Indian Literature in Translation (39:136, 32:177)
Fall, 2001. Tu/Th 10:55-12:10, 207 Phillips Hall
MAHABHARATA
as Literature, Performance, Ideology
"From this supreme epic rise the inspirations of the poets, just as the three worlds rise from the five elements.... No story is found on earth that does not rest on this epic-nobody endures without living off its food."
Mahabharata 1 (2) 235-40
Instructor: Philip Lutgendorf e-mail: philip-lutgendorf@uiowa.edu
667 Phillips Hall, 335-2157
Office Hours: MW 1:00-3:00 PM
Note: Students with disabilities that affect their participation in this course
are encouraged to see the instructor privately to discuss their needs. He will
make every effort to accommodate them
This course offers an exploration of the Mahabharata, which is generally held
to be the world's longest epic poem and one of the foundational works of South
Asian civilization. We will familiarize ourselves with its basic story and characters
and endeavor to understand something of its cultural context and impact, both
historically and across centuries of interpretation. An initial 200-page synopsis
of the main story will introduce the major characters and themes of the epic.
We will then read substantial selections from the first three volumes (comprising
five of the Mahabharata's eighteen parvas or "major books") of J.
A. B. van Buitenen's unfinished translation of the Pune Critical Edition, to
study in depth how one major Mahabharata text is put together. This will be
followed by Barbara Miller's translation of the spiritual classic, Bhagavad
Gita, the 63rd of the epic's 100 "minor books," and by W. J. Johnson's
recent translation of the apocalyptic Book Ten, Sauptikaparvan. Although the
stress will be on the story itself, we will also sample significant recent scholarship
on the epic's historical, ritual, and mythic contexts, and on its contemporary
performance. The course will be taught through a combination of lecture and
group discussion. Throughout the semester, we will view and discuss recordings
of several recent performance adaptations of the Mahabharata.
Required Texts:
1) C. V. Narasimhan (trans.) The Mahabharata (IMU Bookstore)
2) J. A. B. van Buitenen (trans.) The Mahabharata (vol. I) 1. The Book
of the Beginning (IMU Bookstore)
3) J. A. B. van Buitenen (trans.) The Mahabharata (vol. II) 2. The Book
of the Assembly Hall, 3. The Book of the Forest (IMU Bookstore)
4) J. A. B. van Buitenen (trans.) The Mahabharata (vol. III) 4. The Book
of Virata, 5. The Book of the Effort (IMU Bookstore)
5) Barbara Stoler Miller (trans.) The Bhagavad-Gita, Krishna's Counsel in
Time of War (IMU Bookstore)
6) W. J. Johnson, The Sauptikaparvan of the Mahabharata: The Massacre at
Night (IMU Bookstore)
7) Anthology of photocopied selections (on reserve at Main Library) Audiovisual
resources:
Two complete video productions of the Mahabharata and two feature films (on
DVD) based on it are available at Media Services on the ground floor of the
Main Library. These may be viewed during Media Services hours, or checked out
overnight (except when individual episodes are checked out by the instructor
for showing in class), and may be used as additional "texts" in research
projects.
B. R. Chopra, Mahabharata, 47 vols. (2 forty-five minute episodes per vol.;
in Hindi with English subtitles), call number: 4469 VHS (this will also be available
on 16 DVDs; call number to be announced)
Peter Brook, Mahabharata, 3 vols. (2 hours per vol.; in English), call number:
2065 VHS
Feature films based on the Mahabharata, portions of which we will be viewing
in class (notes on these films are posted at my Indian film website, www.uiowa.edu/~incinema):
Bapu, Hum Paanch ("We Five," 1980), 153 minutes. Hindi with English
subtitles
(DVD number to be announced).
Shyam Benegal, Kalyug ("Age of Discord,"1980), 143 minutes. Hindi
with English subtitles. 10207 DVD
Course Information and Requirements:
The course grade will be based on regular attendance and participation in class
and satisfactory completion of all written assignments.
Attendance and participation: All students are expected to attend all
scheduled classes except in the event of illness or other excused absence. Satisfactory
fulfillment of this requirement will count for roughly 20% of the course grade.
Oral presentation: Each student will be asked to make one approximately
10-minute oral presentation during the course of the semester. A sign-up sheet
will be available during the second week of class and presentations will begin
in the third week. Your oral presentation should focus on a significant character,
incident, or critical issue in the assigned reading for that class. Ideally,
it should raise questions or issues for class discussion. If two students are
presenting during the same class session, they should decide between them on
what each will cover. The oral presentation will count for roughly 10% of the
course grade.
