International Conference on the Mahabharata May 18, 19, 20, 2001 Concordia University Montreal, Quebec CanadaAcademic Committee Leslie Orr Johanne Rabat T.S. Rukmani Shrinivas Tilak Tejaswini and Chintamani Adkar Tara Bhat Anant and Prabha Herlekar Usha Mukhedkar Vinod and Pushpa Muni Durga Panda Rekha Radhakrishnan Hasu Yajnik ‘Shahla and Shakila Zaki Acknowledgements: Jaya Berkowitch Chand Mehta Dr. MNS. Swamy Munit Merid Tina MontandonDr. M.N.S. Swamy First of its kind in North America, the Chair in Hindu Studies was inaugurated in ‘the year 1989 with Dr. Krishna Sivaraman, the internationally well known scholar, as the first occupant, after prodigious efforts by the Steering Committee organized with myself as the Chair of the Steering Committee, The Committee raised $500,000 from generous contributors and in addition was able to obtain a grant of $400,000 from the Federal Department of Multiculturalism. Concordia University, by accepting these funds for the Chair, fulfilled to a large extent the great need felt by the Hindu community to create opportunities for interested students in Quebec to undertake a complete program in Hindu Studies. Incidentally, it also became the first endowed Chair in any field at Concordia, Dr. Sivaraman, an internationally well known scholar, was the first person to occupy the Chair in 1989. He ably laid the foundations for the effective functioning of the Chair in the Department of Religion, by designing a number of courses in Hinduism to be taught at the undergraduate and graduate levels of instruction. However, within a short time, the University and the community suffered a great loss in the untimely passing away of Dr. Sivaraman in November 1991 Dr. T.S. Rukmani, the present occupant of the Chair, took over the responsibility in 1996, She has continued the activities started by Dr. Sivaraman ably and has expanded and enhanced them in many ways. Apart from adding many more innovative courses to the curriculum, the Chair has, through her travels and lectures in other universities and through her publications and participation in many prestigious conferences raised the profile of the Chair in Hindu Studies both here and in other parts of the world. She organized the first international conference on the Hindu Diaspora in August 1997 which attracted many scholars from around the world. ‘The proceedings were published under the title “Hindu Diaspora: Global Perspectives” and has been very well received both by scholars and laypersons as it covers the Hindu Diaspora question from many angles. The media have been giving adequate coverage to the activities of the Hindu Chair and have consulted her on important occasions like the Kumbh Mela recently. The CBC's TV programme on Kumbh Mela was viewed and appreciated by many in Canada, Dr. T.S. Rukmani is actively involved with the community and is busy giving talks, organizing seminars and helping the members whenever there is a need. She takes her commitment to the community very seriously and in furtherance of that aim conducts an ‘Out-Reach Class’ for two hours every week, voluntarily, where Sanskrit texts are taught and a number of the community members attend this class, which is growing in popularity, T understand that so far she has covered some Upanishads, the Bhagavad-Gita and the Vivekachudamani and intends to do the Yogasutra-s of Patanjali this year. By giving Dr. Rukmani an award for distinguished service to the Community, the National Association for Canadians of Indian Origin has recognized this all-round contribution to the community life by the Chair. “The Chair is organizing this second International Conference on the Mahabharata and the world-wide response it has elicited also speaks for the recognition that Dr. T.S. Rukmani commands in the international, scholarly world. A number of well known scholars from many parts of the world have come to this Conference and the community is indeed very proud and happy that it is given an opportunity to participate and learn about its own heritage in such learned gatherings. 