Explanation from an expatriate (RE:Ekalavya)
Madhava Kumar Turumella (madhava@emirates.net.ae)
Thu, 14 Nov 1996 19:39:50 +0400
Explanation from an Expatriate :-( (RE: Ekalavya)
Hello All;
This has the reference to my earlier message forwarded to you
by my friend Ramu Dokka regarding Ekalavya's character
portrayal in Mahabharata.
In that letter, I have mentioned that "Ekalavya has
participated in mahabharata war". I have written that sentence
with full conscience. After getting back your replies my
friend Ramu has called me at Moscow and told me that most of
you have insisted for references. I appologise for not writing
immediatly an answer to you because I can not access Internet
from Moscow. And I have come back home only day before yesterday.
Here, I am going to beg some excuses from you :
1. I am carrying none of the books I use to refer when I was
in India. Hence, I have called up a few scholars back home
and requested their help. I have asked them to post me the
references. I have not yet received them. Probably because
of the cyclone in Coastal Andhra Pradesh.
Otherwise, probably the material is havily been scrutinised & dumped
into trash by the religious police here, just like it happens in
Saudi. (personally, I feel this would not have happened. Because,
through out the Gulf states only in UAE (Dubai) we have 5 hindu
temples :-) and Dubai is far beyond in comparing with other Gulf
states, and the rulers are very good people..(liberal like Akbar :-))
Anyway, I have verbal confirmation from India that "Ekalavya
has participated in Mahabharata War". I feel quite handicapped
now.
2. I clearly remember the Mahabharata published by "Sri Vani
Vilas Press, Mysore" in 1910. I have accessed it from "Sri
Ramakrishna Muth Library, Khar (W), Bombay" archives. It is
mentioned in that book that "Ekalavya was trying to fight with
GhatOtkaca (Son of Bhima) and fails in winning him. There
comes Karna in to picture and helps Ekalavya in killing
Ghatotkaca. Bhima, being outraged by the news of Ghatotkaca's
demise, demands Arjuna to kill Karna and Ekalavya. Arjuna
failing in finding out Karna succeeds in killing Ekalavya,
who had taken hundreds of mighty Pandava warriors for his score."
I am begging excuse because I can't remember the Stanza
numbers. Again, I failed in getting my friends help from
Bombay. Except me, my friends (in Bombay) are neither
interested in debates nor interested in helping others in
getting references :-)....
3. I am going to mention another book written by Pujya Sri
Malladi Chandrasekhara Sastrygaru named "bhArataMlO dharma
sukshmaM". In his book Sri Sastrygaru wrote an article
on "Ekalavya". There he mentioned that Ekalavya has
participated in Mahabharata war.
People, who can't wait till I get the references from India,
are requested to look at the references I have mentioned
above. Others are requested to give me some time (again, it
depends on my friends back home, how much they are interested
in showing the references )...
-------------------------------------------------------------
Finally, there are many theories and versions available on
Bharata and Ramayana. People often been carried away by the
various versions available. If I say "Valmiki is not a
Nishada i.e. BoyavaDu even before he started writing Ramayana,
and he is perfectly an educated scholar, I wonder, how many of
you are going to agree with me?... I insist, I do not speak
until I am convinced on the subject. In this case, I am fully
convinced that Valmiki is not a Boyavadu.
Why am I saying this : (Giving the sloka I remember from Ramayana)
SlO : prAcEtasOhaM daSamaHputrO rAghavanaMdana |
na smarAmyanRUtavAkyaM ivoutu tava putrakou ||
Oh! Rama I am the 10th Son of the Great PracEtasa. That is why,
I never lie. I sware these two are your sons.
Context : Rama questions "what the proof that Lava and Kusa are
my sons?". Then Valmiki swares by taking the name of his father.
(Don't ask me I don't remember the Stanza number, but, I too sware
it is there in ramayana. :-))
Shall I have to explain more? (indeed, I remember more slokas that
support this point) Now, who made up the story that Valmiki is a
nishaduDu and bOyavADu!!!!!!.......
Truth always stands as truth, it is veiled by some people,
though.
If any one of you have access to the books I have mentioned
please E-Mail me at the address below. I look forward for
your co-operation.
Sincere Regards,
Madhava Kumar Turumella
P.O.Box No : 22525
Sharjah, UAE.
Phone : 00971-6-597451 (Resi)
Fax : 00971-6-597490 (Resi)
E-Mail : madhava@emirates.net.ae