Introduction

Abstract

The introduction by Simon Brodbeck and Brian Black sets the stage for JVS Volume 14.2 by recounting the origins and spirit of the conference “Epic Constructions: Gender, Myth and Society in the Mahābhārata,” held at SOAS in July 2005. Framed as both a tribute to the late Julia Leslie—who conceived the project—and an overview of the scholarly contributions gathered there, the introduction reflects on how the Mahābhārata continues to engage global academia across disciplines. Brodbeck and Black highlight key thematic currents running through the volume: the creative reworking of Vedic myth (like Indra’s vṛtrahatya), recursive narrative structures mimicking Vedic ritual, and the interplay of renunciation and worldly engagement. They also reflect on the conference’s sobering coincidence with the 2005 London bombings, noting how the Mahābhārata’s meditations on violence and dharma became eerily resonant.

Ultimately, the introduction positions the Mahābhārata as a sophisticated literary and theological text—far from a chaotic epic, it is shown to possess deliberate structure, philosophical subtlety, and enduring relevance. The editors commend the volume for pushing boundaries in epic scholarship and reaffirm the Mahābhārata's place as one of the earliest and most profound expressions of a Vaishnava worldview.