Articles - Mahabharath

The Epics – b. Mahabharatha

by Dr. V.C. Govindarajan

Introduction: Maha means very large or extensive Bharatha means stories of King Bharatha’s (son of Sakunthala and Dushyanta) descendant.  Mahabharatha mainly deals with the history of Pandavas and Kauravas.  Though both were Kauravas, means descendant of King Kuru, the founder of Kurukshetra, only Duryodhana and his brothers were identified as Kauravas.

Authors of Mahabharatha and Deveopment of Mahabharatha:

There used to be only one author for any work in general. In the matter of Mahabhartha there were three authors.  1) The great saint Ved Vyasa.  2) His disciple Vaisampayana  3) The story teller called Ugrasravas. (Sutha pauranika).

1)            It is said that the author of this great sage Veda Vyasa composed in 8,800 verses in the name of JAYAM.  (refer the managala slokam)

2)            This was taught to his disciple Vaisampayana and he narrated to the great grand son of Arjun (Arjuna, Abhimanyu, Parikshit and Janamejaya) Janamejaya during the Sarpa Yajna, the serpant yajna.  That it was developed into 24,000 slokas. In this the story of ancestors of Pandavas and Kauravas were narrated.  So it was called BHARATAM.  

3)            Then this was narrated to the sages in the forest for penance called Naimisaranyam by the storyteller called Ugrasravas.          This time many stories were narrated and it was developed into 1 lakh slokas.  So it was called MAHABHARATHAM.

We get these information through Adi Parva (first section) of Mahabharatha and the slokas nos.81, 102 & 101.

Date of great brothers:

            Pandavas and Kauravas were cousins.  The date of these brothers and Sri Krishna’s dates are one and the same.  One thing is sure that Bharatham was composed after Ramayana only. Researchers say the date of Mahabharatham 800 B.C.  Prof. MacDonnell says that the union of these two brothers was mentioned in the Yajurveda.  The name of Drtharashtra is mentioned (pl. refer) in Kataka, one of the branches of Krishna Yajurveda.  So the date will be before 10^th BC.  We get reference in Aswalayana Grhya Sutram, which is composed in 5^th BC. refers Bhartham.

            If you refer our panchangams it would be mentioned that Kaliyuga 5104.  It is said that Kaliyuga started on the next day of Lord Krishna’s Moksham.  Our Great Arya Bhatta said this calculation on the date of Kaliyuga and that we follow.

Sections of Mahabharatha:  There are 18 sections (parvas) in this work and Harivamsam as supplementary.  Among them Adiparva the first describes the detail of great brothers’ ancestors. The parvas are 18: 1)  Adi  2) Sabha 3) Vana 4) Virata 5) Udyoga 6) Bhishma 7) Drona 8) Karna 9) Salya 10) Sauptika 11) Stri (ladies) 12) Santhi 13) Anusasana 14) Aswamedha 15) Aasrama-vaasika 16) Mausala 17) Mahaprasthana 18) Swargarohana  annexure: Harivamasam – Story of Krishna.

           

Greatness of Mahabharatha:  This topic is endless.  This work is great because of the author, content, descriptions and a biiiiiiiiiiiiig story.

1)      The Author:  Sage Vyasa himself was very great.  His son Sukar was known only Parabhrahmam.  His father Parasara also was sage author of Sri Vishnu Puranam.  His grand father was Sakthi, was son great Sage Vasishta. 

Ref: Vyaasam Vasishta Naptaram Sakteh Pautram Aklmasham.

        Paraasaraatmajam Vande Sukataatam Taponidhim..

Himself Veda Vyasa also author of 18 great Puranas (next article).  So no more to tell about the author.

2)      Contant: We get a sloka in Mahabharata itself that reads like this: “What said about Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha in this work in detail are not available in other works.  What is not said in other works is also said in this book.”  So we can consider Mahabharatha as a great lexicon of Indian Culture, Custom, Wisdom and Thoughts. In the Garden of Mahabhara there are so many verities of beautiful plants. Like 1) Nalopakyanam 2) Story of Sakuntala 3) Story of Nalayini 4) Yaksha Prasnam 5) Vidhura Niti  6) The great Bhagavad Gita 7) The holy Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam 8) Sri Siva Sahasranamam  9) Gangavatharanam 10) Story of Nahusha 11) Amrta Mathanam etc.

