tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100791158359408086.comments2024-03-06T13:46:57.116-08:00Mahabharata PodcastLawrence Manzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12849457241634723440noreply@blogger.comBlogger516125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100791158359408086.post-8571249995081365732018-05-11T03:06:16.827-07:002018-05-11T03:06:16.827-07:00Dear Lawrence,
I made it! Thank you for the great...Dear Lawrence,<br /><br />I made it! Thank you for the great effort, I really loved your Podcast and I`ll miss it. <br /><br />As a admirer of Joseph Campbell I found your thoughts on the precession and the churning of the milk ocean especially interesting - although, I have to admit, debatable. <br /><br />Having read the mahabharata partly in a german translation and fully in a german retelling, I found your composition absolutely amazing. You`re right, this work was to be transmitted orally. You did great work in carrying that out. Thank you and may the promised blessings be with you.<br /><br /><br />Greetings from Berlin<br /><br />Mark Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100791158359408086.post-22037672174683355682018-05-09T00:28:41.034-07:002018-05-09T00:28:41.034-07:00Namaste Lawrence, Thank you for making such an awe...Namaste Lawrence, Thank you for making such an awesome podcast! Loved every minute of it and I have recommended this podcast to my friends and family.<br />Thanks again, and I am grateful to you who has ignited me to research more on my religion.<br />Hari om.chandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08009883027193236577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100791158359408086.post-37167945363496656992018-03-17T05:30:17.958-07:002018-03-17T05:30:17.958-07:00Thank you Lawrence. Its a selfless service you hav...Thank you Lawrence. Its a selfless service you have done for the world.<br />Also you have brought me closer to my own culture and heritage.Abhiroophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12777412295353602279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100791158359408086.post-12454630643574230072018-03-16T02:41:50.172-07:002018-03-16T02:41:50.172-07:00I know I am a bit late to the party, but I am just...I know I am a bit late to the party, but I am just about to conclude the podcast and its been one of the best I've heard. Being an Indian, it was a good source of learning one of my epic. Thank you for the information, I am sure collecting it all wouldn't have been easy!Tanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10049282420210164180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100791158359408086.post-9819120399443104832018-02-28T09:40:40.542-08:002018-02-28T09:40:40.542-08:00Hi Lawrence,
I have already listened to the 100 ep...Hi Lawrence,<br />I have already listened to the 100 episodes over 7 times by now, since finding it in 2013 or so. I definitely feel the sacredness of the Mahabharata (even though, like you, I am a western person with interest in eastern culture and religion). I can actually see the happenings of the Mahabharata in my life, both from the main storyline and the side stories, and it is very instructive and helpful.<br />I just wanted to drop a line here to thank you.<br />PatangaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100791158359408086.post-43996251956772300482017-11-06T19:34:15.535-08:002017-11-06T19:34:15.535-08:00Just letting you know that I've finished the t...Just letting you know that I've finished the trip, all 100 episodes! Thanks for your hard work. <br /><br />I started listening because I had had occasion to work with students on parts of the Bhagavad Gita but felt like I didn't know enough about the whole epic to have some context. The intertextual nature of the poem was daunting. Now I can pick up the translations I have and feel like I can fit them into the whole with some confidence. That's thanks to you.Kennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100791158359408086.post-35887917258455261802017-09-21T17:06:32.109-07:002017-09-21T17:06:32.109-07:00Lawrence, thank you ! I totally enjoyed your podca...Lawrence, thank you ! I totally enjoyed your podcast. This was truly helpful. You interpretations are also appreciated.<br /><br />regards<br />ShantanuAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100791158359408086.post-40356683597762061682017-09-15T04:26:56.836-07:002017-09-15T04:26:56.836-07:00Woohoo, I made it!
