Decoding The Metaphor Mahabharata

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"The Mahabharata is amongst India’s foremost spiritual texts. However, the stories of Mahabharata, are anything but spiritual. Violence, deceit, bloodshed, war, abduction, injustice, greed, lust … spills out, story after story. For thousands of years, these stories have been passed down. Generations of Indians profess to know them intimately. But do we really? What we think we know of the Mahabharata, is just the outer veil. Hidden below the veil, are keys which unlock the Mahabharata and reveal its true significance. Somewhere in time, these keys were forgotten, and then lost. All that passed on were the stories. With the discovery of the keys, this book shows how every name, every place, every episode, every boon, just everything, in the Mahabharata, is actually a metaphor! Decoded metaphors in this book, reveal the astonishing majesty and glory of the Mahabharata. Every familiar character now acquires a new signficance, and casts a new light on the underlying Vedantic philosophy - and the way of life of an enlightened people. Decoded thus, the Mahabharata is revealed to be what it truly is: a magnificent treatise on Vedanta. This is what makes Mahabharata, perhaps the greatest spiritual text, as relevant today as it was back then. And more needed today, than ever before. "

· The author retired as a senior officer with the Government of India. From an early age he has been interested in Hinduism, its philosophy and its many manifestations. He has been seeking answers for the past couple of decades and has been pursuing this project, which is a direct fallout of this quest for the last several years. Though the author researched numerous books and discussed with several people learned in the field, he believes it is only due to the divine blessings and grace of his Swami, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba that he has received answers and clarity - and the book has been possible.

The Mahabharata really needs no introduction in India; it is a part of our folklore. This is the itihasa (history) of two warring families related to each other. All the strengths and weaknesses of human nature valour and chivalry, cunning and deceit, daring and romance, lust and greed, righteousness and depravity-are woven into this intricate and fast-moving panoramic tale that has enthralled listeners for well over five millennia.

The Mahabharata, however, is no fable; it is the pinnacle of human thought and understanding. This remarkable poem, which appears mythical in character, is the verbal expression of the direct experience by the sage Vyasa, of the ultimate truth-of Lord Shiva, the Primordial Creator and of His illusion-the Dance of Shiva, His dance of death, the evolution of a new creation.

The stories are naturally metaphors; you cannot otherwise describe experience in words.

The word Mahabharata comprises the syllables 'maha', 'bha', 'ra' and 'ta'. 'Maha', of course, means great; 'bha', 'ra' and 'ta' stand for, respectively, bhava, 'rasa' and 'tala', the three attributes of dance. Mahabharata, the word, is thus an expression for the great dance-the Cosmic Dance of Shiva - and as personification, the Great Dancer, Lord Shiva Himself.

The Mahabharata is a treatise on the realisation of our own divinity-I am Brahman' (which realisation is the goal of human existence)-in this life itself, even as we go about performing our daily chores. To that end, it embodies all knowledge (cosmology, medicine, mathematics, economics, philosophy, management and more) and covers every aspect of human life.

The Mahabharata is the story of life. The purpose of life is to experience the divine mystery that is life: the majesty and glory expressed in the infinite forms of creation, our position in this cosmic order and the eventual realisation of our own divinity. Life is God's bounty, a gift that must be lived and enjoyed-with gratitude.

**Contents and Sample Pages**