Study the two epics: Ramayana and Mahabharata 1. What are the morals or the ethi
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Question
Study the two epics: Ramayana and Mahabharata 1. What are the morals or the ethical points that these epics are trying to convey to us? 2. Do you see modern or current equivalents reflected in these epics? 3. Sum up the plots of the Ramayana and Mahabharata: That is, who are the main characters? What actions do they take? What are the outcomes of the characters adventures? 4. Lord Krishna: Do you see parallel between him and the Christian Jesus? 5. The Puranas: Compare and contrast the Bhagavad-Gita with the Bhagavata Purana. In other words, how is Lord Krishna portrayed in both these Hindu scriptures.
Explanation / Answer
Study the two epics: Ramayana and Mahabharata
1. What are the morals or the ethical points that these epics are trying to convey to us?
Ramayana: It teaches us tell truth, don’t deviate from promise made. Loyalty, protecting week and punishing criminals are some of the morals we learn from Ramayana. One wife, one word and one arrow are the morals in the great epic Ramayana.
Mahabharata: Mahabharata teaches us observing dharma always wins over adharma (evil). Kauravas all adharma (evil ways) to kill Pandavas who follows dharma (justice)and in the end Pandavas won over Kauravas in the war with the help of Krishna the incarnation of Great Godhead Vishnu.
2. Do you see modern or current equivalents reflected in these epics?
Yes, many episodes in Ramayana and Mahabharata reflects in our day to day life.
In Ramayana Kaikeyi without verifying truth takes action based on her maid servant suggestion and asks Rama to hand over power to his son and go to forest. But Kaikeyi son punishes her for this and her husband also die due to this tension. We also see such incidents in present day life. Rama makes friendship with Hanuman who helps Rama in searching Sita and winning over Ravana. In present day life also good friends always useful and comes to help in difficult periods.
Because of dispute between two brother families the great war Kurukshetra took place in which millions of people were killed. Similar things also common in present day life. Kuaravas insulted wife of Pandavas by trying to make her naked in full assembly. This has led to war and Kauravas lost their lives. So in present day also insulting others lead to such fights and Mahabharata teaches us not to do such things.
3. Sum up the plots of the Ramayana and Mahabharata: That is, who are the main characters? What actions do they take? What are the outcomes of the characters adventures?
Sum up of Ramayana: Good always wins over bad. Always tell truth and follow righteous path. Good Character Rama wins over bad character Ravana. The main characters in Ramayana were Rama, Sita,Laxmana and Hanuman on good side and Ravana and his borthers on bad side. The adamant and bad headed Ravana steals wife of Rama and ultimate loss his life in the war with Rama. Good character of Rama helps him to kill bad character Ravana.
Sum up of Mahabharata: Insulting of wife of Pandavasin the King Assembly led to war and resulted in killing of all Kauravas. The main characters in this epic are Dharmaraj, Bheem, Arjun on good side and Duryodahn, his 99 borthers and Shakuni on bad side. In the final, in Kuruksheta war all Kauravas were killed by Pandavas with the help of Krisha. This war is a example good winning over bad.
4. Lord Krishna: Do you see parallel between him and the Christian Jesus?
Yes, Krishna throughout his life stood and helped week and needy people like Jesus in Christianity fought for justice.
5. The Puranas: Compare and contrast the Bhagavad-Gita with the Bhagavata Purana. In other words, how is Lord Krishna portrayed in both these Hindu scriptures.
Bhagavat Gita: It is a main religious book of Hindus in which teachings of GodHead Krishna to Arjun during the war described in the book. The Teachings contains birth and death, our duty, following in right path, Universe and purpose of our life. We can get inspiration from it for many present day life incidents happening.
Bhagavata Purana: It teaches many incarnations of GodHead Vishnu in various forms to kill demons and establish peace in the Universe. Krihsna is also one of the incarnation of Vishnu to kill bad people (Kauravas) and establish peace in the lives of people. The Srimad Bhagavatam is one of the eighteen puranas, and is therefore, also known as the Bhagavata Purana. It is considered to be the essence of all the Vedas. The Vedas are compared to a desire tree because all kinds of knowledge that one may desire, are available in them. But Srimad Bhagavatam is the ripened fruit of that desire tree because it is giving the highest knowledge of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the reciprocation of loving exchanges between Him and His devotees.