The Advaitist

Commentaries: 1. By Surya Narayana 2. By Arjunmishra 3. By Nilakantha Works based on Mahabharata: 1. Kiratarjuniya of Bharavi 2. Shishupala Vadha of Magha 3. Urubhanga by Bhasha 4. Abhigynana Shakuntalam by Kalidasa 5. Sarasamuchaya (Javanese work) based on Anushasana Parva 6. Sang Satyavan (Javanese) 7. Keravashrama (Javanese) 8. Navaruchi (Javanese)

Stage 1 It is believed that in this stage the various old battle songs of the Kuru and the Panchala heroes were reworked  into one narrative. This narrative talked about the fate of the Kauravas on one hand and the fate of the Pandavas on the other hand and had about ~24,000 verses. Since Brahma is regraded as the highest deity in this period, Stage 1 is believed to be pre-Buddhistic. Stage 2 During this stage a lot of materials were added. Sectarian divisions were well established, and there are references to Yavanas, Phllavas, Shakas and Parthians.  Apart from Brahman, Shiva and Vishnu have gained prominence and Krishna is now considered a reincarnation of Vishnu. Stage 3 Final redaction Critique of the Three Stages Theory As per Anukramanika Parvadhyaya of Sauti, the epic contains 100,000 verses and is known as great Bharata with legends. The portion excluding legends or the core Bharata (Bharata Smahita) contains 24,000 verses. The 8,800 verses refer to those which were ...

1. Some scholars believe that Mahabharata has passed through three stages of development: a. 8,800 verses - As per 1.2.131 b. 24,000 verses - As per 1.1.102 c. 100,000 verses - As per 1.1.101 2. Some believe that it was written by different people at different times and may have three beginnings 3. Some believe that it was Vyasa himself who was the composer but that he had revised it four times

The Harivamsha is also known as the Harivamsha Purana and has three parts: a. Harivamsha Parva - Account of Krishna in his divine form b. Vishnu Parva - Account of Krishna as an incarnation of Vishnu c. Bhavishya Parva - Accounts of creation, prophecies, Vishnu's incarnation Famous Episodes: 1. Story of Shakuntala 2. Story of Rama 3. Story of Rishiyasringa 4. Story of King Sivi 5. Abduction of Draupadi by Jayadratha 6. Story of Savitri and Satyavan 7. Story of Nala and Damayanti

Book 14. Ashvamedha Describes the Ashvamedha sacrifice of Yudhishthira. Book 15. Ashramavashika Describes Dhritarashtra and Narada's retreat into the foresta and the arrival of Narada. Book 16. Mausala Describes how the Yadavas killed one another. Book 17. Mahaprasthanika Narrates the final journey of the Pandavas. Book 18. Svargarohana Describes Yudhishthira's ascent to heaven.

Book 10. Sauptika Describes how Ashvathama kills the five sons of the Pandavas. Book 11. Stri   This book depicts the: a. wailing of Dhritarashtra, Gandhari and others b. the breaking of the iron image of Bhima to pieces by Dhritarashtra c. shradh  ceremony of those who died in the war Book 12. Shanti Deals with various topics like Dharma and Moksha. Book 13. Anushasana   Deals with topics like: a. spiritualism b. division of wealth c. hybrid caste

Book 4: Virata Parva This book dsecribes the: a. Pandavas stay in the house of Virata b. the slaying of Kichaka by Bhima c. the rescue of the cows of Virata from Duryadhona and his group by Arjuna d. marriage of Arjuna's son Abhimanyu with Uttara Book 5: Udyoga Describes the prepartion of the Great War Book 6: Bhisma Describes the war under the leadership of Bhishma. Book 7. Drona Describes the war under the leadership of Drona Book 8. Karna Describes the war under the leadership of Karna Book 9. Shalya Describes the war under the leadership of Shalya

Book 1: Adi Parva   This book describes the: a. origin and genealogy of the sages and royal dynasties. b. birth of the Pandavas c. Yudhishthira's coronation d. burining of the house of lac e. birth of Ghatotkacha f. marriage of Draupadi g. banishment of Arjuna h. stealing of Subhadra i. burnining of Khandava forest Book 2 - Sabtha Parva Describes the Rajasuya sacrifice of Yudhishthira. Book 3 - Vana Parva The third book describes the: a. fight of Arjuna with Mahadeva disguised as a Kirata and his acquisition of weapons like Pashupata b. defeat of Chitraratha by Arjuna

Traditionally believed to be compiled by Vyasa, the Mahabharata consists of 18 chapters or parvas and a supplement or khila titled Harivamsha containing 16,373 stanzas. All these 18 books excepts 8th and 16,17,18 are divided into sub-scetions or Anu-parvas. Each book again is divided into chapters or adhyayas. The 12th book is the longest with ~14000 verses while book 17 is the shortest with 123 verses. The Parvas are: 1. Adi 2. Sabtha 3. Vana 4. Virata 5. Udyoga 6. Bhishma, which contains the Bhagavad Gita 7. Drona 8. Karna 9. Shalya 10. Sauptika 11. Stri 12. Shanti 13. Anushasana 14. Ashvamedha 15. Ashramavashika 16. Mausala 17. Mahaprasthanika 18. Svargarohana

Traditionally, Ramayana is believed to have preceded Mahabharata. However, some scholars believe that Mahabharata preceded Ramayana. a. Poetic Style: Ramayana has almost all the characteristics of a mahAkAvya, according to latter poetics tradition. It is also called AdikAvya or first poetic work. On the other hand, Mahabharata has characteristics of the older ballad style. b. Polyandry: Mahabharata depicts Draupadi's polyandry which is believed to have been an ancient custom c. Although MB Vana Parva (273-90) contains the story of Rama, it is not clear whether it was borrowed from Ramayana or the older Rama ballad. d. Harivamsha refers to Ramayana events, but some scholars opine that Harivamsha was a later supplement to Mahabharata. Based on these, the some people feel that the core events of the Mahabharata was earlier than Ramayana events. Another hypothesis is that the core events of Ramayana are older than Mahabharata, but may have been re-composed in a different era in a dif...