Epics in Imprints-1.pdf - Vivekananda Kendra Prakashan

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EDITORIAL
of religions (indeed this is a general trouble: some of the most influential figures such as
Marx, Freud and Durkheim were by modern standards rather ignorant of the facts of
religion).”
The West in general and the Marxists in particular have got stuck with the Cartesian
analytical approach to life, science and religion. They are not able to see the meaning and
purpose of religion the significance of higher levels of consciousness, the ultimate truth
permeating all levels of living. Their kind of approach ends up in trivialising profound
truths, or giving forth a highly lop-sided, one-sided glimpse of truths. Cartesian approach
to science, Darwinian vision to Biology and Newtonian view of the physical world have
been discarded by the scientific community as outmoded, incomplete and as missing the
essential. But unfortunately Marxian sociology based on obsolete Cartesian science continues
to thrive interpreting anthropology, mythology, religion etc. A holistic, most modern
scientific study of Mythologies presents them as integrative, providing the psychological
and cultural bedrock of the society. Such studies bring out the influence of the dearly held
myths of each society on the morals, behavioural patterns, values, lifestyles and languages
of its people.
11) 11) Need Need Need f ffor
f or Educating Educating Educating Our Our Our Children Children in in Our Our Epics:
Epics:
Sister Nivedita urged that the National education is just and foremost an education
in the National idealism. Instead of holding up the ideals of honesty courage and selfsacrifice
from the lives of foreigners, it is necessary to present the example of these and
similar other virtues from Indian history and literatures. According to her, true National
education is learning the Nation’s epics. She translated, abridged and presented a number
of stories from the Epics and the Puranas as a part of her scheme for educating Indian
children especially girls. She persuaded great artists like Abanindra Nath Tagore to paint
our National heroes and heroines, and bring alive the inspiring events from these stories.
The modern West believes in a linear movement of time, and ridicules India’s ideas
of cyclicity of time and events. But the Epic and the Puranic ideals of chaturyuga, cyclicity
of events, avataras and rebirth keep Indians optimistic of a glorious future, based on the
eternal principles of Dharma. When Vyasa stands in the river and loudly proclaims the
greatness of the women and the Sudras in the Kaliyuga, he dangles the great carrot of
hope in front of a tired and colonised people somewhat wallowing in poverty, squalor and
self-pity. The Epics and the Puranas keep alive this hope - a single sign of a living people.
12) 12) Conclusion
Conclusion
In this manner the Epics and the Puranas of India have taken the messages of the
Vedas and the Upanishads to the common people. They bring the entire message of the
Vedantic ideal to the masses, and inspire them to a life of the spirit. The Epic and the Puranas
of India have taken up the essentials of Dharma Shastras and have made these ideals live
in flesh and blood. They cry aloud that the immortal life is not beyond in some unseen