Originally posted by: proteeti
Mahabharata, as emphasized by Vyasa, was an extraordinary book containing the teachings of the 4 Veda and the 18(?) Upa-vedas compiled in an easy-to-understand and entertaining manner.
I once read an article which said ke in the start of Kali yuga, the Brahmans were lost in their ego and denied Shudras and women the right to study or even listen to the Vedas!
So, Veda Vyasa decided that instead of fighting pointlessly with those Brahmans, he would write such a book, which will extend the knowledge of the 4 Vedas, and more, to those oppressed and suppressed by the conservative Brahmanical society. 😊
Mahabharata is Itihaas which literally translates into 'I have witnessed it'. The book is all that life is. It is very complex and there are no easy answers to the questions that it raises.
The Bhagavadagita, which is a part of Mahabharata, is the crisp juice of all the Vedas and Upanishadas.
Brahmanical society actually became very oppressive especially for women and shudras. To think that a Brahmin wrote it and criticized the norms established by a handful of his own clan is commendable👏
All the social reformers, from Rammohan Roy to Dayanand Saraswati to Swami Vivekananda, condemned caste system and acknowledged that it is against the ethos of the Vedas (which were written by the brahmins but later on distorted by some other brahmins for power).
Initially the caste system was based on one's karma or job and wasn't oppressive but later on it became rigid and limiting.
I really want to see the day where we stop associating ourselves with our caste. That would be the real tribute to this great civilization and it's teachings.
Hare Krishna!
Anupamaa
CID