3I would like to close this short introduction to the Chair in Hindu Studies with the following verses from the Shiva Sankalpa Hridayam of the Yajurveda: That which sleeps not, while I sleep ‘That which transcends and sweeps the barriers of Time, Space and Being ‘And That which animates the living organisms and their sense organs to function properly ‘May that mind of mine entertain auspicious thoughts only. Urged whereby the wise and the learned, People of integrity and friendly disposition take the initiative Ina spirit of love and sacrifice, To think right and act accordingly May that mind of mine cherish sublime aspirations only. That which is absolute and not merely relative, That which, when brought under control and humanized, Helps one to tread the right path May that mind of mine reflect, ponder and deliberate only What are essentially Right and True.Johanne M. Rabat Selected Activities of the Chair in Hindu Studies extracted from the Faculty Research Interests and Publications, Concordia University, Department of Religion ‘The Chair in Hindu Studies has delivered lectures on Yoga, Indian Philosophy and related topics at many universities and community centres in many countries. She has taken pains (o build up the Hinduism collection of books in the Concordia University Library. Dr. Rukmani was an invited participant at the following conferences: the World Sanskrit Conference held in Delhi in April, 2001 ‘Hinduism and Ecology’ Seminar at the Centre for the Study of World Religions, Harvard University, October 1998 the Sixth International Conference on ‘Devotion in the Indian Tradition’ at the University of Cambridge, England, July 2000 the ‘Sankhya’ Conference at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, August 1998 She was visiting professor at the Summer School teaching Hinduism in Jerusalem, July 1997. She is a member of several committees and organizations such as: Member, Indian Philosophical Quarterly; Member on the Consultative Committee of the International Association for Sanskrit Studies, 1994-present; Member on the Advisory Board for the Tenth World Sanskrit Conference held in Bangalore, India in 1997. She was awarded the title “Vidyavacaspati” (doctor of philosophy) at that conference by Mandakini; Chair, Standing Committee on Epics, World Association for Vedic Studies, Los Angeles, August 1998-2000; ‘Member of the Steering Committee on Hinduism of the American Academy of Religion, 2000-present; ‘Member, American Academy of Religion; ‘Member, American Oriental Society; Member, Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute;‘Some of her recent publications are: Book Yogasutrabhasyavivarana of Sankara, in two volumes, New Delhi: (2001), Munshiram Manoharlal Pvt. Lid. Chapters in Books “Literary Foundations for an Ecological Aesthetic: Dharma, Ayurveda, the Arts, and Abhijnanasakuntalam” in Hinduism and Ecology: The Intersection of Earth, Sky, and Water, (eds) Christopher Key Chapple and Mary Evelyn Tucker, Harvard University, 2000 “Turmoil, Hope and the Swadhyayamandali” in South Asia Between Turmoil and Hope, (ed) Hugh Johnston et al, Canadian Asian Studies Association and Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, 2000 anmukti in Sankhya/Yoga- Is it Epistemic or Ontic” in Quest for Perfection (ed) D.P. Chattopadhyaya et al, 2000, Delhi: Richa Prakashan “Vedanta and the Bhakti Traditions” in Facets of Indian Culture (ed) P.C. Muralimadhavan, Delhi: 1999, Oriental Book Centre “Sannyasa, Sankara and the Bhagavadgita” in Journal of Studies on Ancient India, Los Angeles, 1998 “Sannyasa and the 18, 19" and 20* century Reformers of Modern India” in Brahma Vidya, 1999, Madras, Theosophical Society “Sankara is not the Author of the Yogasutrabhasyavivarana” in Journal of Indian Philosophy, Holland: 1998 “Gandhi and Women” in Gender in World Religions, Vol. VIL, 1998, Montreal: McGill University “The Concept of the Self in Hindu Thought” in Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 1998, England: Routledge “Tension Between Vyutthana and Nirodha in the Yogasutras” in Journal of Indian Philosophy, Holland: 1997 Other Academic Activities Dr. Rukmani was a respondent for the Plenary Talk by Madhu Kishwar on ‘Allies or Adversaries? The Continuity, Hold and Power of the Female Moral Exemplars in Hindu Religious Tradition’ at the International Assi for History of Religions, held in Durban, South Africa, August 2000; Respondent for ‘Hinduism in Diaspora’ at the above Conference; Respondent for panel on ‘Revisioning Patanjali’s Dualism: The Paradox of Practice’ at the American Academy of Religion Annual Conference at Nashville, Tenessee, November 2000. 