Epics like Ramayan , Mahabharat and our holy books have some of the finest known means and ways that must or have been embedded into the human race via values. This column will make you know the who is who of the epics and much more.
Edition 27
(5 September 2021)
The Forgotten Mythology
Here is a list of such crucial characters from the Mahabharat, easily overlooked and quite underrated:
•Barbarika- Bheem’s Grandson
He was considered to be one of the fiercest warriors on the field. Barbarika was the son of Ghatotkach and Ahilawati. He was trained to be a warrior by his mother and was gifted the three infallible arrows by Valmiki, which had the capacity to destroy and save everything on its path. But the invincible Barbarika was bound by a principle - that he could only fight for the weaker side.
•Vikarana- Duryodhan’s Brother
One of Dhritarashtra and Gandhari's 99 sons, Vikarna was often regarded as the only Kaurava who believed in justice. He also believed that the Kauravas were in the wrong but he had no way of escaping the turn of events. Vikarna was also the only one who stood up against Duryodhan when he was disrobing Draupadi. His protests fell on deaf ears and even the elders like Bhishma and Dronacharya kept quiet.
•Radha- Karna's foster mother
This minor character is crucial to Mahabharata because she was the foster mother of Karna. He imbibed all her principles, which would be very crucial to the war as Karna was a formidable warrior and much of the events were attributed to him. She was the wife of Athiratha, Dhritarashtra's charioteer.
•Ahilawati- Ghatotkach’s wife
Referred to as Maurvi prior to her marriage to Ghatotkach, Ahilawati was from the world of nagas or snakes. Ghatotkach won her hand in marriage after passing a difficult test. She was Barbarika's mother who taught him to help the weak in the battlefield.
Edition 25
(30 July 2021)
Tulsidas
One of the greatest poets of Hindi Literature and the author of “Ram Charita Manas.”
A great philosopher and a devotee of Lord Rama, yes, we are talking about Goswami Tulsidas. Born on the 7th day of the month of Shraavana (July or August), Tulsidas spent his entire life in the pious city of Varanasi and also took his last breath in this city. That’s why he was named Rambola. He was married to Ratnavali (the daughter of Dinbandhu Pathak of Mahewa village and Kaushambi district) on the 13th of Jyeshta month (May or June) in the year 1583. When he returned home and did not saw his wife, he swam along River Yamuna in order to meet his wife. Ratnavali was very upset with his activity and blamed him. She remarked that he should become a true devotee and should focus on God. From here, his journey started to become a poet and write poetry in the name of Lord Rama. He wrote Ram Charita Manas in Awadhi (the language of East UP). He came to the Varanasi and delivered the epic Ramcharitmanas to the Lord Shiva and Mata Parvati at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. He completed his writing of the Ramcharitmanas in two years, seven months and twenty six days in the year 1633 at the Vivaha Panchami (marriage day of the Rama and Sita) of the month Margashirsha ( September). Tulsidas once went to Brindavan. He visited a temple. He saw the image of Lord Krishna. He said, “How shall I describe Thy beauty, O Lord! But Tulsi will bow his head only when You take up bow and arrow in Your hands”. The Lord revealed Himself before Tulsidas in the form of Lord Rama with bow and arrows.
Edition 23
(30 June 2021)
The Epic Ramayana
1.Laxman wanted to be vigilant and take care of the safety of Ram and Sita in the forest. So, he struck a deal with Nidra Devi. Laxman doesn't sleep at all for 14 years and his quota of sleep is availed of or fulfilled by his wife Urmila who stayed back at the palace in Ayodhya. This is the reason why Laxman is also known as Gudakesh.
2.At the time of war Rama killed Ravana by the end of 14 years and returned back to Ayodha directly from Lanka on Pushpaka Viman. So, by the time Rama killed Ravana, he would be 42 years old.
3. Rama was not just a brother to Lakshmana but also a father and a guru. Vishwamitra initiated Rama into many Astras and Shastras and became Rama’s guru (preceptor). Rama, in turn, gave them to Lakshmana and became the preceptor of Lakshmana.
