Mahabharatha

Background of the story Vysampayana was narrating the story of Kacha & Devayani in the court of the king Janamejaya. Incidentally he said that no rishi would marry Devayani. Janamejaya wanted to listen the later part of Devayani story. 1 Devayani & Sarmishta - A rivalry Devayani was the daughter of Sukrācārya, the family guru of daityas (also called Asuras or Demons). At that time, the king of Asuras was Vrushaparva and he had a daughter by name Sarmishta. Devayani and Sarmishta were friends and on one day they went out to a forest accompanied by a huge number of servant maids and care takers. After roaming for a while they entered into a pond of water and were swimming with joy. It so happened that a gush wind from the bushes galvanized the entire area where the ladies had dropped their robes, and all the robes got mixed up. ...

King Janamejaya heard the story of Samrat Bharata from Vysampayana and he was delighted to know the origin of Bharata Khanda. Now he was inquisitive to know the story of Kuru Vamsa from Vysampayana, and he started narrating the story. Daksha prajāpati (hereinafter wards mentioned as Daksha) was the mānasa putra (born out of the manas) of Brahmaa. He was the progenitor of the entire world, and to procreate the species, he married several wives. It is said that all the twenty-seven stars (nakshatras) who later married the Moon God, Chandra were his daughters. Parvati, the wife of Lord Siva was his daughter. His two daughters Adithi and Dithi were married to Kasyapa. Through Adithi and Dithi he got all the Gods and Asuras as his sons. Through Vinata and Kadru he got Garutmantha and all the serpents respectively. ...

What is the story about? The story of Sakuntala and king Dushyantha is a very popular story of Maha Bharata. The intellectual genius of women in ancient India, the brilliance of argumentative power, the superb negotiating skills are at once displayed for readers to understand many sociological and psychological issues of Indian society. 1 Background of the Story Vysampayana was in the court of Janamejaya on the advice of sage Vedavyasa to narrate the story of Kuru and Pandu brothers. Out of curiosity Janamejaya wanted to know as to how his vamsa was called Bharata Vamsa. Vysampayana began to narrate the story of Sakunthala and Dushyantha. ...

What is the story about? Eighteen Akshouhinis of warriors were destroyed in the Kurukshetra war fought between Pandavas and Kauravas. Such a destruction was planned much in advance in the court of Brahmaa to rid the Earth free from Adharmic forces. The story relies on the passages from Mahabharata and some Puranas to unravel the plan and the eventual birth of Gods and Asuras upon the earth. 1 Background of the Story On the advice of sage Vedavyasa, Vysampayana started narrating the story of Mahabharata in the court of Janamejaya. Janamejaya heard the story of Vedavyasa and asked as to why his forefathers indulged in a brutal war. Vysampayana started narrating the births chief warriors and the reasons for their birth upon the earth. ...

What is the story about? The story heralds the birth of Vedavyasa who has written this great episode ‘Mahabharata’. Mahabharata is also known as Panchama Veda (the fifth Veda) since it discusses the nuances of Vedic dictums in easy and logical way for the sake of common populace. The stories of Mahabharata are illustrations to the great Vedic thoughts. The story discusses Yashti Pravesam tradition which has been followed for many years in India by the kings at the time of coronation. 1 ...

What is the story about? The story discusses the process of Sarpayāgaṃ and the intervention of rishi Aāstīka to stop the destruction of the entire race of serpents. The story discusses Aāstīka tradition which has been followed for the last five thousand years in India & Aāstīka Stotram to obviate the fear from serpents. It also discusses the important purohits – Hotha, Udgāta, Adhvaryu and Brahma for conducting any yāgaṃ, and the tradition of which is being followed even now. 1 ...

What is the story about? Garutmantha or Garuda is the trusted devotee and the vehicle of Lord Vishnu. The story discusses the birth of Garutmantha and his expeditions. ‘Madhu Vidya’ (the art of inhaling Sun’s rays as substitute for food, spiritual quotient of darbha grass, and incubation of children in ghee pots etc are certain highlights of this story. 1 Background of the Story Saunaka was happy to hear the story of क्षीर सागर मथनं- kṣīra sāgara mathanaṃ and the birth of the divine horse Uchhaisrva in the process of churning of the ocean. He also heard Vinatha becoming the dasi of Kadruva and the birth of Anura. He was inquisitive to know as to how Vinatha got extricated from the bondage of Kadru. Saunaka started narrating the story. ...

What is the story about? Deva-Asura sangrama or the war between the gods and demons is a very popular story that we come across in many Puranas and Itihasas. The story is the subject matter of many folk songs, ballads and of late, films. The churning of the ocean and resultant war appeals to all types of readers from children to highly learned intellectuals. The symbolism behind the story is for the consumption of intellectuals and the story, per se, is for children. 1 ...

What is the story about? The effects of anger and jealousy are the subject matter of this story. Anger results in delusion and fails the intellect of any person. The story discusses dāsī system (slavery) prevalent in ancient societies and tries to compare this system that was prevalent in Bharath vis-à-vis the West. The prevalence of the practice of preserving eggs in ghee pots for incubation is an ingenuous scientific technique unique to Indian society; and this aspect is also covered in the current story. 1 ...

(This is an interesting episode in Maha Bharata discussing tenets of ‘pātivratya - code of conduct for women; and the nature of democratic debates for solving common problems. The necessity of perpetuating a family lineage and the importance of following dharma in the face of adversities etc are also the themes that run through the story) The Background of the Story On hearing the death of his father in the hands of Takshaka, a serpent king, Janamejaya had taken a decision to punish the whole race of serpents. ...