Epics in Imprints-1.pdf - Vivekananda Kendra Prakashan

Vyasa and Vidura
The Mahabharata is the greatest epic
poem in the world, being eight times
as long as the Iliad and the Odyssey
put together. It is longer than the united
extent of all the poems in European
languages. The Indians hold this book in
great reverence while people all over the
world regard it as the greatest classic of
world literature. It is called the ‘fifth Veda’
and is the treasure house of ancient
wisdom and Hindu culture. It has moulded
the heart and mind of an entire race in a
way no other epic in the world has done.
Our magnificent epics Ramayana and
Mahabharata were crucial in the formation
of national traditions and character and
have left a deep impression on the texture
of Indian life. Mahabharata is a
voluminous epic of more than one lakh
verses, with many stories and anecdotes
touching on almost every aspect of human
welfare and dharma.
Veda Vyasa – the author
The authorship of this great work is
attributed to Veda Vyasa who was also
known by other names such as
Badarayana, Krishnadvaipayana and
Parasharya. This great poet philosopher
has become an institution representing the
entire Hindu heritage. No single individual
in the past or the present has contributed
so much to the preservation of Hindu
dharma as Sri Veda Vyasa has done. He
excels all other writers in his extraordinary
mental insights, social awareness and
vision of Truth. This mighty intellect
evokes the greatest admiration and
wonder even in the hearts of western
critics.
By Swamini Niranjanananda
1
FEBRUARY - AUGUST 2003
It is believed that Vyasa was born as
the son of a Brahmin rishi and a
fisherwoman. He combined in his nature
the sattwa quality of his father and the
daring adventurousness of his mother. He
was born at a time when the Hindus were
in the process of forgetting their glorious
Vedic heritage. Sensing the growing
preoccupation of his generation with
material prosperity and the falling
standards of spiritual values, Vyasa set
out to revive Hindu dharma. He was a
revivalist who contributed the maximum
to Hindu renaissance of that critical era.
He was a daring religious revolutionary
who put Hinduism back on its pedestal.
Compiling the Vedas
Veda Vyasa was the title given to this
great poet-seer because he compiled the
then existing Veda Mantras into four
written volumes in a daring attempt to
preserve this priceless knowledge for
future generations. Much of the Vedas was
already forgotten and it is his vision which
led him to perpetuate the Vedas as we
know them today. In compiling the Vedas,
he brought about a harmonious rhythm
by dividing each book into four sections –
Mantras (chants), Brahmanas (rituals and
rules of conduct), Aranyakas (methods of
subjective worship) and Upanishads
(philosophic revelations).
The Brahma Sutra
After compiling the Vedas, he found
that the majority of the people were
interested in the Karma Kanda portion of
the Vedas and the Upanishadic portion
which is the essence of the Vedas was