Storybook Laboratory: Storybook Research Week 4 Lab

This week I wanted to focus on more research for the topic I have chosen for my storybook. My topic I have chosen involves the Devas and Asuras. From what I have learned the Devas and Asuras have been in constant war among one another, but there is a moment where both the Devas and Asuras must work with one another together to help restore their powers back and gain immortality. The story I will be focusing on is the Samudra manthan "Churning of the Ocean". This source is found throughout various texts such as the Mahabharata and the Vishnu Purana. I will be reading the Mahabharata this coming week, so I will find out more information about the story within it; however, I was unfamiliar with the Vishnu Purana.

I did some research into the Vishnu Purana and I was able to find a free text of it online at Hinduonline. It provided a broad range of stories and I was able to find the "Churning of the Ocean" within the text. I learned from the text that Sage Durvasa was offended that Indra was disrespectful of the gift that Sage Durvasa had given him, so Durvasa cast a curse on Indra which impacted the Earth causing much chaos. Therefore, Indra went to Lord Vishnu and Vishnu told him and others that he would help them regain their splendor. However, it would involve the churning of the ocean in which both the asuras and devas would have to work together to accomplish it. Through more research I was able to find a site that does give symbolism behind the story, which I will go into more detail when I write my Storybook. The website containing the symbolism is Hinduhumanrights.

Furthermore, within the Vishnu Purana there were some elements of the story that confused me. There were a lot of unfamiliar names that I did not know including Sage Durvasa. I was not sure if he was a human or god, because he was powerful enough to cast a curse on Indra. Through research on someone like Sage Durvasa I was able to better understand the story. However, I will have to do a lot more research when it comes to names because there are plenty of unfamiliar names within the story. However, I am excited to get my Storybook started and have the ability to freely work on a topic I am interested in.
                                                                     

Durvasa cursing Shakuntala. (Apparently Durvasa likes cursing people). Source: Wikipedia

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