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Kinship, Caste And Class
What major social changes took place in social life during the Mahabharata period?
With the beginning of the Later Vedic Age the social life of the Indians underwent some major changes (particularly in north India). These changes continued taken place even after Later Vedic Age about 400 A.D.
(i) The most important of these changes was that Varna system was fully established during this period (400 B.C. to 400 A.D.) The Brahmanas were the supreme in this four-fold divisions of the society. Earlier they were just-one by the system categories of priest. But now they became synonymous with the total priesthood.
(ii) The sacrificing tradition was perpetuated by the Varna (The Brahmanas). It is speculated the priest of non-Aryan origin were also taken into-the-Brahmanas Varna.
(iii) Kshatriyas were second in social hierarchy or ranks. They were warrior class who ruled over society or state and protected the poeple. It may be said that Rajan in earlier period became Kshatriya in Later Vedic Age or earlier epic age.
(iv) Some of the historians declare that in Mahabharata age the relationship that existed that Brahmanas and the Kshatriyas were not cordial. There were instances of tensions and conflicts among them on the question of supremacy in society. At the same time stress was laid on the close co-operation between the two to maintain order and kept other Varnas subordination.
(v) The third social rank was given to Vaishyas. They engaged themselves in productive activities such as agriculture, different crafts and trade. They paid tribute to Kshatriyas and Dan (donation) to Brahmanas.
(vi) The common social roots of these three Varnas are reflected in the fact that they were entitled to put on sacred thread and were called twice-born (Dvij).
(vii) During this period we also see the prescribe role of Chandalas, the notion of untouchables gaining its root deep into society.
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In what ways was the Buddhist theory of a social contract different from the Brahmanical view of society derived from the Purusha Sukta?
The following is an excerpt from the Mahabharata in which Yudhisthira, the eldest Pandava, speaks to Sanjaya, a messenger:
Sanjaya, convey my respectful greetings to all the Brahmanas and the chief priest of the house of Dhritarashtra. I bow respectfully to teacher Drona .... I hold the feet of our preceptor Kripa .... (and) the chief of the Kurus, the great Bhishma. I bow respectfully to the old king (Dhritarashtra). I greet and ask after the health of his son Dpryodhana and his younger brother ......Also greet all the young Kuru warriors who are our brothers, sons and grandsons......Greet above all him, who is to us like father and mother, the wise Vidura (born of a slave woman)......I bow to the elderly ladies who are known as our mothers. To those who are our wives you say this, 'I hope they are well-protected.'...... Our daughters-in-law born of good families and mothers of children greet on my behalf. Embrace for me those who are our daughters..... The beautiful, fragrant, well-dressed courtesans of ours, you should also greet. Greet the slave women and their children, greet the aged, the maimed (and) the helpless.
Try and identify the criteria use to make this list in terms of age, gender, kinship ties. Are there any other criteria? For each category, explain why they are placed in a particular position in the list.
This is what a famous historian of Indian literature Maurice Winternitz, wrote about the Mahabharata: “just because the Mahabharata represents more of an entire literature.... and contains so much and so many kinds of things....(it) give (s) us an insight into the most profound depths of the soul of the Indian folk.' Discuss.
Discuss whether the Mahabharata could have been the work of a single author.
How important were gender differences in early societies? Give reasons for your answer.
Discuss the evidence that suggests that Brahmanical prescriptions about kinship and marriage were not universally followed.
Compare the map in this chapter with Map 1 in chapter 2. List the mahajanapadas and cities located near the Kuru-Panchala lands.
Find out about retellings of the Mahabharata in other languages. Discuss how they handle any two of the episodes of the text described in this chapter, explaining any similarities or differences that you notice.
Imagine that you are an author and rewrite the story of Ekalavya from a perspective of your choice.
With whom central story of Mahabharata is associated?
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