Book Description Hardcover. Condition: New. 2nd Edition. Contents: Foreword. Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Mahabharata and archaeology. 3. Mahabharata, P.G.W. and C14 Dates. 4. Mahabharata and astronomy. 5. Mahabharata and Indian Art. 6. Mahabharata and epigraphy. 7. Differing views. Appendix. Epilogue. Select bibliography. Contributors. Index. Errata. Whether the Mahabharata is a myth or reality has been an age old problem over which much ink has been spilt. Time and again it sparked off fierce controversy involving distinguished scholars, learned men and intellectuals Disputes and doubts regarding the stratification of the epic and the date of the Great War has always been the crux of the issue Sanskritists and historians like Winternitz. Pargiter. Ludwig and Lassen and others have had their say in their times.Presently the controversy, which had been dormant for something past, came to limelight through at press interview at Pune by one of the renowned epigraphists of India. Since then (September 1975) Daily newspapers and weeklies in India carried for a long time opinions of learned men, which, more often than not, were diametrically opposed to each other.Fortunately, however, the present controversy introduced certain new features, heretoforth not known in earlier disputations. They are (1) archaeology, which prior to Lal's excavation at Hastinapura in 1951-52 did not play any significant role began to figure prominently (11) C" dating technique, a recent innovation of the post-Second World War has been utilized, and (ii) while discussions in the past were mainly dominated by academicians and hence could find place only in books, monographs and research papers in exclusive journals, the present disputation has drown into its ambit even laymen and non-specialists, thanks to the mass communication media. It is indeed a fact that the Mahabharata has come down to us as an epic but in a form and content quite different from the equally well known Western epic, the Homeric Iliad Obviously it involves. Herculean efforts to sift simple historical facts form the Indian epic, the Mahabharata a text highly impregnated with religious fervour having clear-cut social and moral Maxims. The Iliad, however, is basically a historical narrative woven in a highly ornate language permissible for epic writers. Besides, the Mahabharata beginning in an uncertain antiquity, has grown gradually as time passed by, from a meager 8,800 to 1,00,000 verses several balladeers par excellence contributing to its growth. The Iliad, on the other hand, is a work of a single author of the 8 century B.C This in itself would be an indicator of the stupendous and complex task confronting the Indologists as compared to Schlimann's establishing the historicity of the Greek seige of Ilium and the location of the Homeric Troy.For the Past hundred years or so much has been done towards separating historical realities from myths and legends contained in this Indian epic: confirming the historicity of Mahabharata war and its date by specialists in various fields, like astronomers, archaeologists, Historians, and linguists. Yet the wheel of progress has not moved much farther. We are still in the same position as before In order to elucidate the real historical events around which myths and legends have grown in time and space, it was necessary to bring together in one volume views of varied scholars for understanding and assessing not only the limitations and possibilities of the earlier research data but also to formulate fresh approaches and methodologies for future work.With this end in view a book incorporating opinions of Sanskritists, epigraphists, astronomers, archaeologists, historians and others is being published for the first time in India to focus the attention of all-lay readers, specialists research workers and others. In bringing out this comprehensive work two well known archaeologist and historians Dr. S.P Gupta of the National Museum New Delhi and Shri KS Ramachandran of the Archaeological Survey of India. Seller Inventory # 139041A

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New

US$ 41.50

Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 23.39

From India to U.S.A.

Destination, rates & speeds

Items related to Mahabharata Myth and Reality Diff ering Views

Mahabharata Myth and Reality Diff ering Views - Softcover

K.S. Ramachandran S.P. Gupta

Buy New

Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace

Mahabharata Myth and Reality

Mahabharata Myth and Reality

Mahabharata: Myth and Reality-Differing Views, 2nd Edition

Mahabharata: Myth and Reality-Differing Views