MAHA-P005
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I heard from some of you ppl that this initial stuff is boring.....And some want me to skip it.....well...I am not going to skip them...but...Let me go through them in a faster pace........But its gud to know this detail.....If you go to the story in a haphazard fashion there are a lot of characters in the story that will confuse you.....so its best to go head-on.....But let me make it a bit faster and sweeter for u..............Also note that in these texts...I will embed them with little details that i know about them...So for ppl who wish to know a bit more about Hindu Philosophy you should consider not to overlook and skip paragraphs.....
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The plot is that...Bhrama comes and blesses vyasa to write the Mahabharata. Also Vyasa narrates, about the subjects and sciences that can be found in the Mahabharata. Vyasa says that Mahabharata is a explanation of vedas in detail.
The Rishi Vyasa made available this mass of knowledge about the universe in both a detailed and an abridged form. It is the wish to know the text both in the detailed and abridged from. Some read the Bharata beginning with the initial mantra (invocation), others with the story of Astika, others with Uparichara, while some Brahmanas study the whole. Some are skilful in explaining it, while others, in remembering its contents, while others are good at commenting the text.
The son of Satyavati (Rishi Vyasa) having, by penance and meditation, analyzed the eternal Veda afterwards composed this holy history, when that learned Brahmarshi of strict vows, the noble Dwaipayana Vyasa (Rishi Vyasa, This is his name.), offspring of Parasara, had finished this greatest of narrations, he began to consider how he might teach it to his disciples.
And the possessor of the six attributes, Brahma, the world's preceptor, knowing of the anxiety of the Rishi Dwaipayana, came in person to the place where the latter was, for gratifying the saint, and benefiting the people. And when Vyasa, surrounded by all the tribes of Munis, saw him, he was surprised; and, standing with joined palms, he bowed and ordered a seat to be brought. And Vyasa having gone round him who is called Hiranyagarbha seated on that distinguished seat stood near it; and being commanded by Brahma Parameshthi, he sat down near the seat, full of affection and smiling in joy. Then the greatly glorious Vyasa, addressing Brahma Parameshthi, said, "O divine Brahma, a poem has been composed by me which is greatly respected.
The mystery of the Veda, and what other subjects have been explained by me; the various rituals of the Upanishads with the Angas; the compilation of the Puranas and history formed by me and named after the three divisions of time, past, present, and future; the determination of the nature of decay, fear, disease, existence, and non-existence, a description of creeds and of the various modes of life; rule for the four castes, and the import of all the Puranas; An account of asceticism and of the duties of a religious student; the dimensions of the sun and moon, the planets, constellations, and stars, together with the duration of the four ages; the Rik, Sama and Yajur Vedas; also the Adhyatma;
The sciences called Nyaya, Orthœphy and Treatment of diseases; charity and Pasupatadharma; birth celestial and human, for particular purposes; also a description of places of pilgrimage and other holy places of rivers, mountains, forests, the ocean, of heavenly cities and the kalpas (A very long period of time); the art of war; the different kinds of nations and languages: the nature of the manners of the people; and the all-pervading spirit;--all these have been represented. But, after all, no writer of this work is to be found on earth.'
Eternal Veda (What does this thing mean?? eternal Vedas?? people know about Vedas assacred texts but here something called eternal Vedas are mentioned. Actually Veda is but one name of the Supreme god...I am not going to dwell on detail....Let me try to keep it as simple as I can....)
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An explanation of Lord Ganesha becoming the writer for the Mahabharata is explained below.
"Brahma said.’I esteem you for your knowledge of divine mysteries, before the whole body of celebrated Munis distinguished for the sanctity of their lives. I know you have revealed the divine word, even from its first utterance, in the language of truth. You have called your present work a poem, wherefore it shall be a poem. There shall be no poets whose works may equal the descriptions of this poem, even, as the three other modes called Asrama are ever unequal in merit to the domestic Asrama. Let Ganesa be thought of, O Muni, for the purpose of writing the poem.'
"Sauti said, 'Brahma having thus spoken to Vyasa, retired to his own abode. Then Vyasa began to call to mind Ganesa. And Ganesa, obviator of obstacles, ready to fulfill the desires of his votaries, was no sooner thought of, than he repaired to the place where Vyasa was seated. And when he had been saluted, and was seated, Vyasa addressed him thus, 'O guide of the Ganas! be thou the writer of the Bharata which I have formed in my imagination, and which I am about to repeat."