Thank you, Mr. Manzo, for taki...Woohoo, I made it!<br /><br />Thank you, Mr. Manzo, for taking out the time to do the podcast. You did a great job; it's been a couple of days since I completed the series, and I already miss the daily dose of your storytelling.<br /><br />I read the other comments on the blog; this might be a rare opinion: I especially enjoyed the casual and blunt parts... you know, the parts which others might consider "rude". Generally, I'm not one for crass and fart-humour, but I found it absolutely hilarious when characters spewed profanities in your retelling.<br /><br />Anyway, I hope you're well. If you have the time, I was wondering if you could point me towards works which, in your opinion, best cover (i) the philosophy of the Bhagavad Gita, and (ii) the philosophy discussions between Vidur and Dhritarashtra.<br /><br />Also, how can I keep track of what you're up to next.<br /><br />Thanks and have a good day!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100791158359408086.post-45375161629524467572017-09-09T11:14:10.857-07:002017-09-09T11:14:10.857-07:00This is what I needed for my study on mahabharata....This is what I needed for my study on mahabharata.<br />This is my blog http://www.mindbloggers.club/10-lesser-known-stories-characters-mahabharata/Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04505414404267333507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100791158359408086.post-30940303208936192692017-07-15T11:56:50.697-07:002017-07-15T11:56:50.697-07:00Thanks for the link to the book. I haven't re...Thanks for the link to the book. I haven't read it yet, but it looks interesting. Regarding niyoga and the Pandavas' possible parentage; there is one reference (that I recall) to the practice of niyoga in the previous generation-- Vyasa stands in for Santanu as father of Vidur, Pandu & Dhrtarashtra. <br />As for the father of the Pandavas, we only have the Mahabharata as a source, and it is adamant about them being the sons of devas. There is no mystery about it, and no room for speculation. I appreciate how people want to make real-life sense out of the story and try to fit it into the realm of the believable, but the epic itself allows no room for such speculation. <br />As I discussed in one of the last episodes, there are parts of the story that are ambiguous, such as why Yuddistira kept playing the dice game until all was lost and how it was that the Kauravas won every round. I think we are free to speculate on that because the narrator really doesn't give us a clear answer.<br />But in the case of the Pandavas' fathers, Vyasa is very clear as to what took place. If we are going to start throwing out parts of the story that don't fit our belief system, then we'll have nothing at all-- just opinions.<br />The supernatural aspects of the story remain a puzzle, but we can't ignore them just because they seem unrealistic. That would be like when Thomas Jefferson cut all of the miracles out of the gospels in the New Testament! Who is he to say that Jesus could not heal lepers or raise the dead?!? Once you claim that certain assertions in the text are incorrect, you undermine the validity of the entire text. <br />In my opinion, all we can do is appreciate the story for what it is and savor the mystery! We can also look to it for clues as to what the ancient (pre-flood) world was really like, and how people saw the world at that time. The Mahabharata has been believed and passed on to later generations for many thousands of years, so it must have been credible to those ancient listeners. None of them said it was impossible for devas & women to have children together.<br />There certainly are parallels with other traditions of "gods" having hybrid children with human wives. For example, look at the Nephilim in Genesis 6 as well as the Greek myths. The biblical tradition considers all of these demi-gods to be negative, while in the Mahabharata all of the demi-gods are good guys (the Kauravas are genetically modified humans with the souls of Asuras). <br />The Mahabharata is a huge mystery, and if there is any truth to it at all, it must be telling us that in a prior age we had more magic, and the devas physically interacted with mortals much more often (and openly) than today. I'm inclined to believe that explanation over any attempt at removing the supernatural elements from the story.<br />Take care!<br />-LawrenceLawrence Manzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12849457241634723440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100791158359408086.post-78005966978714001502017-07-15T06:01:38.712-07:002017-07-15T06:01:38.712-07:00I loved your podcast. Thanks for your brilliant ef...I loved your podcast. Thanks for your brilliant effort.<br /><br />In your research on Mahabharata, what interesting things have you found about the practice of Niyoga. The english translation of S.L.Bhyrappa's kannada book Parva has a lot to say about Niyoga.<br /><br />Link to the book titled Parva, written by S.L.Bhyrappa:<br /><br />http://gen.lib.rus.ec/search.php?req=bhyrappa&lg_topic=libgen&open=0&view=simple&res=25&phrase=1&column=def<br /><br />Also,<br /><br />In your podcast, in Episode 93, @12:50 you describe a scene in the forest where Yudhistira encounters Vidura in deep meditation.<br /><br />Irawati Karve, in her book Yuganta, extrapolates from this scene that Vidura is the father of Yudhistira.<br />------------------<br /><br />Vidura gave Dharma everything — his life, his organs, his brilliance. This behaviour at the time of death is like that of father and son. In the Upanishad there is a description of what a man nearing death is to do: he should lie on the bare ground, and make<br />his son lie on top of him, saying “Son, I give you my organs.” The son should reply, “I accept.” In this way the dying man transfers all his power, wealth, and intelligence to his son. This last visit of Dharma and Vidura seems to describe this same kind of transfer.<br /><br />...<br /><br />It is said in the later Shastras that a man should sleep with his brother’s wife only when necessity arises to create a son in his brother’s name. <br /><br />...<br />If Dharma is the natural son of Vidura and the legal son of Pandu, the whole Mahabharata conflict is no longer between the sons of Dhritarashtra and Pandu, but among the sons of all three brothers.<br />------------------<br />Your thoughts?