History

Kinship, Caste and Class

Question:

Discuss whether the Mahabharata could have been the work of a single author.

Answer:

There are so much views about the author of the Mahabharata. Following views have been put forward regarding the authorship of the Mahabharata.
•It is believed that the original story was written by the charioteer-bards known as sutas. They generally accompanied Kshatriya warriors to the battle field and composed poems celebrating their victories and other achievements.
•It is also believed that in the beginning the text of the Mahabharata was orally circulated. Scholars and priests carried it from one generation to another. From the fifth century BCE, the Brahmanas took over the story and started writing.
This was the time when Kurus and Panchals were gradually becoming kingdoms.
The story of the Mahabharata also revolved round them. Some parts of the story reflect that old social values were replaced by the new ones.
• C. 200 BCE and 200 CE is another phase in the composition of the Mahabharata.
During this period worship of Vishnu was gaining ground Krishna came to be identified as Vishnu. Large didactic sections resembling the Manusmriti were added during the period between C 200 and 400 CE. These interpolations made the Mahabharata an epic consisting of 100,000 verses. This enormous composition is traditionally attributed to a sage named Vyas.

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Kinship, Caste and Class

Q 1.

The following is an excerpt from the Mahabharata in which Yudhisthira, the eldest Jandava, speaks to Sanjaya, a messenger:
Try and identify the criteria used 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.

Q 2.

This is what a famous historian of Indian literature, Maurice Wintemitz, wrote about the Mahabharata: "Just because the Mahabharata represents more of an entire literature…. and contains so many kinds of things….(it) give(s) us an insight into the most profound depths of the soul of the Indian folk."Discuss.

Q 3.

Discuss whether kings in early states invariably were Kshatriyas.

Q 4.

How important were gender differences in early societies? Give reasons for your answer.

Q 5.

In what ways was the Buddhist theory of a social contract different from the Brahmanical view of a society derived from the Purusha Sukta?(VBQ)

Q 6.

Discuss whether the Mahabharata could have been the work of a single author.

Q 7.

Compare and contrast the dharma or norms mentioned in the stories of Drona, Hidimba andMatanga.

Q 8.

Discuss the evidence tliat suggests that Brahmanical prescriptions about kinship and F marriage were not universally followed.

Q 9.

Explain why patriliny may have been particularly important among elite families.