The King is dead, long live the King

This is the VERY FIRST POST of my ongoing series on the Mahabharat, an epic poem of ancient India. For links to all previous Mahabharat posts go here. Or you can simply click on the Mahabharat page link above.


Right now I'm watching an 1980s TV series called 'Mahabharat'. It's a Hindi series that was wildly popular in India and aired on British TV too on BBC2. We watched it as kids and were obssessed with the story. We used to tape the episodes and watch it over and over again.

'Maha Bharat' literally meaning 'Great India' is based on the Hindu epic scripture by the same name. It is actually the longest epic poem in the world at one hundred thousand verses.

'Mahabharat' chronicals the story of one family, the Kuru clan, who ruled ancient India many millenia ago. The Kuru clan also called themselves Chandravanshis, meaning Descendants of the Moon. Not a bad lineage, huh?

Their kingdom was located in what is now Delhi. So even back in ancient India Delhi was considered to be the hubbub of all activity. The Kurus were overlords of many other countries also, their kings becoming samraat meaning emperor. They were known as righteous rulers, protecting those in their territory and safeguarding the rule of law. They were incredibly rich and ensured the continuance of the Indian culture and faith.

The Kurus also called themselves Bharatvanshis, meaning descendants of Bharat. This has a special significance. Bharat was a Kuru king. For a king, the most important thing is to have an heir, right? Someone to carry on the lineage. Bharat had eight sons, all strong and healthy, so you would think he was the happiest man in the world. You'd be wrong. Because Bharat realised as his sons grew up that none of them were fit to rule. He saw that his children were selfish and petty, thinking only of themselves. None of them had the character or intellect required of someone in power.

So when the day came when he was to name his successor, instead of naming one of his eight strong sons, he named one of his courtiers, Bharadwaj, as his heir. He named a man who was not of his bloodline to be the next king.

For his decision Bharat faced the rebellion of not only his sons but also his wife and mother. They could not believe that he would cut his own blood out of their birthright. But Bharat said that there was no such thing as a birthright. One had to be worthy of the throne because the seat of power was a sacred place. One who was undeserving could not be allowed to rule.

Bharat defined what it meant to be a king, or a true ruler. Someone who is unselfish, who thinks only of what is best for his country, who does not put his own desires before what is right, who does not love his children more than his people. Someone who is not afraid to acknowledge bitter truths and has the intelligence to act accordingly, ensuring that future generations are safeguarded. Someone who is put under pressure and censure and still does what is right.

It is for this ideal that 'Mahabharat' is such an important scripture. It teaches us to put truth before our own selfishness and the needs of others before our own desires. Bharat sacrificed his own bloodline to protect his people. He taught that worthiness for a job was more important than who someone's father was.

Later generations, despite not being of his blood, called themselves Bharatvanshis because they were the descendants of his ideals and values. His empire became known as Bharat and it is still called Bharat today.

I'm considering doing a series of posts about 'Mahabharat'. If you want to hear more then let me know.

Go here for the next Mahabharat post.

For links to all Mahabharat posts go here.