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The Mystery of the Mahabharata (5 Vols. Set))

The Mystery of the Mahabharata (5 Vols. Set))

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The idea of the Mahabharata as a great picture of a great Philosophy of Life occurred to me almost like a dream. I have pursued it for nearly eight years and the result of my study, relating to the Vedas, is contained in this volume; and that, relating to the Mahabharata; will follow in the next. My study of the Mahabharata led me to the. Vedas, Upanisads, Satapatha Brahmana, and the Systems of Hindu Philosophy; for the “story” is, even as it claims to be, a picture of all sacred philosophy and literature; and it is in this light that I have explained and interpreted it.
 
The First Volume ends with the Gods of the Vedas, and the Second starts with an examination of the Story of the Mahabharata. But, in order to give an idea of the whole, I have added a brief explanation of the main incidents of the Story in the Introduction, as it might be helpful in fixing its true scope and character. While examining words and names in accordance with the method of letter-analysis, I have, in a number of cases, omitted to give a full explanation of letters in the Introduction, as I did not wish to burden it with too many details. The reader can easily get all the meanings by reference to Chapters VI and VII, dealing with the Sanskrit language and the method of interpretation.
 
The main idea of the present work is that the sacred books of the Hindu: from the Vedas to the Mahabharata described as the fifth and the last Veda deal, with the one problem of all problems- the Truth of life conceived in various ways. The Vedas examine the different theories of life,-its origin, manifestation, and end-in the form of Hymns; the Brahmanas represent the Supreme creative energy conceived as Action in Sacrifice; the Upanisads and the Systems of Hindu Philosophy deal with the same subject with less symbolism and more directly; while the Puranas and the great Epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata describe it in Story- form.
 
In the present work, I have as far as possible, referred to the original Sanskrit texts, and thought it desirable to give ample references. But, for obvious reasons, I have limited myself to the Rg-Veda, the most ancient as well as the most sacred, where other Vedas only repeat the same hymn or the same idea. Nor have I given many references, though easily available, where one has sufficed. The sacred works of the Hindus are the legacy of India-and the heritage of the world.
SKU: 9788180901317

  • PRODUCT INFO

    AUTHOR N.V. THADANI
    PUBLISHER BHARATIYA KALA PRAKASHAN
    LANGUAGE ENGLISH
    EDITION 1st
    ISBN 9788180901317
    PAGES 1589
    COVER HARDCOVER
    OTHER DETAILS 25.5 CM X 19 CM
    WEIGHT 3.80 KG
    YEAR 2007

    COUNTRY OF     

    COUNTRY

    		  INDIA                                                     

  • AUTHOR INFO

    N. V. Thadani

    Late Principal Hindu College, and Rector, University of Delhi; Author of Krishna’s Flute & Other Poems; Asoka & Other Poems; etc.

  • PREFACE

    The Mahabharata is so widely known as a great and fascinating story of ancient India, that perhaps an apology is needed for interpreting it as a picture of pure Philosophy. But I hope lovers of the story will find their interest enhanced and not diminished by this presentation. It has, however, been suggested to me to indicate the best manner of approach to the subject. For obvious reasons I have had to refer to Vedic literature, Upanisads, and the Systems of Hindu Philosophy, and base the whole idea of the work on principles, energies, and laws; for this is what the Mahabharata is. But I have tried to be as simple and concrete as possible. The reader would be well advised in going through the Introduction first, and acquainting himself with the principles, of the Six Systems of Hindu Philosophy as soon as possible; and when this is done, he would find the interpretation of the Story easier than he imagines. Should he, however, find it difficult to grasp the idea of the Systems of Philosophy all at once, he might glance through them, and pass on to the Construction of the Story of the Mahabharata (p. xxii), and return to the philosophical Systems afterward. Once he has realized that the Story is a picture of Philosophy, it would be easy for him to understand the idea of the whole.

    Then it is necessary to have an elementary idea of the form, structure, and action of the organic Cell; for it is the Cell that constitutes the basis of all theories and speculations of the Hindus, from the tiniest forms of life to Brahmanda, the Golden Egg of the Creator of the universe. This is given in Chapter III, which explains, in some detail, the principal Systems of Hindu Philosophy. When the reader has grasped the idea of the Cell, he will find how easy it is to construct upon it the whole fabric of Hindu Science, Philosophy, and Religion. As the subject is new, and its conclusions far-reaching, I have thought it necessary to limit myself severely to facts and would ask the reader to bear with me for any omissions of style. I hope he would be convinced that the Sacred Books of the Hindus are pictures of systems of thought, written in a peculiar form or Sanskrit. In any case, nothing is more valuable than understanding criticism in a work of this character.

