tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post2986107599282639831..comments2024-03-27T14:57:37.031+05:30Comments on Jabberwock: Bhima’s story, thoughts on Yudhisthira, and the fluidity of mythsJabberwockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10210195396120573794noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-62418320830609733692016-08-01T05:26:56.283+05:302016-08-01T05:26:56.283+05:30Hello Jabberwock,
I have started watching a fascin...Hello Jabberwock,<br />I have started watching a fascinating show on Netflix called Dharmakshetra (it is in hindi and apparently was recently telecast on an Indian channel called Epic?). It follows the workings of a tribunal headed by Lord Chitragupta (I think he is also called Yamraj) in Heaven following the Mahabharata war. Each character in the war is brought to the court and accused of various war crimes, and has to justify his/her actions. It is wonderful how they have some interesting material on Yudhisthir (one of the most interesting characters to me) (he's shown to have lusted for or being in love with Draupadi before she became his brother's wife, and have used various tactics to ensure she spent the most time with him during their early matrimonial years), Sahdev (shown to be very interesting and admirable, and apparently the most brilliant of all brothers), Eklavya and a wonderful contrast between him and Karna, an interesting commentary on Karna by Krishna which, while full of praise, addresses his grey areas like his deep-rooted insecurities, his obsession with being seen as a higher-caste, his use of archery to prove himself to be a member of the upper caste instead of a pure love for the art form (that Eklavya has), etc. I highly recommend it to someone like you who seems well versed in modern interpretations of the tale, and very interested in it. <br />Cheers,<br />SevNJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02676333722319085849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-32000527788563213462008-12-01T08:32:00.000+05:302008-12-01T08:32:00.000+05:30There is another work of fiction in Malayalam base...There is another work of fiction in Malayalam based on the Mahabharatha, called "Ini Njaan Uranagatte" (And now let me sleep) by PK Balakrishnan.<BR/><BR/>Its a retelling of the story from Draupadi's perspective. Its been quite some time since I read it, but I believe it is set in the night after the battle, when Ashwathama massacres the Pandava children.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-67394584326705829652008-10-28T15:40:00.000+05:302008-10-28T15:40:00.000+05:30I've been following Panicker's retelling of Randam...I've been following Panicker's retelling of Randamoozham and it occurred to me that MT's book may have already been translated into English. I find that Macmillan India <A HREF="http://www.bookfinder.com/dir/i/Second_Turn-Randamoozham/0333923243/" REL="nofollow">published</A> one by P.K. Ravindranath in 1997, although as far as I can tell, it appears to be out of print. Have you seen or read it?Fëanorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17101113676992105240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-44462926577087283552008-09-29T13:14:00.000+05:302008-09-29T13:14:00.000+05:30thx for sharing Bhimsen link,http://vinaykrishna.b...thx for sharing Bhimsen link,<BR/>http://vinaykrishna.blogspot.com/2008/09/storytelling.html<BR/>:-)Vinay Krishnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06039061336691860352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-46599461070484722392008-09-21T09:13:00.000+05:302008-09-21T09:13:00.000+05:30Ajay: I've read most of it, but in the Hindi trans...Ajay: I've read most of it, but in the Hindi translation (it's about the only full-length book I've read in Hindi) - would like to get my hands on the English one, though of course the quality of translation is always a factor.<BR/><BR/>Like I indicated in the post though, I don't think there's much more that can be done with Karna - he just has too much appeal as a character, the original text has at least five or six really powerful and dramatic episodes built around him (more dramatic than for any other character, I'd say) and he's been deeply analysed in academic studies. At this point I'd be much more interested in a thoughtful perspective-study of Bhima or Yudhisthira or several other characters.Jabberwockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10210195396120573794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-85602552442051490032008-09-21T04:37:00.000+05:302008-09-21T04:37:00.000+05:30Have you read "Mrityunjaya"? It's the Mahabharata ...Have you read "Mrityunjaya"? It's the Mahabharata from Karna's perspective. It's originally in Marathi though there's an English translation available. I've heard Marathi-reading friends recommend it highly, but I haven't had a chance to read the it yet.<BR/><BR/>The English version is called "Mrityunjaya - The Death of Karna".Ajayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04768897856311669412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-60594001876018635432008-09-19T07:23:00.000+05:302008-09-19T07:23:00.000+05:30Oh! I meant part of the beauty lies in the concise...Oh! I meant part of the beauty lies in the conciseness and pace. The plot, how amazing is that!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-25847278800401268302008-09-19T07:21:00.000+05:302008-09-19T07:21:00.000+05:30??!Yes, I am quite a fan of the foundation series ...??!<BR/><BR/>Yes, I am quite a fan of the foundation series too. I read it a long awhile ago, having borrowed it from my brother's friend - and I think I should like to revisit it soon. I don’t remember much of the richness - surely it was a little less when we find that complete languages were invented and more(as in LOTR) or generations are described down to each individual and dense philosophies are discussed and compared (as in the Mahabharata). But I think the beauty of the Foundation trilogy lies in it's pace and conciseness. What do you think about the books that followed the trilogy? I believe Asimov didn’t really want to write them, but was made an offer he couldn’t refuse. