wield her power among places of nature it seemed: forests, rivers, oceans, atmosphere (clouds, rain, sun). 

No, this still isn't working! I'm so frustrated! Why won't my influence move people here. What was it about the mendicants of the forests that made it so easy???  ARRRGGHHH.

It took a few more days of attempting to persuade humans to doing her bidding, but she soon learned one key element to her new form.

Ah, I see. I can only influence those who are seeking the primordial cosmic power. *SIGH* Humans are some of the most stubborn creatures.....

And so Radha, The Great Divine Mother, used her influence of power to those who sought her in the forests, those seeking by the riverbanks, and those on the ocean in need of some change of winds. She helped poured down the rain when they asked for it, she helped bring the sunshine when the monsoons were overwhelming the people and their crops, and she attempted to right the world through the only instrument she had available to her: influencing humanity. 

Author's Note:

Thoughts or words spoken out loud are in this typeset.

Narration is in italics. 

This week I was inspired to write about Radha, who is the divine companion to Krishna. I only learned about Radha because I was reading an Amar Chitra Katra comic book about Mirabai, a saint who gave her heart to Krishna. Village people, upon hearing of Mirabai's escape from death and subsequent musical worship to Krishna said, "She is Radha reborn!" I had to go research Radha, and this led me to dwelling on the idea of the primordial cosmic energy that moves throughout the whole earth, like a Great Divine Mother. I wanted to create some sort of mental back story to flesh out Radha more, and I tried to incorporate a ghost theme, since we are fast approaching Halloween. Everything mentioned above, outside of the reincarnation of a "new woman" and being called "Radha reborn" is of my own creation.

Radha: Radha in Sanskrit means fortunate and successful. Almost always depicted as the goddess next to Krishna, she is considered to be the embodiment of Shakti herself, the original goddess, and the embodiment of the female creative powers, sometimes referred to as "The Great Divine Mother", and she is the primordial cosmic energy that moves throughout the whole earth. 

Shakti: power, primordial cosmic power. In Sanskrit, it is from the word Shak, which means "to be able."

Krishna and Radha 

seated on a terrace

Brooklyn Museum

Reading Notes: Mirabai: She Gave Her Heart to Krishna -- Amar Chitra Katha

Mirabai: She Gave Her Heart To Krishna
an Amar Chitra Katha comic book, Volume 535

Today, I read an Amar Chitra Katha comic book. Have you heard of Amar Chitra Katha? I hadn't either, but they are incredibly famous in India, and generations have now been able to enjoy them. There are more than 400 titles, in more than 20 different languages, that retell stories from the great Indian epics, mythology, history, folklore, and fables in comic book format. It was originally created by Anant Pai, beginning in 1967.

Mirabai: A Rajasthani princess whose mother (jokingly?) told her as a child that Lord Krishna was her husband. (She was about 5 years old)

• Mira was eventuall married to prince Bhojraj of Chittor, who hated the Mughals and was known for his valour
• Her new family goddess was Durga, but Mira refused to give up her devotion to her Lord Krishna
• Bhojraj's sister Uda was offended at this, and spread rumors that Mira went every evening to another man -- this enranged her husband Bhojraj
• Bhojraj decided she was insane, so he humored her and built her a temple where she could worship her "stone lover"
• Mira's devotion spread far an wide, and a Mughal emperor, Emperor Akbar wanted to know what these songs were. They came to the temple disguised as Hindus, and were brought into a trance by her song. Overwhelmed, they brought a necklace to her feet, touched them, and offered her the necklace in the name of Krishna
• This was forbidden, her husband found out a Mughal had touched her, and her ordered her to drown herself in a river. 
• A true and faithful Hindu wife, she went to the river, but just as she was about to jump, Krishna appeared and saved her! She fainted, but when she was revived, her told her that her previous life was over, and now she was to go and worship him in Brindavan.
• They were ecstatic that once more there would be singing and dancing in Brindavan. "She is Radha reborn!"

Krishna and Radha seated on a terrace, Brooklyn Museum

Radha: Almost always depicted as the goddess next to Krishna, she is considered to be the embodiment of Shakti herself, the original goddess, and the embodiment of the female creative powers, sometimes referred to as "The Great Divine Mother", and she is the primordial cosmic energy that moves throughout the whole earth. 

