Theos-Talk Archives (November 2012 Message tt00004)

Following certain indications given by T. Subba Row (part 1 of Notes on the Baghavad Gita): and Willian Q Judge, I've worked out some tentative symbolic correspondences for the various characters:
 
Collective
Pandavas ? Higher Self ? (Hastinapura ? Atma )
Kauravas ? Lower Self
 
Individual
Pandu ? Spiritual World 
Dhritarashra ?Material world.

Septenary
Atma ? Krishna
Buddhi ? Draupadi
Manas ? Arjuna
Kama Manas ? Yudhisthira (Manas aspect) ? Duryodana (Kama aspect)
Linga Sharira ? Bhima
Prana Sharira ? Nakula
Sthula Sharira ? Sahadeva

The fact that Drapaudi is married to Arjuna and his four brothers, seems to be a good symbolic indication that the various characters can be considered as aspects of one archetypal person. I tried to place the four brothers according to their main characteristics and roles in the Mahabharata and their correspondences with archetypal characters in world mythology.

An interesting example from Greek theosophy can be found in a neoplatonic philosopher of the Iamblichean school:
Sallustios - On Myth Interpretation 
Sallustios, the neoplatonist, gives 5 keys to myth interpretation:

1- Theological (Essence of the gods, ex. Kronos=Intellectual world) (Philosophers)
2- Physical (Activities of gods in the world, ex. Kronos=Time) (Poets)
3- Psychic (Activities of the soul itself) (Poets)
4- Material (Equating material substances with divine natures, ex. Isis=Earth)
5- Mixed psychic & material (Religious Initiation myths, ex. Attis)

http://thriceholy.net/Texts/Sallust.html 

PS.
Iliad symbolism link fix:
http://www.philaletheians.co.uk/Study%20notes/Hellenic%20and%20Hellenistic%20Papers/Taylor%20on%20the%20Wanderings%20of%20Ulysses.pdf