Tuesday, July 8, 2008
My daughter has suddenly got fascinated by stories of the Hindu Gods. So every night it is my job to tell her one or two stories. Since I grew up on Amar Chitra Katha...and that too by reading each of them several times...it is not too difficult a job to find a story to tell her every night. I used to correct my grandma when she made mistakes in the stories..hah! Right now we are on the Dashaavataar (Vishnu's not Kamal Haasan's!) so that I don't need to think until all the 10 avataars are over.
When I read these stories as a child, I had no problem believing any of them and don't remember feeling even an element of surprise at all the impossible things that happen in the stories. But now, telling the story as an adult, is so totally different. I find myself searching for rational explanations to most of the stuff.
Now, how does one find a rational explanation for some people using a mountain and a snake to churn the ocean...and then churn out amazing stuff like a beautiful maiden and a pot of nectar that gives immortality!!! And how does one explain a sea turtle so huge that it could lift the mountain...or a wild boar that went to hell and rescued the planet earth using it's tusk! I started the Ramayana yesterday, so now she thinks babies can be born by the mother having some kheer. I think I'd better give the Mahabharata a skip...rather than explain 100 sons of Drutharashtra born out of 100 pots...and the Pandavas born by just chanting a mantra!!!!
But I must say I enjoyed telling her the stories of the devotees...stories of Dhruva, Prahlada, Sudaama and that little boy who crossed the forest in Krishna's company every day...it clearly conveys the message that having faith makes everything right in the end.
What is amazing is that she does not seem to be surprised at any of these irrational things. She is equally interested in space, the planets, the satellites and the weather...and can sit with a picture encyclopaedia for hours...and she also enjoys all these stories I tell her. The day she starts relating the two and asking me difficult questions I shall stop telling her stories!!!
Until then let me flaunt my knowledge and my memory!!! :D I'm enjoying the admiration in her eyes and the interest and anticipation on her face every night!!!
5 other wanderers:
Hey--i grew up on a diet of Amar chitra kathas too--and last night I read 'Ayyapan' to my kids.
You said "But now, telling the story as an adult, is so totally different. I find myself searching for rational explanations to most of the stuff."
But for me, the magic still continues as I lose myself in the pages along with my kids!
by the way, since you already have comment moderation on, can you please be kind and turn off the word verification?!!It becomes so much easier to post a comment then!
Truthfully..I enjoy it too.. :) It's just that you feel responsible for the things you tell your kid somehow...I'm waiting for our vacation this month to go home and show her the books with the pictures..it's much better when you can see it too...
Have turned off word verification...can only blame it on my ignorance of the blog world.. :)
dont use too much rationalism when dealing with these stories....after all whts the fun if we cant churn an ocean with a snake and a mountain? using a moulinix handmixer will be so unromantic...
hee hee... true...
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