As the Epic title itself states
-the Greatness of Bharata, from Maharishi Vyasa
& Scribe Ganapati is in our Epic-Puranic lore and
many Authors have written commentaries
We actually have
> 4 major Authors, writing Commentaries in local language on the Mahabharat-
(and many more less well known too) Kumara Vyasa (Kannada) , Thunchath
Ezuthatcchan (of Kerala in Malayalam, Nannaya and others in Andhra, Villiputura
(Tamil) in South
India--Overall Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra in local languages, seem to have given greater regard for this
purana.
Tamilnadu seems to have maintained a somewhat
different path even earlier with a view and claim that Tamil is not derived from
Sanskrit -and had a different origin -not vedic ?..The reference to a "caste" and the duties has often been a flare up point, despite the explanation that it is Varna ashrama and based on Gunas & then Karma related.
What ever be the final opinion and facts on
this- it may be ackd that today this argument is not really relevant any longer
as the world has moved to a new "Global Culture" and local politics, worn out debates and pathetic
media leanings have no place in Man's quest for Knowledge and Peace.
In Man's Quest for peace and better awareness, he
seeks all avenues across the Globe, anywhere, everywhere and this is evident.
.We have now more Western scholars and pilgrims
from many nations coming to India to study our shastra, yoga, ayurveda and also fine arts and doing better. Most of them are
very sincere and thorough, highly dedicated and disciplined which our locals
often do not even realise.
Looking at the southern scholars
& writers on the Mahabharat.
Kumara Vyasa (the pen name of Naranappa), under patronage of King
Krishnadevaraya, on Vaishnava literature, was one of the most influential
scholars in Vaishnava writings.
Legend says according to
the Adi-parva of the Mahabharata (81, 101-102), original text 8,800 verses was
contained when it was composed by Maharishi Veda Vyasa, but in all recent books 1
lakh and 8 verses are stated.
From 1500 -1800-period 4 Major Local
regional language Scholar-Writers prevailed, as it takes on detailed study and
writing on even "One lakh and eight verses"
-which only a Maha Muni can achieve -not mere Writers. amongst these great
scholars Thus we see a few perceptions vary, but these scholars have
generally agreed on all major aspects of Dharma and its maintenence.
This has percolated to us ( and english translations included) and references are seen or heard in Harikathas, Satsanghs and Pravachans all year round.
This has percolated to us ( and english translations included) and references are seen or heard in Harikathas, Satsanghs and Pravachans all year round.
DHARMA in
it's Vishesh & Samamnya context of Shree Krisha's Upadesha is quite
complex and subtle and not always easy to understand. If taken out of context it
causes needless debates. Such study and swadhyay calls for total Shraddha & Vishwas and
the Bhakti to gain some amount of Jnaana and that too only with the anugraha
kataksha with the blessings of Mother Saraswati. The twin modes of learning are Satsangh and Swadhyaya with the Grace of . the Acharya in Guru kripa, which is essential to progress.
NOTE
Recent english commentaries have never achieved a desired standard as they are critical reviews by arrogant writers with no bhakti - bhavana and mainly written with an egoistic, critical and populistic outlook. This attitude also sadly tends to reflect on the receptivity of many Indians and tends to dominate. Many of the present day Indian writers and especially media seem to believe they can write or comment on anything, as they wish. This is all done with a glib pseudo intellectual outlook per se, to gain attention which ultimately is a very temporary phase and soon dies out and their views are all forgotten.
Recent english commentaries have never achieved a desired standard as they are critical reviews by arrogant writers with no bhakti - bhavana and mainly written with an egoistic, critical and populistic outlook. This attitude also sadly tends to reflect on the receptivity of many Indians and tends to dominate. Many of the present day Indian writers and especially media seem to believe they can write or comment on anything, as they wish. This is all done with a glib pseudo intellectual outlook per se, to gain attention which ultimately is a very temporary phase and soon dies out and their views are all forgotten.
Only the major missions starting with the Ramakrishna Mission
and others have done full justice and indeed rendered yeoman service with Geeta Gyana
Yajnas, Satsangh, english text explanation and even Cds and Cassettes reasonably
priced.
The interesting
part is many Western Authors have written on all this quite well. The greatest
credit goes to the visionary comment from Sir Warren Hastings who had first
arranged for a copy of the translation of Gita to English!! His note in the
Gita english edition is now included even in the RK Mission Gita preface and is
a must read.
Quoted
below:The Gita’s wide appeal by Lord Warren Hastings
The Bhagavad Gita was first translated into English by Charles Wilkins in 1785 and published by the British East India Company with an introduction by Lord Warren Hastings, the first British Governor-General of India, in which he prophetically wrote: “The writers of the Indian philosophies will survive when the British Dominion in India shall long have ceased to exist, and when the sources which it yielded of wealth and power are lost to remembrance”. He further wrote “I hesitate not to pronounce the Gita’s performance of great originality, of sublimity of conception, reasoning and diction almost unequalled and a single exception amongst all the known religions of mankind”.
The Bhagavad Gita was first translated into English by Charles Wilkins in 1785 and published by the British East India Company with an introduction by Lord Warren Hastings, the first British Governor-General of India, in which he prophetically wrote: “The writers of the Indian philosophies will survive when the British Dominion in India shall long have ceased to exist, and when the sources which it yielded of wealth and power are lost to remembrance”. He further wrote “I hesitate not to pronounce the Gita’s performance of great originality, of sublimity of conception, reasoning and diction almost unequalled and a single exception amongst all the known religions of mankind”.
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CONCLUDING" Like the No. 9 numerical total the Mahabharata and Gita is significant as Stithaprajna. So too shall our vedic shastra and lore.
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The lessons of the Mahabharat & Gita will stay and Guide us always.
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With Respects
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TR
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