What Are the Hindu Epics?

What Are the Hindu Epics,

To answer these questions, please first remember that we are almost always going to see a conflict on the level of form/appearance between what religion and science tell us. For the Hindu (Sanatana Dharma) tradition, these stories really happened at specific times in the past – both Rama and Krishna really lived and these epic stories are more or less accurate accounts of what happened, with some creative license in order to make it into a juicier tale! Science, on the other hand, will generally only accept what there is hard evidence for, and nothing less. For them, we have no idea really if Rama and Krishna even really lived, let alone did all of the things in the Epics, though there is some evidence that they lived at least. When it comes to mythology, though, which is essentially what we’re talking about here, it really doesn’t matter if there’s one iota of hard, material evidence for the story. It’s the deeper lessons that matter. Consider this quote from Yogi Berra:

“Just because it never happened doesn’t mean it ain’t true.”

Actually, don’t think Yogi Berra really said that – but that don’t mean it ain’t true! These things all resonate on a far deeper level than the part of us that wants to know if they are true. But if you still want to know that, check out the Wikipedia articles!

Why Are the Epics Important?

The epics are important because they give us a really good idea of what life in ancient India was like, and the cultural milieu (environment) from which arose the teachings of yoga that we now know and love. As I said before, they were really eye and heart-opening reads for me when I was first getting into yoga, and they helped to inform my practice at a much deeper level. Now I saw myself as heir to this truly brilliant tradition that contained these fantastic moral-spiritual tales to drive home deeper lessons of life. Lessons of Karma and Bhakti Yoga – love, devotion, surrender, dharmic-living (righteousness), etc., to inspire us on the spiritual path.

What was also fascinating to me was to understand that in this tradition, Hanuman is viewed as an incarnation of Shiva. Why is this important? Well, as we will see, Shiva is understood to be the gifter of the traditions of Tantra and Hatha Yoga to humanity. So when we practice yoga today, there is a sense in which we really do want to be aware of who Shiva and Hanuman are, because awareness of them will at the very least help to inform our yoga practice, right? Also, what this story is teaching us, too, is that even the gods serve one another. In this case, Shiva (as Hanuman), serves Vishnu (Rama) and Lakshmi (Sita). This is to help us get beyond sectarian differences.

This was all brought home to me even more as I early on connected with two teachers who were said to be incarnations of Hanuman – Neem Karoli Baba, and Dhyanyogi Madhusudhandasji. In this tradition, it is indeed possible for a great teacher to be an Avatar (incarnation) of a great being from the past, like Hanuman, Krishna, Rama, Sita, Shiva…But more on this in the advanced course!

What Are Some of the Essential Teachings of these Works?

Actually, I won’t say much here because a lot of the teachings from these texts will come in later sections (in the sections on the Bhagavad Gita, and the Mythology of Yoga), and there’s so much that could be shared. I will say this right now, though: For me, it’s all about the triumph of good over evil. It’s one reason why we love Hollywood films — because there’s almost always a happy ending. The deeper meaning is this: No one and nothing is ever lost. There is no idea of eternal hell or damnation in Hinduism. Ultimately, we all get to go home ( or OM, if you prefer : ). We might be lost for a long time – lifetimes even – yet in the end, the demons (inside of us) will be vanquished, and Cosmic Order (Dharma) restored. Consider the words of Gandhi:

“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it–always.”

It might also be helpful to keep in mind when we’re reading epic tales like these – whether Hindu, Homer, or Hobbit J — that we ourselves are the hero of the story. The story is our journey.

Their quest is our Quest!

QuestEssential Lessons of this Session

~ The Mahabharata and the Ramayana are the two great Hindu Epics – ancient compendiums of legend, lore, law, and love that are windows into the soul of India and its greatest gift to humanity, the yoga tradition.

~ The ancient, original name for Hinduism is “Sanatana Dharma,” meaning something like “Eternal Righteousness,” or “Universal Religion.” The Epics reflect this deep wisdom about life and humanity’s place in the Cosmos, as well as how to live righteously in the world, whether one is a renunciate (yogi) or a householder (with family).

~ The Mahabharata essentially relates the epic struggle and eventual war between two sides of the same family, the Pandavas and the Kauravas. The greatest gem of the Mahabharata is the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna’s counsel to Arjuna in time of war, in which Krishna divulges the deeper and secret teachings of yoga to his eager and faithful student.

~ The Ramayana essentially relates the story of how Rama saves his wife and queen, Sita, from the hands of the demon king, Ravanna, enlisting the help of Hanuman and his monkey army to do so. In the process, the story teaches the true meaning of Bhakti, the yoga of love and devotion.

Quest Thyself

1) Hanuman is often called “the monkey god,” but who was he really?

2) In the Ramayana, __________ is abducted by the demon king, Ravanna. Her husband ________ enlists the help of ___________ to get her back.

3) The most well-known and studied section of the Mahabharata is called _______________ . Why?

4) True or False: Yogi Berra once said, “Just because it never happened, doesn’t mean it ain’t true!”

5)In your own words, why should we care about mythological stories – aren’t they just, well, myths?

6) Nilakantha in his commentary on the Mahabharata says:

“The interpretation of all of the Vedas is to be found in the Mahabharata; the interpretation, however, of the Mahabharata is to be found in the Gita in its entirety. No wonder she is considered as embodiment of all knowledge.”

What does this mean to you?