Draupadi & Beyond: Mahabharata’s Women
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Draupadi & Beyond: Mahabharata’s Women
Mahabharata is an epic Hindu scripture that highlights the vastness and depth of the Mahabharata, stating that it contains everything and touches upon all subjects. The characters in the Mahabharata are unique, with different emotions and reactions. The text also explores the concept of children being born without coitus, with the father accepting the child but the mother’s role being less emphasised. It questions whether these instances were early forms of in-vitro fertilisation or surrogacy. The acceptance of extramarital affairs and children born out of wedlock in that period is also mentioned. The text mentions examples of sister-wives and polyandry, with Draupadi’s marriage to the five Pandavas being a unique example. It also discusses the importance of virginity in later periods and the various types of women portrayed in the Mahabharata. Overall, the Mahabharata is depicted as a rich and complex scripture that encompasses a wide range of themes and characters. The book consists of stories of all women in Mahabharata.