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Thread: The Mahabharata and the Abrahamic Bible

  1. #1
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    The Mahabharata and the Abrahamic Bible

    Vannakam,

    I'm not sure if this is the proper place to put this, it might be better in the abrahamic religions section, but I would like to say that it is my belief the mahabharata and the bible are similar documents, albeit in both obvious and subtle manners.

    More obviously, they are both itihasas and practical books. The various philosophical and ritualistic discourses in the mahabharata serve as the practical, and books such as the book of numbers and leviticus or various other non-pentateuchal books have similar rituals and practices.

    They both tell a larger story, with philosophy interspersed, the pentateuch is the history of the israelites, the synoptic gospels the history of Jesus christ.
    the mahabharata the history of the race of Kuru

    it could be said that in fact that the entire canon of Judaism/Christianity bear similarity to the Hindu collection albeit if only at the face value that they are both a collection of a variety of works, just the bible has been collected into one volume.

    both involve creation stories, various stories of the beginning times and progress through the various ages, although I don't recall a flood in the Mahabharata.

    The only big difference I find between the two is the narrative of the Mahabharata being one and the Bible being many.

    I just find this interesting, if anyone has any insights, feel free to share.

    Namaste

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    Re: The Mahabharata and the Abrahamic Bible

    A young child may see two books laying on a table and think that these are just two books, without being able to understand what is written in it. But the father, who is able to read, knows that one book has the bedtime stories for the child and the other book is his manual on medicine. Only someone who has limited information about either will think that both are similar.

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    Re: The Mahabharata and the Abrahamic Bible

    that is a tad harsh, but point taken,

    Out of curiosity, have you read the abrahamic bible?

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    Re: The Mahabharata and the Abrahamic Bible

    Namaste Eric,

    First off Eric, thanks to you for giving me a quick opportunity of allowing me consider some things that others could consider elementary but allowed my questioning mind a chance to articulate these things, even if at the elemenatary level. I think at a extremely high level the the mahabharata and the bible could be considered as similar documents, but not in a subtle manner. I do not see methods offered in the "bible", as a friend on this forum recently explained, the difference between saguna and nirguna worship/recognition are absent, and through the mahabharata, I do not fear God. I only love God. In short, with a few exceptions such as the Sermon on the Mount, I do not see the similarities.
    Peace,
    Rich



    Quote Originally Posted by Eric11235 View Post
    Vannakam,

    I'm not sure if this is the proper place to put this, it might be better in the abrahamic religions section, but I would like to say that it is my belief the mahabharata and the bible are similar documents, albeit in both obvious and subtle manners.

    More obviously, they are both itihasas and practical books. The various philosophical and ritualistic discourses in the mahabharata serve as the practical, and books such as the book of numbers and leviticus or various other non-pentateuchal books have similar rituals and practices.

    They both tell a larger story, with philosophy interspersed, the pentateuch is the history of the israelites, the synoptic gospels the history of Jesus christ.
    the mahabharata the history of the race of Kuru

    it could be said that in fact that the entire canon of Judaism/Christianity bear similarity to the Hindu collection albeit if only at the face value that they are both a collection of a variety of works, just the bible has been collected into one volume.

    both involve creation stories, various stories of the beginning times and progress through the various ages, although I don't recall a flood in the Mahabharata.

    The only big difference I find between the two is the narrative of the Mahabharata being one and the Bible being many.

    I just find this interesting, if anyone has any insights, feel free to share.

    Namaste

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    Re: The Mahabharata and the Abrahamic Bible

    hari o
    ~~~~~~

    namasté

    Quote Originally Posted by Sahasranama View Post
    A young child may see two books laying on a table and think that these are just two books, without being able to understand what is written in it. But the father, who is able to read, knows that one book has the bedtime stories for the child and the other book is his manual on medicine.
    I think your assessment is reasonable. what is so attractive ( to me) about the mahābhārata is its depth and breath.

    "whatever is here ( in the mahābhārata) is found elsewhere. But whatever is not here (in the mahābhārata) is nowhere else."

    I found no end to its knowledge.


    praṇām
    यतसà¥à¤¤à¥à¤µà¤‚ शिवसमोऽसि
    yatastvaṠśivasamo'si
    because you are identical with śiva

    _

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    Re: The Mahabharata and the Abrahamic Bible

    I was thinking about that too.

