Relative priority of Ramayanam over Mahabharatam

 

   The Ramayana, one of the greatest epics i.e. ‘[ithasa:’ is held in high esteem as the Adikavyam. Tradition is very firm with regard to the antiquity and priority of Ramayana over the other epic Mahabharatam. However some scholars are of the view that the Mahabharatam is an earlier work than the Ramayana. One such theory is put forward by Prof.Weber. He says that though the ‘ramaaopa#yaanama\’ the story dealing with Rama occurs in the ‘vanapva- ’ of Mahabharatam there is no mention of Valmiki as well as the epic Ramayana. Markandeya is made to narrate to Dharmaputra after the recovery of the Draupadi who had been carried by Jayadratha as Sita was by Ravana, in order to show that there were other examples in ancient times of virtuous people suffering at the hands of wicked people. Prof.Weber came to the conclusion that the Mahabharata version of ‘ramaaopa#yaanama\’ is more primitive than the Ramayana. According to him, the ‘ramaaopa#yaanama\’ could possibly be the original out of which the epic Ramayana was developed. He put forward another suggestion that the ‘ramaaopa#yaanama\’ of Ramayana and Mahabharata may probably be regarded as resting upon a common ground but each occupying an independent standpoint.

   This theory is not at all accepted by the traditional scholars. There are many internal and external evidences to corroborate the antiquity of Ramayana. As observed above the Mahabharata alludes to the story of Rama in the ‘vanapva- ’. It is even said that the story of Rama is too popular to need any detail. This itself proves the priority of the Ramayana. Further there is no mention in the Ramayana of any episodes found in Mahabharata. Many factors can be cited to strengthen the traditional view of the priority of Ramayana. Writing seems to have been unknown in the earlier epic which as we have been told was orally handed down to Lava and Kusa by Valmiki himself. On the other hand Lord Vigneshwara was requested to be the scribe to write down the Slokas of Mahabharata to the dictation of VedaVyasa. In the Ramayana we do not find any reference to the existence of any civilised kingdom in the South India which was mainly inhabited by monkeys. But in Mahabharata we come across references to kings from South India being received by Dharmaputra at his Rajasuya sacrifice. The art of fighting a war is seen in its most advanced stage in the Mahabharata. Many missiles were used and the art of forming vyuhas (arrays) were perfected. This can be compared to Rama’s army which consisted only of monkeys and bears who hurled only big stones and the like on the enemies and not tough weapons. The very test of archery at the Draupadi’s Swayamvara is an advancement over that of Sita’s Swayamvara. The complex nature of archery in the Mahabharata definitely shows a sign of later age.

    An analysis of character of heroine of Ramayana and Mahabharata respectively will also substantiate the priority of Ramayana. Sita is very simple and submissive to her husband whereas Draupadi questions Yudhishthira’s authority of to stake her in the dice play when he himself was enslaved. The standard of purity and morality was very high in Ramayana. Sita had to undergo fire ordeal to prove her chastity, but in Mahabharata Draupadi who was abducted by Jayadratha, was easily accepted by her husbands without any test of good conduct. This relaxation in such religious and ethical beliefs proves that the Mahabharata was of later age.

   The war between Rama and Ravana was only through fair means whereas in the Mahabharata the end justified the means howsoever questionable they might be, for the sake of victory. In the Mahabharata war every crime like false evidence and brutal murder is readily committed. This state of corruption and degeneration clearly points out to the later sceptic state of society.

   The poetic style of Ramayana is more simple and lucid befitting an Adikavyam as compared to that of Mahabharata that is more ornate and terse. We can thus say with certainty that Ramayana is ancient than Mahabharata.

HARIVAMSA PURANAM - A SUPPLEMENT OF MAHABHARATAM

 

Harivamsa, though a purana in itself considering its matter and length, is known as a supplement of Mahabharatam. It contains more than 16000 verses and does not appear like a single work, but like a loose jumble of several legends, myths and hymns. Its professed purpose is to glorify Vishnu. The only connection that this book has to the Mahabharatam consists in the fact that Vaisampayana the narrator of Mahabharatam, himself narrates this to the same Janamejaya when the latter requests him to give an account of the race to which he belongs.

   The book is divided into three parts. The first book is called ‘hirvaMSa pva- ’. It gives an account of the creation of the world, of the kings of the solar and lunar dynasty and several other legends like those of ‘Qa`uva:’ ‘vaona:’ ‘ivaSvaaima~:’ etc. It also gives an account of the ancestors and the birth of Krishna.

   The second book called ‘ivaYNau pva-’ deals at length with the sports of the childhood and the later adventures of Krishna.

