Can you help me about some Indian epics?
By silverjam
@silverjam (969)
United States
December 15, 2008 9:14pm CST
I know there are a lot of people here from India and I hope you guys can help me in this. My nephew asked me something about Ramayana, Mahabharata and Bagavad Ghita in w/ I guess are Indian epics (correct me if am wrong). I've read a little about them maybe in my elementary years but don't really know a lot about them so I cannot share him anything.
Does anyone here knows anything about what I asked? I would appreciate it even if you just give me any outlines or slight ideas about them. Thanks in advance for your help.
3 responses
@GADHISUNU (2162)
• India
16 Dec 08
Aaah!Oooh! At last there is somthing here I enjoy talking or writing about.
Ramayana and Mahabharata are epics. Epic is the nearest English word. You would want to know what they are called within the Indian System, won't you? In India they are called "itihasas". In Hindi the word itihaas is used as a synonym for history. Here in Sanskrit, though as per etymology it could mean history, it is more biographical.
Ramayana - The story of Rama - the best example of how a Man could live fufilling ALL his roles in Life. he set an example for Dharma.The view is that of an Idealist.Obviously Sri Rama is the Hero.
Mahabharata - The story of Pandavas and Kauravas- and their intrigues, culminating in the Great 18-day War. This portrays Real Life and Real People. In the sense, how real people would behave given ther real situations in life. So, there is jealousy, anger, partiality, plotting, lust and what not. IMO Sri Krishna is the Hero of MB
Bhagavad-Gita: A part of Mahabharata, a small section in the epic of about 100.000 shlokas(verses)! This, is a Philosophical Discourse that elucidates Life evocated in the backdrop of the MB War. This helps in developing the right attitudes in life in the midst of contradicting requirements. It is the Essence of the Upanishads- the highest and noblest thought s recorded in human history!
The R & MB are perhaps the shortest introduction to the Indian Ethos and sensibilities.
1 person likes this
@silverjam (969)
• United States
17 Dec 08
Thank you very much for sharing the outlines of those epics. I hope you can elaborate more in details in these but I guess it might be too much for you though. I hope you can answer more if i will still be asking more about this as I honestly have very few knowledge in these epics. Again thank you and hope you will entettain if I ask further questions. More power!
@GADHISUNU (2162)
• India
18 Dec 08
Go on ahead and shoot. I would love to. If you have some specific events/incidents in R or MB that has baffled you or offended your sensibility then those will be the first set of Q's one should begin with I'spose.
@Roseo8 (2947)
• India
17 Dec 08
Hello Silverjam,Ramayana is the story of King Rama,Mahbharatha is the story of the Kauravas and the Pandavas,and Bhagahvat Gita contains the message of Krishna to Arjuna.These three are great Indian epics that convey spiritual messages to the people which prompt them to follow the path of rightousness and to abstain from evil deeds inorder to lead a pious life on this earth.
These books are available in the form of simple comics which children can read and understand,and also in the form of novels,for adults..Also CDs are available which helps one to understand them better....
1 person likes this
@silverjam (969)
• United States
17 Dec 08
Thank you for sharing some outlines of these epics. I hope you will still be willing to answer more if I gonna ask more about this as I honestly don't have great knowledge on these. Happy mylotting, more power!
