I'm interested to hear your theories on the whole "Tale of Five" story, it would make sense to me the Shara is in fact one of those 5 dragons but what do you think?
@@ZennyHunter I definitely feel that xeno, and by extension safi, is the creature that in the legend, becomes the sapphire star. And that the sapphire star will return to rebalance the amount of bio energy, as we already know that xeno is a being that manifests due to an over-abundance of bio energy, and safi actively draining the energy from around it during the fight. This also pans neatly to Shara being the one who becomes a forest, as we know she goes into a hibernation of sorts, and she vaguely resembles different forms of plant life. (Also the fact that Shara is specifically a she, as in most religions across the world, the deity/embodiment of plant life, and even the earth itself, is a she.) Edit: watching through this again I remember that the guiding lands is supposed to be the corpse of a Zora Magdaros, and the first dragon in the tale is said to “lay down and become land,” or maybe become an *island*
The main reason I don't really think this to be the case is shara has so much connection to the ground itself. It lays dormant deep underground for a long long time, while I'm sure it's capable of creating/collapsing mountains it doesnt make too much sense to me. Plus Shara is blind as I mentioned so I'm not sure that it could "lift it's gaze to the sky"
I didn’t think much about Shara’s connection to Shiva, but this video did broaden my understandings. From what I can see, Shara’s connection to balance could be like Shiva’s in a way that destruction is integral to bringing forth new creations (in this sense, destroying the ecosystem of the new world by causing crustal movements) and in this new world (probably a pun) everything could start from scratch again. I believe Shara acts as the herald of balance just like hunters, but this gets undermined by Nergigante’s presence. Or perhaps Zorah Magdaros not dying caused Shara to wake up, considering it was going to destroy the new world, which leads me to believe Zorah was the destructor and Shara would be the creator afterwards by creating and shifting land mass. Sorry for yapping so much but this actually got me thinking a lot.
This really got my brain moving and I dove into my own research. I was drawn to shara's famous eyes as well and decided to do some research. The shape around his pupil seemed purposeful to me so I started there. And began reading up on a common piece of symbolism called the Dharmachakra or Wheel of Dharma, a multi spoked wheel, depicted with anywhere from 8, 12 or 24 spokes, and said to have 1000 in writings.and wouldn't you know it, Shara's has 24 "spokes". Now I was stunned at the similarities in themes this symbol has with the points you mentioned in this video. Specifically 3 strikingly similar themes. 1. In Buddhism, The Buddha is said to have set the wheel into motion. And it was used to symbolize revolutionary change. 2.the wheel signifies the cycle of life. Pretty self explanatory, death bringing forth new life is a common theme in World. 3. Theres ancient Hindu text, called the Vedas, that contains information on a god (Surya) who's chariot's wheel is called the "eye of the world", in basic terms, the wheel of the chariot is the sun, and the sun is depicted as an EYE, That both illuminates and PERCEIVES the world, and is associated with light and knowledge, much how Shara perceives and has knowledge of the player. Now, this is very surface layer research but between the 24, themes of perception, and revolution/change. I almost feel like it can't be a coincidence, his eyes where very clearly designed with much intent.
Great research man, the wheel can also be found on a lot of the weapons - Interesting because now WE wield the wheel, did the buddha (shara) set us in motion for some greater purpose?
It's likely Shara was called the Old Everwrym due to it the tunnels It's burrowing through the ground vibrating instead of digging. Leaving a trail one would mistake for the doings of a giant snake like Dalamadur or Narjarala. Snake Dragons are typically called "Wyrms" in the real world.
