Women of the Mahabharata  (English, Paperback, Badrinath Chaturvedi)

Women Of The Mahabharata-The Question Of Truth tells the stories of twelve women from the ancient era of the Indian epic Mahabharata. It showcases the various dimensions of truth.

Summary Of The Book

Women Of The Mahabharata-The Question Of Truth was published in 2010. The Mahabharata is a Sanskrit epic that narrates the entire Kurukshetra War, which took place between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. It is said to have been written by the Sage Vyasa, around the 8th or 9th century B.C. Through a wide range of characters from the book, readers learn about devotion, truth, and philosophy.

This book focuses on the women who are a part of this epic story. Its stories revolve around life and show how women speak about the importance of truth. At the same time, they explain that it can never be an absolute statement. Each of the twelve women show the readers the different dimensions of truth.

Present day women are considered to be reincarnations of these ancient characters. The narrative expresses how women want the same things from men in contemporary times, as they did thousands of years ago.

Women Of The Mahabharata-The Question Of Truth contains a total of eight chapters. The chapter titled Innocence, Love, And Denial Of Truth focuses on the character Shakuntala, who was the wife of the great King Dushyanta and the mother of King Bharata. The Humbling Of The Arrogance Of Knowledge tells the tale of Anamika. The third chapter, titled The Truth Of Desire, shares the stories of Urvashi, Devayani, and Uttara Disha.

This is followed by The Power Of The Truth Of Love, which highlights the life of Savitri and that of Damayanti, who was a Princess of the Kingdom of Vidarbha. Language, Meaning and Truth constitutes the fifth chapter and is about Suvarchala and Sulabha. Next comes a chapter on Madhavi, titled Turning The Face Upon The Selfish World Of Men. One's Sacrifice, Another's Transformation is the story of Kapoti and Kapota. The last chapter, is about one of the most famous female characters of the Mahabharata, Draupadi. She was considered the most beautiful woman of that era and was the wife of the Pandavas.

Women Of The Mahabharata-The Question Of Truth gives readers a unique perspective on the Mahabharata.

About Chaturvedi Badrinath

Chaturvedi Badrinath was an Indian writer, philosopher, and an administrative officer.

Some books by Badrinath are Swami Vivekananda: The Living Vedanta, The Mahabharata: An Inquiry Into The Human Condition, and Dharma, India And The World Order: Twenty-One Essays.

Born in Uttar Pradesh, Badrinath completed his BA in Psychology and Philosophy from Lucknow University in the year 1956. He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in the year 2009. Badrinath joined the IAS in 1958 and remained a member of the administrative services till 1989. The author was awarded the Homi Bhabha Fellowship, which lasted for two years. He gave lectures all around the world. Badrinath moved to Pondicherry in 2004 and passed away in 2010.