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Not Your Mother's Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is this epic Indian work that encapsulates a great deal of Indian Mythology. It is a magnificent story that is constantly being rewritten and retold since its inception that was either in 3000 BC or 1500 BCE
‘Not Your Mother’s Mahabharata with SP Jayaraj’ is a podcast where I tell the story conversationally to my wife and to friends, most of whom have never heard of the tale, and so listeners familiar and unfamiliar with the story are treated to their entertainingly honest first reactions.
Doing it conversationally as opposed to it being a straight up reading also allows us to examine some of the variations in the story and to pick apart some of the many ideas about life that the Mahabharat brings to the forefront.
This podcast’s goal is to make this great work accessible, memorable, and entertaining to an adult audience, so come in expecting some laughs, some pop culture tangents, and because it is me, my wife, and our friends, definitely some swears.
This is a labor of devotion to the Mahabharat quite unlike any other you might come across.
Not Your Mother's Mahabharata
NYMM 31: The Joyless Jungle. First Years of Exile: Part 1
Our Season 3 begins with Book 3 of the Mahabharata, Vana Parva, - AKA the Book of the Forest
We welcome Ben Kopnick to tell him how the Pandavas are dealing with being exiled following Yudhishthira's failure. Spoiler- not well. Yudhishthira is most concerned about how he's going to feed the loyal brahmins who decide to join the Pandava in their exile.
Duryhodhana in the mean time, swimming in insecurity, wants to deal with the weaponless Pandavas but is stopped by the all knowing Vyasa, whose sage advice he still rejects. Worse, he insults the Sage Maitreya. (D is quite the idiot.)
The Pandavas are then graced with a visit from Krishna, Balarama and other members of the Yadava clan, as well as Draupadi's twin fire born brother Dhrishtadyumna. Poor Draupadi bawls to Krishna about her recent suffering, and dear Ben coming into this story right now doesn't yet have the highest respect for the Pandavas. Who can blame him.
S.P. Jayaraj is the creator of the mythic world of Adijari that is the setting of his two novels, The Secret of the Zipacna Dragons and Legacy of the Crow. He is also a Creative Life Coach through his business Imagination Life Coaching. The Mahabharata and other global mythology inspires him in all his projects.
spjayaraj.com
Azure Anderson-Jayaraj is a musician, a maker, a cat mom, an arts administrator and now a podcast editor.
Ben Kopnick is a freelance writer and pet care provider. Ben would like you to know about Minnesota Pit Bull Rescue.
Have an imaginative day.
Artwork and music by Azure Anderson