   The third book is called ‘BaivaYya pva-’. The name is applicable only to the first canto of it wherein there are prophecies about the future ages. The rest of the third book gives us several unconnected details including two different accounts of creation and the stories of the incarnation of Vishnu as Narasimha. The book narrates some other stories of Krishna again for example the slaying of the demon ‘paOND,k:’ and concludes with long account of the fruits and merits accruing from the study of Harivamsa and Mahabharatam. Among the minor epics Harivamsa is one that maintains great popularity.

INSTILLING SOCIAL EQUALITY IN CHILDREN BY NANDHINI CHANDRASEKHARAN

 

“The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them.” - Mark Twain.

 ADDRESSING SOCIAL INEQUALITY emphasizes the readers to teach their wards about the present scenario of our social conditions with great attention. Because parents are the first teachers who can initiate their wards to know the basic ideas about the day-to-day life.

Krishna says to Arjuna, do you kill Drona, Bhishma, Jayadratha, Karna and other brave warriors; who stand already killed by me. Gita: 34-XI.

Drona was the great teacher and Bhishma was the grand-sire of Pandavas and Kauravas, they are the ones who failed to teach the modesty and moral codes in proper way.

 Though the phrase from the book –“ rethink about introducing stereotyping books to your children” insists to avoid the same, but parents should choose the worthy anecdotes from fairy tales, Panchatantra stories, or mythologies by which the children can be away from the bad companies, bad habits.

 According to Dr. Vivek Mansingh, a mentor par excellence, the author of “Achieving Meaningful Success” says that the books are to be treated as one among the four gods. Even the Bhagavad Gita instructed the people to depend or read the books in the form of scripture which guide about the do’s and don’ts. 

The line “irrespective of what caste we belong to, we are responsible for dividing or not dividing people based on castes” warns the readers to educate their wards not to be complicate themselves by trapping into this and must understand the following idea that “the wise men who have Equanimeous sight, see the same Self in a learned and humble higher caste, a cow, an elephant, a dog and also in the one who eats the flesh of a dog who is treated as a low-caste.” Gita18/V

One should make his own ward to learn that no one should hurt anyone or break any laws. Neither one should underestimate others nor make others to feel inferior.  For e.g. rainbow is the combination of seven colours. If anyone of those taken out it won’t be nice to watch.  In this way we have to promote our children to understand the same and train to follow practically.

 Take the responsibility to correct improper addressing by children,

 Talk to them about the strength in standing for each other

What can be parents’ roles in shaping and dealing with children’s identities?

 Are the few of the best topics discussed in the e –book by the author Nandhini chandrasekharan. She is an erstwhile Biotechnologist, while staying at home and raising her children, stumbled upon several work-from-home roles one after the other, the last being an EdTech content specialist role. She is now curious about what lies ahead in life.

 This e-book provides the useful approach to parents to advise their children to lead a life with great courage, positive thoughts, maintain the relationships and in turn it helps to develop the feeling of rejoice.

Nothing exists in the world more purifying than knowledge- Gita 38/IV.  According to this wise-quote, by reading this E-Book, one can understand and follow to lead his/her parenting journey properly.

Moreover, the contents are well arranged and the title is being exemplified with suitable image in the wrapper.

 

 

 {This e book review is a part of Blogchatter's E Book carnival 2022}

 

BHAGAVAD GITA - THE DIVINE SONG OF LORD KRISHNA

 

      

   Bhagavadgita is a philosophical poem of 700 verses divided into 18 cantos. It is believed to be a dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna in the battlefield when the armies of both the sides were standing ready for battle. Arjuna hesitates to fight being shocked at the thought of slaying his own kinsfolk and preceptors. Lord Krishna expounds to him the great truth of real duty and knowledge of the self so as to inspire into him the spirit of selfless service. The poem sets forth elaborately the eternal nature of the souls, the needs for proper performance of one’s own Dharma, the value of Karma or selfless action, ‘&anama\’ or spiritual knowledge and ‘Bai>’ or incessant devotion as the means of attaining liberation from the bondage of worldly existence. The doctrine of self surrender, the lesson of detachment from the fruits of one’s own action and numerous other similar great principles of Hindu Philosophy are all compressed in the Gita and it has therefore been all along the most popular and adored treatises on Hindu Philosophy.

   Numberless philosophers like Sankara, Ramanuja and Madhva have commented onit. All the vernacular and foreign languages have translations and commentaries on the Gita. In short it is the greatest and the most popular work in the Indian Philosophical Literature.

   Though tradition holds the Bhagavadgita to be a portion of Bhishma Parva of Mahabharataam, Scholars of research have refuted such a view. A long poem of 700 verses dealing with intricate and serious codes of philosophy could not have been spoken of on the field of battle. Originally there might have been a brief dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna and in the place of which the present long poem might have been later introduced.