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-8451588764360228902008-09-17T18:56:00.000+05:302008-09-17T18:56:00.000+05:30Can anyone point me to a concise intro to Tatwamas...Can anyone point me to a concise intro to Tatwamasi?<BR/><BR/>Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-75532227432572914372008-09-17T16:25:00.000+05:302008-09-17T16:25:00.000+05:30Does Tatwamasi have to do with the Mahabharata?IMH...<I>Does Tatwamasi have to do with the Mahabharata?</I><BR/><BR><BR><BR/>IMHO TATWAMASI is the definitive text book on Indian Philosophy - a very contemporary book on a subject as old as the human civilization. <BR/><BR><BR><BR/>Azhikode wrote the book in Malayalam - making the book an immense gift to the language, but shutting out anyone who does not follow Malayalam. <BR/><BR><BR><BR/>IIWAD - (If I were a Dictator) - I would have made TATWAMASI a must read for every goddamn citizen of this bloody country.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-28923188565873964472008-09-17T13:24:00.000+05:302008-09-17T13:24:00.000+05:30Neha/Jabberwock:The Foundation series is quite as ...Neha/Jabberwock:<BR/>The Foundation series is quite as rich as the other two - but you have to include all the books in that setting, ie, starting with "I, Robot", through the Olivaw 'detective' books, and ending with Foundation and Earth.<BR/><BR/>Jai, a must-read. If only for the delight over pondering the possibility of entire sentences being reduced to an eyebrow twitch (Second Foundationeers)??!https://www.blogger.com/profile/03791417518093723373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-11600508654012817442008-09-17T10:29:00.000+05:302008-09-17T10:29:00.000+05:30Neha: haven't read it, sadly. Most of my sci-fi re...Neha: haven't read it, sadly. Most of my sci-fi reading has been restricted to short stories (including dozens by Asimov) - with only a few novels/series thrown in here and there.Jabberwockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10210195396120573794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-72661634766047974462008-09-17T09:57:00.000+05:302008-09-17T09:57:00.000+05:30Jai,Curious about your silence on the Foundation s...Jai,<BR/><BR/>Curious about your silence on the Foundation series. I guess it is not as rich and dense as the Lord of the Rings or the Mahabharat, but even so - never even a mention?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-17422602060379810482008-09-17T09:41:00.000+05:302008-09-17T09:41:00.000+05:30Also, the illegitimacy of the Pandava births as we...<I>Also, the illegitimacy of the Pandava births as well as those of Dritharashtra and Pandu were secrets guarded by Kunti and Bheeshma respectively.</I><BR/><BR/>I don't think the Pandavas' birth was a secret - Duryodhana explicitly brings up the fact that the Pandavas weren't Pandu's sons and uses it to mock them/question their rights. And other characters repeatedly extol the valour of Arjuna/Bhima by referring to them as the sons of Indra/Vayu, though sadly hardly anyone does the same for poor Nakula and Sahadeva!Jabberwockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10210195396120573794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-23912322396790552222008-09-17T09:37:00.000+05:302008-09-17T09:37:00.000+05:30Shrikanth: the idea that Vidura fathered Yudhisthi...Shrikanth: the idea that Vidura fathered Yudhisthira (possibly even all five Pandavas) is a widely disseminated theory in academic literature on the Mahabharata - especially the literature that holds that the core story of the Mahabharata was based on an actual historical event (minus any supernatural elements) that took place around 3000 years ago. This reading would of course require that the fantasy elements of the story be jettisoned altogether or seen as metaphors for more mundane happenings. In this context, Vidura was widely regarded as an embodiment of Dharma (the quality, not the God) and he shared a special closeness with Yudhisthira throughout the epic, so "son of Dharma" can have more than one implication. <BR/><BR/>If you keep in mind that the first and second "drafts" of the epic, called <I>Jaya</I> and <I>Bharata</I> respectively, were much shorter than the current version and that the ostentatiously divine elements were later additions, it's quite feasible. The idea of Vidura stepping in to father Kunti's children because his brother Pandu was impotent/dead would not be different in any significant way from Vyasa fathering Ambika and Ambalika's children after the death of Vichitraveerya.<BR/><BR/>About who is or is no worthy of being crowned king: that's a problematic question throughout the epic. After Bheeshma renounces his rights to the throne and Chitrangada/Vichitraveerya die young, none of the subsequent generations of princes can be considered direct descendants of the Kuru line in the strictest sense - the circumstances of all the births that follow are much too murky for that. In a way, they're all imposters, squabbling over a kingdom that rightfully belongs to none of them!Jabberwockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10210195396120573794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-47429538871828211622008-09-17T09:21:00.000+05:302008-09-17T09:21:00.000+05:30Also, the illegitimacy of the Pandava births as we...Also, the illegitimacy of the Pandava births as well as those of Dritharashtra and Pandu were secrets guarded by Kunti and Bheeshma respectively. <BR/>It is rather Hitchcockian...the readers of the epic know these facts but the characters are unaware of them.shrikanthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03898755392584822638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-16689476211488035722008-09-17T09:13:00.000+05:302008-09-17T09:13:00.000+05:30Never heard of this theory that Yudhishtira was in...Never heard of this theory that Yudhishtira was infact the son of Vidura!