The Mahabharata is a very fascinating and versatile scripture whose relevance is growing over time. The Mahabharata Upanayanam course does a great job of gathering up the lesser known but also the interesting and influential aspects of Mahabharata. I joined the course given my initial interest of the great Ithihasa. What the program has helped me achieve is understand the scriptures in greater detail and it has widened my view of the world itself. One aspect that I liked was that the course is self-paced and the continuous dialogue that the group had during the course of the program.

The Mahabharata Upanayanam is a great course that brings out the breathtaking beauty, pearls of wisdom, values, and principles from the greatest epic mankind has ever seen. The academic setting means that the course lays down facts, opens itself up for questions, and separates itself from perspectives and folklore, very much to the delight of a theology student as to a layperson. It looks at the various characters, their situations and tries to highlight the complexities of the decision-making process, the consensus and compromises they make, and the resulting fortunes and misfortunes.

Amrita University’s virtual course on the Mahabharata was an inspiring and enlightening journey into the deep cultural and spiritual ideals that this grand Itihasa has to offer the world. The in-depth and thought-provoking course material, which included written analyses and online discussions, deepened my love for, and understanding of, the Mahabharata by bringing to life the multifaceted lessons and values that are depicted through the various characters’ journeys and struggles.

The Mahabharata Upanayanam Course helped me to understand it’s importance in our daily life.  Again I understood that it has importance in different spheres of life like personal, social, cultural, financial, geographical, political and environmental spheres. This course helped me to understand the core of Indian Philosophy by having better clarity on puruṣārthas and concentrate on our dharma(duty) by living a life of Nishkama karma. All stories in Mahabharata are real incidents which happens in our life one way or other.

I think that Mahabharata provides very deep knowledge which is applicable to daily life. Going inside Mahabharata is in reality going inside within yourself. The Course has been quite short for me but it is very deep, although sometimes in daily routine you cannot spend much time with the modules. For many years I had this in mind, to know more about Mahabharata, as I knew very little about it. I thank you all for making this course possible, and of course to Mata Amritanandamayi Devi because without her Grace I am sure it would have never been possible.

It has been more than a decade since I first started at Amrita, and I always look back on my experience with much fondness and gratitude. My love for learning, my love for teaching were both nurtured by Amrita’s wonderful teachers and guides. The education at Amrita instilled in me a strong desire to always do my part for society, no matter how small.