Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Reading: Mahabharata Karmic Revolution favorites

Mahabharata: Karmic Revolution:

I. Introduction

  • The Mahbhrata is a story that spans the entire subcontinent.
  • Vias dictated the story to Ganesha, the lord of beginnings       
  • The story has been retold by many other story tellers. Each have put their own touch on the story.
  • The Mahabhrata is the story of kings, queens, heroes, villains, and a great war.

II. Shantanu the Unfortunate

  • The Mahabharata is said to begin at many points, but can be seen as an account of how karma functions
  • King Shantanu fell in love with the river goddess, and asked her to marry him.
  • Ganga said yes
  • She mad Shantanu promise to never question her decisions
  • He agreed, they married, and were happy for a time
  • They had their first child and it was drowned by Ganga
  • Shantanu was devastated, but did not question his wife as promised
  • Ganga killed their next six children without question from Shantanu
  • As ganga was about to kill their final child, Shantanu finally questions Ganga
  • She replies, and leaves shantanu, walking off with his only remaining child

III. Devavrat Returns


  •  16 years after his wife left him, Shatanu found himself at the banks of the Ganga. 
  •  His sadness was interrupted by fighting. The man he saw possessed skill that he had not seen before
  •  Shortly after the fighting he saw his wife, and found out this young man was his son
  •  Shantanu brought back to its kingdom its new prince
  •  Shantanu fell in love, but could not marry due to already having a son. He was depressed
  • Devavrat decided to do something about this.

IV. Devavrat becomes Bhishma

  •  Prince Devavrat goes to the Fisherman and begs him to allow his father to marry his daughter
  •  The fisherman still refused
  •  Devavrat vows to never mary so that his father can marry. He vowed to never father any children before all the gods.
  •  Prince Devavrat becomes known as Bhishma- he of the terrible oath.



Bibliography:
Title:  The Mahabharata: Karmic Revolution
Author:  Epified TV (India)
Year:  2015-2016

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