u/Gnana2008

I personally like Satyajit Ray, and i think he would have nailed its philosophical depth and its exploration of human greed, pride, humiliation, political corruption, and the complete collapse of morality.

Rajamouli is excellent at storytelling, emotional moments, character introductions, elevation scenes, and large-scale action. However, when it comes to the Kurukshetra War specifically, I think Zack Snyder could have the edge. His choreography, visual style, and especially his use of dark, muted colour palettes would suit the grim and heavy atmosphere of an 18-day war incredibly well.

As for Aamir Khan, idk much about his directorial vision since he's primarily an actor and producer, so I can't really judge how he'd approach the material as a filmmaker.

Consider this your punishment for having eyes 😭 I had to suffer through reading this shii, and now I’m making sure none of you escape reading this shii

Since I'm Telugu, the worship of Draupadi is quite prevalent in South India, esp in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. I'm from the Chittoor region of Rayalaseema, Andhra Pradesh, and this tradition is actually something I've grown up seeing. In our region, annual jatras/thirunallu are held for Draupadi and the five Pandavas, with Dharmaraja often having a particularly prominent role. These celebrations can include Mahabharatam storytelling, performances, processions, and other rituals.

I'm curious whether there are similar traditions in other parts of India that you're familiar with? I'd especially love to hear from people who have grown up around Draupadi Amman/Draupadi Devi temples and festivals. I also heard this tradition has actually spread outside India through the Tamil diaspora there are Draupadi Amman temples and festivals in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Mauritius, Réunion and South Africa.

Meiporul Nayanar is one of the 63 Nayanars, and his story is one of the most striking examples of extreme Śaiva bhakti. His story is mainly known from the Periya Puranam. Meiporul was a Chedi king and a fierce devotee of Shiva.

He welcomed every devotee of Lord Shiva. Anyone smeared with vibhuti and adorned with rudraksha was not considered a mere visitor; to him, they were Lord Shiva himself in disguise. Such was his faith that he opened his palace gates day and night to Shiva devotees. No guards dared to question those who bore the holy ash. He would rise with reverence to greet them, no matter the hour. He organised glorious pujas in Shiva temples. The kingdom flourished along with Shaivism and the arts.

Muthanathan, the king of a neighbouring state, became envious of Tirukkoyilur's prosperity. He attacked Tirukkoyilur numerous times but was defeated by Meiporul Nayanar's troops each time. Following this, Muthanathan understood that he could never defeat Meiporul Nayanar by fair means and devised a devious stratagem: he would destroy the very thing Meiporul held most sacred.

Muthanathan arrived in Tirukkoyilur disguised as a Shaiva yogi. The guards let him through, and eventually he reached the king's bedchamber, guarded by Dathan. While Dathan tried to dissuade the ascetic from entering since the king was resting, Muthanathan insisted that he wanted to teach the king the knowledge of attaining emancipation. Dathan let him through. The queen awoke upon seeing the ascetic enter and awakened the king.

Muthanathan said that he had come to educate Meiporul in secret knowledge imparted to him by Shiva himself and requested privacy with the king. Meiporul sent his queen and guards away. He placed Muthanathan on a high seat while he sat at the feet of the ascetic.

Muthanathan removed a dagger hidden in a scroll and stabbed the king. His face filled with cruel satisfaction.

"I am Muthanathan," he hissed. "And this... is your weakness, Meiporul. You placed your trust in appearances. And now, I have won."

Meiporul, bleeding and gasping for breath, looked up at his enemy... and smiled.

"No, Muthanatha," he whispered with grace. "You haven't defeated me... I still see only a devotee of Shiva in you. Even now, I bow to that form. If I must fall, let it be at the hands of a Shivanadiyaar."

Dathan, who had been suspicious of the ascetic's intentions from the beginning, had hidden in the room and rushed toward the king's chamber. He was about to attack the ascetic when Meiporul dissuaded him, saying that, as a Shaiva devotee, the ascetic was worthy of his protection.

Muthanathan was left speechless with guilt and shame. Meiporul commanded Dathan to ensure that the ascetic was escorted unharmed to the boundary of the kingdom.

