Yes. Not only is it good to keep the Mahabharata at home, but it is advised to keep the book at home due to the sacredness and auspiciousness it brings. Veda Vyasa, the great sage who wrote the master text himself underlines that he has “collected the soul of the Vedas, Puranas, ancient laws, ideas on education, details of tirthas, etc” in this work. Even the Upanishadic sages treat Itihasa Purana (Ramayana and Mahabharata) as the “Pancham Veda” (Fifth Veda). Thus, in a way the Mahabharata is an amalgamation of the supreme ancient knowledge which is the foundation of Indian culture. Let us have a closer look at this mighty text and its contents to understand why one should bring a Mahabharata book home.

The Mahabharata is a vital source of knowledge and insight on the evolution of the Hindu faith, particularly between 400 BCE and 200 BCE. The great epic is considered by many Hindus as both a historical piece of literature, narrating past events in the itihasa genre, but also as reference text about dharma or Hindu moral law. Along with the major and minor storylines narrated in the Mahabharata, as well as the grand battles, it also includes philosophical discourse and devotional material, including the Purusartha, which is known as the four goals of life. The Mahabharata is so significant in Indian tradition and Hinduism that it is sometimes considered the fifth Veda.

Mahabharata is one of the greatest epics of India, which has captivated the hearts of its people for several millennia. Whether it is literature –both Sanskrit and vernacular- arts, crafts, paintings, music, dance and drama, or temple motifs, no aspect of Indian culture has escaped the stamp of their influence. It is believed, according to studies on preserved Hindu oral traditions that the great war took place during 3139 B.C. Modern historians, however, have attributed a much later date, 1424 B.C or 950 B.C. Interpreted on the mundane plane, the Mahabharata deals with the realistic account of a fierce fratricidal war of annihilation with its interest centred on the epic characters. The meaning on the ethical plane views the Mahabharata war as a conflict between the principles of dharma and adharma, between good and evil, between justice and injustice, in which the war ends in the victory of dharma.