"Ganesa, upon hearing this address, thus answered, 'I will become the writer of your work, provided my pen do not for moment cease writing." And Vyasa said unto that divinity, 'Wherever there is anything that you do not comprehend, cease to continue writing.' Ganesa having signified his assent, by repeating the word Om! Proceeded to write; and Vyasa began; and by way of diversion, he knit the knots of composition exceeding close;
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I am (continued Sauti) acquainted with eight thousand and eight hundred verses, and so is Suka (Son of Rishi Vyasa), and perhaps Sanjaya(A character in the Mahabharata that you will later get to know). From the mysteriousness of their meaning, O Muni, no one is able, to this day; penetrate those closely knit difficult slokas. Even the omniscient Ganesa took a moment to consider; while Vyasa, however, continued to compose other verses in great abundance.
This text is very important. The following text explains why one should read Mahabharata.
The wisdom of this work, like unto an instrument of applying collyrium, hath opened the eyes of the inquisitive world blinded by the darkness of ignorance. As the sun dispels the darkness, so do the Bharata by its discourses on religion, profit, pleasure and final release, dispel the ignorance of men. As the full-moon by its mild light expanded the buds of the water-lily, so this Purana, by exposing the light of the Sruti hath expanded the human intellect. By the lamp of history, which destroyed the darkness of ignorance, the whole mansion of nature is properly and completely illuminated.
When we hear these stories we must try to delve on the chain of events that happen and try to understand their meaning. We can try to relate some events with our life or relate a character in this epic with us and try to investigate on, what happened to their life. Also, we must try to investigate on what is happening in our life or what are we doing in our life? Thus we can save ourselves from choosing a meaning less life, which will be a life of misery and a path of ignorance.
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The Mahabharata is compared to a tree, with various chapters and characters as its parts. You can get a feel of the importance of different characters in this epic by reading this comparison.
This work is a tree, of which the chapter of contents is the seed; the divisions called Pauloma and Astika are the root; the part called Sambhava is the trunk; the books called Sabha and Aranya are the roosting perches; the books called Arani is the knitting knots; the books called Virata and Udyoga the pith; the book named Bhishma, the main branch; the book called Drona, the leaves; the book called Karna, the fair flowers; the book named Salya, their sweet smell; the books entitled StriAishika, the refreshing shade; the book called Santi, the mighty fruit; the book called Aswamedha, the immortal sap; the denominated Asramavasika, the spot where it grows; and the book called Mausala, is an epitome of the Vedas and held in great respect by the virtuous Brahmanas. The tree of the Bharata, inexhaustible to mankind as the clouds, shall be as a source of livelihood to all distinguished poets." and
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The following text is important for you to read. It gives some very important details on the characters of Mahabharata.
"Sauti continued, 'I will now speak of the undying flowery and fruitful productions of this tree, possessed of pure and pleasant taste, and not to be destroyed even by the immortals. Formerly, the spirited and virtuous Krishna-Dwaipayana (Sage Vyasa), by the orders of Bhishma, the wise son of Ganga and of his own mother (Satyavati, Mother of Vyasa), became the father of three boys who were like the three fires by the two wives of Vichitra-virya; and having thus raised up Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidura, he returned to his recluse abode to prosecute his religious exercise.
It was not till after these were born, grown up, and departed on the supreme journey (died or attained salvation. I am not clear which one they mean.), that the great Rishi Vyasa published the Bharata in this region of mankind; when being solicited by Janamejaya (Grandson of Pandavas) and thousands of Brahmins, he instructed his disciple Vaisampayana, who was seated near him; and he, sitting together with the Sadasyas, recited the Bharata, during the intervals of the ceremonies of the sacrifice, being repeatedly urged to proceed.
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Lot of detail about ancient Indian life is not understood by us or remain unknown to us. We don’t know about some systems that are not explained in detail in the Mahabharata. I will try to find more information on those things and present it to you.
In this connection, It is important for me to post this excerpt from Wikipedia for your reference. It talks about the system by which Rishi Vyasa became the father of Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidura.
Niyoga is an ancient Hindu tradition, in which a woman (whose husband is either incapable of fatherhood or has died without having a child) would request and appoint a person for helping her bear a child. According to this Hindu tradition the man who was appointed must be or would most likely be a revered person. There were various clauses associated with this process, as follows:
- The woman would agree for this only for the sake of rightfully having a child and not for pleasure.
- The appointed man would do this for Dharma, considering it as his duty to help the woman bear a child and not for pleasure.
- The child thus born would be considered the child of the husband-wife and not that of the appointed man.
- The appointed man would not seek any paternal relationship or attachment to this child in the future.
- To avoid misuse, a man was allowed a maximum of three times in his life time to be appointed in such a way.
- The act will be seen as that of Dharma and while doing so, the man and the wife will have only Dharma in their mind and not passion nor lust. The man will do it as a help to the woman in the name of the GOD, whereas the woman will accept it only to bear the child for herself and her husband.
In Niyoga, the bodies were to be covered with "ghee" (so that lust may not take root in the minds of participants but actual act may take place for conception).
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Next chapter we will be starting with the real events in Mahabharata....So don’t miss it........
---------Anand Hariharan.
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