There is a way to interpret the Ramayana and the Mahabharata in this symbolic way. But for a symbol to be correct, it should be applicable in all the situations where the characters are involved. Besides, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata are considered as Itihasa (history) by the seers, and the Mahabharata is sometimes even considered as the fifth Veda. Itihasa implies building up the epic of the human soul around a real slice of history. There are several reasons to accept that the Mahabharata is real history. It is important to recognise and understand it, thus, so that we can derive the maximum lesson from the great epic. By reducing it to a symbol of inner journey alone with the five elements and the Kundalini Shakti, we miss out on the much grander theme and the deepest sense of the epic. Thus, for example, the five Pandavas, even on the face of it, had behind their conception the Godheads of Dharma (Yudhishthir), Vayu (Bhim), Indra (Arjuna) and the Aswin Kumaras (Nakul and Sahadev). There is no mention of other elemental powers incarnating in any. Draupadi is clearly mentioned as the incarnation of Kali. And of course, the central figure is Sri Krishna, who declares himself as the Avatar who appeared in a period of the decline of dharma, dharmasyaglani, with the purpose of destroying evil and releasing the good. It is straight and simple, and while one can stretch it to an inner story of the clash of godlike and titanic forces within us, yet the full significance comes when we see this clash not only within but also outside with real human characters embodying these forces. Thus, the epic becomes a guide not only for our inner life but also outer. It is a dharmashastra and reveals to us the different dimensions of dharma as applicable in different circumstances and situations of real life and the dilemmas and conflicting choices that we encounter. Each character is an archetype, and hence the epic becomes an important guide in understanding shades of humanity and their inner life and outer actions. Above all, it is a story of ultimate woman empowerment through powerful real-life feminine characters such as Shakuntala, Ganga, Satyavati, Ambika, Draupadi, Kunti, Subhadra, Uloopi, Gandhari, Uttara, Savitri and several others who face unique challenges and overcome them, emerging stronger through the process. They are strong and powerful women, and reducing them to a mere symbol would be to do a grave injustice to their character and lose their inspirational value for generations to come.
All these various complexities have to be taken into consideration by delving deep into the epic. There are many marvellous pearls in the Mahabharata, and to write about even one aspect, say the women characters, would require writing another Mahabharata.
Affectionately
Alok da
Source: Meanings and Symbols in the Mahabharata (TE 447)
YT Link: https://youtu.be/lA6dcxwjtWs
