Dialoguing with Timeless Text: Revisiting the Mahabharata

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Writing this preface is reminiscing of the academically eventful journey of the last four years that has led to conceptualising and finalising this edited volume, which represents the culmination of extensive intellectual discourse, rigorous analysis, participatory discussions and collaborative research conducted under the auspices of the SPARC (Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration) project. The project, entitled Yoga Consciousness in Mahabharata and Bhagavadgita: Ethical Value for Societal/Political Wellbeing, was sanctioned by the Ministry of Education (formerly the Ministry of Human Resource Development), Government of India, in 2019 and coordinated by the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. It was collaboratively led by the Department of Philosophy, University of Delhi, and Kamala Nehru College, University of Delhi, and was completed in 2023, with the publication occurring in 2025.

The project initially aimed to explore the ethical, societal, and political importance of the Mahabharata and Bhagavadgita through the lens of Yoga Consciousness. It sought to move beyond traditional Orientalist interpretations and to reclaim these classical Indian texts-reinterpreting their core teachings to highlight their universal significance, especially concerning Yoga Consciousness and allied themes. The texts mentioned above were viewed as tools for tackling modern social and political issues while fostering intense insights into the humanitarian and philanthropic aspects outlined in Vyasa's teachings on dharma within them. Initially set to wrap up in two years, the project's timeline was extended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, necessitating a significant shift in methodology and scope. The initial plan focused on international travel and scholarly exchanges, but it shifted to a fully digital platform for academic discussions in light of the prevailing pandemic scenario. This change prompted a re-evaluation and broadening of the project's goals, placing renewed importance on creating meaningful intellectual contributions that engage a broader audience during widespread lockdowns and the shift to online education. In support of this goal, an online lecture series had begun, which became a mode of reflection into an epic tradition for participants spread across borders.

The focus was on generating substantive intellectual value and prioritising knowledge creation, manifested through 42 lectures and workshops that garnered significant national and international participation. The series of webinars was a modest attempt to make the various aspects of the Mahabharata accessible to a diverse audience interested in studying the epic. Meticulously designed sessions fostered a multifaceted understanding of themes that touch upon the critical areas of ethics and dharma in the Mahabharata, where the speakers explored ethical dilemmas and dharma in governance that permeate the Epic. A few lectures covered the philosophical and psychological insights, existential questions, and the transformative philosophy of the Bhagavadgita. Several lectures examined the theme of yoga and spirituality, where speakers discussed yoga as a path to ethical transformation, highlighting its spiritual significance in the Mahabharata. Engaging with gender and social issues, a few other lectures emphasised social and gender dynamics, addressing issues of equality and exclusion. As the Mahabharata comprises of rich historical and cultural contexts and mythological and symbolic interpretations, another line of lectures provided insights into the Mahabharata's historical influence, regional interpretations and living traditions. They also examined the mythological narratives and symbolism while offering more profound ethical and philosophical reflections.

The objective of the project was to present a rigorous and nuanced academic interpretation of the Mahabharata and Bhagavadgita, incorporating diverse perspectives, experiences and artistic contributions from participants and resource persons. By leveraging contemporary digital technologies, such as social media and live webinars, this initiative-anchored in the philosophies of the Mahabharata and Bhagavadgita sought to engage a global audience with an emphasis on holistic well-being, which was most essential during and post-COVID-19 situations. The revised objectives transcended conventional academic discourse, embracing a broader social responsibility that facilitated the establishment of a community of Mahabharata learners and enthusiasts who eagerly awaited intellectually stimulating lectures every week. This generated substantial motivation for the team to invite leading scholars and thinkers in Mahabharata studies to share their insights with learners in the comfort of their homes, thereby enhancing their educational experience. This methodology permitted the epic narratives to serve as a foundation for value-driven intellectual engagement, highlighting the relevance of ancient wisdom in addressing contemporary challenges and promoting the Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS).

The digital transformation, facilitated by the project's YouTube channel, Facebook page, and Instagram account, has permitted an unprecedented expansion of intellectual horizons while promoting deeper, more inclusive, and rigorous dialogues across geographical and generational boundaries. This transition has enabled the engagement of eminent experts from diverse regions, enriching academic endeavours and enhancing the project's overall impact. Distinguished scholars from prestigious universities both within India and internationally have served as resource persons for various academic sessions rooted in the Mahabharata and Bhagavadgita, conducted in a digital format, further elevating intellectual rigour and the diversity of perspectives.

In the tranquil light of dawn, one can envision an ancient banyan tree, its vast branches symbolising countless generations of contemplation. Simultaneously, its roots delve deeply into the enriched soil of collective consciousness. This imagery serves as a symbolic landscape of Indian philosophical discourse, where texts such as the Mahabharata are regarded not merely as relics of the past but as eternally relevant, dynamic and vibrant with dialogues that continually resonate with significance across all eras. Engaging with "Dialoguing with Timeless Text: Revisiting the Mahabharata" offers a multifaceted perspective on the monumental Mahabharata, exemplifying a rich tapestry of human intellectual heritage through its timeless exploration of existential questions. The Mahabharata, India's most studied epic, captures a wide range of human experiences, emotions and knowledge across various fields. It serves as a timeless source of wisdom and is rightly called a 'living tradition' for its continual relevance and intense depth.

Dynamic Epistemological Model

The epic displays a dynamic/vibrant epistemological model in which knowledge emerges through perpetual dialogue, contextual interpretation and radical openness to multiple perspectives. This unique characteristic can be articulated as a method of knowledge creation in which truth is not possessed but continuously discovered through engagement (Krishna 199), fundamentally challenging monolithic approaches to philosophical understanding.

The dialogical methodology present in the Mahabharata is grounded in the Sanskrit concept of anviksa (critical investigation)-a viewpoint that regards philosophical inquiry not as a means to establish absolute truths but as an ongoing hermeneutical exploration. The epic's narrative framework is reflective, with characters embodying intricate thought stances while engaging in endless dialectical exchanges. Each narrative segment, particularly the dialogues between various epic characters, serves as an intellectual laboratory, exploring the complex realms of dharma, ethics, human behaviour, conditioning and responses. The methodologies and rationales behind actions are scrutinised, observed, analysed and articulated, taking into account temporal factors and contextual elements. This approach ensures that knowledge is not regarded as a static principle, but as an evolving phenomenon relevant to human existence, survival and flourishing.

Interpretability and Timelessness of Mahabharata

Perpetual interpretability, as the distinctive characteristic of the epic, is accessible through all three modalities of learning: sravanam (listening), mananam (contemplation) and nididhyasanam (meditation). This quality replenishes the epic with energies that are eternally born and remain inexhaustible amidst the vagaries of time and the tumult of politics, society, psychology, time, place and individuals. The Mahabharata, as a foundational work of life, living and thought, bridges the divide between ancient and contemporary perspectives. "Dialoguing with Timeless Text: Revisiting the Mahabharata" serves as a scholarly contribution that elucidates its epistemological, ethical, political, social, feminist, spiritual, meditative and historical dimensions, situating the debates within India's extensive knowledge systems while highlighting their relevance in modern discourse.