Oral renditions of the Mahabharata were so popular among people that even the Jains chose to tell its story.
The Jaina version however varies significantly from the Vyasa version we are familiar with. For example, unlike in Vyasa’s epic, the
Kurukshetra battle takes place between Krishna and Jarasandha, who was Krishna’s arch enemy.
And that’s just one of the several small and big differences between the Jaina and Vyasa’s versions of the epic.
Curious to know more? Click the video to listen in…
The Mahabharata says that Draupadi was Sri incarnate. Sri, the goddess we know today as Lakshmi.
This raises an issue. If Draupadi was Sri, her consort should have been Krishna, the avatar of Vishnu.
But she wasn’t!
And, she could not have been the wife of the Pandavas. But she was!
Confused?! Watch the video to know the story behind how Sri became the exclusive consort of Vishnu!
A popular tale about Raksha Bandhan traces its origins to the relationship between Krishna and Draupadi.
The Mahabharata, however, makes no mention of it. On the contrary, the epic introduces Krishna to us when he is attending Draupadi’s Swayamavara/
What exactly was the nature of Krishna’s relationship with Draupadi? If his relationship with her was fraternal, why then was he present at Drauapadi’s Swayamvara?
The answers are but a click away….
Nalopakhyana, from the Mahabharata, tells the story of Nala and Damayanti – their love, loss and retrieval.
Don’t be fooled by the name (Nalopakhyana)! In essence, it is the story of a woman hero – a woman who spared no efforts to gain and keep the man she loved!
Listen in to this poignant story of Damayanti and the triumph of her love amidst adversity!
Karna’s complex character has been dissected and explored by several playwrights and writers over two millennia.
This video explores what it means to be Karna as seen through the eyes of his fandom.
Check it out!
Did Draupadi secretly love Karna? That is what popular imagination would have us believe.
But was it Vyasa’s truth? Or a secret wish of the people?
Watch the video to find out more about where the video comes from!
The Mahabharata refers to Arjuna using 14 different names. One of which is Savyasachi.
Do you know what the name means?
Watch the YouTube video for the answer and to know what makes Arjuna the iconic hero of the epic.
The story of Rama had such universal appeal that it is even found in the Mahabharata.
But what is interesting is that Ramopakhyana, as it is called, is very different from the Valmiki version familiar to us.
How?
Listen in to find out!
All wars are the same. They are seeded by the egos, jealousies and insecurities of individuals. Neither the ancient Kurukshetra war nor the ongoing Ukraine war is an exception.
Listen in to the story of how vendetta between two individuals, who were once friends, set off an uncontrollable chain of events that proved to be catastrophic to all of humanity.
Why did Drona refuse to teach Ekalavya?
Was it because Ekalavya was not a Kshatriya? Because Ekalavya was supposedly a low-born compared to his other students?
Why did he extract a bloody sacrifice from Ekalavya?
Check the video on one of the most debated issues from the Mahabharata!
Kulture Katha 