# Mahabharata and Ramayan epics. Why do Indians believe everything in it is fact **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 14, 2021, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mahabharata-and-ramayan-epics-why-do-indians-believe-everything-in-it-is-fact/946502 "2021-07-14T20:56:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nansbread1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Nansbread1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nansbread1)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mahabharata-and-ramayan-epics-why-do-indians-believe-everything-in-it-is-fact/946502/1 "2021-07-14T20:56:59Z")
The Hindu epics, Ramayan and Mahabharata are fantastic stories and well worth reading. But the problem I have is that most Indians believe that those stories, characters and events actually happened and the fantastical powers that each character was bestowed with (think superman) are facts. How did such a large population of educated people become so deluded on this aspect, especially when they are not religious texts of Hindus. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mahabharata-and-ramayan-epics-why-do-indians-believe-everything-in-it-is-fact/946502/2 "2021-07-14T21:01:07Z")
> [@Nansbread1](#): > > But the problem I have is that most Indians believe that those stories, characters and events actually happened and the fantastical powers that each character was bestowed with (think superman) are facts. Cite? Because I work with Indians everyday and they don’t believe what you think they believe. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mahabharata-and-ramayan-epics-why-do-indians-believe-everything-in-it-is-fact/946502/3 "2021-07-14T21:06:53Z")
Yeah… I haven’t talked to a lot of Indians about it, but i would have assumed that the Indians who believe those stories are literally true are similar to the Christians who believe the stories in Genesis are literally true. And the ones who believe they are myths that nonetheless say something true about the world are likely also similar to comparable Christians. Also, the Ramayana is a great story. I read it decades ago, and don’t remember all the details, but i thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Maybe i should pick that up again. ---
**Author:** ![Nansbread1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Nansbread1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nansbread1)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mahabharata-and-ramayan-epics-why-do-indians-believe-everything-in-it-is-fact/946502/4 "2021-07-14T21:12:38Z")
Better than a cite would be to ask your coworkers from from India if they believe that Krishna a character from the epic is a god. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mahabharata-and-ramayan-epics-why-do-indians-believe-everything-in-it-is-fact/946502/5 "2021-07-14T21:28:27Z")
This is not a factual question. I moved it to IMHO, but it plausibly belongs in great debates? ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mahabharata-and-ramayan-epics-why-do-indians-believe-everything-in-it-is-fact/946502/6 "2021-07-14T21:44:14Z")
> [@Nansbread1](#): > > How did such a large population of educated people become so deluded on this aspect, especially when they are not religious texts of Hindus. I can’t quite understand what point you’re making. How does any large population become deluded about non-factual matters? There are many, many factors that contribute to such an outcome. Where do you anticipate this discussion will lead? ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mahabharata-and-ramayan-epics-why-do-indians-believe-everything-in-it-is-fact/946502/7 "2021-07-14T22:35:59Z")
Wow, talk about a sweeping generalization! I assume we can replace “Indians” with “Hindus”, as I think even the OP would agree that Muslims, Christians and Atheists, among others in India, do not. But I really came into say that many followers of religions claim to believe that stories in their sacred texts are literally true, but when you press them on it, you find out that they really don’t. Perhaps it’s for social reasons, the feeling of guilt, fear of the afterlife, etc. that they claim they do. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mahabharata-and-ramayan-epics-why-do-indians-believe-everything-in-it-is-fact/946502/8 "2021-07-14T22:41:30Z")
> [@Nansbread1](#): > > Better than a cite would be to ask your coworkers from from India if they believe that Krishna a character from the epic is a god. This is a non sequitor. Many people believe in the god Krishna who don’t believe that every part of those stories was literally true in our world. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mahabharata-and-ramayan-epics-why-do-indians-believe-everything-in-it-is-fact/946502/9 "2021-07-14T22:46:46Z")