Written assignments: Written assignments must be received on time except
in the case of excused absence. They will represent roughly 70% of the course
grade. (Note: There will be no final exam.)
Reaction papers: To help you keep abreast of the readings and to understand
major themes in the epic, five short (2-4 page) writing assignments are given
at two-week intervals, beginning with Week Three (see syllabus below). These
should be typed, but will be evaluated (and graded) primarily for their ideas
and as indicators of your ongoing reading and thinking about the materials,
rather than as polished papers. Superior, insightful analysis will, however,
be duly noted. So will appropriate citation, which should be followed by a page
reference to the relevant reading, given in parentheses.
Research paper: A substantive research paper of roughly 7-10 pages (for
undergraduates) or 15-20 pages (for graduate students), on a topic to be individually
determined on consultation with the instructor, will be due in class on Thursday,
Dec. 13th. (See list of possible topics at end of syllabus.)
Schedule:
(Note: Reading assignments should be completed by the end of the week for which they are listed. Thus the first assignment should have been completed by the start of Week 2, etc. Class discussions will proceed accordingly. Bi-weekly writing assignments are due on Tuesday of the following week. Late submissions will be accepted only with a valid excuse.)
Week 1: Background to the Background
Aug. 28 - Introduction to the course
Aug. 30 - All the Sanskrit you'll ever need (for this class); introduction to
the epic
Reading: Narasimhan, pp. 1-101
________________________________________________________________________
Week 2: Background to the Beginning
Sept. 4, 6 - Overview of ancient Indian history and literature, the role of
the epics
Reading: Narasimhan, pp. 101-216
A. K. Ramanujan, "Repetition in the Mahabharata" (course anthology)
Writing assignment 1: Write a life-sketch of one of the major characters listed
below. Emphasize the individual's major contribution to advancing the plot of
the Mahabharata, citing specific examples, and provide your own analysis of
her/his strengths and/or weaknesses. (Due in class on Tuesday, Sept. 11)
Choices: Arjuna / Bhima / Bhisma / Dhrtarastra / Draupadi / Duryodhana / Gandhari
/ Karna / Krsna / Kunti / Yudhisthira
________________________________________________________________________
Week 3: Beginning the Beginning
Sept. 11 - Overview of the oceanic epic; overcoming "Mahabharata-shock"
Sept. 13 - The Vedic cultural and sacrificial background
Reading: van Buitenen, vol. 1, pp. 19-31, 44-123
A. K. Ramanujan, "Is There an Indian Way of Thinking?" (course anthology)
________________________________________________________________________
Week 4: Main Stories, Branches, and "Epic Logic"
Sept. 18 - Is there a Mahabharata way of thinking?
Sept. 20 - Focus in discussion on the stories of the churning of the cosmic
ocean (pp. 72-76), the Garuda bird's theft of the elixir of immortality (71-91),
the adventures of Jaratkaru (69-70, 103-109), and the cursing and death of King
Pariksit (97-103).
Reading: van Buitenen, vol.1. pp. 125-138, 151-194, 216-273
Wendy O'Flaherty, "Horses and Snakes in the Adi Parvan of the Mahabharata"
Writing assignment 2: Select one of the following episodes for discussion. Try
to identify ways in which it relates to the main story or illuminates one of
the principal themes of the Mahabharata. (due in class Tuesday, Sept. 25)
1) Sakuntala (pp. 156-171) 2) Yayati (173-194)
3) King Pandu and the deer (246-263)
________________________________________________________________________
Week 5: Meetings With Remarkable Characters
Sept. 25 - Of Kings, forests, and rivers
Sept. 27 - Focus in discussion on stories of the origins and incarnations of
gods and anti-gods (pp. 136-154), Sakuntala (156-170), King Yayati (182-209),
Mandavya-of-the-stake (134, 237-38), and the "fall" of women (253-54)
Reading: van Buitenen, vol. 1, pp. 275-313, 346-389, 413-431
Alf Hiltebeitel, "Three Krsnas: Variations on a Theme" (course anthoogy)
________________________________________________________________________
Week 6: End of the Beginning
Oct. 2 - The Pandavas and Kauravas; Kunti, Gandhari, and Draupadi; Draupadi's
marriage and Arjuna's adventure; encountering Krsna
Oct. 4 - Birth versus ability: focus in discussion on the stories of Ekalavya
(pp. 270-72), and Karna (278-81); the Brahman family in Ekacakra (302-10), the
story of the five Indras (369-74).