While the king's subjects charged at the false ascetic, Dathan prevented them from harming Muthanathan, informing them of the king's orders. Dathan accompanied Muthanathan outside the city and left him in an uninhabited forest, where no one could harm him.

Dathan returned to the king and conveyed the news of the ascetic's safety. Meiporul called his ministers, wife, and kin to his deathbed and advised them to propagate Shaivism. He closed his eyes and meditated on Shiva.

Shiva appeared before him and blessed him. Shiva took Meiporul Nayanar to Kailash, his abode.

And at the end, I would like to conclude this post with a verse sung by Saint Sundara in the Thiruthondar Thogai :

வெல்லுமா மிகவல்ல மெய்ப்பொருளுக் கடியேன்
“I am the servant of the mighty Meiporul, who never wavered in truth.”

Unlike in the Critical and Northern Recension, Arjuna in the Southern Recension didn't remain silent on Draupadi's humiliation; he was furious, but he initially restrained Bhima, when the vows spoken by Bhima and Draupadi were repeated. That was the moment Arjuna burst out to punish the culprits by taking his bow in hand. Southern Recension Kumbhakonam Edition, along with PPS Sastri Edited version, elaborated on this

धर्मपाशसितस्त्वेवमधिगच्छामि सङ्कटम्।
गौरवेण निरुद्धश्च निग्रहादर्जुनस्य च॥ 2-92-16
dharmapAshasitastvevamadhigachChAmi sa~NkaTam.
gauraveNa niruddhashcha nigrahAdarjunasya cha.. 2-92-16

"Thus, bound by the bonds of dharma, I am caught in this difficulty; I am restrained by my regard for Yudhishthira and by Arjuna's restraint."

After Bhima's declarations, Arjuna himself declares that he will kill Karna in battle, and extends this to Karna's followers and the other enemies. Then Draupadi made her declaration of key offenders; this is when arjuna explodes with anger

वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
द्रौपद्या वचनं श्रुत्वा चुकोपाथ धनञ्जयः।
स तदा क्रोधताम्राक्ष इदं वचनमब्रवीत्॥ 2-93-1

Vaiśampāyana said:
"Having heard Draupadi's words, Dhananjaya became enraged. His eyes reddened with anger, and he then spoke these words."

अयं तु मां वारयते धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः।
इत्युक्त्वा क्रोधताम्राक्षो धनुरादाय वीर्यवान्॥ 2-93-2

“This Dharmaraja Yudhishthira is restraining me.”
Having said this, the powerful Arjuna, his eyes reddened with anger, took up his bow.

सव्यसाची समुत्पत्य ताञ्छत्रून्समुदैक्षत।
उद्यतं फल्गुनं तत्र ददृशुः सर्वपार्थिवाः॥ 2-93-3

Savyasachi then rose up and looked toward those enemies. All the kings present there saw Phalguna standing with his bow raised.

युगान्ते सर्वलोकांस्तु दहन्तमिव पावकम्।
वीक्षमाणं धनुष्पामिं हन्तुकामं मुहुर्मुहुः॥ 2-93-4

They saw him repeatedly gazing upon his enemies, desiring to destroy them, like a blazing fire that burns all the worlds at the end of an age.

हन्तुकामं पशून्क्रुद्धं रुद्रं दक्षक्रतौ यथा।
तथाभूतं नरं दृष्ट्वा विषेदुस्तत्र मानवाः॥ 2-93-5

Seeing that man in such a state, desiring to kill, furious like Rudra when he came to destroy Daksha's sacrifice, the people there became despondent and terrified.

धनञ्जयस्यव वीर्यज्ञा निराशा जीविते तदा।
मृतभूता भवन्सर्वे नेत्रैरनिमिषैरिव॥ 2-93-6

Knowing the power of Dhananjaya. All of them then became hopeless of preserving their lives. They appeared almost as though dead, staring with unblinking eyes.

अर्जुनं धर्मपुत्रं च समुदैक्षन्त पार्थिवाः।
क्रुद्धं तदाऽर्जुनं दृष्ट्वा पृथिवी च चचाल ह॥ 2-93-7

The kings looked upon Arjuna and Dharmaputra. Seeing Arjuna enraged at that moment, the earth itself trembled.