6International Conference on the Mahabharata Dr. Shrinivas Tilak The Mahabharata is a unique phenomenon in the literary and cultural history not only of India but also of the world. This great epic poem in 100,000 stanzas purports to narrate recorded history of the people of India who are said to be the descendants of King Bharata. The term Mahabharata is often taken to imply its enormous size (mahatrva) and “weight” (bharavattva) (1:1.209). Also known as the fifth Veda, it actually is said to outweigh the Veda. More conventionally though, the Mahabharata is itihasa, which according to Kautilya, comprised of itivrtta (record of deeds of great heroes), akhyayika(legends), udahardna (illustrative narratives and episodes), arthasastra (political theory and economy, science of administration), and dharmasastra (manual of instruction on righteous behavior), Jtivrtta included accounts by three types of officials (stita, magadha, bandin) who recorded exploits of kings who had (1) ruled in the distant past; (2) in the more recent past; and (3) presently ruling, respectively But the Mahabharata (or the Ramayana for that matter) was rarely intended to be read privately as a text. The instruction on dharma has been transmitted more usually through the medium of song, dance, and drama. There is a long tradition of large audiences who wimessed (and continue to do so even today) live performances in an array of styles that range from a short recitation by a single performer and informal women’s singing groups to all-night shadow puppet plays and professional productions. Artists and writers, whether Indian or others, have found in the stories of this great epic excellent vehicles for the expression of their creative genius. ‘The appeal of the Mahabharata therefore is not merely Indian or national; it is essentially human and universal. This comes across clearly in the proud claim-whatever ‘embodied in this epic may be found elsewhere; but what is not found here, it will be impossible to find elsewhere (vad iha'sti tad anyatra yan ne haisti na tat kvacit (1:56.33). Indeed, one of the most striking features of this poem is that every reader is likely to find in it something, It is in this sense that the Mahabharata belongs to every citizen of the world. Perhaps inspired by such catholic outlook, M. N. Dutt single-handedly managed to complete in twelve volumes a verse by verse English translation in 1901. Subsequently, the critical edition of the Mahabharata, partly sponsored by the International Council for the Philosophy and Humanistic Studies, UNESCO, was brought out by an intemational team of scholars at the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Pune, India in twenty- eight volumes between 1923-1972. ‘The University of Chicago, well known for its enduring commitment to Indological research, thought it fit to commission an annotated and critical English translation based on the Pune edition, Between 1973-1978, three volumes appeared which were edited by A. van Buitenen, the renowned Dutch Indologist. The perennial, world wide appeal of this epic was also the rationale behind Peter Brook's nine-hour-long recreation of “The Mahabharata” as a play, which premiered at the French Festival of India in Paris in 1987. ‘Yet, one of the main difficulties of scholarly appreciation and evaluation of this immense poem has been how to approach it and what methodological apparatus to employ. For instance, was the whole Mahabharata conceived according to a single literary design with one central idea and purpose governing it? An analogous question is 7whether or not the poem is only an accidental collection of myths and historical record. Addressing such questions will Jead to a better understanding the major characters of the epic. Because, without there being a uniform design of the whole Mahabharata, characters such as Yudhisthira, Arjuna or Draupadi would be marionettes hanging together in the various episodes without an inner or organic connection or relation among them. Such issues of the plan and purpose of the Mahabharata and consequently the method/s of interpreting and teaching it have been the subject matter of much scholarly discussion since the most ancient times, According to V.S. Sukthankar, who initiated the project of the critical edition, the Mahabharata must be understood in its complete meaning on three planes. On the mundane plane, the story deals with the account of a fratricidal war centered on the epic characters. On the ethical plane the war depicts between dharma and adharma, good nd evil, justice and injustice, with the final victory of dharma. On the transcendental plane the war is fought between the higher and lower self. The power charting and guiding human history through the field of dharma-adharma toward a peaceful resolution and end was Sri Krsna. It is