The Mahabharata

The Mahabharata is one of the two main epics of ancient India (along with the Ramayana). It has more than 74,000 verses (though I have also read 200,000) and around 1.8 million words. It is one of the longest epic poems in the history of the world.

The Mahabharata deals with the conflict and circumstances around the Kurukshetra War, a great legendary war that took place in Prehistoric India between cousin clans.

Each believed descending from the gods, from the god associated with the Moon, mythologically speaking. Though in a more historical sense it suggests that these two tribes were descended from a great ancient figure.

The two clans who fought one another where the Kaurava and the Pandava. Part of what the Mahabharata deals with was these events, and the dates of the princes of the Pandava and Kaurava.

The innermost narrative tells of two sets of paternal first cousins. One set being the sons of King Pāndu of which there were five, known as the Pāndavas.

The Mahabharata form the Hindu Itihara, which is the history from the Hindu perspective, though the word itself translates literally as “so indeed it was”.

Lunar Dynasty

The Mahabharata also preserves the tradition of the Lunar Dynasty, one of the principal houses of the Kshatriya Varna.

Contents

It contains philosophic and devotional thought. Such as the discussion of the 4 goals of life, the purusartha. (12.161) the Purusartha literally means the “object of human pursuit” which refers to the right goals and aims of a human life.

These ideas are similar to the Buddhist idea of Right Action, or Christian Righteousness.

The four Purusartha are:

1. Moksha (spiritual liberation from the cycle of rebirths)
2. Dharma (righteousness, perhaps even Maat)
3. Artha (prosperity and wealth)
4. Kama (pleasure and love)

Moksha is the ideal aim of human life, which focuses on spiritual development. Specifically the cultivation of spiritual awareness in spiritual practice, along with detachment and the renunciation of our attachment to material pleasure and possession, success and even general human conflict to free our minds from the occluding pull.

Though Dharma is perhaps the most important as it deals with the right way or right path towards Moksha, though Dharma applies to the morally and spiritually correct course of action ideally in the analysis of every single one of our choices in life.

What is the right way? What is the righteous path? What is our duty to family, friends, community, nation, and now, global community? Is it right to commit to a war to save human life or preserve some human quality and standard of behaviour, perhaps even specific ideas (or ideals) life justice or human rights. Dharma in times of conflict takes precedence. [?]

Artha Purusartha is interesting, as it refers to wealth. It is one of the main goals of a human life, to acquire wealth and self-reliance resulting, the ability to influence, provide for, and assist ones family and the community at large. We tend to view wealth in the material sense, concerning the acquisition of things and luxuries as if the two are inherently linked. Though in the sense of prosperity and abundance, we can still live frugally. Understanding that our wealth can be much better spent by enriching the community or the world, in some way.

This can mean owning your own business, as this is something that modern Descendents, inheritors of a certain relatively modern branch of the ancient tradition promoted, as Yogi Bhajan did advice his students to own their own businesses. So I believe this mindset we can see traces back to the fundamental ancient traditions of India perhaps first promoted in the Mahabharata. Though transmitted by scholar-sages verbally for millennia to a high precision of faithfulness.

Kama Purusartha refers to pleasure and also love. We often connotate “pleasure” and “love” refer primarily to the sensual pleasures, pleasures of the flesh – which by no means should be denied or ignored. Though we can also interpret this mentally, emotionally, creatively, and spiritually. Pleasure and love can just as easily be found in seeking these emotionally, as well as in our passions, the arts and disciplines we have chosen to dedicate our lives to and the work that we choose to do. Kama can just as easily be found in the work we choose to do, the relationships and bonds we cultivate, the communities we are part of. Tend to the earth with pleasure, take pleasure in social gatherings, and perhaps even in vices – in moderation and the right mindsets, perhaps.

Among the principal works of the Mahabharata is the Bhagavad Gita. The story of Damayanti, abbreviated version of the Ramayana, and the story of Rsyasringa, often considered works in their own right. [1.1]

Traditionally authorship is attributed to Vyaasa. [2] An ancient scholar sage who singlehandedly contributed some of the most important works of Hinduism, each of prodigious length, some of the longest epics of human history. [2] Among their number the Mahabharata, Vedas, and Puranas. His name literally means “the compiler”. [2]

His other names Veda Vyasa (“the one who classified the Vedas”) or Krishna Dvaipayana (Krishna meaning black referring to dark complexion and birthplace).

Age of the Mahabharata

According to Wikipedia the oldest preserved parts are thought to be not much older than 400 BCE. [1.1] Though origins of epic believed to fall between 8th and 9th centuries BCE.

Probably reached final form in early the early Gupta Empire period which spanned from c.319 BCE, around the time of Alexander the Great, until 543 BCE during which time it covered much of the Indian Subcontinent. [1.3] They dominated some 21 tribes inside and outside India, a couple tribes of the Oxus Valley and into Central Asia, speaking the Sanskrit tongue, and practicing Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism as their principal religions, founded by King Sri Gupta. (1.3) Considered by some the Golden Age of India.

According the the Mahabharata itself the tale was extended from an original 24,000 verse tale that was simply called Bhaarata.

Mahabharata longest poem ever written. About 10x Homers Illiad and Odyssey combined, and 4x the Ramayana. Taking its place among the great literatures, scriptures, and traditions of the world.

Short Synopsis

The core story of the work deals with dynastic struggle for throne of Hastinapura, the Kingdom ruled by the Kuru clan.

The two branches of the family that participate in the conflict are the Kaurava branch family, and the Pandava branch family. While the Kaurava are the eldest family of the Duryodhana family, the Pandava are older than the Kaurava branch, being the eldest Yudhishthira. [1.1] Both the Duryodhana and Yudhishthira claim to be the rightful inheritors of the throne.

The Pandavas are ultimately victorious when the conflict capitalizes at the Great Battle of Kurukshetra. Though this battle results in termoils as the power had changed in the land, leading to a break down of relations across the nation, friendships thrown into conflict and uncertain times. Sometimes family loyalty and duty tool precedence over Dharma, while at other times Dharma, the right path, took precedence over Dharma.

The Mahabharata India with the death of Krishna, in which the Kali Yuga age is said to have begun, the fourth Great Ages of Mankind defined by the Yuuga Cycle. A time of turmoil, chaos, immorality, and desolation when humanity is separated from the Spiritual Principle and alignment with Brahma. ULTIMATELLY the death of Krishna is followed by the end of his dynasty, the Pandava brothers ascending to heaven.

Older Generations

King Jan

Notes

Further Reading

1. Mahabharata (Wikipedia)
2. Vyaasa | Wikipedia | 26 Dec 2019 | [http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vyasa]
3. Gupta Empire | Wikipedia | 26 Dec 2019 | [http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gupta_Empire]
4. The Story of the Mahabharata | James L. Fitzgerald, Professor Sanskrit | Brown University, Department of Classics | Accessed 26 Dec 2019 | May 2009 [http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Sanskrit_in_Classics_at_Brown/Mahabharata/MBh2Story.html