    The First Volume ends with the Gods of the Vedas, and the Second will contain an examination of the Story of the Mahabharata. But, to give an idea of the whole, I have added a brief explanation of the main incidents of the Story in the Introduction, as it might help fix its true scope and character. While examining words and names by the method of letter analysis, I have, in several cases, omitted to give a full explanation of letters in the Introduction, as I did not wish to burden it with too many details. This will be done in the Second Volume; but the reader can easily get all the meanings by reference to Chapters VI and YD, dealing with the Sanskrit language and the method of interpretation.

     

  • INTRODUCTION

    The idea of the Mahabharata, as a great picture of a great Philosophy of Life, occurred to me almost like a dream. I have pursued it for nearly eight years; and the result of my study, relating to the Vedas, is contained in this volume; and that, relating to the Mahabharata, will follow in the next. My study of the Mahabharata led me to the Vedas, Upanisads, Satapatha Brahmana, and the Systems of Hindu Philosophy; for the “story” is, even as it claims to be, a picture of all sacred philosophy and literature; and it is in this light that I have explained and interpreted it.

    I intended to publish the work as a whole, from the Vedas to the Mahabharata, so that my interpretation might be properly understood. But the work was faster than I had imagined; and, as several persons with whom I had to discuss the subject, desired to see as complete a statement of it as possible without waiting for the end of the whole, I prepared the present volume ending with the Vedas, to be followed by another, relating to my interpretation of the “story” of the Mahabharata, as soon as possible. The present volume was accordingly written more than two years ago, and printed last year. But I felt that the character of the subject was such that its full significance could hardly be realized without an interpretation of the “story” of the Mahabharata itself, and so I took the second volume in hand. Though several points, dealt with in the first volume have been amplified and explained in greater detail in the second, I have had little reason to alter the conclusions of the first part, and it is issued without any change. The second part, relating to the “story” of the Mahabharata, will appear at an early date.

    The main idea of the present work is that the sacred books of the Hindus, from the Vedas to the Mahabharata, described as the fifth and the last Veda, deal with the one problem of all problems, the Truth of life conceived in various ways. The Vedas examine the different theories of life, its origin, manifestation, and end in the form of Hymns; the Brahmanas represent the supreme creative energy conceived as Action in Sacrifice; the Upanisads and the Systems of Hindu Philosophy deal with the same subject with less symbolism and more directly; while the Puranas and the great Epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata describe it in Story-form and all this can be demonstrated using the ancient method of interpretation based on the analysis of words and names into their component syllables and letters, which has the sanction of all the sacred works of the Hindus. I have dealt with only the Vedas and the Mahabharata in this manner, but a method that applies to the first and last of the sacred works must apply equally to all.

    I am conscious of the character of the present work and its new point of view, when judged in the light of modern theories and modern criticism, specially those that come from the West. But no student of the original works of the Hindus can, I believe, lightly dismiss this interpretation; for the heart of Hinduism has always held that there is a deep philosophy of life, now lost, behind the “hymns “of the Vedas, the “sacrifices” of the Brahmanas, and the “stories” of the Puranas and the great Epics; and this is also the old traditional belief and in the light of this method of letter analysis, the sacred works of the Hindus are easily found to admit of this view. But if this be correct, the principal Sanskrt works will all require a new interpretation, not only in the mass, but in detail; and this is beyond the power of a single individual, however devoted to his task. I therefore hope that some others also may feel interested in the work and assist.

     

  • CONTENTS

    Contents

      Preface xi
      Abbrevation xiii
      Introduction 1-46
    Chapter I The Meaning of the Mahabharata 47-50
    Chapter II A New Language 51-52
    Chapter III The Systems of Hindu Thought 53-120
    Chapter IV The Golden Egg and the Universe 121-153
    Chapter V Theories and Their Application 154-174
    Chapter VI The Origin and Character of Sanskrt 175-228
    Chapter VII The Method of Interpretation 229-243
    Chapter VIII The Hymns of the Vedas 244-270
    Chapter IX The Gods of the Vedas 271-360
      Index

