Dr. Pai's Mahabharata Articles
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ૐ ૐ ૐ ૐ ૐ ૐ ૐ ૐ ૐ ૐ ૐ PPeeaarrllss Short Essays From Mahabharata by Dr. Ramesh Pai ૐ ૐ ૐ ૐ ૐ ૐ ૐ ૐ ૐ ૐ ૐ MYTHOLOGY AND ITS PLACE IN HINDUISM The definition of the word “myth” according to the wood, clay, stone, or metal, makes no difference to the Concise Oxford Dictionary is “a traditional narrative worshipper, as he is contemplating on what the image usually involving supernatural persons and embodying represents. For example, when a devotee stands before popular ideas on natural or social phenomena.” the image of Hanumaan, he is not thinking of the monkey At the beginning, it must be strongly emphasized form but recalling the events in the Ramaayana and the that in basic Vedantic Hinduism, the Supreme Reality glorious achievements of this character illustrating is single and formless (nirguna and niraakara). intelligence, loyalty, devotion, courage and heroism. This However, our wise and ancient teacher sages, the rishis, explains why Hindus worship a multiplicity of gods, and knew that for the vast majority of human beings, it would removes the misconception that Hindus are “idol be extremely difficult to conceive a formless entity to worshippers.” meditate upon. For such persons, they offered a God with form and attributes (saguna and sakaara). This was A true incident from the life of Swami Vivekananda meant only as a preliminary step for the realization of the illustrates this concept very well. In the course of his absolute single formless God. extensive walking tour of India, he was the guest of a rajah. The rajah was an advocate of formless worship The basis of the vast literature of Hindu mythology is and decried that his subjects were ignorant as they were couched mostly, but not entirely, in our beautiful language worshippers of idols. Swamiji, noticing some paintings of Sanskrit. It consists of the eighteen Puranas, the most the rajah’s ancestors hanging on the walls, expressed a important of which is the Srimad Bhagvatam of Sage desire to have a closer look at the portrait of the rajah’s Vyasa, and two great epics or Itihaasaas, the father. His wish was complied with and the painting was Ramayana of Sage Valmiki, and the Mahabharata of placed on a table. Thereupon Swamiji asked one of the Sage Vyasa. The Ramayana has twenty four thousand courtiers to spit on the portrait. Everyone was shocked verses, and the Mahabharata, the longest epic poem in and the courtier said, “How can I do that? It is the former the world, has one hundred thousand verses. It is said rajah!” Swamiji remarked, “It is not the former rajah but that all the qualities that can be found in the world, only a piece of cloth on which the artist has dabbed some whether good or bad, are depicted in the colored paint.” The rajah and his courtiers understood Mahaabhaarataa. The depiction is so inclusive and how strong mental association could evoke deep complete that if any characteristics are not described in emotions such as respect. this epic, they cannot be found in any other source. Many of the characters in these books have It has been rightly said that the worshipper devotee when supernatural powers and demonstrate supreme virtues immersed in intensely deep contemplation is no longer such as courage, heroism, loyalty and sacrifice. Hence aware of his surroundings and loses body consciousness. they are given superhuman status as gods or part He realizes that he is only the inner core, the Spirit or manifestations of the Supreme. They serve as role Atman, and merges with the object of his concentration. models for the worshipper to admire and emulate. Two This is true Spiritual Yoga, the same as Mukti or familiar examples are Hanuman, the monkey god, and Liberation. It is freedom from the recurrent cycles of birth Ganesha who has the head of an elephant. Most people and death. What one devotee attempts to achieve fail to perceive the deeper symbolic significance. It is the through the difficult path of self-denial, austerity, and same reverence that Christians display for the cross and ascetism, another achieves by the easier path through why Muslims face Mecca during their prayers. The worship of GOD with FORM. material with which the images are made, whether it is BHISHMA Chapter III, Verse 21 of the Bhagavad Gita states: throughout his life. Even the heavens applauded this Yad yad acarati sreshta tad tad evo itara janah Sa yat most wonderful action. He was also given a boon that he pramanamkurute lokas tad anuvartate could choose the time of his death. From that day he was Whatever example leaders in society set up, the common called Bhishma which means “The Terrible.” This pledge folk will follow. has been much praised