As the Epic title itself
implies 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 scholars -authors, writing Commentaries in local language on the Mahabharat
(and many more less well known too) Kumara Vyasa (Kannada) , Thunchath
Ezuthatcchan (Kerala in Malayalam, Nannaya and others in Andhra, Villiputura
(Tamil) in South
India--esp. Karnataka,Kerala, Andhra in local languages seem to have dominated. ( Tamilnadu seems to have
maintained a somewhat different path even in earlier times earlier with a view that Tamil is not derived
from Sanskrit and had a different origin -not vedic ?..maybe so, I am nor t here to even comment but a general variation is seen in perceptions. What ever be the facts
on this viw, it may be ackd. that today this argument is not really relevant any
longer as the world has moved onto a "Global Culture" and local politics, arguments have no place
in Man's quest for Knowledge and Peace.
Man seeks all avenues to better his knowledge and awareness and this is what Freedom from Ignorance to knowledge, freedom for all aspects of bondage as a Jeevan Mukta or Moksha ' here and now' can be reasonably translated.
.Today, we even have more Western and other nations scholars and pilgrims
coming to study our shastra, yoga, ayurveda and doing it well .Most of them are
very sincere and thorough, highly dedicated and disciplined, which our locals
often cannot do not realise.
Looking at the southern scholars
& writers
Kumara Vyasa (the pen name of Naranappa), under patronage of King
Krishnadevaraya, on Vaishnava literature --was the most influential Vaishnava
writings.
C.Rajagopalachari's book published by Bharatiya
Vidya Bhavan is actually a shorter text to spread awareness and was brought
out in in early 1950, which I read in my Grandfathers house. It has been a
wonderful primer and start for me ( or to any one) who prefers study in english
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 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.Thus we see a few
perceptions vary,but these scholars have generally agreed on all major aspects
of Dharma and its maintenence -
DHARMA in
it's Vishesh & Samamnya context of Shree Krisha's Upadesha is quite subtle
and not easy to understand esp if taken out of context and calls for Bhakti
& Jnaana and the anugraha kataksha in the blessings of Mother Saraswati to
succeed in swadhyaya. Acharya -Guru kripa is essential to
progress.
Most of the
recent english commentaries ( books) 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 sadly tends to reflect on the receptivity of
many Indians and tends to dominate the present day Indians writers and even
media who think 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 is
a very temporary phase and soon dies.
Only the major missions starting with the Ramakrishna Mission
and others have rendered yeoman service with Geeta Gyana Yajnas, Sarsangh,
english text explanation and even Cds and Cassettes reasonably
priced.
The interesting
part is many Western Authors have written better; the greatest credit starts
with and goes to the visionary compliment from Sir Warren Hastings who had
first 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”.
Like the No. 9 numerical total in this
Mahabharata text and Gita is significant as Stithaprajna. So too shall our
vedic shastra and lore.
Mahabharat & Gita
will always guide us always.
TR