<br />p2.rabhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02725259038015467993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100791158359408086.post-22551634356902888162017-07-03T12:48:03.221-07:002017-07-03T12:48:03.221-07:00Great podcast . Looking forward for your new podca...Great podcast . Looking forward for your new podcasts . Ravihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11490052297480061448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100791158359408086.post-36269286557424938162017-06-20T01:28:33.975-07:002017-06-20T01:28:33.975-07:00Brilliant podcast. Thoroughly enjoyed listening. D...Brilliant podcast. Thoroughly enjoyed listening. Deserves a lot of credit for the narration, super job! பேரின்ப பேச்சுக்காரன்https://www.blogger.com/profile/10965430327319401291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100791158359408086.post-23102482091800129412017-06-18T17:25:16.724-07:002017-06-18T17:25:16.724-07:00Really awesome podcast - thanks for doing this! Really awesome podcast - thanks for doing this! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100791158359408086.post-1374736881646169992017-05-23T10:13:56.514-07:002017-05-23T10:13:56.514-07:00The podcast is wonderful.Having grown up reading t...The podcast is wonderful.Having grown up reading the Mahabharata, i was looking for a refresher of sorts and came across this. Its part of my commute and am halfway through and find it absolutely interesting. I like the more 'modern' retelling of the story in a language I am more comfortable with (problem with my generation!!!) and irreverence just makes it more real. Thanks for this. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100791158359408086.post-24279105967527912822017-05-02T08:55:57.909-07:002017-05-02T08:55:57.909-07:00Very good podcast!!Very good podcast!!NNRAOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06968658344197500880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100791158359408086.post-57290220241199414472017-04-13T01:58:51.228-07:002017-04-13T01:58:51.228-07:00Thanks, you can reach me at mahabharatapodcast@com...Thanks, you can reach me at mahabharatapodcast@comcast.net. Lawrence Manzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12849457241634723440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100791158359408086.post-22284690899901617332017-04-12T06:47:09.219-07:002017-04-12T06:47:09.219-07:00Hello Lawrence,
Many many thanks for your time an...Hello Lawrence,<br /><br />Many many thanks for your time and effort in putting together this podcast. It is simply exemplary. I haven't read any books or seen any movies related to Mahabharata but this podcast certainly gave me more information that I could imagine. It was put together so well and your incredible narration makes it even more interesting. I made it through 100 episodes. I would like to send a direct message to you. Please let me know if there is an email I can contact you at.<br /><br />God Bless !!!<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100791158359408086.post-47599299705650959162017-03-25T10:20:53.528-07:002017-03-25T10:20:53.528-07:00Thanks so much for taking the time to make this Po...Thanks so much for taking the time to make this Podcast. I'm a white dude who married an Indian girl, so I've been doing what I can to learn more about India and its culture and epics, so this was great. I actually found your podcast after being frustrated with the slow episode production of a different Mahabharata podcast that is currently being developed by Sudipta Bhawmik (I'm sure I'm not the first one to tell you that someone is following in your footsteps). I really appreciated your asides for analysis through the work, you don't get that so much with Bhawmik's podcast. But they are both good! <br /><br />Thanks again.<br /><br />P.S. While I haven't searched through your website yet to look for this to see if you've already done what I'm about to ask for, but I was wondering if you could consolidate a set of links to the other sources and podcasts of Indian epics and material that you briefly mentioned in some of your episodes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100791158359408086.post-24488842781926175772017-03-23T04:37:09.364-07:002017-03-23T04:37:09.364-07:00Hey Lawrence, I finished the story today. Happy Mo...Hey Lawrence, I finished the story today. Happy Moksha to you as well. :P On other note, it was a brilliant experience and I do hope to revisit this story in the later part of life. It was an interesting story and you have narrated it precisely. Being an Indian, I have heard this story and witnessed the television series intermediately.<br /><br />To be frank, none was as clear as your podcast. I would request you to kindly produce another podcast series on Greek mythology. Even if you do not, you have a fan for life. I was curious about this story but hate reading large books. Your podcast was a life saver. Thanks a ton and wish you all the best. If you desire, will send you some cows for your immaculate narration. :)<br /><br />Cheers,<br />PratikPratzgh1https://www.blogger.com/profile/02456559468919289512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100791158359408086.post-47521125674802130602017-03-19T20:07:40.850-07:002017-03-19T20:07:40.850-07:00Thanks! If you can pinpoint the episode and what ...Thanks! If you can pinpoint the episode and what time inside that recording where you found skips, I should be able to fix it up. No one has reported such a problem before, so it might have been a streaming issue on your side. Please let me know what you find out! Lawrence Manzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12849457241634723440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100791158359408086.post-57433703492815599332017-03-18T19:50:32.423-07:002017-03-18T19:50:32.423-07:00I've been downloading the podcasts on iTunes; ...I've been downloading the podcasts on iTunes; I'll go back through some of the podcasts and see if I can provide you some additional examples.Milapnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100791158359408086.post-19768580591096239432017-03-18T17:42:01.267-07:002017-03-18T17:42:01.267-07:00Can you tell me how you have been listening to thi...Can you tell me how you have been listening to this series-- from the blog, from iTunes as a podcast, or in an android app? That will help me figure out the problem with the audio.Lawrence Manzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12849457241634723440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100791158359408086.post-46954319836481482262017-03-18T17:37:09.884-07:002017-03-18T17:37:09.884-07:00Sorry, but I don't know of any audio book read...Sorry, but I don't know of any audio book readings of the Mahabharata. Lawrence Manzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12849457241634723440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100791158359408086.post-55645556575410064242017-03-18T17:35:01.553-07:002017-03-18T17:35:01.553-07:00Sorry for the long delay-- I used the Critical Edi...Sorry for the long delay-- I used the Critical Edition as my source for this episode. I'm not sure how they decided it was "original" text...Lawrence Manzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12849457241634723440noreply@blogger.com