and is called the Bhishma In the earlier article, the role of many of the Pratigjna. Bhishma also declared that he would remain characters in Hindu mythology was considered and the loyal to the Kuru Empire and its capital city Hastinapura valuable moral and ethical values which can be learned at any cost. That is the reason he fought against the from them were stressed. Pandavas during the Kurukshetra war. The epic Mahabharata of Sage Vyasa is a Many years later, Bhishma attended the veritable treasure house of different types of characters, swayamvara arranged for the three daughters of the King some with many fine virtues, some downright wicked and of Kasi. He fought against the many warrior kings others of a mixed nature. Studying these, there must be a assembled for the occasion and defeated all of them in sincere and determined effort on our part to pursue the order to get worthy wives for his stepbrothers, path of virtue and avoid the path of evil so that we can Chitrangada and Vichitravirya. Both princes died evolve towards our ultimate goal of God Realization. relatively young without begetting any children. This Consider Bhishma, the oldest of the Kuru clan. created a crisis as the Kuru throne was left vacant as He had divinity built in him. He was the youngest among Santanu had died earlier. Satyavati tried her best to the eight Vasus, a group of demigods who had incurred a persuade Bhishma to assume rulership but he would not curse to be born as mortals on earth. He was born of the rescind from the holy vow he had taken. sacred Ganga through the Kuru emperor Santanu. His Bhishma was one of the few people who name at birth was Devarata. His mother took him away recognized that Sri Krishna was a Divine Incarnation. Sri from the royal palace and had him educated and trained Krishna knew that Bhishma could not be killed by anyone in the martial arts by sage Parashurama. As a teenager, directly face to face in the battle. Bhishma however had he was returned to his father who named him as the publicly declared that he would not fight against a crown prince to succeed him. However, emperor Santanu woman. King Drupada’s eldest offspring was a girl who fell deeply in love with Satyavati, the daughter of the chief met a gandharva and got transformed into a man. She of fishermen. Her father consented to the marriage only underwent training for warfare, and as Shikandi fought on on condition that her son would be the future emperor. the side of the Pandavas. It was then contrived that Santanu thought that this would be grossly unfair to his Shikandi would stand in front of Arjuna’s chariot when he oldest son Devarata and could not agree to this proposal. confronted Bhishma, who could not retaliate true to his His love for Satyavati was so intense that he went into a public declaration. Bhishma was mortally wounded and state of severe depression. Coming to know of this, the lay on a bed of arrows in the battlefield waiting for the intelligent Devarata called on the fisherman chief and favorable time of Uttarayana to reach heaven. After the assured him that he would not claim the throne. The Pandavas won the war, due to their great affection and fisherman chief raised a further objection that though admiration for Bhishma, they visited him. He blessed Devarata forsook his claim, the children born to him them and on this occasion recited the very holy Vishnu could still aspire for the throne. The noble Devarata, who Sahasranama giving the thousand names of Lord had his father’s happiness at heart, was prepared for any Vishnu. He also gave extremely valuable advice to sacrifice on his part. Calling upon God as his witness, he Yudhishtira, who would become emperor. This is the swore that not only was he giving up his right to the famous Bhishma Neeti which gives details of state craft throne but that he would remain celibate, a brahmachari and is recorded in the Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata. KARNA, A TRAGIC HERO “There is a Destiny that shapes our ends, rough hew revolving at a height. The contestant could only aim by them, how we will.” - Shakespeare in Hamlet looking only at its reflection in water placed below. “It is all a checker board of nights and days Several princes and kings attending the occasion failed in Where Destiny with men for pieces plays their attempts. However, when it was Karna’s turn, Hither and tither moves, mates and slays Draupadi stated that she would not marry anyone not of And one by one back in the closet lays.” royal descent. Karna could not participate. - Rubaiyat of Omar Khayam, Persian Sufi poet On another occasion, a tournament was arranged in These verses aptly apply to Karna, a victim of which all the Kuru princes showed their skill.