samaya

 There is a fascinating mystery called “Baan Stambh” in the ancient Somnath Temple in Gujarat.

On the south side of the temple, overlooking the sea, is a pillar called “Baan sthamb”. An arrow is built on the top of the pillar which points towards the sea. The existence of this pillar is mentioned in some ancient books from the 6th century.

There is an inscription carved on the pillar in Sanskrit -

“आसमुद्रांत दक्षिण ध्रुव,पर्यंत अबाधित ज्योर्तिमार्ग'”.

(“there is no earth terrain from this point of the sea to the South Pole).

Now the fun fact. If you start travelling from Somnath Mandir towards South, you will indeed not find any mountain or piece of land until you reach the South Pole (Antarctica), 10,000 km away.

So the mystery is - how did our ancestors know this fact in the 6th century?

Did they have an aerial map of the earth? What degree of knowledge of Astronomy, Geography, Mathematics and Maritime Sciences they must have had!

Our ancient Indian heritage is indeed a marvel!

 After reading this answer, it will not really matter whether Mahabharata was real or not.

There is an interesting interpretation about this Epic.

Sanjay, the one who saw the great war from his third eye, the king slayer, at the end of the war decided to visit the place where this greatest war took place; Kurukshetra. He looked around and wondered if the war really happened, if the Pandavas and Krishna really stood here, if Krishna really evoked his verses on Bhagwat Gita on this ground soaked from blood of thousands.

‘You will never know the truth about that!’

said a soft ageing voice from behind.

Sanjay turned around to find an old man in white robes gazing at him out of the bright light of sun and column of dust. He was old but seemed like time has stopped for something important, Sanjay assumed.

‘I know you are here to find out about the Kurukshetra war, but you cannot know about that war till you know what the real war is about.’ the old man said enigmatically.

‘What do you mean?’ came reply from Sanjay.

‘The Mahabharata is an Epic, a ballad, maybe a reality but definitely a philosophy.’

Interestingly the only Ballad which Hinduism saw.

‘Can you tell me what the philosophy is then?’ Sanjay enquired.

Sure, exclaimed the voice.

‘The Pandavas are nothing but your five senses, sight, smell, taste, touch and sound and do you know what the Kauravas are?’

he asked narrowing his eyes.

‘The Kauravas are the hundred vices that attack your senses everyday but you can fight them and do you know how?’

Sanjay nodded again.

‘When Krishna rides your chariot !’

The voice smiled and lured Sanjay to ask more, he could see the bliss inside.

‘Krishna is your inner voice, your soul, your guiding light and if you let your life in his guiding hands you have nothing to worry.’

Sanjay was numb but came with another question.

‘Then why is Dronacharya and Bhishma fighting for the Kauravas, if they are vices?’

The old man nodded, sadder for the question.

‘It just means that as you grow up your perception of your elders change. The elders who you thought were perfect in your growing years are not at all that perfect. They have faults. And one day you will have to decide if they are for good or your bad. Then you may realise that you may have to fight them for the good. It is the hardest part of the growing up and that is why the Geeta is important.’

Sanjay, failed to realise the reality and philosophy of Mahabharata, slumped down not because he was tired but because he could understand and was struck by the enormity of it all.

‘What about Karna?’ he whispered.

‘Ah!’ said the Old voice. ‘You have saved the best for the last. Karna is the brother to your senses, he is Desire, he is a part of your intellect but stands with the vices. He feels wronged and makes excuses for being with the vices as your desire does all the time.’

Sanjay looked at the ground, consumed with a million thoughts, trying to put everything together and then when he looked up the Old man was gone. As he went, it became dark, seemed like the light has gone.

Third eye which has given all the insights forever gave him the last philosophy of life which will become the teaching for this world.

Sanjay was left awestruck, realised with pragmatic truth of Mahabharat.