against this background of the Mahabharata that the Chair in Hindu Studies, in association with the Department of Religion at Concordia University, Montreal has organized an international conference to recognize a century of solid scholarship (both Indian and western) that made the Mahabharata accessible to a wider audience beyond India. Between May 18-20, 2001, leading authorities will present papers to review the past achievements in the field of Mahabharata studies and to delineate areas of future research in this field. More than thirty scholars of international repute will present their papers in the following panels: 3) Methodological Problems of Teaching the Mahabharata 2) Character Analysis based on Ethical Issues 3) Challenge and Response in the Context of Philosophical, Social and Other Issues, This forum is expected to provide both formal and informal opportunities for the academics to explore the avenues of improving existing courses on India in Canadian universities. In addition, it will give added impetus to develop new India-related courses in Canadian universities. Key speakers and presenters to the conference have been invited in recognition of their solid contribution to research work and publication in the field of Mahabharata studies. Similarly, graduate students from across Canada and the United States who have been working in allied areas have been encouraged to read papers at this Conference. The conference has attracted many distinguished scholars from India many of who have made arrangements to visit other university campuses across Canada both before and after this conference is over. This will facilitate improved dialogue between visiting scholars and their Canadian counterparts on a variety of topics of mutual interest thereby creating opportunities for meaningful encounters as well as fostering international linkages. In 1997, the Chair in Hindu Studies, Concordia University had organized a similar International Conference on the Hindu Diaspora, which was a huge success, The proceedings of that conference, which were published in 1999, have been very well received. The publication of the proceedings of the forthcoming conference will be grected with equal critical acclaim, 8International Conference on the Mahabharata Hall Building Concordia University 1455 deMaisonneuve W. Montreal, Quebec Canada FRIDAY, MAY 18TH 2001 ic One: Registration (Lobby H-110). Inaugural Function (H-110) Welcome: Dr, T.S. Rukmani (Chair in Hindu Studies, Concordia University) Formal Introduction of the Keynote Speaker: Dr. Frederick H. Lowy (Rector and Vice Chancellor, Concordia University) Keynote Address: Dr. Gerald J, Larson: (Rabindranath Tagore Professor of Indian Cultures and Civilizations, Indiana University, Bloomington) “>, kim akurvata, Samjaya’?; The Great War in the Night of a Thousand Suns”. Vote of Thanks: Dr. MNS. Swamy (Director, Centre for Signal Processing and Communications, Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science, Concordia University) Refreshments 10:30-11:00 Session One (H-411).. 11300-1230 Chair: John Grimes Panel: Barbara Gombach: How did the Sanskrit Mahabharata Become Old? John Hellweg: Peter Brook’s The Mahabharata: The Exigencies of Intercultural and Intersemiotic Translation Alf Hiltebeitel: Bhishma’s Sources Lunch Break 12:30-14:00International Conference on the Mahabharata Session Two (HI-411). Chair: Knut Jacobsen Panel: Patricia Greer: Ethical Discourse in Udvogaparvan John Grimes: Dreams, Omens and Ever-receding Cosmologies in the Mahabharata Madan Sankhder: Methodological Crisis in Mahabharata Research Lakshminarayanan Sethuraman: Methodology in the Mahabharata Katherine Young. Brahma-astra and the Ethics of Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Mahabharata 16:00-16:15 16:15-17:45 Edeltraub Harzer Panel: ‘Narahari Achar: Planetarium Software and the Date of the Mahabharata War Greg Bailey: The Mahabharata’s Simultaneous Affirmation and Critique of the Universal Validity of Dharma Lisa Crothers: Duryodhana’s Pride and Perception: The Dynamics of Distrust in the Moment of Counsel at the Kaurava Court Dinner .. 