In the take of 5 I kinda feel like Shara is the one who lifted its gaze to become the mountains. I think if we look at the phrasing of each line we can look at certain monsters iconic action you could say. Zorah sinking into the sea one last time and then seeing the guiding lands and such being built or developed upon it. Shara standing up and listing its head to open the arena. Safi dropping a sapphire star obviously. So I feel like those 2 are fairly obvious. The one who slumbers and become the forest is highly theorized as Gaia which given the name and nature of it makes sense. The one who became the water and rain could be namielle, shantien, cadeus, amatsu but idk they just don’t seem fitting to me they jsut aren’t as legendary and mystical a god like sound wave manipulator called the “everywyrm”. The largest dragon in the series in zorah. Safi is a beast and contender with the black dragons. Gaia is a conceptual one. There is another conceptual water one I believe but maybe it’s one we haven’t seen. Only “problem” I have is it would be weird of them not to just include all of the ones part of the tale in the game. And then this island probably being what’s considered the guiding lands… who knows
You know what that's actually a really interesting view on why shara could be the mountains. I brushed this of with another comment (based on Shara being blind) but now I'm thinking about it maybe thats exactly why Shara wanted to lift its gaze to the sky and become the mountaints, kind of that whole thing of being stuck underground in darkness and wanting to rise up to the best view of the world you can get.
Shara is by far my favorite elder dragon thus far and ive played most of the mh games. It is mostly because of its uniqueness of abilities, the Hinduism and Buddhism references and of course- the details of the eyes in its last moments finishing with my favorite weapon name of all time, Sharas Greatsword: The Immovable Dharma. This was a great video for a great monster.
Actually, I read a youtube comment that gave me an interesting perspective on how close Iceborne is to Norse Mythology. Shara is a destroyer, yes, but not a creator. He's like Nidhoggr nibbling at the roots of the World Tree. The creator, then, is Safi'Jiiva who resembles the eagle roosted at the top of tree. It was his ability to manipulate bioenergy to create diverse environments over island continents-the New World-in order to make a nest for Xeno'Jiivas. The two may have a genuine rivalry over the bioenergy flowing in the everstream. Shara being able to dig towards it, and Safi being able to draw and shape it. But hilariously, they never meet. It's only thanks to the hunters that there's any observeable connection. So we're the closest thing to Ratataskor...and maybe Nergi to.
I’m relatively new to monster hunter as a whole, and I’m mainly here for the biology and ecology lore. I also grew up in a family who practices Mahayana Buddhism so perhaps I can chime in on this topic. As you said, Shara has a lot of lotus elements to its design. In buddhism, it represents not only the concept of karma, but also the main goal of Buddhism which is to escape from the karmic cycle. This is because the lotus starts its life within the mud (mundane life/karmic cycle), but eventually grows above that murky water (enlightenment/purity). Despite that, I find the lore stated in the video being the direct opposite? Something about the world of mh started as something unchanging, nothing to lose and nothing to gain, then a dragon appeared and made things “happen” which I interpret as introducing the concept of lost and gain, essentially a “cycle”. Something else I notice that might not be too related is how this dragon uses sound attacks while also being blind? This might be too far of a stretch but it seems to be the direct opposite to the namesake of Guan Yin (Kan’on in Japanese), a goddess in mahayana buddhism (Japan is one of the countries that practices this sect so maybe the developers took this as inspiration?). “Guan Yin” can be losely translated as “Sight Sound” or something close to that, meaning she sees everything and hears everything. Meanwhile, Shara is the one who makes sound and sees nothing
Lore makes me wonder, would the game being open world allow for a different kind of storytelling? Like more cinematic quests, better in-field conversations, and interactions with the people and environment. Would be cool to have much more directly and readily available lore.
I'm interested to hear your theories on the whole "Tale of Five" story, it would make sense to me the Shara is in fact one of those 5 dragons but what do you think?
@@ZennyHunter I definitely feel that xeno, and by extension safi, is the creature that in the legend, becomes the sapphire star.
And that the sapphire star will return to rebalance the amount of bio energy, as we already know that xeno is a being that manifests due to an over-abundance of bio energy, and safi actively draining the energy from around it during the fight.
This also pans neatly to Shara being the one who becomes a forest, as we know she goes into a hibernation of sorts, and she vaguely resembles different forms of plant life. (Also the fact that Shara is specifically a she, as in most religions across the world, the deity/embodiment of plant life, and even the earth itself, is a she.)
