10. TO BE DISCUSSED
India: The Land of Prayer
Background of the epic Mahabharata
Authorship of the Mahabharata
Mahabharata’s Genealogy and Storyline
Epic’s Varying Versions
Grandeur of the Epic
13. INDIA: The Land of Prayer
Indian literature (Sanskrit
Literature) emerged as early
as 300 BC
Earliest known literature is
the Vedas (sacred texts
contain hymns dedicated to
numerous Indian gods, along
with stories about them)
14. INDIA: The Land of Prayer
Sanskrit is considered as the oldest
language
Indian literature has ancient theatrical
traditions. The ancient Sanskrit plays,
such as those by playwrights Kalidasa
and Bhasa, are considered
masterpieces and have greatly
influenced drama and storytelling
15. INDIA: The Land of Prayer
Rabindranath Tagore was the first Asian
to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in
1913 for his collection of poems
"Gitanjali."
Other notable Indian Nobel laureates
include Rudyard Kipling (born in India),
V.S. Naipaul, and Kazuo Ishiguro (of
Indian descent).
16. INDIA: The Land of Prayer
Indian Literature is focused on spirituality
and philosophical exploration
Concepts of dharma (righteous duty),
karma (action and consequences),
moksha (liberation), and the search for
meaning and self-realization are
recurrent in various texts
17. Shiva
Shiva is the powerful and
multi-faceted deity of
Hinduism, embodying the
cycles of creation,
preservation, and
destruction, symbolizing
the eternal cosmic dance
of life.
18. Vishnu
Vishnu is the benevolent
and all-pervading deity
of Hinduism, tasked with
preserving and
maintaining the order
and balance in the
universe
19. bhrama
Brahma is the revered
Hindu deity representing
creation, knowledge, and
the divine source of all
existence in the universe.
20. ganesha
Ganesha is the revered
Hindu deity known as the
"Remover of Obstacles"
and the "God of
Beginnings," symbolizing
wisdom, intellect, and
the overcoming of
challenges.
21. played a pivotal role in shaping India’s “Hindu”
culture
world’s longest epic poem
consists of 100,000 shloka or 200,000 individual
verse lines (each shloka is a couplet) divided into
eighteen books or parvas
10 times longer than the Iliad and the Odyssey
15 times longer than the Holy Bible
MAHABHARATA and
RAMAYANA
22. revolves around a momentous
Kurukshetra war (an eighteen-day
battle so bloody that it is said 1.66
billion warriors lost their lives)
between two sets of cousins, the
Pandavas and the Kauravas, vying for
control of the kingdom of Hastinapur
Beyond the gripping tale of war and
strife, the epic imparts profound
philosophical and religious teachings,
delving into the concepts of dharma
(duty) and the complexities of human
existence
23. Like the Torjan War,
some scholars lean
toward the view that the
Kurukshetra War could
have been based on real
events
others consider it
primarily a legendary
tale with symbolic and
moral dimensions
24. How is the Mahabharata divided?
The Mahabharata is divided into 18 books, or
Parvas, which contain a total of over 100,000
schlokas. The 18 Parvas are:
1. Adi Parva:
The first book of the
Mahabharata, which contains
the introduction to the epic and
describes the birth and
childhood of the main
characters.
25. 2. Sabha Parva: This book
describes the building of a
great hall by the Pandavas
and the Kauravas, and the
events that take place there.
26. 3. Vana Parva: The third book
describes the Pandavas'
exile into the forest, their
encounters with various
sages, and the events that
take place during their exile.
27. 4. Virata Parva: This book
describes the Pandavas' stay
in the kingdom of Virata,
where they live in disguise
for a year.
28. 5. Udyoga Parva: The fifth
book describes the events
leading up to the great war
between the Pandavas and
the Kauravas.
29. 6. Bhishma Parva: This book
describes the first ten days
of the Great War, including
the famous Bhagavad Gita
discourse between Krishna
and Arjuna.
30. 7. Drona Parva: The seventh
book describes the events of
the war that take place while
the warrior Drona is leading
the Kaurava army.
31. 8. Karna Parva: This book
describes the events of the
war that take place while the
warrior Karna is leading the
Kaurava army.
32. 9. Shalya Parva: The ninth
book describes the events of
the war that take place while
the warrior Shalya is leading
the Kaurava army.
33. 10. Sauptika Parva: This book
describes the events that
take place during the night
after the war has ended.
34. 11. Stri Parva: The eleventh
book describes the women
of the Mahabharata and
their roles in the epic.
35. 12. Shanti Parva: This book
contains the teachings of
Bhishma on dharma and
other philosophical topics.
36. 13. Anushasana Parva: The
thirteenth book contains the
teachings of Bhishma on
dharma and other
philosophical topics.
37. 14. Ashvamedhika Parva: This
book describes the horse
sacrifice performed by
Yudhishthira after the war.
42. Former name:
Jaya Samhita
Jaya = Victory
Samhita = Compilation
(Collection of Victory)
Vijaya
Bharata
Mahabharata
43. The epic was said to have
been narrated by Vyasa,
an esteemed sage in
Hinduism, and later
transcribed by Ganesha,
the Hindu god of new
beginnings
44.
