Krsna
Kanu
Vshnu
Kunda
Nityanta
Evyaban
Uddiran
Shva
Girik
Ketu
Madesh
Vajrahast
Durga/Parvati
Amba
Sasthi
Lakshmi
Vachi
Harivallabhi
Saraswati
Pavaki
Mahabali-name of elephant
Bahuka
Nala (Male)
Kalindi (Female)
Kava (Male
Kanka (Male)
Madri (Female)
Sairandhri - female attendant in royal houses
Sambu (Male)
subahu (Male)
ulupi (Female)
Friday, April 23, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Sahasram, it is
After a lot of wrangling, I've finally decided to base Sahadev and Asok in Sahasram. Other 'contending' towns were Rupanath and Kausambi.
Although Sahasram is neither on the Uttarapathas (main highways going Pataliputra to Takshashila) or Dakshinapatha (main highway Pataliputra to Supparaka port via Ujjaini), Sahasram was located on an alternate route to Ujjaini as well as on a highway that led to Southern provinces. The latter is more important because the southern route passes through Kalinga - read, Toshali - establishing the importance of Kalinga strategically placing a spy in Magadha, in a town that is easily accessible to both Pataliputra and the Kalinga intelligence, to which the spy from Sahasram will report.
Another thing is, the distance between Sahasram and Pataliputra is roughly about 90 miles, which would justify most scenes/activities of the story (royal hunting trips, Sahadev or Asok's trips to Pataliputra as physicians, Asok's escorting of Devi to Ujjaini). The good thing, also, about the alternate route to Ujjaini is that it is less frequently used, follows an 'uncertain' route across hills and thick forests west of Sahasram - this town in fact was a border-outpost town of the Magadhan kingdom - which makes it a perfect location for the events in the opening chapters of the book.
Kausambi came a close second, although I find it hard to justify why anybody would stop in Kausambi for too long after passing through more strategically important towns (Kasi, Prayag). The presence of these 'big' towns next to Kausambi dims its position, at least in my story.
Although Sahasram is neither on the Uttarapathas (main highways going Pataliputra to Takshashila) or Dakshinapatha (main highway Pataliputra to Supparaka port via Ujjaini), Sahasram was located on an alternate route to Ujjaini as well as on a highway that led to Southern provinces. The latter is more important because the southern route passes through Kalinga - read, Toshali - establishing the importance of Kalinga strategically placing a spy in Magadha, in a town that is easily accessible to both Pataliputra and the Kalinga intelligence, to which the spy from Sahasram will report.
Another thing is, the distance between Sahasram and Pataliputra is roughly about 90 miles, which would justify most scenes/activities of the story (royal hunting trips, Sahadev or Asok's trips to Pataliputra as physicians, Asok's escorting of Devi to Ujjaini). The good thing, also, about the alternate route to Ujjaini is that it is less frequently used, follows an 'uncertain' route across hills and thick forests west of Sahasram - this town in fact was a border-outpost town of the Magadhan kingdom - which makes it a perfect location for the events in the opening chapters of the book.
Kausambi came a close second, although I find it hard to justify why anybody would stop in Kausambi for too long after passing through more strategically important towns (Kasi, Prayag). The presence of these 'big' towns next to Kausambi dims its position, at least in my story.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Ten Years Too Late
Among the few shorts I've written is one called "Breakfast News". The true story of a heartbreak, of forbidden love (tsk tsk), good material I suppose to make a sappy bollywood movie. :P
It's her birthday today, the 'Vera' of my story, the heartache I let remain gnawing in my heart until...last year, around this time I guess? After my silly, stupid, awfully-timed confession last year, I impaled whatever little respect she must've had for me - oh how stupid, stupid was I...
Like Simon-Garfunkel sang, I should've just let the dangling conversations remain...
She got married this year. From the various Facebook posts on her page, in February I think.
I wish her love and happiness, success, and all the best things that life can offer. And yes, a very, very happy married life. I hope even the slightest stupid influence of my aching heart never reaches her ever again. Go live your life grand, Vera!
It's her birthday today, the 'Vera' of my story, the heartache I let remain gnawing in my heart until...last year, around this time I guess? After my silly, stupid, awfully-timed confession last year, I impaled whatever little respect she must've had for me - oh how stupid, stupid was I...
Like Simon-Garfunkel sang, I should've just let the dangling conversations remain...
She got married this year. From the various Facebook posts on her page, in February I think.
I wish her love and happiness, success, and all the best things that life can offer. And yes, a very, very happy married life. I hope even the slightest stupid influence of my aching heart never reaches her ever again. Go live your life grand, Vera!
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