Edit: watching through this again I remember that the guiding lands is supposed to be the corpse of a Zora Magdaros, and the first dragon in the tale is said to “lay down and become land,” or maybe become an *island*
@Flooffy_number1 Love that theory, Shara could well be 'Mother Nature'
I wondered if either Zorah or Kulve could have played a role in the legend of the 5?
Shara could be the dragon that lifted it's gaze to the sky and became the mountains
The main reason I don't really think this to be the case is shara has so much connection to the ground itself. It lays dormant deep underground for a long long time, while I'm sure it's capable of creating/collapsing mountains it doesnt make too much sense to me.
Plus Shara is blind as I mentioned so I'm not sure that it could "lift it's gaze to the sky"
@@ZennyHunter What if he grew blind over time after millennia in darkness?
The hints of enlightenment are definitely there, plus the armor names and weapon names & overall design too! Cool vod
I didn’t think much about Shara’s connection to Shiva, but this video did broaden my understandings. From what I can see, Shara’s connection to balance could be like Shiva’s in a way that destruction is integral to bringing forth new creations (in this sense, destroying the ecosystem of the new world by causing crustal movements) and in this new world (probably a pun) everything could start from scratch again.
I believe Shara acts as the herald of balance just like hunters, but this gets undermined by Nergigante’s presence.
Or perhaps Zorah Magdaros not dying caused Shara to wake up, considering it was going to destroy the new world, which leads me to believe Zorah was the destructor and Shara would be the creator afterwards by creating and shifting land mass.
Sorry for yapping so much but this actually got me thinking a lot.
Love the theory, it's times like this that I wish Capcom would give a straight answer but its also really cool not truly knowing what's going on
@ I agree, I believe MH does well with its ambiguity which leads up to amazing theories.
little thing Shara is not fully blind Shara can still see things close to it
Ahh didn't know that!
This really got my brain moving and I dove into my own research.
I was drawn to shara's famous eyes as well and decided to do some research.
The shape around his pupil seemed purposeful to me so I started there.
And began reading up on a common piece of symbolism called the Dharmachakra or Wheel of Dharma, a multi spoked wheel, depicted with anywhere from 8, 12 or 24 spokes, and said to have 1000 in writings.and wouldn't you know it, Shara's has 24 "spokes".
Now I was stunned at the similarities in themes this symbol has with the points you mentioned in this video. Specifically 3 strikingly similar themes.
1. In Buddhism, The Buddha is said to have set the wheel into motion. And it was used to symbolize revolutionary change.
2.the wheel signifies the cycle of life. Pretty self explanatory, death bringing forth new life is a common theme in World.
3. Theres ancient Hindu text, called the Vedas, that contains information on a god (Surya) who's chariot's wheel is called the "eye of the world", in basic terms, the wheel of the chariot is the sun, and the sun is depicted as an EYE, That both illuminates and PERCEIVES the world, and is associated with light and knowledge, much how Shara perceives and has knowledge of the player.
Now, this is very surface layer research but between the 24, themes of perception, and revolution/change. I almost feel like it can't be a coincidence, his eyes where very clearly designed with much intent.
Great research man, the wheel can also be found on a lot of the weapons - Interesting because now WE wield the wheel, did the buddha (shara) set us in motion for some greater purpose?
It's likely Shara was called the Old Everwrym due to it the tunnels
It's burrowing through the ground vibrating instead of digging.
Leaving a trail one would mistake for the doings of a giant snake like Dalamadur or Narjarala.
Snake Dragons are typically called "Wyrms" in the real world.
Yeah I think a lot of fantasy worlds do that with wyrms, often look flightless, well at least compared to traditional dragons!
