Clara's Blog

Sita's Ramayana by Samhita Arni and Moyna Chitrakar (2011) Part D: After Ravana's death, Sita wasn't happy or filled with joy, instead she was frightened and nervous. She could hear women and Ravana's queens filled with grief, which made her feel bad that so much pain was caused by one mans unlawful desire. Sita was stunned when Hanuman brought her back to Rama, the freedom she dreamed about for so long wasn't anything like she imagined. Sita was angry when Rama didn't believe she was pure, and questioned why he even fought in the war and said she would have just killed herself. Rama explains to her he fought the war for his honor. She claims his honor had ruined many lives and brings up the men killed by deceit, the newly widowed wives, and the fatherless children. Sita says she suffered, starved, waited, and only kept herself alive so she could be with Rama. Sita also says war is merciful to men, but not to women. Women become widows, orphans, or prisoner...

Sita's Ramayana by Samhita Arni and Moyna Chitrakar (2011) Part C: Even though Sita couldn't see the war, Trijatha told her everything that happened. Even the giant Kumbhakarna believe that Ravana was in the wrong by holding Sita captive. Sita feels bad about Kumbhakarna's death since he advised Ravana otherwise and he didn't listen. Trijatha is upset that Indrajit is killed by Lakshmana without honor, saying he deserved a better and that there were no heroes in this war with the treachery and deceit used. Sita believed that the actions and results of the war was caused by Ravana's unjust imprisonment of her. Sita was brought to tears when Trijatha told her that Lakshmana almost died, she couldn't imagine a world with him. She was also amazed by Hanuman's bravery who battled enchanters and challenged the sun to save Lakshmana. Sita saw Ravana's wife, Mandodari, was overwhelmed and in a daze. Mandodari had hidden a special arrow Ravana had given her,...

Sita's Ramayana by Samhita Arni and Moyna Chitrakar (2011) Part B: Trijatha tells Sita that Rama will come and rescue her. Sita continues to tell herself everyday that Rama will come. Hanuman came to save Sita while the guards were sleeping, and tells Sita that Rama is coming to save her. Rama was upset that Lakshmana had left Sita alone in the hermitage and didn't know what happened to Sita. They searched the forest for her until they find Jatayu, who tells them what happened. Sita was upset to hear that Jatayu died trying to save her. Hanuman tells Sita that Rama and Lakshmana found her trail of jewels and followed it until they were found by him. Hanuman takes the brothers to meet Sugriva, who tell them that Ravana took Sita. Sugriva offered to give Rama his army if Rama help Sugriva defeat Valin and regain his wife Tara. When Valin was killed, Tara was devastated at the loss of her husband. Sita feels guilty that Tara was widowed and Angada, Valin's son, was father...

Sita's Ramayana by Samhita Arni and Moyna Chitrakar (2011) Part A: The book begins with Sita explaining her perspective of the Ramayana to the forest. She begins the story with their exile, saying that life was pleasant, but Rama and Lakshmana didn't enjoy the peace of the forest. She explains the reasoning behind Ravana capturing her was because of Lakshmana cutting of Surpanaka's nose. Sita asked Rama to bring her the beautiful golden deer while Lakshmana watched over her. She feared Rama was hurt and asked Lakshmana to leave her in the hermitage and check on Rama. While alone, she heard the sound of music and found a minstrel who needed food and water. She felt like the music casted a spell on her and goes to feed him, but the minstrel was Ravana. He grabbed her hair and seized her arms and put her in his chariot. Ravana came to avenge his sister, but fell in love with Sita. He offered her many luxuries while stating Rama was a bad husband for leaving Sita alone. Si...

The Mahabharata narrates the rivalry between the two groups of cousins, the Pandavas and the Kauravas, whose family drama ensues an all-out war. The Mahabharata all begins with the birth of Vyasa – wait, does it begin there or before him? He’s not even a Pandava or Kaurava, is he? Okay, I’m going to figure out this family tree first.  Mahabharata family tree ( Wikipedia ) We’ll start with Satyavati, who was born from a fish and a king. Making her half-fish and half-woman. So that makes her a mermaid, right? No wait, I think she was a human woman who just smelled like fish. Okay so, she was raised by a fisherman and meets Parashara, a rishi who takes away her fishy smell in exchange for embracing him. This trade left her with a beautiful scent and a son, Vyasa. Next, there is King Shantanu, son of King Kuru. Shantanu’s first wife was the goddess Ganga. Together, they had like seven or eight kids, but she kept throwing them into the Ganges. For obvious reasons, this ...

PDE Mahabharata  by Arnold, Besant, Devee, Dutt, Ganguli, Kincaid, Macfie, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Seeger, and Tagore The battle continues and Bhishma is killed by Arjuna's arrow, causing Drona to take over Duryodhana's armies. Drona's attempts to take Yudhishthira prisoner, while Arjuna is willing to sacrifice his life for him. Abhimanyu was surrounded and killed by Duhshasana's son. Arjuna blames Jayadratha for his son's death and avenges Abhimanyu by killing Jayadratha. Bhima's son Ghatotlacha is killed by a dart from Karna. Drona is killed by the Pandava general Dhrishtadyumna, forcing Karna to take control of Duryodhana's armies. Bhima finally kills Duhsasana and gets revenge on him for treating Draupadi so poorly. Arjuna kills Karna when Krishna brought up the death Abhimanyu. Kripa advises Duryodhana to ask for peace, but Duryodhana says he won't since he has wrong the Pandavas so much. Shalya becomes the new leader of the Kaurava army and is kill...

The Sons of Rama: Luv and Kush – The Invincible Twins (Volume 503) by Anant Pai The comic begins with the story of a launderer beating his wife and differentiating himself from Rama saying he wouldn't take a wife who was in another's house. This makes Rama conflicted, but he decides to banish Sita because his duty is to his people. Lakshmana didn't want to leave Sita but Rama demands him to. Valmiki finds Sita when she is frightened by a snake. The hermitage became Sita's safe haven and where she raises her sons. Valmiki teaches them about Rama, the Ramayana, and how to use weapons. When he tells the stories of the Ramayana he refers to Sita as Vaidehi. The boys agreed Rama was cruel to Vaidehi and wonder what happened to her. Rama wants to send Lakshmana to find Sita for his yajna, but decides to use a golden statue of her instead to avoid upsetting his people. Luv and Kush find the horse and are willing to fight. The sons defeat the army and the army returns to Rama...