Prelude:
Times are such that many people talk about protecting Hindu Dharma but care less to know what the two basic scriptures, Mahabharata and Ramayana talk about. Knowledge of these two was mandatory for everyone until a couple of centuries ago, to equip oneself with the knowledge about dharma to be followed in any situation. People were not expected to know Vedas or Neeti sastras, but only these two for self development and emancipation.
I am nobody to spread the Dharmic thought of these texts, but my analysis of the text of the Mahabharata with specific reference to validating its date made me watch the versions going around me in the social media. It is nothing but disheartening to discover that a majority of Hindus have no idea of some simple facts of the Mahabharata and those who have are being misled by a cabal of people distorting facts in the name of research.
This made me think of posting a series of questions, one question a day, so that anyone at anytime can access them and know the basic ones about these texts. In this section, I am focusing on only the Mahabharata. The questions are mostly related to distorted versions that are being spread and also those which every Hindu ought to know.
-Jayasree
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Question-1
There are many versions of the Mahabharata; which one is authentic?
Answer:
Only Veda Vyasa's version is authentic.
Why?
Because his version was contemporaneous.
1. It was recited for the first time in his presence by his disciple. When Vyasa paid a visit to the Sarpa-yaga, King Janamejaya requested him to narrate the history of his ancestors as he was a direct witness then. Vyasa then directed his disciple Vaiśampayana to deliver the entire script authored by him. The direct delivery of the text in the presence of the author makes the Mahabharata a perfect primary source of evidence.
2. The text is regarded as an "Itihasa" which means “this happened thus” (Iti-ha-āsam). This term is self-explanatory of the truthfulness of every word found in them. None dared to meddle with an Itihasa for the reason it is considered as the Veda. The Mahabharata is the Veda of Krishna (‘kārṣṇaṃ vedam’, MB: 1.1.205, 1.56.17), referring to Krishna Dvaipāyana Vyāsa. The Veda is afraid of him who is deficient in the knowledge of Mahabharata (the Itihasas) and the Purana-s (MB: 1.1.204). This statement found in the Mahabharata and the Purana-s vouchsafes the authenticity and inviolability of every verse of the Mahabharata.
(There is a tendency to term any history as Itihasa, but please be informed that only Ramayana and Mahabharata are considered as the Itihasas)
Ma'am, What about வில்லிபாரதம். Is it close to the original Vysa's version or has he interpreted it in a different way?
ReplyDeleteThanks for opening a new avenue to learn more about our created Ithihasams. Any amount of information any number of times we read, hear would be insufficient to fathom the depth. Blessed I am.
ReplyDeleteIvar dhaan avar a ? Namba mudiyala ye ?
DeleteDear Mr. skm,
ReplyDeleteVilli Bharatham is not contemporaneous, nor it is an exact replica of Vyasa Bharata. Its an abridged version and skips some parts of the original Mahabharata.
Dear Mr. Rangarajan Narasimhan,
ReplyDeleteMe too Blessed to go through, recall and recap it in short answers. Hope I will be able to make this effort worthy and useful.
Ma'am, when actually Mahabharata took place? How many years ago?
ReplyDeleteDear Mr. Soma,
ReplyDeleteThe Mahabharata war took place in the year 3136 BCE which was the 36th year before Kali Yuga began (when Krishna left his mortal body)
By the year CE 2022, 5158 years were over since this war occurred.
I will be writing all these Time related details in the upcoming quiz questions. From next Monday onwards, only time-related questions.
I have written a book validating this date "Mahabharata 3136 BCE: Validation of the Traditional Date"
E-book also available.
Please check this blog for details: https://jayasreesaranathan.blogspot.com/2021/11/published-my-new-book-mahabharata-3136.html