Reading Notes: Sakuntala (Part 1)
For the last few weeks, I would like to focus on Sakuntala's story. It's a longer story, so I would like to focus on certain parts each week and recreate the story, and ultimately choose my favorite one for my last portfolio story.
Sakuntala: Birth
In the beginning of Sakuntala's story, we meet her parents. Her father, Bishwamitra, was a hermit that strived to become more pious than the devas. The devas feared him, so they called upon a beautiful celestial fairy named Menaka. At first, Menaka did not want to trick Bishwamitra, but the devas persuaded her by saying that showing him mortal love would help him connect with God, and that no human life is good without mortal love. She descends to earth, and eventually Bishwamitra opens his eyes from meditation and sees her laying near the river, looking mystical and lovely. She says to him that she is alone, so Bishwamitra takes care of her and offers his cot for the night. He falls in love with her and asks her to stay and be with him, which she does. She brings him a child, and Bishwamitra is absolutely horrified. He tells her to take the babe and do what she wants, then leaves her forever to be in the forest to pray and ask for forgiveness because he broke his devoutness. Menaka wanders the forest, but knows she cannot stay on earth. She leaves the babe with sakuntas (great birds) in hopes that she will grow up so Menaka can see her again someday. They take care of her for the next few years of her life before her adoptive dad, Kanava mooni.
If I recreate this part of the story, I would like to have Bishwamitra and Menaka have more dialogue, and maybe create more of a love feeling between them rather than an obligatory feeling. I also want to change how Bishwamitra reacts to Sakuntala's birth, and maybe not have it so harsh. I could change it to where he decides that he will live a normal mortal life, rather than trying to outdo the devas, but he cannot be with Menaka or Sakuntala because people still think he is a devout holy man, and thus would not sit well with other people.
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Sakuntala: Birth
In the beginning of Sakuntala's story, we meet her parents. Her father, Bishwamitra, was a hermit that strived to become more pious than the devas. The devas feared him, so they called upon a beautiful celestial fairy named Menaka. At first, Menaka did not want to trick Bishwamitra, but the devas persuaded her by saying that showing him mortal love would help him connect with God, and that no human life is good without mortal love. She descends to earth, and eventually Bishwamitra opens his eyes from meditation and sees her laying near the river, looking mystical and lovely. She says to him that she is alone, so Bishwamitra takes care of her and offers his cot for the night. He falls in love with her and asks her to stay and be with him, which she does. She brings him a child, and Bishwamitra is absolutely horrified. He tells her to take the babe and do what she wants, then leaves her forever to be in the forest to pray and ask for forgiveness because he broke his devoutness. Menaka wanders the forest, but knows she cannot stay on earth. She leaves the babe with sakuntas (great birds) in hopes that she will grow up so Menaka can see her again someday. They take care of her for the next few years of her life before her adoptive dad, Kanava mooni.
If I recreate this part of the story, I would like to have Bishwamitra and Menaka have more dialogue, and maybe create more of a love feeling between them rather than an obligatory feeling. I also want to change how Bishwamitra reacts to Sakuntala's birth, and maybe not have it so harsh. I could change it to where he decides that he will live a normal mortal life, rather than trying to outdo the devas, but he cannot be with Menaka or Sakuntala because people still think he is a devout holy man, and thus would not sit well with other people.
(Menaka and Sakuntala, Wikipedia Commons)
Bibliography: Sakuntala, by Sunity Devee from "Nine Ideal Indian Women" pages 57-60.
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