Depiction Of Marginal Society In Mahabharata Essay Example

marginalized tribes and their inferior status within Kshatriya society. The character of Eklavya in the Mahabharata serves as an example of the condition of forest tribes, who were seen as uncivilized and expendable. They lived in separate locations and had distinct cultures, remaining illiterate with rustic appearances. Their opinions were not even considered worthy by the Kshatriya clan, leading to their physical and cultural distance from the mainstream.

They had no say in any matters and there was typically a avoidance of mixing Kshatriya blood with them. This also brings me to my second point, where I would like to highlight the gender roles, in which only women, not men of lower castes, could marry individuals from higher classes. Women were seen as family assets and were never married to lower caste men. If such a marriage did occur, it was considered an act of Pratiloma, which society looked down upon. Additionally, when discussing the status of these individuals in Kshatriya society, one interpretation for why Eklavya cut off his thumb and gave it to Dronacharya could be that as a member of a lower tribe, he would have gained the actual status of being called the student of the great Brahman who teaches the great Pandavas and Kauravas. This may have been the only way for a skilled tribal to earn some status in a society where Kshatriyas were assumed to be the greatest warriors and no tribal was ever given an opportunity to compete with them. There is also mention of Shiva's story, where he disguises himself as a Kirata archer who Arjuna believes would be easy to defeat simply because he is a

tribal. Shiva teaches Arjuna lessons in humiliation and acceptance, as Arjuna ultimately cannot defeat him.

In summary, these tribes were marginalized and subjected to unfair treatment and injustice without any resolution. Their sons were not allowed to be a part of the Kshatriya clan or hold higher positions in the court. There were no laws to protect them from mistreatment by the Kshatriyas, and they were only utilized as soldiers in the armies with no say in political matters. The text also highlights the frequent interactions between celestial beings and influential mortal figures, primarily the Kshatriya kings. Alongside tales of unions between heavenly beings and mortals like apsaras and daanvis, notable accounts include the assistance of powerful Pandava kings by gods in battles against evil forces, as well as the importance of Chitrasena, a Gandharva, who fought alongside both Pandavas and Kauravas. Additionally, an important incident involves Duryodhana being taken to the paatal lok by demons and being convinced to wage war against the Pandavas, demonstrating the interdependence between celestial beings and mortals. These individuals possessed supernatural powers, with heavenly maidens being exceptionally beautiful, demons possessing tantric skills and magical weapons, and both good and evil coexisting in early society with constant conflict between them.Despite their super bloodline, celestial beings are often considered a marginal society because they continuously interact with mortals but are not included in the mainstream. The eternal battle between good and evil repeatedly prevails, with Kshatriyas (mortals) persistently engaged in this struggle.

In my opinion, celestial beings are not directly part of society. They visit Earth briefly to fulfill their tasks and do not permanently stay with mortals. However, we consider them a

part of society because they rely on mortals to achieve higher good and have unions with them, resulting in children with unique talents and skills. In conclusion, subordinate and marginal groups are depicted as foreigners or barbarians (referring to various tribes during that time) or as supernatural beings who grant boons and create a superior bloodline for the Kshatriya class (celestial beings). These groups mainly support the existence of kings, while daityas and danavas represent evil and support wicked kings like the Kauravas. Although tribes contribute significantly to society, they are excluded from mainstream Hinduism due to their foreignness, remaining a separate and often secluded part of society. While tribes face discrimination and bias throughout the epic, Godly celestial beings hold a higher status and are respected by Kshatriya kings. The demons are despised by those who worship Hindu Gods and adhere to "good" actions and "dharma."

The asuras, who only received support from the 'villains' in Mahabharata, were ultimately defeated in the war, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil in the end.