• Religion -> Eastern Religions and New Religions

• 0 Comment

What comparisons can be drawn between Mahabharata and other religious epics?

Arne Pagelsen

The Mahabharata is an ancient Hindu epic that recounts the story of the great Bharata dynasty. The epic is known for its complex plotlines, intricate characters, and philosophical ideas. When it comes to comparing the Mahabharata with other religious epics, there are a few points that can be drawn that make it stand apart.

The first point of comparison can be made with the famous religious epic of the ancient Greeks, the Iliad. Both epics revolve around a great war that resulted from a conflict between two powerful families. In the case of the Mahabharata, it is the Pandavas and the Kauravas, while in the Iliad, it is the Trojans and the Greeks. Both of these epics contain elements of mythology and divine intervention by the gods. However, the Mahabharata goes far beyond the Iliad in terms of its complexity, philosophical depth, and length. The Iliad is only 24 books long, while the Mahabharata has over 100,000 verses.

Another point of comparison can be made with the Bible. Both the Mahabharata and the Bible are religious epics that contain stories about significant historical events, battles, and divine interventions. However, the Mahabharata provides a much more detailed account of events than the Bible. Additionally, the characters in the Mahabharata are complex and dynamic, with their motivations and actions questioned and debated. This is not always the case in the Bible, where the characters are mostly unidimensional. Moreover, the Mahabharata contains philosophical ideas that are not present in the Bible, such as the concept of dharma and cosmic balance.

Finally, the Mahabharata can be compared to the Quran, which is the holy book of Islam. Both religious texts contain stories of great battles, divine interventions, and ethical teachings. However, the Mahabharata is primarily a secular text, while the Quran is a religious text that is directly linked to the faith of Islam. The Mahabharata deals with the question of what is right and wrong, without asserting a specific religious dogma. This is not the case with the Quran, which emphasizes religious practices as an integral part of human ethics.

In conclusion, the Mahabharata stands apart from other religious epics in terms of its complexity, philosophical depth, and secular nature. While it contains elements of mythology and divine intervention, it also explores complex philosophical ideas such as dharma, karma, and cosmic balance. It is through these unique features that the Mahabharata remains one of the most relevant and important literary works of all time.