            But Shankara recognises the Gita as a portion of the great epic and the great poet Bana also speaks of it in the same strain. So this Bhagavadgita must have been assimilated into the Mahabharatam much before Bana’s time i.e. 7^th century A.D.

CAUSES FOR THE EVOLUTION OR ENLARGEMENT OF MAHABHARATAM

 

  Mahabharatam is not only an epic but also is considered as treatise on Dharma Sastra, law, religion, philosophy and a score of other things a man can think in those days. That is why it is declared ‘yaidhaist tdnya~ yannaohaist na tt\ @vaicat\’ – ‘What is found here can be found elsewhere, what is not found here can’t be found anywhere’. It is also called the fifth Veda ‘Baart: pHcamaao vaod:’. T he following are the causes for the enlargement of Mahabharatam.

(1)     The question posed by janamaojaya:, saaOnak: and other sages and the answers given to them by Vaisampayana were incorporated into the text later.

(2)     Store of house of legends: The older national legends of Hindus, their places of worship and mythologies were incorporated into Mahabharatam. These might have had a prior independent existence as ‘gaaqaa s. In this regard the stories of Saraswati Nala, Saavitri, Nahusha etc. may be mentioned.

(3)     Book of knowledge and information: We find all the sciences and subjects being represented in this work. When ‘QaRtraYT/:’ – Dhrutarashtra – the born blind asks ‘saHjaya:’ – Sanjaya- the nature of earth for which so many people are about to fight , we have s whole treatise of Geography. In ‘saBaapva- ’ – Sabha Parva we have an account of political science instructed by Narada to Ydhishtira.

(4)     Book of religion and philosophy: Mahabharatam is treated like a ‘smaRit’ – Smrti cited as an authority in the discussions of philosophy, religion and politics. Bhishma instructs Yudhishtira on law, philosophy, religion and politics. Some of the devotional lyrics like ‘ivaYNausahsa`naamama\’ – Vishnusahasranamam have also been incorporated into Mahbharatam so as to make it a religious book. Bhagavadgita which is considered to be the teachings of Lord Krishna delivered before the start of the battle gives a philosophical stamp for Mahabharatam. Bhagavadgita contains 700 verses and it is divided into 18 chapters. One can’t believe that all the chapters were delivered when the two armies were standing against each other to fight a deadly battle. There might have been some emotional outbursts seen in Arjuna and in order to comfort him Krishna might have advised his responsibility and duty as a ‘xai~ya:’ – Kshatriya. This would have given room to the later day scholars to magnify the theme and elaborately systematise the different aspects of Indian Philosophy.

(5)      Poetical embellishment: The desire to make it run along with the Ramayanam might have made the later day redactors to introduce poetical passages. Even a casual comparison of Ramayanam and Mahabharatam in both expression and description will reveal that Ramayanam is more poetically embellished than Mahabharatam. This made some later day scholars to make Mahbharatam also embellished with poetical imagination and descriptions. Some of the scholars believed that the tricky verses which are supposed to have presented some problems to Vinayaka might have been introduced by Sauti to show his poetical talents.

(6)      Explanation: Some practises which had become obsolete by the time of Sauti have to be explained in the light of new codes of conduct. Thus we have new chapters explaining such things. For example the conversation between Vyasa and Drupada etc.

(7)      Epic tradition: Epics are usually recited before an audience. Hence to satisfy them some topics might have been elaborated and these would have resulted in the enlargement and variations in the text of Mahabharatam.

(8)      Repetition: Repetitions are sometimes usual to stress a subject in the minds of the readers. But they result in the enlargement of the epic. in ‘Aaistkaopa#yaanama\’ descriptions of holy places are found repeated.

(9)      Theory of incarnation: When the concept of trinity of Gods emerged Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma became supreme deities and so passages that declared their divinity were incorporated. In order to give an account of Lord Krishna, a whole new book called Harivamsa was added to Mahabharatam, the traditional scholars have acknowledged this fact.

Incorporation from other traditions: It is stated that all the five disciples of Vyasa to whom ‘Jayam’ was instructed came out with editions of their own. Later when Vaisampayana’s edition started scoring over other editions, some important and relevant points found in other editions might have been included in the recitation by Sauti or by subsequent redactors. These are the factors that have contributed to the enlargement of Mahabharatam.