45. Compiler of vedas
credited with compiling the four
Vedas, ancient texts of timeless
wisdom created by unknown
scholars in the distant past
classified the Vedas into four
branches, each focusing on
specific streams of knowledge
This led to him being referred
to as Veda Vyasa, as Vyasa
means “to compile”
46. Compiler of Vedas
authored the Bhagavatham,
which delves into the ten
avatars (incarnations) of Lord
Vishnu.
Additionally, he composed
sixteen other puranas, sacred
texts that form part of the core
literature of Hinduism
authored the Brahmasutra, a
treatise on Hindu philosophy
52. The king wanted to marry
Satyavati but her father would
not allow it unless Shantanu
agreed that he would pass his
throne to a son from this new
marriage instead of his son
from his first marriage. .
54. Niyoga (Sanskrit: िनयोग) was an
ancient Hindu practice,
primarily followed during the
ancient period. It permitted
either the husband or the wife
who had no child by their
spouse to procreate a child with
another man or a woman.
55. The epic is an oral literature
These retellings are influenced by the
prevailing ethos, customs, and beliefs of
their respective times and regions.
Successive generations have enriched the
epic with their philosophical insights,
historical knowledge, geographic details,
political commentaries, and scientific
understanding, transforming the
Mahabharata into an ever-evolving “work
in progress
Why are there so many versions of
Mahabharata?
56. The Mahabharata has been transmitted to
us through two main recensions: the
Northern Recension (NR) and the
Southern Recension (SR).
The NR comprises handwritten
manuscripts discovered in North India,
while the SR includes those found in the
southern regions.
57. The Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI) gathered a total of
1259 manuscripts, which were then categorized into different sub-
groups called ‘Versions.’
These versions encompassed various regional adaptations, such as the
Sarada (Kashmiri) Version, Devanagiri Version, Nepali Version, Bengali
Version, Telugu Version, Malayalam Version, Tamil Version, and more.
59. The Mahabharata is an
exceptional epic for
several compelling
reasons
Vast and Comprehensive
Narrative
The Mahabharata is one of the longest and most
comprehensive epics in the world, containing around
100,000 verses. Its vastness allows it to encompass
numerous subplots, diverse characters, and intricate
philosophical discussions, making it a complete
repository of ancient Indian knowledge, culture, and
wisdom.
60. Complex Characters and
Moral Dilemmas
Each character faces moral dilemmas and inner
conflicts, reflecting the complexities of human nature.
61. Exploration of Universal
Themes
It addresses complex topics such as duty (dharma),
justice, righteousness, family values, loyalty, and the
consequences of one’s actions
62. Integration of Myths,
Legends, and History
The Mahabharata skillfully weaves together
myths, legends, historical events, and cosmic
narratives. It seamlessly combines divine
interventions and celestial beings with human
struggles and emotions, creating a unique blend
of reality and the supernatural.
63. Enduring Cultural Impact
The Mahabharata has left an indelible mark on
Indian culture and spirituality. The epic’s
messages of righteousness, selflessness, and
devotion have permeated into the cultural fabric,
shaping ethical values and guiding the lives of
millions for centuries.
64. The Mahabharata stands out as an exceptional epic due to its
vastness, intricate characterizations, exploration of universal
themes, integration of diverse narratives, and enduring impact
on Indian culture and spirituality. Its timeless wisdom and
storytelling continue to captivate and inspire generations
across the globe.
65. Activities to teach the epic
Storytelling Session: Begin with a storytelling session
where you narrate key episodes from the Mahabharata. Use
engaging language and visuals to capture the students'
attention and immerse them in the epic's narrative.
Character Analysis: Divide the students into groups and
assign each group a major character from the Mahabharata,
such as Arjuna, Krishna, Yudhishthira, Duryodhana, etc. Ask
them to research and prepare presentations on the
character's personality, strengths, weaknesses, and
significant actions in the epic.
66. Mahabharata Art Gallery: Encourage students to create
artwork related to the Mahabharata. It could be illustrations
of key scenes, character portraits, or even symbolic
representations of important themes from the epic. Display
their artwork in a "Mahabharata Art Gallery" within the
classroom.
67. Debate on Ethical Dilemmas: Organize a debate on ethical
dilemmas faced by characters in the Mahabharata. For
example, debates on whether lying is ever justified (like in
the case of Yudhishthira's half-truth during the dice game) or
the ethics of war (like the Kurukshetra War).
Writing Mahabharata Retellings: Have students write
their own retellings of a specific episode from the
Mahabharata in modern language and context. This activity
encourages creative thinking and helps students grasp the
essence of the story.
68. Role Play: Divide students into groups and ask them to
enact a scene from the Mahabharata. It could be a dialogue
between Arjuna and Krishna from the Bhagavad Gita or a
confrontation between Karna and Arjuna. This activity helps
students understand the emotions and motivations of the
characters.
Compare with Other Epics: Compare the Mahabharata with
other epics from different cultures, such as the Iliad or the
Ramayana. Discuss similarities and differences in themes,
characters, and storytelling styles.
