Reading Notes: Mahabharata, Part A

Vyasa and Ganesha. The Mahabharata, A Summary by J. M. Macfie.

  • This is prime example of a creation story, which I liked in terms of the inclusion of divine beings as well as absurdity in the content of the creation of the child itself. 
  • Most stories, along with the inclusion of gods and goddesses, also have inclusion of high-ranking social figures, such as kings and sages, which is something that I think I should include in my stories as well.
  • Also, there is always some sort of myths and legends itself that the readers have yet to know about in depth yet. For example, there is the mention of the "Five Pandu Brothers," which I feel induces curiosity within the readers themselves.
King Shantanu and Ganga. Indian Myth and Legend by D. A. Mackenzie
  • For the most parts, the main characters of the story always have the creation story that is related to, or created from, a king and/or a god/goddess which makes them stand out from any of the other characters in the stories.
    • Moreover, this allows for a wider range of conflicts that can stem from multiple areas of mortality and immortality.
  • I liked the inclusion of the lists of gods and goddesses that are seemingly from the same groups, with each occupying a certain niche or possessing a unique power of their own. For example, in this story, it included the "eight gods known as the Vasus."
Amba. Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists by Sister Nivedita
  • The inclusion of multiple characters, especially in something as massive as the Mahabharata, showcases a multiplicity of stories and background knowledge that the author can work around with, which can make the story that much more interesting and complex.
    • However, it does make it harder and harder for the readers to comprehend and remember which characters were which when they are following along in the story.
Kunti and Her Son. Indian Myth and Legend by D. A. Mackenzie
  • In this story, it most notably includes the addition of another important characters that is apparent within the Mahabharata.
    • Such important characters can cause a shift in the focus of the readers and allow multiple stories to occur simultaneously
Ganga and Devavrata. Source: Wikimedia)

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