    There's is a quote in the skanda purana which says, the whole of the vedas have 3 meanings (yAska names them as adhiyAjnika, adhidaivaka, adhyAtmika), the mahAbhArata has 10 meanings and the vishnu sahasranAma (which is included in the mahAbhArata) has a hundred meanings (per name).
    Last edited by Sahasranama; 06 May 2011 at 09:42 PM.

  7. #7

    Re: The Mahabharata and the Abrahamic Bible

    Quote Originally Posted by Eric11235 View Post
    Vannakam,

    I'm not sure if this is the proper place to put this, it might be better in the abrahamic religions section, but I would like to say that it is my belief the mahabharata and the bible are similar documents, albeit in both obvious and subtle manners.

    More obviously, they are both itihasas and practical books. The various philosophical and ritualistic discourses in the mahabharata serve as the practical, and books such as the book of numbers and leviticus or various other non-pentateuchal books have similar rituals and practices.

    They both tell a larger story, with philosophy interspersed, the pentateuch is the history of the israelites, the synoptic gospels the history of Jesus christ.
    the mahabharata the history of the race of Kuru

    it could be said that in fact that the entire canon of Judaism/Christianity bear similarity to the Hindu collection albeit if only at the face value that they are both a collection of a variety of works, just the bible has been collected into one volume.

    both involve creation stories, various stories of the beginning times and progress through the various ages, although I don't recall a flood in the Mahabharata.

    The only big difference I find between the two is the narrative of the Mahabharata being one and the Bible being many.

    I just find this interesting, if anyone has any insights, feel free to share.

    Namaste
    Just when I thought it couldnt get any more worse. Seems like its sunk to the lowest point...



    This is the Maha Arabia story, ah ha, Maha Arabia story, God took shape in the human form in the middle of the Arabian desert, Dharma always prevails in this land of noble natured Semitic bandits, descendants of Prophets who can trace their lineage long back, not thieves and crooks who raid caravans but of high birth they certainly are, not obsessed with material things and not possessive of their treasures and womenfolk out of their own insecurities but manly and virile they are known to be, Maha Arabia story

    God decided to teach all of humanity and creatures of earth by selecting his tale to unfold in the lands which are the epitome of human character and civilization, the Arabian Gulf.

    Maha Arabia, oh ho, Maha Arabia, Maha Arabia! home of men with high morality and experts in the sciences of self-realization, control and great minds that have uncovered metaphysical secrets through countless generations. They are far removed from being uncivilized quarrelsome tribes of raiders and looters.

  8. #8

    Re: The Mahabharata and the Abrahamic Bible

    Quote Originally Posted by Friend from the West View Post
    I think at a extremely high level the the mahabharata and the bible could be considered as similar documents, but not in a subtle manner. I do not see methods offered in the "bible", as a friend on this forum recently explained, the difference between saguna and nirguna worship/recognition are absent, and through the mahabharata, I do not fear God. I only love God. In short, with a few exceptions such as the Sermon on the Mount, I do not see the similarities.
    Peace,
    Rich
    "Through the Mahabharata, I do not fear God"

    Fear of your Abrahamic deity

    is the fear of something

    - wild
    - reckless
    - torturous
    - cruel
    - evil
    - psychotic

    I think Richard Dawkins very beautifully put it.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9PBbmNwBdY

    Fearing the Abrahamic deity is for the cowardly and weak and doing so is infidelity to God.
    Last edited by Kumar_Das; 07 May 2011 at 03:45 AM.

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    Re: The Mahabharata and the Abrahamic Bible

    Namaste to all,
    Thanks but I do not have a Abrahamic deity. As far as Richard Dawkins, there are greater minds on this very forum than his, from folks who aren't making millions of dollars taking advantage of people's weaknesses. What is his relevance within the Sanatana Dharma anyhow?

    I have gained much from people on this forum with both great knowledge and with the wisdom and compassion to make new folks like myself want to stick around and learn from them, despite the degree of hubris that is found here time to time.

    Peace.
    Rich

  10. #10

    Re: The Mahabharata and the Abrahamic Bible

    Well if you are genuinely interested in being a Hindu, then I am happy for you. And best regards in your spiritual endeavour.

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