chatanga1

Having watched Mahabharat for a 2nd time, I woould like to start a topic on its characters and what characteristics they represented.
To me having watched this again, it stands out that there is more than a storyline to be followed. There is a very good reason why this story is an epic, which is also mentioned in Guru Granth Sahib JI, and also Sri Dasme Patshah's Granth as well.

Ok, I'm going to start with "Bhishma".
 
The Great patriarch of the family. Bhishma took 2 vows in his life.
1. To remain celibate
2. to be loyal to the throne of Hastinapur.
 
For the ceilbacy vow, it was never an issue within Bhishma's own mind, until his potential marraige interfered with his father's desire to marry a fisherman's daughter. Then Bhishma took this celibacy to open the way for his father's marriage. This vow of celibacy he took on the spur of the moment and without consulting his own parents. His mother "Ganga" later chides him several times, over this when he comes to her for guidance.
 
Taking a vow of celibacy for a kashitriya (warrior) IMHO is not a good step. Warriors are duty bound to produce more warrior offspring and seeing as he was the (at that time only) son of the KIng, it was an unwise move for this vow. It threatened the royal dynasty of Hastinapur.
 
Bhishma;'s second vow meant that he had to be loyal to the throne of Hastinapur, whoever sat on it, even if they were against "dharma". This is how the situation turned out. With the benefit of hindsight, or as a teaching to mankind, the vow should have included this clause "as long as the throne is "dharmic".  Don't blindly tie yourself to someone or something without assurances of their conduct. In the same way Dhrithrashra was bound to Duryodhan, good or bad, Bhishma was tied to the throne, good or bad.
 
The next thing about Bhishma was that he was after Krishna, the most powerful character in Mahabharat. But this power I believe manifested itself into arrogance on 2 occasions.
 
1. the swayambar of Ambika and her her sisters. Ambika and her sisters had a swayambar whereby they would choose their own suitors, but Bhishma, carried all 3 away by force as no other Kashatriyas could oppose Bhishma as they were no-way near  as powerful as him. Hence he used  strength and power to take the 3 sisters away by force. The one sister cursed him that she would be the cause of his death before she committed suicide.
 
2. The marriage proposal for Gandhari was also done through fear of Bhishma. Gandhar King was afraid to refuse Bhishma's proposal for Gandhari's wedding to the blind king. Bhisma had already let it be known that he would take by force what wasn't given willingly. This resentment of his sister living her subsequent years in darkness fuelled the hatred in Shakuni's heart to destroy the Pandav/Kauravs by pitting them against one another, and thereby to destroy the dynasty.
 
 

I don't want to analyze as a statesman. i want to analyse as an "atma" through the lense of dharma. Dhritrashtra was a statesman. Krishna was dharma. Who would you choose?
 
Exactly, let's forget people's whims and ideas and embrace dharma.

Having watched Mahabharat for a 2nd time, I woould like to start a topic on its characters and what characteristics they represented.
To me having watched this again, it stands out that there is more than a storyline to be followed. There is a very good reason why this story is an epic, which is also mentioned in Guru Granth Sahib JI, and also Sri Dasme Patshah's Granth as well.

The tradition is that it was compiled in Satyug, when it was buried at this place along with other artefacts of Guru Sahib. I think the asht-bhuja was also buried here as well.

I think they are a persian invention. We have the same word for socks as they do : Juraba(n).

Dhan Guru Sahib.

Having watched Mahabharat for a 2nd time, I woould like to start a topic on its characters and what characteristics they represented.
To me having watched this again, it stands out that there is more than a storyline to be followed. There is a very good reason why this story is an epic, which is also mentioned in Guru Granth Sahib JI, and also Sri Dasme Patshah's Granth as well.

Dhan Guru Sahib.

Dhan Guru Sahib.

Having watched Mahabharat for a 2nd time, I woould like to start a topic on its characters and what characteristics they represented.
To me having watched this again, it stands out that there is more than a storyline to be followed. There is a very good reason why this story is an epic, which is also mentioned in Guru Granth Sahib JI, and also Sri Dasme Patshah's Granth as well.

On a superficial level, they would mean the same as ordinary people would think about them.
On a deeper level, 
Wealth - refers to Naam Dhan
Prosperity - refers to Sarbat da Bhalla
Peace - Peace of mind (minimal to zero effect of Vikars on the mind)
Gurmukhs can write a book to elaborate the above points.
 
Bhul chuk maaf

IN bansawalinama, Kesar Singh writes that there was a special day devoted to shastarpooja, which he terms as "chandi-pooja".
Will have a look to see it in more detail soon.

Thanks

Do you think this could be to do with the Granth being re-discovered towards the end of Guru Sahib's life ?

I have been watching Mahabharat again recently and came to the part where Lord Krishna becomes a peace envoy for the Pandavs and asks King Dhritrashtr for the Pandavs kingdom to be returned. Naturally Durodhyan objects, and Krishan then offers plan B, where he says the 5 Pandavs would be content with 5 villages only. Duroyodhhna replies that he wount give even a pin-prick of land to them, and then war starts and there is immense loss on both sides.
 
When watching this it reminded me of the current situation in Kashmir, and how the indian govt is pouring so much of its money into holding onto Kashmir by force. Wouldn't it be better to let Kashmir go, if they really want to be free and concentrate on those people who actuallu want to live in india as indians? So many people dying of poverty could be helped.
 
Isn't the indian govt just as stubborn as Durodhyan and making the same mistake ?

It's a scenario that is being repeated all over the world, and has been for centuries. But in India, the region where the Gita and Mahabharat were born, you wonder why the people ruling make the same mistakes over and over.
 
So much trouble in the world over land, from families, to tribes, to religions. It seems that Duruyodhan is being born over and over.

I have been watching Mahabharat again recently and came to the part where Lord Krishna becomes a peace envoy for the Pandavs and asks King Dhritrashtr for the Pandavs kingdom to be returned. Naturally Durodhyan objects, and Krishan then offers plan B, where he says the 5 Pandavs would be content with 5 villages only. Duroyodhhna replies that he wount give even a pin-prick of land to them, and then war starts and there is immense loss on both sides.
 
When watching this it reminded me of the current situation in Kashmir, and how the indian govt is pouring so much of its money into holding onto Kashmir by force. Wouldn't it be better to let Kashmir go, if they really want to be free and concentrate on those people who actuallu want to live in india as indians? So many people dying of poverty could be helped.
 
Isn't the indian govt just as stubborn as Durodhyan and making the same mistake ?

Guru Sahib also says in Sri Dasme Patshah's Granth that the khatris/warriors gave up arms and turned to trade.

A good first step would be to download an app of Gurbani and start reading it. There are a few out there.

Miracle of Sri Sukhmani Sahib jee. Please listen below to Gyani Harbhajan Singh jee Dhudikey talking about an Udasi Saint who had incurable TB (Tuberculosis).
https://kam1825.podbean.com/e/the-udasi-sant-with-tb/
 
Bhul chuk maaf

Aurengzeb's wife was in a lot of pain, when she was pregnant. Baba Ram Rai jee (while his stay at Delhi) was requested to relieve her pain. Baba jee brought a container of water and read Sri Japjee Sahib jee over it. Then, that water was given to Aurangzeb's wife and she felt better after that.
Source - Sri Sooraj Prakash Granth
 
Bhul chuk aaf