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Millennia have passed since the dharma yudhha of the cousins shook the land of Bharata. But this history of our ancestors continues to fascinate us. Even today, we have passionate discussions about the people and their actions in the epic, fervidly defending our favourites and denouncing others. The number of works on the Mahabharata-adaptations, retellings and fiction- that still get written is a testimony to its enduring relevance.
While the general storyline is largely known, a lot of questions and myths prevail, such as-What was the geographical extent of the war? Did Drona actually refuse to take on Karna as his disciple? What were Draupadi's responsibilities as the queen of Indraprastha? Did she ever mock Duryodhana? Were the women in the time of the Mahabharata meek and submissive? What were the names of the war formations during the time? What role did the sons of the Pandavas play? Does the south of India feature at all in the Mahabharata? What happened after the war? These and many other intriguing questions continue to mystify the contemporary reader.
Author Ami Ganatra debunks myths, quashes popular notions and offers insights into such aspects not commonly known or erroneously known, based solely on facts as narrated in Vyasa's Mahabharata from generally accepted authentic sources. For a history of such prominence and influence as the Mahabharata, it is important to get the story right. So pick this book up, sit back and unveil the lesser-known facts and truths about the great epic.
AMI GANATRA is an alumna of Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA). A management professional, she is also a devout yoga practitioner, a certified yoga instructor, and a student of Sanskrit and Indian knowledge systems.
Indic knowledge systems clearly differentiate between mythology and history. The Mahabharata and Ramayana have been called itihasa (iti ha asa: thus it has been), the history of our ancestors. Ramayana, as we know, is composed by Rishi Valmiki, a contemporary of Shri Rama. Mahabharata has been immortalised for us by the man who was biologically related to the involved stakeholders-the Kauravas and the Pandavas-Rishi Veda Vyasa. There cannot be a more unbiased source.
The Mahabharata is also called the pancham Veda-the fifth Veda. By way of historical narration, it provides a framework for understanding and dealing with our own ethical dilemmas. The raw emotions and motivations, the dharma sankatas, faced by the people in the Mahabharata are so relatable and real that even 5,000 years later, or 7,000 as per some recent estimates, it continues to inspire authors, artists, social scientists and us. The number of works in the mythological fiction genre that get written inspired by the Mahabharata, even today, is a testimony to its relevance.
The popularity of the epic can be further gauged from off-the-charts viewership of a recent rerun of B.R. Chopra's Mahabharat, an old TV series with not-so-sophisticated production by current standards.
The Mahabharata is the history of the descendants of Bharata, a great sovereign king of Bharatavarsha. Throughout the story, one theme stands out that of dharma. The war between the cousins-the Kauravas and the Pandavas-which forms the core of the epic is called dharma yuddha, the war for dharma. One of the most sacred texts for Hindus, the Bhagavad Gita, has its provenance in the Mahabharata. It captures the conversation between Krishna and Arjuna before the commencement of the Kurukshetra war when the latter was gripped with confusion over the merit of the war and his responsibility. The text talks extensively about dharma and swadharma. Bhishma gives a discourse to Yudhishthira on Raja Dharma from his deathbed. Vidura advises Dhritarashtra of his dharma as the king and the patriarch of the family. Draupadi and Kunti exhort Yudhishthira to follow his dharma. So, what exactly is dharma?
Dharma is routinely translated as religion, or sometimes as law. These words, while not completely wrong, are not appropriate in explaining dharma.
The first volume of Mahabharata Unravelled covered the itihasa of our ancestors true to the narration of Rishi Veda Vyasa. But the Mahabharata is more than a story of the past. It has extensive discourses on ethics, personal and social interaction, administration, jurisprudence and related topics, in the form of conversations. For instance, the Shanti Parva, the longest of the 18 parvas, is a treatise on Raja Dharma. Advice on the responsibilities and duties of leaders and administrators is imparted to Yudhishthira by Bhishma from his bed of arrows on the battlefield. Then there is a profound dialogue between Dhritarashtra and the erudite Vidura that appears in Udyoga Parva, popularly known as Vidura Niti. Likewise, there is a thought-provoking story Rishi Markandeya narrates to the Pandavas of a meat-seller who teaches dharma to a Brahmin named Kaushika.
