Wikipedia Trails: From Varna to Nature Worship

As I've mentioned in some reading notes, the Indian caste system really interests me so this week I did some extra research on it. I started by following a link from the Mahabharata to Varna, the Sanscrit word meaning class. This led me to Purusha Sukta, the hymn where varna is first mentioned. However, many scholars like Max Muller believe that the part about the varnas was not apart of the original text. He believed that the Vedas is a form of nature worship which I might agree with concerning earlier Hindu texts, but definitely not the ones that we have been reading for this class.
Image: Pyramid of Indian Caste System, Wikimedia Commons

Reading Notes: Public Domain Mahabharata, Section D

This section held many different epic battles. I was disappointed to see Karna waste his celestial dart on someone who wasn't Arjuna. Their fight was interesting though and brought up many moral conflicts within the Mahabharata. A main theme of this text seems to be honor vs morality since these often are not the same thing.

There is so much death and mourning, and Duyrodhana remains a stubborn coward until his end. I do like that a couple of the Kaurava warriors die with dignity though. The Pandavas resort to tricks to kill Drona, but at least his soul ascends before his body is slayed. Bhishma's death is also unique, and it's heartwarming that people from both sides came to speak with him before he died. But why did they leave him lying on the battlefield for so long if they knew he wouldn't die for months?

I was also touched when Vysa reunited everyone, dead and alive, at the Ganges river for one night. I imagine a mystical watery world where everyone feasted, laughed, and sang the whole night.

The story with the mongoose also intrigued me and made me smile. I always loved the fable with Rikki Tikki Tavi, and I have owned ferrets as pets so any story including a weasel or other related animal is so entertaining to me. This mongoose tale is also interesting because it is seemingly random and unwarranted.

Bibliography: Public Domain Mahabharata, Web Source
Image: Yellow Mongoose, Wikimedia Commons

Reading Notes: Public Domain Mahabharata, Section C

This war just seems like the most childish thing ever. No one but Duryodhana wants it, and he only wants to slay the Pandavas out of petty jealousy. I am shocked that he is so prideful that he even ignores the direct warnings from Vishnu himself. Bhima and Karna probably has the worst end of this situation because both of them are compelled by honor to fight on the front lines despite their disillusion to the cause.

Karna's situation reminds me very much of a character from Game of Thrones, Theon Greyjoy. As a boy, his father waged a war against the Stark family and when his father lost, the Starks took young Theon captive. However, they raised him like a fellow son, never causing him harm. When he grew older and the Starks were engaged in a different war, he returned to his own kingdom to ask for aid in their cause only to find everyone, especially his father, rejecting him. The father forced him to make a choice: fight against the Starks(who have been kind to him) in this war or be completely disowned by his family(who treat him like garbage).

Earlier in the story it was nice to see Urvashi try to curse Arjuna with celibacy although I wish he had disliked it more. I also enjoyed reading The scene in which Dharma asks riddles at the river is also enjoyable. It's sad to see Draupadi victimized again, but in a way satisfying to see her get her gruesome revenge.

The Hindu caste system is also something that is very interesting to me, especially since it persisted in Indian culture for so long. I liked reading about history and the vedas from this perspective. I also loved that all this information came from one of my favorite characters, Hanuman!

Bibliography: Public Domain Mahabharata, Web Source
Image: Theon Greyjoy by Chris, Flickr