  • PREFACE II

    The present volume was part of my original scheme of the explanation of the Mahabharata; but the work increased beyond expectation, and I did not feel equal to the task. After the publication of the first volume, however, I was taken back to my original idea, and felt that, as the Mahabharata was a picture of all systems of Hindu Philosophy and Religion, it could not be properly understood unless the essential idea of the systems themselves was properly grasped. I cannot help thinking that, in spite of the great scholarship of modern times, the fundamental idea of the chief systems of Hindu Philosophy and Religion has not been properly understood. We do not know that the five great systems of Hindu Philosophy are based on the five great creative energies of life-Soul, Buddhi, Mind, and the Senses of Knowledge and Action-and correspond to the five different ways of examining the problem of life, conceived of as created by God, Nature, or both; while the sixth system, the Purva Mimamsa, is a connecting link between them all. Nor do we know their exact connection with the Vedas, Brahmanas, or the Upanisads. The same is the case with the different systems of Religion-of Visnu, Siva, Brahma, Buddha, and Mahavira-and the Tantra as a connecting link between them. I felt that unless all this was properly explained it would be impossible for the reader to understand the Mahabharata as a picture of all this in Story-form. This will follow as soon as possible, in the next volume. I have added a chapter on Hindu Thought and the Holy Bible at the end of this volume, as I believe it might be of interest to the reader.

  • CONTENTS VOL. II

    Preface V
      Abbrevation XV
      The Cell and the Universe XVII
    Chapter I The Science and Philosophy of the Vedas 1-12
    Chapter II Brahmanda and the Vedic Gods 13-75
    Chapter III

    Vedic Gods and Systems of

    Philosophy

    		 76-84
    Chapter IV

    Vedic Gods and System of Hindu

    Philosophy

    		 85-126
    Chapter V

    The Ascending and Descending 

    Scales of Thought

    		 127-132
    Chapter VI The Essence of the Upanisads 133-154
    Chapter VII

    Satapatha Brahmana or Creative

    Sacrifice

    		 155-159
    Chapter VIII The Theory of Hindu Religion 160-166
    Chapter IX The System of Hindu Religion
    1. The Religion of Visnu    		 167-177
    Chapter X II. The Religion of Mahadeva 178-189
    Chapter XI III. The Religion of Brahma 190-194
    Chapter XII IV. The Religion of Buddha 195-205
    Chapter XIII V. The Religion of Jaina 206-213
    Chapter XIV         VI. The Tantra or Sakti Worship 214-221
    Chapter XV       Hindu Thought and The Holy Bible 222-232      
      Index

  • CONTENTS VOL. III

    Abbreviations V
      Introduction XIX
    Part I The Story of The Epic
    I. Adi Parva    		  
    Chapter I The Birth of Heroes 1-11
    Chapter II The House of Lac 12-14
    Chapter III The Marriage of Draupadi 15-17
    Chapter IV Three New Brides of Arjuna 18-19
    Chapter V The Burning of Khandava Forest 20-20
      II. Sabha Parva  
    Chapter VI The Assembly Hall of Yudhisththira 21-23
    Chapter VII The Game of Dice 24-29
    Chapter VIII In The Forest 30-32
    Chapter IX The Mission of Arjuna 33-34
    Chapter X The Pilgrimage of The Pandavas 35-37
    Chapter XI The Period of Probation 38-41
      IV. Virata Parva  
    Chapter XII In The Kingdom of Virata 42-45
      V. Udyoga Parva  
    Chapter XIII Preparations for War 46-48
    Chapter XIV The Messengers of Peace 49-52
    Chapter XV The Mission of Krsna 53-58
      VI. Bhishma Parva  
    Chapter XVI The Field of Battle 59-59
    Chapter XVII The Bhagavad Gita 60-138
    Chapter XVIII Bhisma’s Battle of Ten Days 139-144
      VII. Drona Parva  
    Chapter X IX Drona’s Battle of Five Days 145-154
      VIII. Karna Parva  
    Chapter XX Karna’s Battle of Two Days 155-157
      IX. Salya Parva  
    Chapter XXI The Defeat of Kauravas 158-162
      X. Sauptika Parva  
    Chapter XXII The Slaughter in Sleep 163-165
      XI. Stri Parva  
    Chapter XXIII The Wail of Women 166-165
      XII. Santi Parva  
    Chapter XXIV The Philosophy of Peace 169-185
      XIII. Anusasana Parva  
    Chapter XXV The Science of the Soul 186-187
      XIV. Asvamedha Parva  
    Chapter XXVI The Sacrifice of the Horse 188-193
      XV. Asramavasika Parva  
    Chapter XXVII The Death of Dhrtarastra 194-195
      XVI. Mausala Parva  
    Chapter XXVIII The Passing of Krishna 196-199
      XVII. Mahaprasthana Parva  
    Chapter X XIX The Passing of the Pandavas 200-201
      XVIII. Svargarohanika Parva  
    Chapter XXX The Ascent to Heaven 202-203
    Part II The Essence of the Epic  
    Chapter I The Problem of The Mahabharata 205-207
    Chapter II The Method of Inter  
    Chapter III The Plan of the Mahabharata 222-227
    Chapter IV The History of The Mahabharata 228-232
    Chapter V The Essence of The Epic
    1. Adi Parva    		 233-249
    Chapter VI II. Sabha Parva 250-254
    Chapter VII III. Vana Parva 255-258
    Chapter VIII IV. Virata Parva 259-260
    Chapter IX V. Udyoga Parva 261-266
    Chapter X VI. Bhishma Parva 267-268
    Chapter XI VII. Drona Parva 269-273
    Chapter XII VIII. Karna Parva 274-275
    Chapter XIII IX. Salya Parva 276-278
    Chapter X IV X. Sauptika Parva 279-280
    Chapter XV XI. Stri Parva 281-282
    Chapter XVI XII. Santi Parva 283-285
    Chapter XVII XIII. Anusasana Parva 286-286
    Chapter XVIII. XIV. Asvamedha Parva 287-288
    Chapter XIX XV. Asramavasika Parva 289-290
    Chapter XX XVI. Mausala Parva 291-293
    Chapter XXI XVII. Mahaprasthana Parva 294-296
    Chapter X XII XVII. Svargarohanika Parva 297-297
      Index 298-308

