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Preface-1-Introduction

 1. Introduction to Mahaabhaarat
 2. How and When was Mahaabhaarat Written?
 3. Why was Mahaabhaarat Written? 
 4. MBH Contents


Introduction to Mahaabhaarat

Mahaabhaarat is one of the two great epics of Hindu religion - Raamaayan and Mahaabhaarat.

First epic Raamaayan was written by Maharshi Vaalmeeki Jee, Aadi Kavi (first poet) in Sanskrit Language Shlok Poetry and is known as Vaalmeeki Raamaayan. One can read it in concise form in English Language prose at Vaalmeeki Raamaayan. Since it was the first poetry in Sanskrit Language, it is called Aadi Kaavya (the first poetry) also, and since Vaalmeeki Jee wrote it, so Vaalmeeki Jee is said to be as Aadi Kavi (the first poet).

Since it was written in Sanskrit Language, it was not accessible to all general people, that is why it was written in other languages also by that language poets and writers. Thus now it is available in many local languages for the public who can read that language. Goswaamee Tulasee Daas Jee wrote Raam Charit Maanas for North Indian people (UP, MP, Bihar etc regions) in Avadhee language. Still it is not accessible to all the people of these states, because many people can read that language but cannot understand it, so its Hindi translation is very popular. One can read it in concise form in English Language prose at Raamaayan.

Mahaabhaarat is another epic. It is the largest book of not only Hindu Religion but also of the world. It is not a fairy or a fictional tale, it is the history of five generations of a family of Bharat Vansh. It is indeed a great book, again written in Sanskrit Language which may be inaccessible to millions even in India. It contains all kinds of information necessary to know to a common man. It is very huge book, difficult even to handle (Gita Press has published it in six volumes), so it is given here in concise form in simple English Language for our non-Hindi readers.

When Ved Vyaas Jee (see Note on Ved Vyaas-1, and see Other Children for other details), had written his works, he taught them to his disciples - Shesh Jee entered the body of Sage Pail, Garud Jee entered the body of Sage Sumantu, Brahmaa Jee entered Vaishampaayan Jee and Indra entered Jaimini. Ved Vyaas made Pail responsible for the spreading of Rig Ved, Vaishampayan for Yajur Ved, Jaimini for Saam Ved and Sumantu for Atharv Ved. In addition, Soorya Dev was also made a propagator for Yajur Ved through Yaagyavalkya. Vaishampaayan was also given the responsibility of spreading the Mahaabhaarat epic. Sage Shuk was made responsible for teaching the Mahaabhaarat amongst Gandharv and Sage Naarad to do the same amongst Devtaa. Thus three people were responsible to spread Mahaabhaarat among three communities -
(1) Vaishampaayan Jee - He told it to Pareekshit's son Janamejaya
(1) Shuk Dev Jee (his son) - He was made responsible to tell MBH it to Gandharv
(3) Naarad Jee - He was made responsible to spread MBH among Devtaa

There are two versions given here.
(1) One whole version is based on "The Mahabharata" - the only translation available on web (translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli during 1883-1896),
(2) The other one is based on the "Mahabharata" written by Kamala Subramanyam (1988), and "Mahabharata" television serial produced by BR Chopra.

Content Page - For both versions, their content page is given. In the MBH Kathaa many names are linked, still many are not.
Index to Mahaabhaarat - is like a Book Index to facilitate users to find their desired materials.  
Religious Dictionary   - to find many Hindi terms, names of people with short structured description and geographical regions there.
Biographies - section gives very detailed description about the people information collected from many sources.

Much of the information given here is not at all necessary for a general reader, as he might be not interested in details, but it serves as not only the history rewritten but also as reference source for those who are interested in it. Although still much, much, much had to be omitted to bring it into this size.

It is composed by Maharshi Ved Vyaas Jee, and written by Ganesh Jee.
Why did he write it? 
How did he write it?.

 

 

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Created by Sushma Gupta on 05/27/04
Contact:  sushmajee@yahoo.com
Modified on 12/09/11