खेचराणि च भूतानि वित्रेसुर्वै भयार्दिताः।
नादित्यो विरराजाथ नापि वान्ति च मारुताः। 2-93-8

The beings that move through the sky became terrified, afflicted by fear. The sun no longer shine, nor did the winds blow.

न चन्द्रो न च नक्षत्रं द्यौर्दिशोन न विभान्ति ह।
सर्वमाविद्धमभवज्जगत्स्थावरजङ्गमम्॥ 2-93-9

Neither the moon nor the stars, nor the sky nor the directions, shone any longer. The entire universe, both the moving and the unmoving, seemed to be thrown into confusion.

उत्पतन्स वभौ पार्तो दिवाकर इवाम्बरे। 2-93-10
As Partha rose up, he appeared like the sun rising in the sky.

पार्थं दृष्ट्वा क्रुद्धं कालान्तकयमोपमम्।
भीमसेनो मुदा युक्तो युद्धायैव मनो दधे॥ 2-93-11

Seeing Partha enraged, resembling Yama, the destroyer at the end of time, Bhimasena became delighted and set his mind upon battle.

पाञ्चाली च ददर्शाथ सुसङ्क्रुद्धं धनञ्जयम्।
हन्तुकामं रिपून्मर्वान्सुपर्णमिव पन्नगान्॥ 2-93-12

Panchali too saw Dhananjaya intensely enraged, desiring to kill all his enemies, like Garuda desiring to destroy the serpents.

दुष्प्रेक्षः सोऽभवत्क्रुद्धो युगान्ताग्निरिव ज्वलन्।
तं दृष्ट्वा तेजसा युक्तं विव्यधुः पुरवासिनः॥ 2-93-13

When enraged, he became difficult to look upon, blazing like the fire at the end of the age. Seeing him possessed of such terrible radiance, the inhabitants of the city were struck with fear/distress.

उत्पतन्तं तु वेगेन ततो दृष्ट्वा धनञ्जयम्।
जग्राह स तदा राजा पुरुहूतो यथा हरिम्॥ 2-93-14

Seeing Dhananjaya springing forward with great force, Yudhishthira held him, just as Puruhūta (Indra) once seized Hari.

उवाच स घृणी ज्येष्ठो धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः।
मा पार्थ साहसं कार्षीर्मा विनाशं गमेद्यशः॥ 2-93-15

The compassionate elder brother, Dharmaraja Yudhishthira, said:
"Do not act rashly, Partha. Do not let your fame be destroyed."

अहमेतान्पापकृतो द्यूतज्ञान्दग्धुमुत्सहे।
कन्त्त्वसत्यगतिं दृष्ट्वा क्रोधो नाशमुपैति मे॥ 2-93-16
ahametAnpApakR^ito dyUtaj~nAndagdhumutsahe.
kanttvasatyagatiM dR^iShTvA krodho nAshamupaiti me.. 2-93-16(not exactly sure on this)

त्वमिमं जगतोऽर्थे वै कोपं संयच्छ पाण्डव॥ 2-93-17
“For the sake of the world, Pandava, restrain this anger of yours.”

एवमुक्तस्तदा राज्ञा पाण्डवोऽथ धनञ्जयः।
क्रोधं संशमयन्पार्थो धार्तराष्ट्रं प्रति स्थितः॥ 2-93-18
“Thus addressed by the king, the Pandava Dhananjaya then restrained his anger and stood facing the son of Dhritarashtra.”

तस्मिन्वीरे प्रशान्ते तु पाण्डवे फल्गुने पुनः।
सुसम्प्रहृष्टमभवज्जगत्स्थावरजङ्गमम्॥ 2-93-19
“When that heroic Pandava Phalguna had become calm again, the entire world, both moving and unmoving, once more became exceedingly delighted.”