• Her husband heard that she was alive, and traveled to her and asked her forgiveness. She forgave him, and went back to Chitor with him, where she continued her worship of Krishna.
• 10 years later, her husband Bhojraj died. Her father in law told her to prepare herself for Sati. She refused. 
• The new King told her that she could not worship Krishna in the palace, or mix with holy men, or dance. So, she decided to go to the public temple. 
• Miracles: 
• the new king wanted to poison her, so sent a snake to the temple as a "gardland" for Krishna. When Mira opened the basket, it was indeed a garland, stunning the deliverer. 
• They removed her bed mattress and replaced it with poison tipped nails, covered with rose petals. Mira went to sleep, not noticing anything and it felt as soft as petals beneath her. 
• Poison mixed into nectar intended for Mira. The poison turned into nectar, after it was offered to her in the name of a gift for Krishna. 
• She wrote to Tulsidas, a saint of her times, and asked him what she should do. Tulsidas advises her to shun those who come in the way of her worship, even if they are the closest of relatives. 
• So, she left the king's palace in Chitor, and went to the palace of her Uncle in Merta.
• She began growing old, and went on pilgrammage to all the places that were important to Krishna: 
• Mathura
• Brindavan
• Dwarka -- she stayed on here because the call of Krishna became loud and more insistent.  One day during her worship and dance, she fainted and fell at the feet of Krishna, and here she died, and Krishna took her to become on with him, her bridegroom. 

Dwarka: associated with Dwarka Kingdom, the ancient Kingdom of Krishna. It is one of the Sapta Puri, the 7 most holy ancient religious cities in the country. It is one of the Chardhums, the four Holy Hindu pilgrammage sites. 

Mirabai is usually shown with an instrument, a Dotara or a Veena

Reading Notes: Kabir: He Spoke Of Tolerance And Mercy -- Amar Chitra Katha

Kabir: He Spoke Of Tolerance And Mercy
an Amar Chitra Katha comic book, Vol 623
source: Reading Notes Guide

Today, I read an Amar Chitra Katha comic book. Have you heard of Amar Chitra Katha? I hadn't either, but they are incredibly famous in India, and generations have now been able to enjoy them. There are more than 400 titles, in more than 20 different languages, that retell stories from the great Indian epics, mythology, history, folklore, and fables in comic book format. It was originally created by Anant Pai, beginning in 1967.

Kabir: Famous Poet Who Spoke of Tolerance towards all religions and Mercy

• Found as a baby by a newly betrothed Muslim couple on their journey back home to Varanasi after their wedding(Year: 1398 A.D.) Father Niru, a weaver, and mother Nima 
• Child named by a Muslim Priest: 
• Kabir, one of God's names
• But the son of a weaver could not have God's name for a name, even though the texts declared it to be so, as seen by several colleagues of the priest. Niru wanted to end the child's life due to the outrage, so he took him to the forest to leave him alone for the animals. But, as he turned to go, he heard a voice "Stop! There is no evil in him. He shall be the wisest of men. His form, his very name, would spell holiness." "Kabir.... destined to be great?" Niru kept the baby and raised him in Islam.
• As Kabir grew, he struggled to differentiate between the god of Islam and the god of Hinduism, so he sought out a Hindu swami (swami Ramanand, a Vaishnava Saint)
• Swami Ramanand taught him that "In the Eyes of God, all men are equal irrespective of caste, creed, and colour."
• Kabir wed, and had a child, but thought only of God. "I have neither roof nor hut, I have neither caste nor name; thy name alone, O God, is enough for me." Kabir's wife, Loi, was very sad because they had not enough clothes or food even to eat, because Kabir gave everything away.
• When a burglar came in to rob them, he tripped and fell, and Kabir turned on a lamp and helped him up, offering anything that he had to him. 
• Kabir was accused of mixing religions, being immoral and an infidel. He was brought before the King, but refused to bow. They chained him and attempted to drown him, but he came back up again. They tried to burn him alive, but he came out of the flames of the fire unharmed. A third time they tried to kill him, by throwing him under the feet of an elephant to be trampled to death. However, the elephant saw a group of angry lions charging at him, a miracle, as it was only Kabir standing there, and the elephant ran away scared. 
• Millions became Kabir's followers, and his Bhajans (Hindu word for holy songs, interestingly) were on their lips. 
• Shortly before Kabir's death, he desired to go to Maghar, the place where if people die there, they do not get into Heaven. He did this because he was determined to free the people from superstition.
• Controversy over burial practices ensued: burial? cremation? 
• Kabir appeared to his followers in a vision: "I belong to all of you. Please don't fight." And his followers found no body, only the shroud that had covered his body and a bed of flowers. They took the flowers and shared them amongst his followers. 

-I find it interesting that many of the saints, or even incarnations of the gods, are often "found" as babies, and raised up and destined to be great.

-I like the idea of Kabir, as a child wearing a Muslim skull cap, putting the forks of Vishnaivism on his head, diregarding the differences between the god of each religion. He learns the word for god of hinduism by cleverness, "Hare Ram!" and declares himself to be a student of the Swami. 

-He defied death three times, and sought to abolish idol worship and separations between people

Kabir on a postage stamp in India