“Free rein to thoughts” by Arthi Bharath

 

Arthi Bharath’s e-book titled “Free rein to thoughts” is packed with real-world and practicable ideas.  These are life-leading modules each of which help the readers’ life to the next level.  The title itself witnesses the theme of the book and the erudition of the author.  Choosing the back-grounds and images to the themes justify the propriety of the quint-essence of this awesome manual.  Every reader should take a few minutes here and there to read these prompting to maintain them-selves of the good in the world.  These quotes are the key to happiness, fulfilment and regret-free life.  If anyone is reading this book, they certainly experience that the book flows very simply with heart-warming ideas and makes for an engaging read.  These timeless modules warm the readers’ heart, lift their spirit and enrich their life with proper understanding.

The quotes Blinding need to belong and Fear of Judgement suggest us to be mentally strong.

The quote about Oil Lamp highlights the yogic power which helps to have the calm mind.

The quotes about Parenting reveal the aches and hurdles faced by the parents and also how they overcome it.

The quote–Sum total helps us to mold ourselves properly in any sort of crisis.

In this shrinking world, the relationship also become shrunk. We are the real human being, only when we share our ideas, converse with others and mingle in the society. Author emphasis this in quote number no: 8

To start any work, we have to plan in it in a proper way. Author tells this in other words to think twice to do any act.

 Quotes on Success urges us to be more successful and make it a continuous process. Achieving goals indicates the success and it is the stepping stone to lead ahead always. These ideas are shared by the author in her beautiful words.

Though there are definitions for Love, Music and Language, actually all these are Anirvacaneeyam i.e., inexplicable like Brahman (Supreme Soul).

Where there is a will there a way is the idea inferred from the resilience and hope. I quote “Resilience is the ability to bounce back from disasters or difficulties” from the page no.18.   In Sanskrit Literature success is defined as this: “the success of action always depends on the will but not on the tool.”

I thank the team of Blog chatter for giving this opportunity to read and review this collection of quotes which were wonderful, heart-warming and highly meaningful.

The aim of this book is to set forth, in the simplest possible way, some of the ideas to be considered as the guidelines to lead our life healthy and happy. 

There are many forms of literature in English which differ themselves with genres.  Belonging to this twenty first century, there are many new systems found and followed by us.  Keeping this in my mind, I quote the beautiful saying of William Henry Hudson, “Every reader should regard and read “the new works of new days,” with a constant sense of relative values, and a desire always to discriminate so far as possible between what is genuine and what is factitious."

{This e book review is a part of Blogchatter's E Book carnival 2022}

  

VEERABHOGYA VASUNDHARAA

 

Sri Ahobila math Sanskrit college, Madurantakam, Tamil Nadu, has conducted a virtual conference titled “Svatantra Divasa Vyaakhyaanamaalaa” commemorating the forth coming 75^th Independence day from 8^th to 14^th June “azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav”. In that programme, I have been invited to deliver a lecture as a part of the series.

वीरभोग्या वसुन्धरा/Veerabhogya Vasundhara was the subject about which I delivered a talk for about 45 minutes in Sanskrit language. You can listen to it in Sanskrit here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jyjIyS4E5s

For the convenience of others I share some major points of the talk in English below:

Patriotism is the main concept dealt in the talk. About how our kings and queens fought for the Independence of our country. The love for the mother land made them to sacrifice everything and even lost their lives.

The love for the motherland is well explained by Adi Kavi valmiki in the Ramayana  - "Jananee janma bhoomischa Svargaadhapi Gareeysi."

This idea was Trans created by Tamil poet Subrahmanya Bharathi as "பெற்ற தாயும் பிறந்த பொன் நாடும் நற்றவ வானிலும் நனி சிறந்தனவே."

Like our mother  who feeds and  grooms us , In the same way our  mother land with her natural resources bless us with a peaceful life. Vishnupurana says that our  country India is the land of Gods and goddesses,  because of which the people of this country never pray to go to heaven as they are already in such a heavenly and sacred land.

 This mother land had many brave kings and queens. For protecting the country as well as their rights, they indulged in the freedom struggle with firm mind.  After many years even now those patriots are remembered for their bravery.

Among them, the kings like  The great Emperor Skandagupta ,Chandragupta Mourya, RanaPratap, Chatrapati Sivaji etc and the queens like Jhansi Rani Lakshmi Bai, Rani Rudramamba, Rani Velu Naachiyaar etc were few who were remebered with great pride and respect for their sacrifices for their motherland. They stand as an example show casing their patriotic zeal.

The objective of this session is to impart the patriotic spirit among young generation and to develop and uphold  the same through out their lives. The talk shares many interesting informations about the great kings and queens of this country who fought with valour in the freedom struggle.

References from Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, Vishnupurana and Bhagavatham were quoted for convenience of understanding and to familiarize with the verses stated in the ancient texts.

Veerabhogya Vasundhara puts forth the greatness and abundance of wealth in the form of resources as well as the courage and bravery of the people of this land.