The Critical Edition presents only an abridged version of the episode in which Arjuna carries Draupadi. In contrast, the Kumbakonam Edition preserves the scene in much greater detail. The narrative is as follows:

एहि वीर विशालाश्च वीरसिंह इवार्जुन ।
इमां कमलपत्राक्षीं द्रौपदीं द्रुपदात्मजाम् ॥ 24 ॥ 4-6-24

परिगृह्य मुहूर्तं त्वं बाहुभ्यां कुशलं व्रज ।
राजधान्यां निवत्स्यामः प्रमुक्तमिव नो वनम् ॥ 25 ॥ 4-6-25

वैशम्पायन उवाच। 4-6-26x(3001)
गुरोर्वचनमाज्ञाय संप्रहृष्टो जितेन्द्रियः।
बाहुभ्यां परिगृह्याथ राजपुत्रीमनिन्दिताम् ।
प्रवव्राज महाबाहुरर्जुनः प्रियदर्शनाम् ॥ 26 ॥ 4-6-26

जटिलो वल्कलधरः शततूणीधनुर्धरः।
स्कन्धे कृत्वा वरारोहां बालामायतलोचनाम् । 4-6-27
आनीय नगराभ्याशमवातारयदर्जुनः ॥ 27 ॥ ॥ 4-6-28

ITRANS:-

yudhiShThira uvAcha . 4-6-24x
ehi vIra vishAlAshcha vIrasiMha ivArjuna .
imAM kamalapatrAkShIM draupadIM drupadAtmajAm .. 24 .. 4-6-24
parigR^ihya muhUrtaM tvaM bAhubhyAM kushalaM vraja .
rAjadhAnyAM nivatsyAmaH pramuktamiva no vanam .. 25 .. 4-6-25

vaishampAyana uvAcha. 4-6-26x(3001)
gurorvachanamAj~nAya saMprahR^iShTo jitendriyaH.
bAhubhyAM parigR^ihyAtha rAjaputrImaninditAm .
pravavrAja mahAbAhurarjunaH priyadarshanAm .. 26 .. 4-6-26
jaTilo valkaladharaH shatatUNIdhanurdharaH.
skandhe kR^itvA varArohAM bAlAmAyatalochanAm . 4-6-27
AnIya nagarAbhyAshamavAtArayadarjunaH .. 27 .. .. 4-6-28

TRANS:-
Yudhishthira said:

"O mighty hero Dhananjaya, lion among warriors, come. Take this lotus-eyed Panchali, the daughter of Drupada, into your arms. Carry her for a while and proceed safely. Then we shall dwell in the royal city, leaving the forest behind us as though freed from it."

Vaiśampāyana said:

"On hearing his elder brother's command, mighty-armed Arjuna, who was extremely delighted and who had senses under control, took her, who was blemishless and beautiful, in his arms and proceeded.

Keeping the Lotus-eyed beautiful Panchali on his shoulder, that archer, who held bow and hundred arrows, who had matted locks and wore bark garment, carried her and dropped her at the outskirts of Virata kingdom."

Bori, kmg, and northern recension did not name the bow used at Draupadi swayamvara, but the southern recension names the bow as Kindhura made out of steel and iron, and it connects with Sankara boon

तद्धनुः किन्धुरं नाम देवदत्तमुपानयत्॥ 1-200-13
taddhanuH kindhuraM nAma devadattamupAnayat.. 1-200-13
trans:- The king brought forth that formidable, divinely bestowed bow named Kindhura

आयसी तस्य च ज्याऽऽसीत्प्रतिबद्धा महाबला।
न तु ज्यां प्रसहेदन्यस्तद्धनुःप्रवरं महत्॥ 1-200-14
AyasI tasya cha jyA.a.asItpratibaddhA mahAbalA.
na tu jyAM prasahedanyastaddhanuHpravaraM mahat.. 1-200-14
trans:- Its bowstring was made of iron and was exceedingly strong. No one else could manage the string of that great and excellent bow

शङ्करेण वरं दत्तं प्रीतेन च महात्मना।
तन्निष्फलं स्यान्न तु मे इति प्रामाण्यमागतः॥ 1-200-15
sha~NkareNa varaM dattaM prItena cha mahAtmanA.
tanniShphalaM syAnna tu me iti prAmANyamAgataH.. 1-200-15
trans:- A boon had been granted by the great-souled Śaṅkara, who was pleased: ‘May this not prove fruitless for me.’ Thus the matter had acquired its authority.

Pradeep Rawat, known for portraying Ashwatthama in B.R. Chopra's Mahabharat, will be remembered with respect and affection. Om Shanti🕊.