(Hindus) Ramyan & Mahabharat.... Are they just Epics or a spiritual guide ? Why?

Question

For example what we learn from Ramayan & Mahabharat, for todays world ?

How do they reflect the philosophy of Hinduism

Ramayana... (ouch my laptop keys are funny)

Infant H i dont need your advice.. if you know the answer reply if you dont know..no body forces you to reply thanks

Answer 1

They are not only the epics. Ramayana and Mahabharat are because for us th know that god himself came to rescue the world. He came to kill the evils. And till know some people who knows that we should not cheat, or without knowing the others just go and fight with them and hit them. For todays world some people just say that it is a epic and it not in use. But some people who knows the spiritual meaning behind it uses the meaning and follows it.

Answer 2

First of all it is not Hindus Ranayana or Mahabharatha. Both are belong to India's. When the Ramayana or the Mahabharatha there were no specific religion. Other religion came much later. Moreover Hindus are not religion, Hinduism is a way of life. People must not forget this and no where in Ramayana or in Mahabharata ever mention the word Hindu.
Both are epic. There are four epics in the world. Ramayana, Mahabharata, Illiod and Odissey.
The epic can not created or can be written now.
As I mentioned earlier Hinduism is not religion but we learn how to lead life from the Ramayana or Mahabharata.
If we ask what is Hinduism ? There is no answer. Our life style , our manner are the way of life.

Answer 3

How do they reflect the philosophy of Hinduism?

Some answerers have pointed out that there isn't any word 'Hindu' , in whole of the Vedas, Upanisads, Puranas, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Vedanta, Vedanta-sutra etc. . .
The knowledge given in these vast literatures are not any sectarian teachings pertaining to so-called Hinduism. The religion Hinduism does not exist at all in the first place.

A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acharya of ISKCON International Society for Krishna Consciousness, states, "This word has been introduced by the Muslims from provinces next to India, such as Afghanistan, Baluchistan, and Persia. There is a river called Sindhu bordering the north western provinces of India, and since the Muslims there could not pronounce Sindhu properly, they instead called the river Hindu, and the inhabitants of this tract of land they called Hindus. In India, according to the Vedic language, the Europeans are called mlecchas or yavanas. Similarly, Hindu is a name given by the Muslims."

Less informed people mistake the Sanatana Dharma (eternal religion), to be Hinduism. The religious principles are eternal and universal, thus are applicable at all times and places.

Answer 4

Let me Tell you Mahabharat is a History, whereas the Ramayan is Valmikis true to heart epic. But both have special effects on lifes sensitive issue such as birth, self respect, bravey, and beleif of One Lord. In this age of computer science and missile technology , we can still see character in new form , well aristocrat, and disciplined but they act like ravana or any other evil character of the two epics , Also we find many good samaritans irrespective of religion, but showing great humanity in many ways. there fore the ideology of Ramayan and mahabharat is continuing from the ages to ages . language , color , shape , and expression may change but explanation of mahabharat or ramayana will remain true inmany spheres of life.

Answer 5

They are both an epic and a spiritual guide .
Epic is a western concept and like western epics , these two can be described as super epics , by the western standards.
Ramayana , more than Mahabharata , is revered as a spiritual book , because by reading or listening to this Ramayana , like Gita , tremendous mental peace and comfort is derived by many of the common people in India.
Rama of Ramayana , Yudishthira of Mahabharata , are revered like spiritual gurus and their shown path is followed by many of the Indians . So these books do provide spiritual guide to our over awed masses.
These two books form the basis of Hinduism.

Answer 6

Ramayan & Mahabharat are only books about some events. or stories. To know Hinduism go to the original sources like Vedas. This is being hidden by the learnt brahmins from a common Hindu. Today all Muslims have read Quran although very less have understood it. Whereas Hindus dont even see what their vedas look like.

Answer 7

'Epics' are long, ancient mythological poems. Hence both the Ramayan & the Mahabharat are epics. But they are not "Just" epics.
They are also guides in leading a spiritual way of life--which is what Hinduism is!
We can learn how to lead an upright, virtuous way of living despite various temptations that we come across, every day.
We learn as much by the mistakes and the wrong actions of the characters in the Epics, as by the right actions (Karmas) .........things that they chose to follow..........IF we too choose to follow.

We learn not only spiritual ways, but also lessons in 'Management'. We can apply the simple incidents from those epics into modern management situations....and learn powerful lessons about what to adopt, and what to avoid!

