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By Kamlesh Tripathi
By Kamlesh Tripathi
Had it not been for the ultimate epic
writers and sages such as Valmiki and Tulsidas who wrote Ramayan, and Ved Vyas who
wrote Mahabharat Hinduism would have remained incomplete and perhaps in the
confines of God alone. And it is only because of these great all time writers
that the history of Hinduism has spread so comprehensively across the world since
inception.
Ramayan and Mahabharat are the
two historical sagas referred as Itihas (history) in Hinduism
that serve as eternal inspiration for humanity and is considered as the
putative and exemplary realization of the four … purusharthas (efforts):
Dharma (righteous and dutiful) Artha (wealth) Kama (desire
and fulfillment) and Moksha (liberation).
Ramayan in real sense is the ‘abode of Lord
Ram’ and is smaller of the two great works. The tireless epic mirrors the
highest ideals of Hindu tradition, culture and civilization. The story relates
to Treta Yug (one of the four ages of the world) and centers on Ram, the prince
of Ayodhya an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and his wife Sita, the incarnation of
Mother Lakshmi. Ramayan sings the glory of Lord Ram and advises humanity on how
to lead a fulfilling life and attain the four purusharthas. The epic is
profound and timeless in its popularity and teaches, with the use of symbolism,
how an individual can evolve to greatness and perfection.
Sage Valmiki’s Ramayana has been translated
into most Indian languages, as well as several foreign languages, including
Russian. It consists of 24,000 stanzas in seven cantos, and depicts Rama as the
ideal king, son, brother, friend, and husband. In Bharat, Lakshman, and
Shatrughan, we see exemplified ideal brothers. In Sita, we have the purest
flower of Indian womanhood, who is devoted to her Lord in thought, word, and
deed.
Ramayana is an ideal textbook of morals and
values that inspires nobler dimensions of character and conduct. Other
noteworthy and famous versions of Ramayana include Sage Veda Vyasa’s Adhyatma
Ramayana, Goswami Tulsidasa’s Shri Ramcharitamanas (Tulsi Ramayana), and
Kambar’s Kamba Ramayana.
Mahabharata is an epic that is more than
eight times the size of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey combined, and in
philosophical content is unparalleled to any other literary work in the world.
This grand book of knowledge contains more than 100,000 stanzas in 18 chapters
and is the work of the renowned Sage Veda Vyasa.
The
underlying theme of Mahabharata is yato dharma tato jayah, “where there
is dharma, there is victory,” indicating the ultimate triumph of good over evil
and the establishment of righteousness.
The story
unfolds toward the end of Dvapara Yuga, and describes the genealogy and events
leading up to, and after, the familial war between royal cousins.
The story is used as a vehicle to convey
eternal philosophical truths of the highest order. It is said, “That which is
in Mahabharata can be seen elsewhere, but that which is not therein cannot be
seen anywhere else.” This gives an idea of the comprehensiveness of subjects in
the epic, which is full of lofty instructions on all aspects of human life and
endeavour—an inspiring saga of India’s past glory, portraying all that is great
and noble in humanity.
The guiding spirit throughout the epic is
the divine figure of Lord Krishna, who brings the pure and the righteous to
Himself, and who destroys evil and evildoers. Shrimad Bhagwad Gita or the
“Lord’s Song,” is part of Mahabharata.
*****
Learned a few things. And a good read. Thanks.
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