17:48-19:30 Mira Katha by Meera Grimes (H-110).. - 19:30 10tional yharate SATURDAY, MAY 19TH 2001 Sesston One (H-411). Chair: Greg Bailey Pan Falguni Desai: Mahabharata as the Encyclopedia of Indian Morality and Culture: Character Analysis of Yayati Based on Issues of Dharma and Kama James Fitzgerald: Dharmaputra, KankaDharmardja: The Unknown Yudhisthira of the Mahabharata Johanne M. Rabat Savitri, Damayanti and Sulabha in the Context of the Mahabbarata 10:30-11:00 11:00-12:30 Chair: James Fitzgerald Panel: ‘Gautam Chatterjee: ‘A Philosophical Resolution of the Ethical Dilemmas Posed by Bhishma’s Promises Richard Mann: ‘The Birth and Forms of Skanda: The Early Textual Development of Skanda in Mahabharata 3.207-221 Rajpal Singh Negi & Living Legend of Raja Duryodhan: Socio- ‘Atul Saklani: Historical Constructions on Mahabharata in Himalayan Society nInternational Conference on the Mahabharata Session Three (H-411), Chair: Lakshminarayanan Sethuraman Panel: Aditya Adarkar: Kama’s Choice: Courage and Character in the Face of an Ethical Dilemma Edeltraub Harzer: Was the Great-Uncle Bhisma a Vratya Ascetic Warrior? ‘Tanisha Ramachandran: Changing Natures, Corporeal Metamorphosis: Bhima’s “Other” Wife-—The Story of Hidimba Y.N. Sharma: Character of Lord Krishna in Jain Krishna Katha Literature Break .. 16:00-16:30 16:30-18:00 Session Four (H-411 Chair: Alf Hiltebeitel Panel: Christopher Chapple: Arguna’s Argument: Family Secrets Unveiled Rasik Vihari Joshi: ‘Simkhya and Yoga in the Santi Parvan, Nick Sutton: What is Dharma? A Consideration of Ethical Tensions within the Mahabharata SUNDAY, MAY 20TH 2001 ny hi Other Issues Registration (Lobby H-110).... 12International Conference.on the Mahabharata One (H-411)... +09 :00-10:30 Christopher Chapple Panel: ‘Arti Dhand: Tales of Metamorphosis in the Mahabharata: Masculine Identity in Crisis. Knut Jacobsen: Kapila in the Mahabharata ‘Tamar Reich ‘The Buddhist as the Sacrificial Reviler in the Mahabharata see 10:30-11:00 11:00-12:30 Panel: Ravi Prakash Arya: Science and Technology in Mahabharata Rama Bhat: Applied Acoustics in Mahabharata ‘Swasti Bhattacharya: Infertility and Reproductive Technology: An Examination of the Narratives of Kunti and Gandhari 2:30-14:00 Lunch Session Three (H-411. 1 14:00-16:00 Chair: Anirudh Joshi Pan Emily Hudson Heaven's Riddles or the Hell Trick: Theodicy and Narrative Strategies in the Mahabharata Matthew Kosuta: Militarism, Ethics, Duty and Sacrifice: Musings on the Kurukshetra War Benjamin Preciado-Solis: ‘The Episode of the Mausala Parvan. Julian Woods Destiny and Human Initiative in the Mahabharata 13,Break .... + 16:00-16:30 Valedictory Function (H-110).. 16:30 General Welcome: Dr. Shrinivas Tilak (Conference Coordinator) Formal Introduction of Dr. Madhav Deshpande: Dr. T.S. Rukmani (Chair in Hindu Studies, Concordia University) Valedictory Address: Dr. Madhav M. Deshpande (Professor of Sanskrit and Linguistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor) “Interpreting the Mahabharata”. Reflections on the Conference Proceedings: Dr. Rasik Vihari Joshi (Visiting Professor, University of Mexico) Dr. Katherine Young (Professor of Hinduism, McGill University) Vote of Thanks: Johanne M. Rabbat (Deputy Conference Coordinator) 14Addendum The title and the abstract of Professor Peter M. Scharf's paper were inadvertantly excluded from the conference programme and the brochure respectively. We sincerely regret these omissions. International Conference on the Mahabharata Friday, May 18" 2001 Topic One: Methodological Problems of Teaching the Mahabharata Session Two (Hf-411) a 14200-16200 Chair: Knut Jacobsen Panel: Patricia Greer: Ethical Discourse in Udyogaparvan John Grimes: Dreams, Omens and Ever-receding Cosmologies in the Mahabharata Peter M. Scharf Ramopakhyina: The Story of Rama in the Mahabharata A web-based and printed reader for Sanskrit students Lakshminarayanan Sethuraman: Methodology in the Mahabharata eeeeeee Ramopakhyana: The Story of Rama in the Mahabharata ‘A web-based and printed reader for Sanskrit students Peter M. Scharf Teachers constantly face the dilemma of bringing their material to the students versus bringing the students to the material. Difficulties arise in the case of an organic text like the Mahabharata, and most Sanskrit literature is of an organic nature like the Mahabharata, because the text becomes static as it departs from its original element. As oral text is recorded in writing, manuscripts edited into critical editions, the text of critical editions separated from its variants, variations of style leveled in translation, and cultural tone flattened in modem retellings and productions acceptable to contemporary culture, the difficulty in teaching the Mahabharata scems to be that there is little of the Mahabharata left in what is taught. One new teaching tool attempts to Iead students to the full flavor of the living Sanskrit text.