Finally, Hinduism is nothing but a way of living! So we can learn whatever we want to learn----IF we want to learn!

If we want to learn nothing, nobody can force anything upon us! That is how unassuming and unobtrusive Hinduism is!

Answer 8

Ramayana and maha bharata are not just epics. They are the very essence of the way a person has to live in the world.Both teach the result of good and bad actions of an individual and groups of individual.There is no aspect of society which is left untouched in these two epics. They are as true today as the time when the incidents took place in the past. I will quote only one example.Hanuman was a very learn-ed , clever, and a great diplomat.Unfortunately today there is not a single diplomat of his calibre in India.. Our IAS offices and IFS officers are required to learn diplomacy from Hanuman. General Musharraf's of Pakistan is a great diplomat who reminds me of Hanuman. He is capable of turning any adverse situation to his own advantage. Since we do not have any one to match him we have always lost in every dialogue with Pakistan. repeated reading of these epics give us great many ideas which can be used in day to day life. Our ancestors understood this hence they called them spiritual guides. Hinduism is not a religion founded by any one It is known as Santana Dharma or ancient way of rightful living. Ramayana and maha bharata teach this hence they reflects the principles enshrined in sanatana dharma.

Answer 9

I do not know much about these epics, as its been long time i have seen them...

But if you look at them carefully and understand it....you will find that they are not only epics but also shows us how to live the life, also reflects the traditions and many other things which we have forgotten the values now a days...

So i would say is its we need to read and understand them, and then question about about it. They are an example for us..
Also depends on the individuals perspective the way they look at it...

Answer 10

In Hindu philosophy, you will always find an esoteric and an exoteric meaning. This is the reason why you need the help of a teacher. It is extremely difficult to comprehend the esoteric, inner meaning. You will find in Hatha Yogic books: "There is a young, virgin widow seated at the junction of the Ganga and the Yamuna." What will you make out of this? It is difficult to understand. The young widow is the Sushumna Nadi. The Ganga is Pingala Nadi. The Yamuna is Ida Nadi.

In Katha Upanishad, you will find a word whose meaning is brick. 'Brick' means here 'Devata' or deity.

There is also a Rahasya (secret) of Ramayana. The secret of Ramayana is control of mind. Killing the ten-headed monster Ravana of Lanka means the annihilation of the ten evil Vrittis of the mind such as Kama, Krodha, etc. Sita is mind. Rama is Suddha-Brahman. Bringing Sita back from Lanka is concentrating the mind on Rama (Brahman) by withdrawing it from Vishaya (objects) and uniting it with Rama. Sita (mind) unites with Rama (Brahman), her husband in Ayodhya (Sahasrara Chakra). Mind merges in Brahman. This is, briefly, the esoteric meaning of Ramayana. This is the Adhyatmic exposition of Ramayana.

More on that in : http://www.upnaway.com/~bindu/anantayogaweb/mind/mindchap30.htm

(Ramayana is not a mere story. It is the
story we live every moment of our lives.)

Dasaratha symbolises the intellect that controls the senses. The three queens of Dasaratha are the three Gunas known as Sattwa (tranquillity), Rajas (activity), and Tamas (malice, ignorance, darkness). Vasishtha and Viswamitra are the gurus who guide the intellect. Rama is the transcendental Self and Lakshmana, Bharata and Satrughna (Rama’s three brothers) are the triple manifestations of God as immanent, God as in-dwelling spirit, and God as soul, respectively.

Manthara (the maid servant) symbolises the negative qualities that poisons Kaikeyi (the Rajasic-Tamasic mind). Demons and demonesses in Ramayana are the evil propensities in us. Ravana is the Rajasic ego. Kumbhakarana is the Tamasic ego. Vibhishana represents the Sattwic ego. Rama’s wife Sita is the Cosmic Energy (Kundalini) abducted by Ravana, the ego, for wrong use. So, through (with the help of) Hanuman, symbolising Pranayama, or rhythmic breathing, you will find the location of Sita, the energy and convey the news of Rama, the Self. Rama’s destruction of Ravana and Kumbhkarana symbolises the destruction of Rajasic and Tamasic egos. The installation of Vibhishana symbolises the establishment of Sattwa Guna and equanimity through Self-realisation. Union of Rama and Sita is the union of Shakti with the eternal consciousness of the true self. Rama’s coronation symbolises the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. This, in short, is the esoteric meaning of Ramayana.

You can read more in http://www.hinduism.co.za/ramayana.htm