Mahabharata, one of the two great epics of ancient India, the other being the Ramayana. The Mahabharata, attributed to the sage Vyasa, is the longest epic poem ever written, with approximately 100,000 shlokas (couplets) or over 200,000 individual verse lines. It is not just a tale of war, but an encyclopedic text that encompasses the four goals of life: dharma (righteousness), artha (wealth), kama (desire), and moksha (liberation).

The Mahabharata is an epic tale of the greatest battle in history, fought between the forces of Dharma (Righteousness) and Adharma (Unrighteousness) at the end of the Dvapara Yuga. The creator of the Mahabharata war was none other than Brahma ji himself. Why did he do this? The answer lies within the verses of Ved Vyasa’s Mahabharata, a story we will unravel together.

As the Dvapara Yuga drew to a close, sin and unrighteousness began to weigh heavily on Mother Earth. Overburdened by the increasing sins, she went to Brahma ji and pleaded, “Brahma ji, I cannot bear this heavy burden any longer. Please free me from this suffering.” Moved by her plight, Brahma ji gathered all the gods and goddesses and went to Vishnu ji, the preserver of the universe. Brahma ji implored Vishnu ji to take an avatar on Earth to restore balance and righteousness. He also requested the other gods and goddesses to incarnate and bear their children on Earth.

Thus, Vishnu ji took his eighth avatar as Lord Krishna, a divine being destined to guide and protect the righteous. Many other gods followed suit, taking avatars or sending their celestial children to play their roles in this grand tale. Let me introduce you to some of the key figures in this epic:

1. Lord Vishnu – Krishna
2. Dyaus (a Vasu – celestial being) – Bhishma Pitamah
3. Lord Brihaspati – Dronacharya
4. Dvapara Yuga’s essence – Shakuni
5. Kaliyuga’s essence – Duryodhana
6. Surya Dev’s son – Karna
7. Dharmaraja’s son – Yudhishthira
8. Vayu Dev’s son – Bhima
9. Indra Dev’s son – Arjuna
10. Devi Siddhi’s essence – Mata Kunti

These divine beings and their earthly counterparts played pivotal roles in the Mahabharata, each contributing to the unfolding drama of righteousness and unrighteousness. The Mahabharata is not just a story of war, but a profound exploration of human nature, duty, love, and sacrifice.

Welcome to the Mahabharata, dear reader. Let the epic saga begin.