The Epic Mahabharata
•According to the “Vishnu Purana”, “Veda Vyasa” is a title applied to the compilers of the Vedas who are avatars of Vishnu; 28 people with this title have appeared so far. He is believed to be one of the 24 avatars of Lord Vishnu.
•Draupadi, heroic princess of Mahabharata, was the daughter of King Drupada of Panchal, and wife of the Pandavas – the five brothers. She had five sons; Prativindhya, Sutasoma, Srutakarma, Satanika, and Srutasena.
•Abhimanyu, the great warrior life story has inspired many in the field of art, creativity, and storytelling. So, we can learn the following lesson from Abhimanyu Stories:
•The thought of revenge only brings destruction
•Life is a Chakravyuha
•Always gain complete knowledge of anything
•Incomplete knowledge is too dangerous
•Always respect your parents and elders
•Don’t lose your strength during tough time
Edition 21
(30 May 2021)
Test your Epic Knowledge!
Q1. What was the name of Lord Rama’s sister?
a.Vrinda b.Shanta c.Vidushi d.Ahilya
Q2. Who wrote Ramayana in Sanskrit?
a.Sage Valmiki b.Sage Tulsidas c.Ved Vyas d.Kabir
Q3. Ravana was which God’s Great Grandson?
a.Brahma b.Vishnu c.Shiva d.Rama
Q4. Who was the family priest of King Janak?
a.Shatanand b.Bhugu c.Kapil d.Shukdev
Q5. Who had cursed Ravana that monkeys will become his cause of destruction?
a.Lord Shiva b.Nandi,the bull c.Lord Vishnu
d. Lord Hanuman
Q6. How many shlokas does Bhagwad Gita contains?
a.100 b.1000 c. 100000 d.200000
Q7. Who was the real father of Arjuna?
a.Indra b. Surya c. Vayu d. Chandra
Q8. What was the only lie told by Yudhishthira?
a. To Duryodhana that Radheya was killed
b. To Bhoorisravas that his father was dead
c. To Drona that his son was dead
d. To Arjuna that he didn't kill his son
Q9. Who was the father of Bhishma?
a.Drona b.Shantanu c.Vichtravirya d.Arjuna
Q10. Who is the well-known charioteer of Dhritarashtra?
a.Sanjaya b.Nakul c.Daruka d.Satyaki
Answer Key
1-b 2-a 3-a 4-a 5-b 6-c 7-a 8-c 9-b 10-a
Edition 19
(30 April 2021)
The Epic Ramayana
•Visravas (Ravan’s father) was the famous rishi, who himself was a son of Prajapati Pulastya, one of Brahma’s ten ‘mind-born’ sons. Ravan’s grand-father Prajapati Pulastya was one of Brahma’s ten psychologically born sons. So, as a result, Ravan was Brahma’s Great–grandson.
•The name “Sita” has been derived from a Sanskrit word meaning, “furrow”, to indicate her being found by King Janak while plowing the field. It is also connected to a Vedic goddess of fertility of the land.
•Hanuman also created his version of Ramayan – which was supposedly a superior version compared to that of Valmiki’s. After the war at Lanka, Hanuman went to Himalaya for continuing his reverence of Lord Ram, Hanuman etched his version of Ram’s tale on the walls of the Himalayas with his nails.
The Epic Mahabharata
•The Bhagwad Gita contains a total of one lakh shlokas and is therefore also called Shatsahastri Sanhita.
•Duryodhana refused to listen Bhagwad Gita saying that he already knows right or wrong. He also said that some force is not allowing him to choose the right path. If he had listened to Krishna’s words, the entire war could have been averted.
•The narration of the Bhagwad Gita by Krishna was heard first hand not only by Arjuna but also by Hanuman and Sanjay (Dhritarashtra’s charioteer). Hanuman was perched on top of Arjuna’s chariot and Sanjay was blessed by Ved Vyas with divine vision in order to narrate the events of the war to Dhritarashtra.