<BR/><BR/>I'm not sure the actual epic hints at that possibility. Or does it?<BR/>But yes, the issue of whether illegitimate children, however capable, should be throned kings, is a major theme in the epic. Even the BR Chopra version did raise this point in some episodes.shrikanthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03898755392584822638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-68678272470707220892008-09-17T08:56:00.000+05:302008-09-17T08:56:00.000+05:30You toh are looking for the litcrit section of Mah...<I>You toh are looking for the litcrit section of Mahabharat. That section will never be published on TV...</I><BR/><BR/>Anon: well, I've said as much in the post, haven't I? <BR/><BR/><I>...so you are relegated to perusing these MT/Panicker types</I><BR/><BR/>Um, no. I've been "perusing" different versions of the Mahabharata since long before the Ekta soap (and even before the B R Chopra version for that matter; my memory reaches back to the Elder Days, as Elrond would say). And the bulk of this post at any rate was about the Randaamoozham and other perspective versions, not <I>Kahaani...</I>.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the messageboard tip - should check out those sites.Jabberwockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10210195396120573794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-59947201589897760822008-09-17T03:12:00.000+05:302008-09-17T03:12:00.000+05:30kahaani's scenes of pandu, dridarashtra and vidura...kahaani's scenes of pandu, dridarashtra and vidura are comical...in the least!<BR/>love ur analysis of the mahabharata!buddyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09984350813979977524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-72329144940725220682008-09-16T21:17:00.000+05:302008-09-16T21:17:00.000+05:30Dude, why so much handwringing about Kahaani ? It ...Dude, why so much handwringing about Kahaani ? It is a piece of trash, just say so bluntly. That woman is in the business of entertaining housewives with mahabharat gossip. The show therefore is the Page 3 of Mahabharat. Whether she makes them wear greco-roman robes or manish malhotra suits or go commando is beside the point. The actors are flexing their pecs and giving the housewives much needed orgasms before their pudgy husbands come home tired from the hourlong commute to Noida. You otoh are looking for the litcrit section of Mahabharat. That section will never be published on TV for lack of viewers with such developed faculties, so you are relegated to perusing these MT/Panicker types. Please don't club them with the Kahaani bitch by talking about them in the same column, it is a disservice to all parties concerned. Have you ever been to the messageboards for indian soaps ? Do visit, it is a sheer delight. A whole new world of young housewives drooling over the handsome actors of Kahaani, their abs and biceps, and off-screen girlfriend(s) and ex's. Nobody there is paying any attention to the actual plot. They are Ekta's bread & butter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-21833068643978658122008-09-16T21:09:00.000+05:302008-09-16T21:09:00.000+05:30True, the rewriting could be a pain. And I was goi...True, the rewriting could be a pain. And I was going by what I vaguely remember of <I>UT</I>, too (I couldn't take all the endless notes in the <I>History</I> series) - about how he couldn't properly remember his time as a Maiar <I>before</I> the Ainur came to ME. Not remembering Valinor seems odd, because through the books there are many references to the times in the 'West', and even the Elves seem to remember them.??!https://www.blogger.com/profile/03791417518093723373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-10980422196041320052008-09-16T20:55:00.000+05:302008-09-16T20:55:00.000+05:30??! : My note on Gandalf was based on something I...??! : My note on Gandalf was based on something I read in either <I>Unfinished Tales</I> or one of the History of Middle-Earth books (will retrieve and quote it as soon as I can) that distinctly implied Gandalf's confusion and inability to properly remember his life as a Maia during the ancient days. Of course, Tolkien did continually rewrite/alter details in his mythological back-stories - maybe that's where the confusion lies.Jabberwockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10210195396120573794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-20235057606101227242008-09-16T20:50:00.000+05:302008-09-16T20:50:00.000+05:30Anon: nothing silly about Prem's commentaries or a...Anon: nothing silly about Prem's commentaries or analyses - they're very intelligent. Unless you meant "silly cricket matches", in which case I'd be half-inclined to agree!<BR/><BR/>Does <I>Tatwamasi</I> have to do with the Mahabharata?<BR/><BR/>katinka: what movie do you mean? Not the Dara Singh-Pradeep Kumar one surely?Jabberwockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10210195396120573794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-91448469984193601402008-09-16T20:47:00.000+05:302008-09-16T20:47:00.000+05:30Minor point:Gandalf wasn't an incarnation of Olori...Minor point:<BR/>Gandalf wasn't an incarnation of Olorin - he <I>was</I> Olorin. <BR/><BR/>His reduced powers were not because he was mortal, but because he (and the other four Wizards sent to Middle-Earth) was restrained from using all his powers under the strictures of the Valar.<BR/><BR/>End of pedanticity.??!https://www.blogger.com/profile/03791417518093723373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-86424058955451953912008-09-16T20:45:00.000+05:302008-09-16T20:45:00.000+05:30I sure thought Yudhisthira was fascinating in the ...I sure thought Yudhisthira was fascinating in the movie - so I agree: more in depth perspective on him would be interesting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com