Synopsis and Comments on "Indian Mythological Tales of the Mahabharata" - The great epic beloved by the Indians! Recommended to learn about Indian spirituality!
We are pleased to present "Indian Mythological Tales of the Mahabharata," written by Devadatta Patnayak, supervised by Mizuho Okita, and translated by Aya Murakami, published by Hara Shobo in 2019.
Let's take a quick look at the book.
The story of the Mahabharata, the epic epic of Indian mythology, is retold in an easy-to-read narrative with illustrations.
Background mythology and Indian culture are explained in the columns. It has sold 150,000 copies in English-speaking countries,
This book is an excellent introduction to the Mahabharata.The magnificent imagination of India, the world of gorgeous mythology. The story has been retold in an easy-to-read, exciting narrative in the original Sanskrit text. The whole picture of one of the world's greatest epics is revealed.
AmazonProducts Page.
The Mahabharata is one of India's two major epics (the other being the Ramayana).
This great epic is also popular in modern India, and many movies have been made based on the heroes and deities mentioned here. The Indian movie "RRR," which recently became an explosive hit, is just one of them. One of the main characters, Bhim, comes from Bhima, the hero of the Mahabharata. More to the point, the other hero, Rama, also comes from Rama, the hero of the Ramayana. In other words, "RRR" is a gorgeous work of Indian spiritual expression, an amalgamation of two great Indian epics. I was also moved by this!
In the "Translator's Afterword" at the end of the book, the following is said about the "Mahabharata" and this book
What made you decide to pick up and read this long, long story of the Mahabharata?
Because it's based on your favorite Indian movie?
You wanted to do business in India?
Looking for a character-driven persona that could be used for a creative story?
There were probably a variety of reasons.
In any case, I would like to presume that you would not have regretted reading it.
[This book features...
As mentioned in the "Translator's Afterword," there are many books on the Mahabharata in the world. Among them, this book is unique in two ways: it is a retelling of the Mahabharata with an emphasis on storytelling, and it is accompanied by a variety of columns.
Patnayak, the original author of this book, has compiled a lengthy epic poem in an easy-to-understand manner, while not omitting any of the important elements. This book contains the essence of the Mahabharata in a nutshell. In short, this book is not only an introduction to Indian mythology, but also a gateway to the deep forest of Indian culture.
Further adding to the value of this book are the columns by the original authors. From this column, one can learn about the influence of the Mahabharata on modern India. For example, the concept of the Yayati complex (p. 57 in the upper volume) is a key concept in understanding Indian family relations. Also, the column on the Draupadi jar (p. 225 in the upper volume) tells us about the traditional Indian image of the housewife. Indians are big fans of hospitality, and both Indians and Japanese are the same in that "if you are angry, eat something sweet to calm your mind. ...... The column is filled with a great variety of Indian information, from serious themes to light jokes. This is probably due to the fact that the Mahabharata has been widely read throughout India, transcending regional and religious differences.
While it is a treasure trove of reasonable implications, the Mahabharata can also be described as a "book of chaos. It contains contradictions that are common in stories that have evolved over a long period of time, as well as developments that are incomprehensible to modern readers. Readers may have wondered many times why Krishna, the incarnation of a "god," did not prevent the tragedy of war. Why did the Pandavas take Draupadi, who is prophesied to divide the Kuru royal family, as their wife? ...... The list of questions is endless.
In this book, however, such contradictions are written as they are. No modifications have been made to pander to modern concepts.
For mythology, contradiction is an important factor.
Hara Shobo, Devadatta Patnayak, translated by Aya Murakami, under the supervision of Mizuho Okita, p. 261-263, "Indian Mythological Tales of the Mahabharata," vol. 2.
This book brings together the key essences of the lengthy Mahabharata. It is one of the best books to get an overall picture of this magnificent epic.
The basic synopsis is as follows
The legendary sage Vyasa, who is also a character in the Mahabharata, is said to be the author of the Mahabharata. However, it is not possible for a single author to have written this massive epic, which is assumed to have been gradually shaped by many poets over a considerable period of time, approximately from the fourth century B.C. to the fourth century A.D. The Mahabharata is said to have been written by the legendary sage Vyasa, who is also the author of the Mahabharata.
Its subject is the great war that began with the question of succession to the throne of the Bharata tribe. The main characters in the story are the five princes of the Pandu kings, known collectively as the Pandavas ("sons of Pandu"), and their cousins, the hundred princes known collectively as the Kauravas ("sons of Kulu"). The feud between these cousins spills over to the elders, Brahmins, and heroes of the family, and eventually involves the surrounding countries, leading to a great war that lasts eighteen days in Kurukshetra, the field of Kuru.
Hara Shobo, Devadatta Patnayak, translated by Aya Murakami, under the supervision of Mizuho Okita, "Indian Mythological Tales: The Mahabharata," p. 256-257, 2nd volume
The Mahabharata is a myth that takes place during the Battle of Kurukshetra, which began as a struggle for the succession to the throne. This battle, told on a grand scale, is truly a Greek myth!The Iliad.It is reminiscent of the The Iliad, too, is a mythology set in a great war called the Trojan War. In "The Iliad," as in "The Mahabharata," not only humans but also gods intervene in the war, and the gods have great power over the course of the war.
The "Iliad" is said to have been established around the 8th century B.C. (*there are various theories), while the "Mahabharata," which was gradually created over a long period of time from the 4th century B.C. to the 4th century A.D., is much later in terms of time. Greek thought also came to India, so it cannot be said that there was no influence from it, but it is very interesting to note the commonality of myths among humans.
And "Mahabharata" is the pinnacle of Indian thought.The Bhagavad Gita.is also famous for being written in this great epic poem.
As I have discussed in previous articles on the Bhagavad Gita, it is because of the story of the Mahabharata that this gem of thought was born.
The Bhagavad Gita consists of a dialogue between Arjuna, one of the protagonists of the work, and his consort Krishna (actually an incarnation of Lord Vishnu).
The dialogue will of course begin against the background of the storyline of the Mahabharata. Although it is possible to read the Bhagavad Gita on its own, it is essential to know the main plot of the Mahabharata in order to appreciate it more deeply.
As a story in itself, the Mahabharata is very interesting. The story itself originates from a struggle for the succession to the throne, which leads to a variety of human dramas. The story is even more dramatic and highly readable when it involves curses and causal relationships from a previous life.
Furthermore, starting with the "Bhagavad Gita," this mythology asks us how we should live and what we should seek to live in the miserable hell of war and a life full of suffering. These dramatic mythological tales are filled with deep contemplation on how we should live. It is this deep contemplation and wisdom of "how we should live" that has taken root so far in India.
As was the case with "The Iliad," it is an outstandingly interesting story to begin with! There is a reason why many people are familiar with it even today. It was a very interesting work to learn about the origins of Indian thought. I highly recommend this book.
This is the "Indian Mythological Tales: The Mahabharata" Synopsis and Impressions - The great epic beloved by the Indians! Highly recommended to learn more about Indian spirituality!" The above is a summary of "The Tale of Indian Mythology: The Mahabharata".
Next Article.
Click here to read the previous article.
Related Articles