> [@Nansbread1](#): > > Better than a cite would be to ask your coworkers from from India if they believe that Krishna a character from the epic is a god. Even if everyone here did that, the pitifully small number of datapoints wouldn’t prove or falsify your contention. Of the many Indians at my work, in Silicon Valley, I’d guess maybe one would be a literal believer. But it is considered bad form to quiz people on their religious beliefs at work. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mahabharata-and-ramayan-epics-why-do-indians-believe-everything-in-it-is-fact/946502/10 "2021-07-14T22:53:38Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Yeah… I haven’t talked to a lot of Indians about it, but i would have assumed that the Indians who believe those stories are literally true are similar to the Christians who believe the stories in Genesis are literally true. That’s what I’m wondering; how is this different from asking Christians if they believe that the Bible is 100% true (like the bit where the sun remained in one spot for an extended period of time)? ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mahabharata-and-ramayan-epics-why-do-indians-believe-everything-in-it-is-fact/946502/11 "2021-07-14T23:13:23Z")
It isn’t. I’ve been assuming that the OP was an atheist setting us up for a gothca. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mahabharata-and-ramayan-epics-why-do-indians-believe-everything-in-it-is-fact/946502/12 "2021-07-15T00:12:00Z")
> [@Nansbread1](#): > > The Hindu epics, Ramayan and Mahabharata are fantastic stories and well worth reading. But the problem I have is that most Indians believe that those stories, characters and events actually happened and the fantastical powers that each character was bestowed with (think superman) are facts. > > How did such a large population of educated people become so deluded on this aspect, especially when they are not religious texts of Hindus. It’s religion. I’m honestly struggling to understand if you’re being tongue in cheek. Have you not heard of religions before? ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mahabharata-and-ramayan-epics-why-do-indians-believe-everything-in-it-is-fact/946502/13 "2021-07-15T12:19:38Z")
What is your proof behind your assertion? I can state that most Indians love cricket, since matches v Pakistan are watched by hundreds of millions. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mahabharata-and-ramayan-epics-why-do-indians-believe-everything-in-it-is-fact/946502/14 "2021-07-15T14:54:10Z")
> [@Nansbread1](#): > > Better than a cite would be to ask your coworkers from from India if they believe that Krishna a character from the epic is a god. You don’t seem to grasp the concept of religion or facts. Or citation. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mahabharata-and-ramayan-epics-why-do-indians-believe-everything-in-it-is-fact/946502/15 "2021-07-15T16:53:53Z")
> [@Nansbread1](#): > > Better than a cite would be to ask your coworkers from from India if they believe that Krishna a character from the epic is a god. Well I can settle this question once and for all. I asked three Indian friends the question … and none of them believe the Hindu epics are factual. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mahabharata-and-ramayan-epics-why-do-indians-believe-everything-in-it-is-fact/946502/16 "2021-07-15T16:54:48Z")
Why do some people believe everything in any religious narrative is fact? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mahabharata-and-ramayan-epics-why-do-indians-believe-everything-in-it-is-fact/946502/17 "2021-07-15T18:38:35Z")
😆 (Plus characters to make discourse happy) ---
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2021, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mahabharata-and-ramayan-epics-why-do-indians-believe-everything-in-it-is-fact/946502/18 "2021-07-16T00:00:10Z")
> [@Nansbread1](#): > > But the problem I have is that most Indians believe that those stories, characters and events actually happened… I am of Indian origin, and a Hindu atheist. I don’t believe that they actually happened. Most of my friends and family don’t believe it either. There maybe very few and I know of nobody Hindu who believes it verbatim. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2021, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mahabharata-and-ramayan-epics-why-do-indians-believe-everything-in-it-is-fact/946502/19 "2021-07-16T02:09:29Z")
There was an Indian baker who was having visions. He incorporated as a Naan Prophet organization. Unfortunately he married a Vietnamese woman and it became Pho Prophet. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2021, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mahabharata-and-ramayan-epics-why-do-indians-believe-everything-in-it-is-fact/946502/20 "2021-07-16T12:32:44Z")
[Sita Sings the Blues (2008) | Full Animation Movie | Nina Paley - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGpkKq0bbZA) Another version of the story. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mahabharata-and-ramayan-epics-why-do-indians-believe-everything-in-it-is-fact/946502.md?page=2)