Between Tradition and Transformation: Examining the Representation of Maternal Subjectivity in the Mahābhārata

Abstract

This paper delves into the intricate representation of various motherhood(s) within the ancient Indian epic of Mahābhārata, exploring its metaphysical framework and ideological influences that shape its portrayal of maternal figures. Since the theological and metaphysical discourses extend strong influence on the treatment of female sexuality and motherhood within Mahābhārata, this paper aims to present a dialectical analysis of religion, female sexuality and motherhood through a critical interpretation of the narrative and didactic sections of the Mahābhārata. The analysis, informed by Sara Ruddick’s concept of maternal thinking, underscores the intellectual dimensions of motherhood within these narratives. Simultaneously, the paper also examines narratives featuring disenfranchised characters like Hidimbā, showcasing instances where women assert their subjectivity through maternal agency, making choices and successfully raising children independently. The paper also analyses the narratives surrounding parturition, fertility, and the maternal obligations, highlighting the conflicts and negotiations the women characters within the narratological schema of Mahābhārata face in balancing their roles as mothers and their adherence to metaphysical norms. By employing a dialectical lens, this paper seeks to unravel the tensions, contradictions, subversion and negotiations that emerge when theological concerns, female sexuality, and motherhood intersect within the Mahābhārata corpus. The paper therefore aims to contribute to the broader discourse on religion and gender by shedding light on the ways in which theological norms and metaphysical themes influenced and in turn were influenced by women’s experiences of sexuality and motherhood.