“17 Fascinating Women from The Mahabharata” by Sharath Komarraju
Since I bought the book, I figured I might as well do my
last “Reading Notes” with final thoughts about my reading in a more general
way. A sort of parting thoughts about how this book ties up some of the major
characters which I have gotten to know over the course of this semester. I have
to say, some of the themes of womanhood, feminism, family, and other related commonalities
which seem so unapparent at first really are fairly significant with a critical
eye. For example, these final chapters—after the ones which focused on the
woman most “center stage” in the Mahabharata—also are incredibly interesting to
read about. The way this author has emphasized their qualities individually and
communally. In Part B, out of Ghandari,
Amba, Subhadra, Ulupi and Chitrangada, Uttara, and Renuka I think it’s just the
last three or four whose names escaped me. That being said, most interesting
was tying the authors facts, figures, and theories of Ghandari, Amba, and
Subhadra. With Ghandari particularly I liked how he tied her emotional states
to that of other women’s—emphasizing this maternal, feminine bond with women so
different in circumstance and importance. Furthermore, the interpretation on
certain women’s upbringing as far as education was concerned was another vital
takeaway which made me think back to the men whose skills and knowledge set
them apart. Given their educational journeys being so noticeable a feature of
the epic, it’s interesting to contrast and compare that of women like those in
these chapters. I see how their wisdom and guidance in some ways, like those in
former chapters, set the stage for various series’ of events that occurred.
They seem to have great power in using their unique gifts for love, war, or
otherwise. How these overlap with moments where they seek vengeance for loved
ones slighted or slain—like Subhadra for example—really emphasized for me how
savage women are with particular causes. Many of them likely to do with
emotional or traumatic scenes, like children or husbands’ deaths.
Bibliography:
Author: Sharath Komarraju
Title: "17 Fascinating Women from The Mahabharata"
Source: Kindle
(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)
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