Edition 17
(30 March 2021)
The Epic Ramayana
1) In Valmiki’s Ramayana, Lord Rama is considered an outstanding human being but according to Tulsidas’s Rama Charita Manas, he is considered a God.
2) Thailand’s National Epic Ramkien is a derived version of Ramayana. Its sources are Valmiki’s Ramayana, the Vishnu Purana and Hanuman Nataka.
3) Everyone knows it was Manthara on whose advice Kaikeyi sought Rama’s exile. It is said that when Shri Rama was a child, He once playfully hit Manthara’s hunch back with his play toy and that Manthara sought revenge through Kaikeyi.
The Epic Mahabharata
1) Mahabharata was not the first war fought in the region of Kurukshetra but it was the battle between Bhishma Pitamah (grandfather of Kauravas and Pandavas) and Lord Parshurama which was fought earlier in the region.
2) Pandu (Father of Pandavas) wished his sons must eat his flesh post death so that all the knowledge may transfer to them which he had collected after so many years. Only Sahadeva ate a piece; the moment he ate he was able to see the future but stopped by God. He was a blessed astrologer and able to see the future
3) Out of the 100 Kauravas, Bhima was able to kill only 99 Kauravas. Yuyutsu had fought from Pandavas’ side.
Edition 15
(8 February 2021)
The Epic Ramayana
•The Ram Setu which was initially built during the Ramyayan Era by Lord Rama and his ape army to cross the ocean and reach Lanka is now called the Palk Strait or the Gulf of Mannar.
•Kuber – the step brother of Ravana and the God of Wealth had created The Golden Lanka. However, Ravana snatched Lanka from him.
•Besides Ram and his brothers, King Dasharatha was also the father of a daughter. Her name was “Shanta”
•She was much older than the four brothers. Kaushalya was her mother. It is believed that once Angadesh’s king Rompad and his queen Varshini came to Ayodhya, they had no children.
•During the conversation when King Dasharatha learned about this and said that he will give his Shanta to them. On hearing this, Rompad and Varshini were very happy. They took care of her with great affection and performed all the duties of parents.
The Epic Mahabharata
•Mahabharata is also known as Pancham Veda, the fifth Veda.
•Pandavas and Kauravas teacher Drona was born in a vessel. He was Sage Bharadwaj’s son.
•Bhanumati who was Duryodhan’s wife was a devotee of Lord Krishna.
Edition 13
(30 January 2021)
The Epic Ramayana
The Ramayana is one of the two ancient Sanskrit epics from India written by Sage Valmiki in Sanskrit and by Sage Tulsidas in Hindi (Awadhi).
It tells us the story of a righteous prince, Rama who is the Incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Here are some facts about the great epic –
•While Lord Rama is known to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, his brother, Lakshmana is considered to be an incarnation of Sheshnaag, a serpent associated with Lord Vishnu.
•Nandi, the bull, had cursed Ravana that monkeys will become a cause of his destruction.
•The white stripes on a squirrel’s body are given by Lord Rama. When the monkeys were making Ram Setu, a squirrel tried to help them. The monkeys made fun of it, but Lord Rama was impressed with its dedication. Rama patted the back of the squirrel and the white stripes appeared as his fingerprints.
The Epic Mahabharata
Mahabharata known as The National Epic of India is written by Sage Vyasa in 4th century AD in Sanskrit. It is the longest Sanskrit Epic. It is a story of a great war fought at Kurukshetra between Kauravas and Pandavas for 18 days.
•Karna had nine sons but his youngest son Vrishaketu was the only son who survived in the Mahabharata war.
•The youngest Pandava, Sahdev could see the future but remained silent as he was cursed to die if he revealed anything.
•We all know the Mahabharata is written by Ved Vyas which is not a name but a post given to those who had knowledge of Vedas. So, the real name of the sage who wrote the Mahabharata was Krishna Qwaipayan Vyasa.