On the Comparative Study of the Kyrgyz Epic “Manas” and the Ancient Indian Epic “Mahabharata”

The heroic epic Manas, due to its grand scale and fantastically rich content, as well as its artistic perfection, figurative expressiveness, and the wealth of both verbal and visual means, holds a well-deserved place among the outstanding monuments of the world’s epic heritage. Comparative analysis of Manas with other world epics contributes to a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of its narrative and artistic features. According to researchers, in the Middle Ages, the ancestors of the Kyrgyz people were part of the Great Turkic Khaganate, which maintained cultural ties with many countries, including India. There are studies that confirm this historical connection. This article presents a comparative analysis of the great Indian epic Mahabharata (The Tale of the Great Bharata), translated by Nurgazy Kemelbaev and Kenesh Jusupov, and the work Tengir Manas in the version by Ashym Zhakypbekov. The study is aimed at identifying similarities and differences in the prose versions of these epic narratives. Examining typological parallels between the Indian epic Mahabharata and the Kyrgyz epic Manas allows for a deeper exploration of the originality of the latter, as each epic is a unique cultural monument shaped by the specific cultural, historical, and mental characteristics of its people.