3)      Discriptions: The descriptions in Mahabharatha are very stylistic.  The way it was described the Sarpa Yajna, Garuda’s invasion over the Heaven for Devamrutham, the battles etc. are very very interesting.  Just read the following description on Agni astra – “Taking careful aim against his foes, the preceptor’s son let loose the blasting missile of smokeless fire with tremendous force.  Dense arrows of flame, like a great shower, issued forth upon creation, encompassing the enemy.  Meteors flashed down from the sky……...  All points of compass were lost in darkness.  Fierce winds began to blow.  Clouds roared upward.  Showering dust and grave.  Birds croaked madly and beasts shuddered from the destruction.  The very elements seemed disturbed.  The sun seemed to waver in the heavens.  The earth shook, scorched by the terrible violent heat of the weapon……..  Over a vast area, animals crumpled to the ground and died.  The waters boiled and the creatures residing therein also died………..  It was the unknown weapon, the iron thunderbolt, a gigantic messenger of death……..”

The Heritage of India: Mahabharatha no boubt is Heritage of like Ramayana. In this we can get lots of information in all four kinds of Purushartha (to be achieved by every man). Also it is said about the content “it is also described about Politics (Artha sastra), Erotics (Kamasastra), Virtues (Dharmasastra) etc. by the great sage Vyasa.”  There are lots of collections of stories about the ancestors of Pandavas and many kings like Yayathi, conflict of Devas and Asuras, Story of Garuda, etc. (ref. above 1-11 titles) are described in detail.  We cannot get these information in detail in other books.  So we consider Mahabharatham is the Heritage of India.

Influence in the Sanskrit literature: As Ramayana was the source of many literal works, Mahabharata too was the source for the development of Sanskrit Literature.  Many dramas, Kavyas and Champu Kavyas (like dance drama) were written based on the episodes of Mahabharatam. The source of two great Maha Kavyas Kiratarjuniya and Sisupalavadam were from Mahabhratham.  First one describes the Arjuna’s penance for Pasupatha, battle with lord Siva the second one describes mainly the Rajasuya Yajna conducted by Yudhishtira and the Sisupala’s death.  Further, there are so many dramas, poems, champukayas were composed. (we will see them later)

The great war : Mr. J.Rao thinks that the war took place in 3139 BC as according to a tradition Krishna passed away at the commencement of the Kaliyuga after the lapse of 36 years from the war. Mr.R.M.Tripati says the date war was 3102 BC.  According to Arya Bhatta the Mahabharata war was fought during the year 3137 BC.  It was called as Battle for Dharma.  Two families fought for the kingship and the supportive Kings took part in the Great War.  It was said that 18 akshowhini of soldiers took part in it.  One akshouhini consists of 21,870 chariots, as many elephants, 65,610 horses and 1,09,350 foot.  The leaders of countries like Pragjyotisha (Assam), Avanti and Dakshinaapatha, the Cinas, Kiratas (hunters), Kambojas, Yavanas, Sakas, Matras, Kaikeyas, Sindhus, Sauviras etc. and Pandava’s allies were Kings of Panchala, Kosala, Kasi, Magadha, Chedi, Matsya and Yadus.  The list continues.  This was the first war, which was fought only during the daytime between dawn and dusk with certain sets of rules and regulations.  The great warrior and Pithamaha Bhishma laid these rules. They could move around in the enemies’ camp also without fear during the nighttime.  Due to these reasons also it was told as Dharma Yuddha.  One more thing to be noted that at the end the war very few warriors were alive.

The commentaries of Mahabharatha: There was good commentary for the whole of Mahabharatha written by Nilakanta, a Brahman from Maharashtra of about 16^th AD.   There also few others commented to certain portions.  (30-11-03)

            Next: 18 Puranas of Sage Vyasa.