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Raamaayan and Mahaabhaarat

Mahaabhaarat is a grand panorama of Indian Hertitage -
This epic was earlier known as "Bharat Sanhitaa", because it vividly depicted philosophy and life style, it was counted as Pancham Ved also, so the title Mahaabhaarat was subsequently assigned to it.

Cultural Importance
Mahaabhaarat is the most voluminous epic that portrays all aspects of Indian life on a grand scale. The epic contained one million verses (Shlok), composed in Sanskrit by sage Ved Vyaas Jee. It has been translated in almost all the languages of the world and has inspired many authors not only of India, but of different languages in the world. The theme of Mahaabhaarat
has been used in all the literary formats ranging from poetry, narration, comics, drama, operas and cinematic productions. The episodes of the epic have been used as themes in all the dance forms of India. The grandeur of the epic is most befitting subject for films using latest technology and has the potential to surpass the classics like Ben Hur, Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter.

While Raamaayan depicts Tretaa Yug, Mahaabhaarat is cast in Dwaapar Yug and culminates in the beginning of Kali Yug of our present times. Some characters of both the epics are common, like Devarshi Naarad, Parshuraam, and Hanumaan. They provide a bridge to connect us with Tretaa and Dwaapar Yug. It is primarily the story of Kaurav and Paandav clans to which other contemporary dynasties of Dwaapar Yug have been skillfully woven, culminating in war on a grand scale for eighteen days. Every character makes an entry with his past and can be visualized in flesh and blood with all the possible human strengths and weaknesses. While Raamaayan portraits the main character Rama discharging his obligations in the roles of an obedient son, a caring husband, an affectionate brother, a sincere friend, an ideal king, and a loving father; Mahaabhaarat depicts various situations of human society wrapped in all the shades of passion.

It is pertinent to mention that Hindu epic writers exercised self censorship. The accounts giving details about the birth of Dhritraashtra, Paandu and Vidur and later their sons, have been allegorically camouflaged to avoid vulgarity. The descriptions of wars and other incidents are metaphorical and are not to be taken in literal sense to denounce or disbelieve the epic. However whatsoever had been narrated is medically and scientifically getting possible in our day to day happenings now.

The Environment
The environment is that of a well-developed grand civilization. Mahaabhaarat covers the entire length and breadth of not only India but its characters travel up to heavens and the under-world also. They are depicted larger than life but are every inch humans like us today. There is less appearance of Raakhshas in Mahaabhaarat than in Raamaayan. That indicates transformation of society and passage of time.

The battle of Mahaabhaarat was fought on the battle field of Kuru Kshetra, and the same was narrated to King Dhritraashtra through live running commentary of his charioteer Sanjaya. Combined strength of the rival armies of Kaurav and Paandav was 18 Akshauhine. Each Akhshauhinee army consisted  21,870 chariots, 21,870 elephants, 109,350 infantry soldiers and 65,610 horsemen. Thus it works out to be more than the size of today's corps formation in the army. There is rank structure of commanders, like Senaapati, Commander in Chief and Mahaarathee equivalent of army commanders and so on. Both rivals had set their War Headquarters at Kuru Kshetra, but battles are depicted being fought at different locations under respective army commanders. The kind of operations, fortifications, tactics, and use of weaponry has a semblance of ancient world war.

Both armies had agreed to observe strict code of conduct, the kind of Geneva Conventions we have today. Injured, unarmed and unequal were not to be attacked. The war was restricted only to the battle field and no civil population was to be harmed. The war commenced each day at daybreak with blowing of warning through conch shells and ended at sunset. Thereafter even the rival commanders could freely move and socially interact with their counterparts.

The war culminated in the total destruction of Kaurav and only a few survived in the Paandav clan. The net outcome for both was waste of men and materials; a lesson human society still needs to remember.

Historical Relevance
There is no clear cut historical account available about the History of India after Mahaabhaarat period till we restore our links with ancient India during the time of Chandragupta Maurya. We need further to re-establish missing link through Puraan and epics. Raamaayan, Mahaabhaarat and Puraan are rich sources lying untapped by historians as epics and folk literature
to re-structure and verify our historical records.

It is undisputed that Divine Right Theory of kingship was followed all over the world since the dawn of civilization, and is continuing today also under the guise of constitutional monarchy, in some countries. It was earlier customary to affiliate the origin of ruling family to some god to impress the legitimacy of their rule. The solar (Soorya Vanshee) and lunar (Chandra Vanshee) dynasties are the oldest all over the world amongst ruling dynasties. The Solar dynasties got spread out in India and countries in South East Asia while the lunar dynasties were scattered in China, Syria, Middle East and Egypt. Even today, Sun and Moon are regarded as prominent deities in some form in those areas. Raamaayan was the epic of Soorya Vanshee clans, while Mahaabhaarat is mainly concerned with Chandra Vanshee clan. Both had their origin in India.

Ethical Importance
About 20,000 verses of the epic refer to statesmanship, diplomacy, protocols, ethics and observance of Dharma. As a matter of fact the entire conflict is about victory of Dharm over A-Dharm. There is galaxy of exponents on the subject in the person of Krishn, Bheeshm, Dronaachaarya, Shakuni, Shalya and Vidur. Their statements continue to inspire subsequent generations also.

Even the feminine element of Hindu society is aptly reflected in strength in Mahaabhaarat epic. Unlike Raamaayan's Seetaa is seen suffering in loneliness, women play greater role in Mahaabhaarat throughout right from providing the cause to the war and the consequences thereafter.
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Raamaayan has harmonic, beautiful relationships but in Mahaabhaarat it is ugly, awful relationships.
We can approach Hinduism from different angles. To me it is a matter of conviction that there is an abiding truth in Hinduism. I consider Vaaman, Raam and Krishn as evolutionary stages for the homo-sapiens. Vaaman a non-murderous Avataar. His purpose was to demonstrate the three dimensionality (three axes, xyz of co-ordinate geometry) of the Universe. These are also known as the ‘three’ worlds or Bhoor Bhuvah Swah.

Raam's Avataar is a limited Avataar bound by unchanging certainty of edicts.
Krishn is the Purushottam or the highest stage of evolution. Krishn is the only God worshipped in all the stages of his life, as infant, Mukund, child Baal Krishn

They were poles apart. Lord Raam was idealistic in every aspect.
--“Ideals” are limiting. They can bind one to a limited vision.
Krishn transcends the limitations.

He (Krishn) married Rukminee, Satyabhaamaa, Jaambavatee to name a few
This is polygamy not profligacy. All are ‘political’ marriages. Rukmini sought to escape from her brother’s dominance. Krishn stepped in. Raadhaa’s (and that of the Gopee's) love for Krishn is an example of female sexuality. Raas Leelaa may be embarrassing to Christian world-view but it depicts real female sexuality.

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