  • CONTENTS VOL. IV

    The Explanation of the Epic

    Part I

      Abbreviation v
      Introduction xiii
      The Characters in the Epic and the Ideas they Personify xxvii
      I. Adi Parva  
    Chapter I Introduction 1-8
    Chapter II The Birth of Heroes or the Systems of Philosophy Personified 9-35
    Chapter III Kunti and Karna or Earth and the   Vegetable Kingdom 36-43
    Chapter IV The Five Pandava Brothers or the  Birth of Man 44-56
    Chapter V Krpa and Drona or the Teachers of Jainism and Buddhism 57-62
    Chapter VI

    Drupada and Drona or the Idea of

    Sacrifice In Jainism and Buddhism

    		 63-65
    Chapter VII The Proficiency of the Princes or     the Progress of Man From Jainism to Buddhism 66-78
    Chapter VIII The House of Lac or the Progress  of Man from Buddhism to Saivism 79-90
    Chapter IX

    The Wedding of Draupadi or Man

    Understands the Nature of

    Sacrifice

    		 91-104
    Chapter X The Division of The Kingdom or the Connection Between Saivism and Buddhism 105-108
    Chapter XI The Exile of Arjuna or the Functions of Prana or Breath 109-119
    Chapter XII The Burning of the Khndava Forest or Man is Established in Saivism 120-126
      II. Sabha Parva  
    Chapter XIII

    The Assembly Hall of Yudhisthira

    or A Picture of Saivism

    		 127-137
    Chapter XIV

    The Assembly Hall of the Kauravas or A Picture of Buddhism and

    Jainism

    		 138-142
    Chapter XV

    The Game of Dice or Jainism

    Versussaivism

    		 143-147
    ChapterXVI

    The Anguish of Draupadi or

    Sacrifice and the Idea of God

    		 148-161
      III. Vana Parva  
    Chapter XVII On the Banks of the Ganga or the Progress of Man from Nyaya to the    Vaisesika 162-166
    Chapter XVIII In The Kamyaka Forest or the Character and Scope of the Vaisesika 167-169
    Chapter XIX The Forest of Dvaita or the                Progress of Man from Vaisesika to Yoga 170-173
    Chapter XX The Mission of Arjuna or Man          Attains to Yoga-Vedanta or               Qualified Monism 174-180
    Chapter XXI The Pilgrimage of the Pandavas or Self-Realisation of Buddhi, Mind     and the Senses 181-186
    Chapter XXII The Visit of Krsna or A Review of     the Progress of Man 187-189
    Chapter XXIII Duryodhana in Dvaitavana or the Idea of Buddhi in Qualified Monism and in Buddhism and Jainism 190-193
    Chapter XXIV Karna's Conquest of the World or    the Idea of Sacrifice in the Sankhya 194-196
    Chapter XXV