In the take of 5 I kinda feel like Shara is the one who lifted its gaze to become the mountains. I think if we look at the phrasing of each line we can look at certain monsters iconic action you could say. Zorah sinking into the sea one last time and then seeing the guiding lands and such being built or developed upon it. Shara standing up and listing its head to open the arena. Safi dropping a sapphire star obviously. So I feel like those 2 are fairly obvious. The one who slumbers and become the forest is highly theorized as Gaia which given the name and nature of it makes sense. The one who became the water and rain could be namielle, shantien, cadeus, amatsu but idk they just don’t seem fitting to me they jsut aren’t as legendary and mystical a god like sound wave manipulator called the “everywyrm”. The largest dragon in the series in zorah. Safi is a beast and contender with the black dragons. Gaia is a conceptual one. There is another conceptual water one I believe but maybe it’s one we haven’t seen. Only “problem” I have is it would be weird of them not to just include all of the ones part of the tale in the game. And then this island probably being what’s considered the guiding lands… who knows
You know what that's actually a really interesting view on why shara could be the mountains. I brushed this of with another comment (based on Shara being blind) but now I'm thinking about it maybe thats exactly why Shara wanted to lift its gaze to the sky and become the mountaints, kind of that whole thing of being stuck underground in darkness and wanting to rise up to the best view of the world you can get.
Yoo just got the notification and it seems u went thru with the video idea, congrats
Yep and I don't regret it, such an intersting monster when you look into it!
shara is cat. goes where it pleases and destroys all that is in its path. even just “looks at you” while committing atrocities.
Haha love that
Shara is by far my favorite elder dragon thus far and ive played most of the mh games. It is mostly because of its uniqueness of abilities, the Hinduism and Buddhism references and of course- the details of the eyes in its last moments finishing with my favorite weapon name of all time, Sharas Greatsword: The Immovable Dharma. This was a great video for a great monster.
Hey thanks man, yeah absolutley incredible design with its weapons/armour!
Actually, I read a youtube comment that gave me an interesting perspective on how close Iceborne is to Norse Mythology.
Shara is a destroyer, yes, but not a creator. He's like Nidhoggr nibbling at the roots of the World Tree.
The creator, then, is Safi'Jiiva who resembles the eagle roosted at the top of tree. It was his ability to manipulate bioenergy to create diverse environments over island continents-the New World-in order to make a nest for Xeno'Jiivas.
The two may have a genuine rivalry over the bioenergy flowing in the everstream. Shara being able to dig towards it, and Safi being able to draw and shape it. But hilariously, they never meet. It's only thanks to the hunters that there's any observeable connection. So we're the closest thing to Ratataskor...and maybe Nergi to.
I’m relatively new to monster hunter as a whole, and I’m mainly here for the biology and ecology lore. I also grew up in a family who practices Mahayana Buddhism so perhaps I can chime in on this topic. As you said, Shara has a lot of lotus elements to its design. In buddhism, it represents not only the concept of karma, but also the main goal of Buddhism which is to escape from the karmic cycle. This is because the lotus starts its life within the mud (mundane life/karmic cycle), but eventually grows above that murky water (enlightenment/purity). Despite that, I find the lore stated in the video being the direct opposite? Something about the world of mh started as something unchanging, nothing to lose and nothing to gain, then a dragon appeared and made things “happen” which I interpret as introducing the concept of lost and gain, essentially a “cycle”.
Something else I notice that might not be too related is how this dragon uses sound attacks while also being blind? This might be too far of a stretch but it seems to be the direct opposite to the namesake of Guan Yin (Kan’on in Japanese), a goddess in mahayana buddhism (Japan is one of the countries that practices this sect so maybe the developers took this as inspiration?). “Guan Yin” can be losely translated as “Sight Sound” or something close to that, meaning she sees everything and hears everything. Meanwhile, Shara is the one who makes sound and sees nothing
Yet the moment Shara breaks out of it's shell and opens it's eyes, it does not stare at your character. It stares at you.
Lore makes me wonder, would the game being open world allow for a different kind of storytelling? Like more cinematic quests, better in-field conversations, and interactions with the people and environment. Would be cool to have much more directly and readily available lore.
Seems like Wilds is definitely going for a more story driven approach so maybe this is the first step of many to a much more lore driven world!
Open world would make cinematics etc cost more tbh
@@devilmayclarify666 They already seem to do that with Wilds
Maybe Shara just wanted to build a newer new world
Maybe it already did 👀
🥰 we mixing like colonizer