Thread on AnushAsana Parva of MahabhArata

ecently, there was a fuss regarding ISKCON mistranslations of bhAgavataM where some Shaivas got offended (rightly so) by the depreciation of Shiva-devotees+

All that is well and good, but in the process, some started abusing the bhAgavataM itself as a "Saiva dveSha" book because it declares Shiva's body as panchabhUta-maya and his attainment as within the material world+

This led to some quoting sections of the anushAsana parva of mbh (upamanyu upAkhyAna) which has been clearly acknowledged to be interpolated and not in original palm leaves by the likes of Arjuna Misra+

Neither does Tikkana Somayaji who covered the entire anushAsana parva include these questionable portions. The interpolations only became famous around the time of Arjuna Misra, Appayya Dikshita and Vadiraja Tirtha, and AM clearly states they are interpolated sections+

These sections also wrongly attribute shlokAs from kUrma/vAyu P describing shadguNyam of muktAtma to Shiva. That such descriptions occur in Lakshmi Tantra of pAncharAtra also itself shows it was an error by the interpolator, not a work of vyAsa+

Be that as it may. Let Shaivas derive bliss from such works. Let them criticize ISKCON who deserve criticism. But calling bhAgavatam as "shaiva-dveSham" is not tolerable for other traditions.+

Hence, I'm attaching to this thread, a section from the same anushAsana parva, where Shiva discourses to UmA about his own nature, completely in line with the bhAgavataM's "Vaishnavanam yatha Shambhuh:"

#Mahabharata #Hinduism

The relevant section is here: https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m13/m13b105.htm. I will provide the proper interpretation in screenshots below+

#Mahabharata #Hinduism

First, the significance of UmA closing Shiva's eyes and his response.+

#Mahabharata #Hinduisn

Second, questions of UmA on the form of Shiva as an upAsaka+

#Mahabharata #Hinduism

Third, significance of the 4 (and 5) faces of Shiva.

#Mahabharata #Hinduism

Fourth, significance of Shiva's activities+

#Mahabharata #Hinduism

Fifth, significance of Shiva's vehicle (the bull)+

#Mahabharata #Hinduism

Sixth, significance of Shiva's residence in Graveyards (2 pages here)+

#Mahabharata #Hinduism

And finally, after discoursing on other topics related to sAmAnya dharmAs, Shiva worships Krishna. Some choice shlokas here+

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This should make it amply clear that there are two contrasting sections in the anushAsana parva. One is this, the other is the upamanyu upAkhyAna etc which became popular circa 1400, and was declared to be interpolated by respected commentators on the Mbh. Both cannot be true+

Ofc, people can choose to disbelieve these sections and go with the latter if that pleases them and also criticize ISKCON. Kindly refrain from criticizing bhAgavata purANa, that's all.//

@threadreaderapp unroll