    Jayadratha and Draupadi or

    Sacrifice in Relation to

    Buddhism and Jainism

    		 197-201
    Chapter XXVI The Stories of Rama and Savittri or Sacrifice in Vaisnavism 202-210
    Chapter XXVII

    Karna and Indra or the True

    Sacrifice of food

    		 211-212
    Chapter XXVIII                                                               

    The Questions of the Crane or the

    End of Qualified Monism

    		 213-216
      IV. Virata Parva  
    Chapter XXIX The Pandvas in the Kingdom of      Virata or Pure Vedanta in the World of Life 217-221
    Chapter XXX

    Kicaka and Draupadi or the Idea of

    Sacrifice in Pure Vedanta and other

    Systems

    		 222-225
    Chapter XXXI                                                

    The Cows of Virata or the Proof

    of Vedanta

    		 226-231                            
    Chapter XXXII

    Uttara, Arjuna, and Abhimanyu

    or the Character of the Soul in

    Yoga-Vedanta

    		 232-233

  • CONTENTS VOL. V

    V. Udyoga Parva                                                               
    Chapter XXXIII                                                   

    Preparations for War or the

    Characterof Rival Systems of

    Thought

    		 1-12
    Chapter XXXIV

    The Mission of San-Jaya or the

    Connecting Link Between Conflicting Systems of Thought

    		 13-17
    Chapter XXXV

    The Discourse of Sanat-Sujata or

    the Conversion of Dhrtarastra

    		 18-22
    Chapter XXXVI The Mission of Krsna or Buddhism and the Idea of God 23-31
    Chapter XXXVII

    Krsna and Karna or Food and the

    Idea of god

    		 32-33
    Chapter XXXVIII

    Kunti and Karna or Earth, Food,

    and Man

    		 34-37
    Chapter XXXIX

    The Commanders of Armies or a

    Review of Conflicting Systems of Thought

    		 38-46
      VI. Bhisma Parva  
    Chapter XL The Field of Battle or Preparations for a Debate 47-49
    Chapter XLI The Bhagavad Gita or an Epitome of the Epic and of all Systems of Philosophy and Religion 50-97
    Chapter XLII

    Bhisma's Battle of Ten Days or the Conflict of Nyaya and

    Yoga-Vedanta

    		 98-118
      VII. Drona Parva  
    Chapter XLIII

    Drona's Battle of Five Days or the Conflict of Vaisesika and

    Yoga-Vedanta

    		 119-166
      VIII. Karna Parva  
    Chapter XLIV

    Karna's Battle of Two Days or the Conflict of Sankhya and

    Yoga-Vedanta

    		 167-176
      IX. Salya Parva  
    Chapter XLV

    Salya's Fight for Half a Day or the Conflict of Sankhya-Nyaya and

    Yoga-Vedanta

    		 177-179
    Chapter XLVI

    The forlorn Hope of Duryodhana

    or the Conflict of Vaisesika-Nyaya

    and Yoga-Vedanta

    		 180-192
      X. Sauptika Parva  
    Chapter XLVII

    The Slaughter in Sleep or the

    Essence of Sacrifice

    		 193-197
      XI. Stri Parva  
    Chapter XLVIII The Wail of Women or a Vision of Prakrti 198-202
      XII. Santi Parva  
    Chapter XLIX The Path of Peace or from Jainism and Buddhism to Yoga-Vedanta 203-223
      XIII. Anusasana Parva  
    Chapter L

    The Eternal Law or the Truth of

    Pure Vedanta

    		 224-226
      XIV. Asvamedha Parva  
    Chapter LI

    The Sacrifice of the Horse or the

    Essence of the Idea of God

    		 227-234
      XV. Asrama-Vasika Parva  
    Chapter LII

    The Death of Dhrtarastra or 

    The decline of Man from Vaisnavism to Saivism

    		 235-239
      XVI. Mausala Parva  
    Chapter LIII

    The Bolt of Iron or the Passing of

    Krsna or god

    		 240-251
      XVII. Mahaprasthana Parva  
    Chapter LIV

    The Passing of the Pndavas or the Decline of Man from Saivism to

    Buddhism and Jainism

    		 252-257
      XVIII. Svargarohanika Parva  
    Chapter LV In The Kingdom of Heaven or the End 258-262
    Appendix                              

    The Couse and Cure Consumption and Cancer

    		 263-270                            
      Glossary 271-296
      Index 297-310

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