Download Hinduism: The Mahabharata

Hinduism: The Mahabharata
With 125,000 verses and 3,000,000 words, the
Mahabharata is the longest poem that has ever
been written. It is part of a collection of
traditional Hindu myths called the Smriti. The
episodes recounted in the Mahabharata were
composed in the ancient Indian language of
Sanskrit over hundreds of years and were finally
collected and arranged together around 200 BCE.
Important lessons
● Although it describes exciting episodes, the
Mahabharata is very important to Hindus,
because it also teaches important religious
lessons
● The Mahabharata contains many different
parables and allegories but mainly focuses on
the details of a war between two dynastic
families – the Kauravas and the Pandavas
● Perhaps the most important part of the
Mahabharata is the Bhagavad Gita (The Song
of the Lord)
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Bhagavad Gita
● The Bhagavad Gita is a discussion about life and
the right way to live it. This conversation takes
place on a battlefield between the god Krishna
(a representation of Vishnu, the preserver) and
a Pandava prince and warrior called Arjuna
● This part of the Mahabharata is made up of 18
chapters, containing 700 verses
Elements of the Bhagavad Gita
Path of Devotion
Bhakti and Parabhakti
Avatars
Path of Action
Reincarnation
Knowledge and Meditation
Dispassion and Discrimination
Renunciation
Devotion to Krishna
Many Views of Brahman
Many Pathways to Brahman
Bhagavad Gita 9.26, 27, 34:
“Whatever one offers me with true
devotion – even a leaf or a flower, a fruit or
even a little water – this I accept from a
yearning soul because with a pure heart it
was offered with love. Whatever you do or
eat or give or offer in sacrifice, let it be an
offering to me; and whatever you suffer,
suffer it for me. Give me your mind and give
me your heart, give me your offerings and
your adoration; thus with your soul in
harmony, and making me your supreme goal,
you will in truth come to me.”
Arjuna and Krishna during the
battle against the Kauravas