There are two epics called Ramayana and Mahabaratha.
Ramayana is a story written by saint Valmiki.
Mahabaratha is a story written by saint Vyasa.
Both of them were written in Sanskrit. Most of the Indians are thinking that the characters in both the epics spoke in Sanskrit. But Sanskrit became as a spoken language very much later.
Ramayana events were two thousand years earlier to Mahabaratha events. But, Mahabaratha was written by Vyasa earlier than Ramayana by Valmiki.
There were many Ramayana stories in the past which consists of different events but with the same characters. Mahabaratha was having just 20,000 poems in the beginning but now there are more than 2,00,000 poems with many additions. Bagavath Geetha and Shanthi parva in Mahabaratha were said to be later additions by few.
Following the Valmiki’s Ramayana, there were many events added by the later saints to form their own Ramayana. The saint Thulasi doss, poet Kambar and Thiyagaiyar had written Ramayana.
We could read about performing Aswamedha yaham. Indians knew nothing about Aswam (Horse) during the Ramayana or Mahabaratha events’ period. The period of Ramayana was before 5000 B.C and Mahabaratha before 3000 B.C. Aryans came by riding horses only during Vedic period which was during 1500 B.C..
Since Ramayana and Mahabaratha were written later than Vedic period, Aswamedha yaham entered into those stories.
Ravana, the villain of Ramayana was the king of Sri Lanka according to the understanding by most of the Indians. There are few who believe that Ravana was a king of small territory in India itself. They also argue that there was a lake (Common name sagar in Sanskrit for Ocean as well as lake) as a border of that territory.
When looking at the above controversies, we can conclude that few events of history were written as a big novel with many additions and deletions to advise people on certain morals.
The main morals told in Ramayana are connected to sanctity on marriage and about a person’s demise due to one sided love with a married lady.
The main theme of Mahabaratha is the conflict among cousins because of materialistic desires. Such a small quarrel resulted in most of the family lineages became lost. Krishna is a character who held the conch to run the whole story.
The story of Ramayana in brief: Rama was the prince of Ayodhya. Janaki, the duaghter of king Janaka (Janaki was the daughter of mother Earth, found and brought up by king Janaka) married Rama following a skill game won by him.
Ravana, king of Sri Lanka heard about the beauty of Janaki and kidnapped her. Rama learnt the whereabout of Janaki. He gathered a group of monkey battalion (Hanuman was the leader) and fought with Ravana. In the battle, Ravana was killed and Rama released Janaki from the custody. Rama returned to Ayodhya with Janaki and ruled the country. According to ‘Uthara Ramayana’, Janaki returned to her mother Earth.
The story of Mahabaratha in brief: Gowrava and Pandava were cousin brothers. There were hundred brothers including Dhuriyodhana called Gowravas. Pandava consists of five brothers.
Because of cruel mind, Dhuriyodhana called Pandavas to play gambling. Pandavas were loosing their country and and all their belongings. Elders associated with Dhuriyodhana advised to give back a part of the property to Pandavas but he refused. Instead, Pandavas were asked to keep their wife Panchali as captive prize for a fresh gambling game. Dhuriyodhana gained in the game and insulted Panchali in the court.
Dhuriyodhana later agreed to return the country after fourteen years with several conditions after. Pandavas under went all the conditions. Even then Dhuriyodhana did not honor his words. Pandava joined with lord Krishna and declared war against Dhuriyodhana. Because of Krishna’s assistance, Pandavas won the battle. Dhuriyodhana was killed and Pandavas ruled the country for long.
There are many side stories about various characters connected to the main story which make Mahabaratha so big. Lord Krishna motivated Arjuna (one of the brothers of Pandava) to fight when he was confused because of affection. Justification to fight told by lord Krishna at war front was written as Bagavath Geetha.
There are three major chapters in Mahabaratha which have morals or legal codes to lead a good human life. They are ‘Vidhura needhi’, ‘Bishmar’s Raja needhi’ and ‘Bagavath Geetha’.
It is my opinion that ‘Bagavath Geetha’ is a book of such sort in the world to follow by each and every human being.
There are eighteen ‘Puranas’ in Hinduism to expalin certain philosophies. But, the philosophies were forgotten and stories are alive. Most of the Hindus are believing that these stories are historical events.
Skandha purana, vishnu purana, Bavishya purana, Garuda purana, Siva purana, Bagavatha purana and others are called as Puranas.
Each purana describes the events connected to one deity. Skandha Purana has the story about Karthikeya. Vishnu purana has the story on lord Vishnu or Narayana. Ten characters in this purana are called as Avatharas (Reincornations). The ten avatharas are Macha (Fish), Kurma, Varaha, Rama, Balarama, Parasurama, Thrivikrama, Krishna, Vamana, Kali avatharas.
In my opinion, there was no Avathar concept in Hinduism at the beginning.
Ancient people from north India would have travelled towards west in groups with a leader to each to survive following the great floods or famine. After thousands of years, while most of the group still moving forward with the name Jews, few re - entered India on Arabian horses for the first time during Vedic period. Because of long separation, Their culture would have changed or mingled with others. Such group would have called themselves as Aryans.
At this time, I wish to recall the research results of Indus valley civilization or Dravidian culture which was told as having close relationship with Celtic (Jewish) culture - Ref. book by Devaneya pavanar.
There were cultural clashes between the above Aryans and the local Indians in the past. We could note in Rig Veda about these clashes. Aryans had relationship in due course with Indians and later lost their individuality.
Jainism and Buddhism were started as the result of these clashes. Jains started building temples for their seers like God to worship them. Buddhists also followed the same lines. To maintain the gap, Vedic Hindus also made the historic characters like Rama, Krishna and others as Gods. Most of the present day Hindus may agitate to this idea but it is my personnel opinion.
As far as the Hindu concepts maintained, there is no problem in introducing any number of images.
Apart from Four Vedas there are more than one hundred and eight Upanishads to explain the Hindu philosophies.
Brahma suktham was an another important book written by Vyasa (Few will say that it was written by other) which deals with philosophical aspects in question and answer form to clear many doubts on Hindu philosophies.
Padhanjali Yoga Suthra is on Raja yoga and Adhi Sankara’s Viveka chudamani is on Sanyasa yoga.
There were thousand and thousands of books were written by many saints and poets in local languages. Namadevar’s Abangs were full of Hindu philosophies.
HINDUISM IS A BUILDING CONSTRUCTED ON FOUR VEDAS AS FOUNDATION AND THOUSANDS OF PHILOSOPHICAL BOOKS AS STRONG BRICKS.
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