In Mahabharata Unravelled-I/ Ami Ganatra highlights the most important lessons from the Dharma discourses found in the Mahabharata. Their teachings hold true even in current times, perhaps more so than ever.
In my first book, Mahabharata Unravelled: Lesser- Known Facets of a Well-Known History, I covered the life stories, the itihasa, of our ancestors as narrated by Rishi Veda Vyasa. But the Mahabharata is more than just a story of the past. Tradition accords it the status of a Dharmashastra.
The immediate question that may be asked is, 'What is Dharma?' I have covered the meaning and essence of Dharma in the essay 'What is Dharma?' in the introduction of Mahabharata Unravelled: Lesser- Known Facets of a Well-Known History, so I will refrain from repeating the details here.
No epic has moved the consciousness of millions like the Ramayana. The appeal of the story of Rama is such that it has inspired the imagination of countless storytellers over the centuries, across the length and breadth of the subcontinent. From Jain poets to Bhavabhuti, from Kamban to Goswami Tulsidas, many have retold the Ramayana in their own language, infusing their own unique flavour.
Though the story of Rama is much loved and well-known, questions prevail. Ramayana Unravelled attempts to address some key concerns: How did his childhood and youth shape Rama? Why did Rama agree to go on vanvas was it only to obey his father or was there more to it? How was the relationship of Rama and Seeta? Is the Ramayana inherently misogynist, considering the characterisation of Seeta, Shurpanakha, Kaikeyi and Tara? What led to the downfall of Ravan?
Ami Ganatra takes the reader through the events of the Ramayana, resolving conundrums and underlining the reasons the epic continues to be cherished to this day.
No epic has moved the consciousness of a billion people like the Ramayana has. No person has invoked the kind of emotions in a billion people like Rama has. Ushering in Rama Rajya has been a romantic ideal cherished by us Bharatiyas since times immemorial. In the times of Mughal atrocities, when no cloud seemed to have a silver lining, the story of Rama narrated by our saints kept us going. It was the promise of Rama Rajya that rallied people behind Mahatma Gandhi in the struggle against the British for independence. When Yudhishthira was in vanvas, he was upset about destiny dealing him a raw hand. Rishi Märkandeya narrated to him the story of Rama, giving him hope that courage and perseverance will see him through the tough times.
Rama is an ideal son, a great friend, a king like no other, who, like most of us, had to undergo numerous trials and tribulations in life. But unlike most of us, he doesn't crib or complain; he toils through the challenges thrown at him by life and emerges victorious due to his valour, skill and resilience. The story of Rama's life has found resonance with people across the length and breadth of Bharatavarsha. So much so that wherever the people of this land went, they took Rama with them be it to Southeast Asia more than a thousand years ago, or to the Caribbean, around two hundred years ago.
In Thailand, the kings are referred to as Rama to this day. One of the provinces of Thailand is Ayutthaya, in memory of Ayodhya. In Java and Bali, folk culture and folk art have been significantly influenced by stories from the Ramayana. Performances based on the Ramayana continue to enthral Indonesians even today. In the islands of the Caribbean, people chanting Ramcharitmanas and Hanumana Chalisa are a common sight.
The appeal of the Ramayana is such that from the North to the South and from the East to the West, it has the imagination of innumerable poets and authors, and this is by no means a recent phenomenon. From Jain scholars to Bhavabhuti and Kamban to Goswami Tulsidas, many more have retold the story of the Ramayana in their own language, infusing their own unique flavour.
**Contents and Sample Pages**
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Vedas (1309)
Upanishads (600)
Puranas (829)
Ramayana (895)
Mahabharata (329)
Dharmasastras (162)
Goddess (473)
Bhakti (243)
Saints (1276)
Gods (1286)
Shiva (330)
Journal (132)
Fiction (44)
Vedanta (321)
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