Introduction
Indian lore is full of an unbelievable
variety of characters. Some of the most mysteriously fascinating
characters are the ever elusive, all powerful sages.
The sages acquire unbelievable powers by performing mind-blowing
austerities in order to impress the gods. For instance, the sage
Bhagiratha stayed
with arms raised in the hot sun for a thousand years to have Brahma
bring down the river Ganges so that the sixty thousand sons of King
Sagara could
be brought up to heaven! Or Matanga, who wished to become a
Brahman, performed austerities so severe they alarmed the gods!
When the gods refused his request, he proceeded to balance on his big
toe till he was
reduced to skin and bone, and he was finally blessed with the power to
change into whatever shape he wanted.
My storybook focuses on the sage Drona. Drona was born a
Brahmin, part of an elite caste of priests. Drona plays a major
role in the Mahabharata, where he is the guru to the sons of
Dhritarashtra, and their
cousins, the sons of Pandu, who are their rivals. As guru, Drona
has immaculate
skill in the military arts and passes his knowledge to both
sides. My storybook is made up of four different stories centered
around the early life of this heroic figure, from his birth to his
earned rise to King. The stories are told by a third person
narrator,
enabling us to explore different thoughts and perspectives that could
possibly be limited by other storytellers.
The first story tells the tale of Drona’s remarkable
conception. Drona’s father Bharadwaja, who was also a sage,
ejaculates into a bowl, which is called a "drona" in Sanskrit, when he
sees a beautiful apsarasa
named Ghritachi, who was washing herself in the great river
Ganges. Drona emerges from the semen having never been carried in
a womb, and thus begins his amazing life.
The second story takes us further into Drona’s life. It tells
about the
amazing feat he performed which dazzled the Kauravas and Pandavas, who
would later become his students. In this story, Drona shows his
incredible power over the natural world by using a mantra to turn
blades of grass into something as strong and sharp as a metal spear.
Having become the guru to the princes whom he met in the second story,
Drona develops a
favorite student in my third story. The prince Arjuna stands out
amongst the other pupils, having bested them in several
tests. Drona takes him under his wing and gives him special
instruction in all sorts of fantastic weapons!
Finally, in my last story, we see Drona achieve worldly prosperity
after having started out his life in poverty. Through
much discipline he receives half of Drupada’s kingdom, gaining wealth
and revenge at the same time. He does this by sending out his
favorite five Pandavas brothers, led by his prized student
Arjuna. They attack an entire army and bring Drupada back to
Drona at which point Drona, the forgiving Brahmin, takes what is
rightfully his, but no more than that, leaving Drupada a king.
Sadly, though not seen in my stories, Drona ends up fighting on oposite
sides of his Pandava students in a great war.
These fantastic stories are but a fraction of the adventures told about
the sages in
Indian Lore. But they contain unbelievable excitement and action,
and teach us enduring lessons. Drona's adventures go far beyond
where these stories will take us. He goes on to fight in one of the
most epic battles existing in Indian Epic lore, but these stories
give us a very good idea of his power and his character. I hope
you enjoy the stories of
Drona!
The Beautiful Himalayas, part of the gorgeous scenery in India.
Web
content: Nepal
Cover Page
An
Immaculate Conception
A Fantastic Stranger
A Student Stands Out
Drupada Defeated