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Introduction to Itihasas (Ramayana and Mahabharata)

Introduction

  • There is a fundamental difference between Itihasas (historical epics) and Puranas.
  • Both in structure and content, this difference can be seen.

Itihasas vs. Puranas

  • Similarities: Both discuss ancient wisdom, thoughts, and history.

  • Itihasa: "iti aa hasas" - Means "thus is what happened" or "thus is what existed".

  • Differences:

    • Puranas: Stories narrate the distant past.
    • Itihasas: Narrator is part of the story (e.g., Valmiki in Ramayana, Vyasa in Mahabharata).

Dating and Focus

  • Puranas: Difficult to date due to their ancient origins.
  • Itihasas: Can be dated by scholars.
  • Puranas: Discuss multiple lineages of royal dynasties and rishis.
  • Itihasas: Focus on specific dynasties: "Solar dynasty" (Ramayana), "Lunar dynasty" (Mahabharata).

Key Lineages

  • Ramayana: Lineage of Rama (Dasharatha, etc.)
  • Mahabharata: Lunar dynasty, Bhishma, Kauravas, Pandavas.

Purpose of Itihasas

  • Puranas: Encyclopedic in nature, providing a wide range of knowledge.
  • Itihasas: Primarily aim to explain Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha (the four Purusharthas).
    • Dharma: Right duties.
    • Artha: Wealth.
    • Kama: Desires.
    • Moksha: Final destination or liberation.

Salient Aspects of Ramayana and Mahabharata

Ramayana

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  • 645 Chapters, 23,672 verses.

  • Over 40 versions in different languages (Tamil, Assamese, Telugu, Oriya, Kannada, etc.).

  • Story of Rama is present in southeast Asian countries (Thailand, Indonesia, India, etc).

    • Normative Approach: Presents ideal "textbook" characters.
    • Aim: Encourages followers to follow characters like Rama as life examples.

  • Story of Rama: Is present in Southeast Asia

    • Descriptions of Dharma of personal and social life and social order.
    • Emphasis on "Goodness" vs. "Greatness".
    • Rama, though a great warrior, was also good (listened to others before making decisions)

Mahabharata

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  • Characters embody the reality of life.
  • Provides answers for life's problems (but not all problems; e.g., cannot fix a phone using Mahabharata).

Key Themes and Approaches

  • Ramayana:

    • Clear duties, no moral dilemmas.
    • Emphasizes adherence to duty despite personal suffering.
    • Example: Rama accepting his father's order to go into exile, even though he could have ruled.

  • Mahabharata:

    • Descriptive approach, presenting actual happenings and moral dilemmas.
    • Examples: Bhishma's vow of celibacy, Yudhishthira's decision to play dice (leading to the Kurukshetra war).

Yudhishthira and Arjuna

  • Decision taken by Yudhishthira also led to the war.
  • Decision by Arjuna. The great dilemma is: whether I should fight or not? (Lead to Bhagavad-Gita actually).
  • Did not know what to do whether I should fight against my own father, my brother, ok.

Content of Mahabharata

  • Presents how people discharge their duties and the fallout that results.
  • Bhishma's Vow: The base to the great war of Kurukshetra.
  • Has a rich collection of deeply nested stories like Yaksha Prasna (Yudhishthira and Yaksha).
  • Vidura Niti: Shlokas which leads to the life.

Key Differences

  • Ramayana: Presents ideals of life.
  • Mahabharata: Shows life with all its attendant challenges.
    • Instead of informing us what our duty is, it presents how various people discharge their duties and what the fallout was.

Structure of Mahabharata

  • 18 Parvas (Chapters):
    • Adi Parva: Ancestors of Pandavas and Kauravas. Discuss the education of Pandavas, the marriage of Draupadi to the Pandavas.
    • Sabha Parva: The dice game which became core from where whole Mahabharata starts.
    • Shanti Parva, Anusasana Parva: Aspects of governance in ancient India.
    • Artha shastra: Economics, governance, politics in Ancient India are explained in Mahabharata Santi Parva.
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