Reading: van Buitenen, vol. 2, pp. 34-66, 76-77, 86-106, 109-169
Purnima Mankekar, "Television Tales and a Woman's Rage" (course anthology)
Writing assignment 3: The dice match between the Kauravas and Pandavas and the
ensuing humiliation of Draupadi is considered one of the most pivotal and fateful
events in the Mahabharata. What in your view are the principal characters, events,
and utterances that contribute to the developing crisis? How is the course of
the epic prefigured or set in these scenes? (due in class Tuesday, Oct. 9)
________________________________________________________________________
Week 7: Beginning of the End - The Dice Match
Oct. 9 - the architecture of Mahabharata Book 2; the assembly hall and the ritual
of the Royal Consecration; gambling as "playing" with fate.
Oct. 11 - the violation of Draupadi (viewing of TV serial episode, discussion)
Reading: van Buitenen, vol. 2, pp. 220-240, 246-253, 274-319, 322-364
________________________________________________________________________
Week 8: Into the Woods
Oct. 16 - the meaning of the forest; discussion of the "great dharma debate"
(274-94)
Oct. 18 - the mini-epic of Nala and Damayanti (322-64)
Reading: van Buitenen, vol. 2, pp. 365-372, 411-441, 490-514, 517-519, 555-585
Writing assignment 4: Select one of the following forest stories and discuss
it, focusing especially on how the story deals with a major epic theme you have
previosuly encountered: the descent to earth of the river Ganga (424-30); the
seduction of sage Rsyasrnga (431-41); the adventures of sage Agastya (411-23).
(due in class Tuesday, Oct. 23)
________________________________________________________________________
Week 9: Tales Sages Tell
Oct. 23 - pilgrimage and "crossing places"
Oct. 25 - discussion of tales (especially the "horny sage," 431-41,
and Bhima's encounter with Hanuman 498-509).
Reading: van Buitenen, vol. 2, pp. 585-599, 614-640, 671-699, 761-807
________________________________________________________________________
Week 10: Out of the Forest
Oct. 30 - More forest wisdom: the Boa's question (555-67); Markandeya's discourse
on Time (585-97); the dialog of the Brahmin and the Hunter (614-37)
Nov. 1 - Savitri's journey to the netherworld (761-78); Karna's birth and encounter
with Indra (779-95); the Riddle-Pool (795-807)
Reading: van Buitenen, vol. 3, pp. 27-130, 188-200, 415-431, 444-461
Robert Goldman, "Gods in Hiding" (course anthology)
Writing assignment 5: Discuss the disguises assumed by any two of the Pandavas
(the five brothers plus Draupadi) during their year of living incognito in King
Virata's realm. How does the disguise "fit" or otherwise comment on
the personality or personal history of each character? (Due in class Tuesday,
Nov. 6)
________________________________________________________________________
Week 11: Concealment, and the Effort
Nov. 6 - the "ludicrous" interlude as prelude to war; the slaying
of Kicaka
Nov. 8 - Krsna's mission to avert war; the temptation of Karna (444-461)
Reading: Miller, Bhagavad Gita (complete)
________________________________________________________________________
Week 12: The Song of the Lord
Nov. 13 - the Bhagavad Gita in the Mahabharata
Nov. 15 - discussion, esp. of chaps. 6-7, 9-12
Reading: W. J. Johnson, Sauptikaparvan, pp. 5-86
James Fitzgerald, "Mahabharata" (course anthology)
[Note: There will be no class on Tuesday, Nov. 20th]
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Week 13: The Sacrificial Holocaust
Nov. 27 - The Sauptikaparvan and its aftermath
Nov. 29 - The final books
Reading: Iravati Karve, Yuganta, pp. 30-62, 79-105 (course anthology)
Rustom Bharucha, "Peter Brook's Mahabharata: A View from India" (course
anthology)
Robert Goldman, "The Great War and Ancient Memory" (course anthology)
________________________________________________________________________
Week 14: Two Modern Cinematic Interpretations
Dec. 4 - Film: Kalyug ("Age of discord," Shyam Benegal, 1980)
Dec. 6 - Film: Hum Paanch ("We five," Bapu, 1980)
Reading: William Sax, "Ritual and Performance in the Pandavalila of Garhwal"
(course anthology)
________________________________________________________________________
Week 15: Modern Folk Interpretations
Dec. 11, 13 - Documentary "The Lady of Gingee" and discussion of modern
Mahabharata interpretations and stagings
Research paper due in class on Thursday, Dec. 13th. Late papers will not be
accepted.