+* Pandava parivar *+ (Page 8)

Actually, I meant 'Adhirath and Radha were alive' after the war. Maybe the Pandavas needed to get their permission to adopt Vrishketu. I don't know much about the family norms back then.

I thought the rakshashas could change form - they could have lived in the cities at least for a while unless there was a rule banning them from staying there. Ghatotkacha was able to enter the city and change his form to ruin the arrangements for Lakshman & Balram's daughter (in the South, her name is mentioned to be Sundari or Vatsala - not sure if there are other versions of the name). The novel 'Abhimanyu Sundari' narrates the story of how these two married each other - an entertaining and hilarious story - probably romanticised by the authors. There is an old Tamil/Telugu movie Mayabazaar which is also based on this story - a really good movie.

Any idea how Ghatotkacha married Ahilawati, a yaksha?

Before the war, a sacrifice was to be made to ensure the victory of the Pandavas for which they had to sacrifice a warrior of unmatched valour. I don't remember the story very well but Iravana was chosen. It was something like this. For this sacrifice, which was to be done on the full moon, a warrior of unmatched valour must be beheaded or something like that. This supposedly was a tradition of long ago - called a sacrifice to the battlefield - forgot the name. The story I read (not very sure of the details - its been ages since I read that but I remember the events well).

Duryodhan wanted to ensure his victory over the Pandavas and was willing to do anything for it. Shakuni suggested he approach Sahadev as a king wanting to consult an astrologer - Sahadev who is to abide by the laws of astrologers and being the greatest of his time should not refuse. It was said that an astrologer should never refuse to advise a person who seeks his services even if he was the enemy. Also, an astrologer cannot reveal certain secrets even if he was able to find them to anyone even if his life depended on it. Sahadev, who could not refuse Duryodhan's request had to give him the truth - a way he could ensure victory for the Kauravas. On the night of the new moon, a warrior of unmatched valour should be sacrificed with elaborate worships and offerings. Only 4 people were eligible to be sacrificed - Krishna, Arjuna, Shalya, Iravan. Krishna and Arjuna were ruled out for Duryodhan and he needed Shalya. The only option left was Iravan. Duryodhan managed to convince him to offer himself as a sacrifice. Krishna learned of this and warned the Pandavas that they should beat Duryodhan in this issue. According to the stories, the new moon was the next day. I don't know who convinced Iravan again but he ended up offering himself for the Pandavas now. For a new moon to occur, the Sun and the Moon should meet. Krishna summoned Suryadev and Chandradev (in some legends he started doing the rituals for the new moon day and both these devas alarmed at what Krishna was doing appeared in front of him). Since both the Sun and the Moon had appeared together, that day became the new moon day. Iravan offered himself as a sacrifice but was allowed to live for the battle. some stories say that Krishna shared his sacrifice and some say that Iravan's flesh was offered as the sacrifice to allow him to remain alive after the ritual.


I shall remove the following paragraph if it is inappropriate here: A warning needed here?

This is where the stories of Koothandavar appear - Iravan expressing his desire to be wed and spend his last night with his wife, Arjun searching far and wide for someone to be his son's bride but everyone refused to be widowed within a day and Krishna assuming a female form to become Iravan's bride and came to be called Aravaani (In Tamil, Iravan was pronounced Aravaan and hence his wife was called Aravaani.)

Duryodhan was left disappointed - I think he completed the ritual with someone else and on the wrong day as it would seem.

This story is found in the Tamil versions of the Mahabharath.

Incidentally, was Iravan accepted by his mother's family? Though he grew up in the Nagaloka, the Ashtavasus (the 8 great snakes) considered Arjun their enemy and hence cursed him. Did they accept Uloopi and Iravan?


Edited by Vibhishna - 11 November 2011 at 8:04pm

LJR

I thought Iravan was killed on the final day of the battle... I guess, I must read more carefully. I don't know every detail in the Mahabharath.

Also, when I read the stories about Uloopi, it was mentioned that the Ashtavasus cursed Arjuna that he be killed by his own son and Uloopi distraught ran to her father (or grandfather?) and asked his help. Since the curse could not be revoked, he gave her a way out saying she can revive him with the gem after the war.

I was thinking - may it was because she had obtained prior permission that she could revive Arjun. Perhaps she did not know who all were going to die in the war and never got permission to use the jewel for them.

Iravana was killed on day 8 of the war.  Arjun downed Bheeshma on day 10, and it was due to his using Shikandi as a sheild that angered the Vasus.  If you recall, Bheeshma was the 8th Vasu incarnated (the first 7 were the babies that Ganga drowned) so when Arjun felled him, the Vasus were angered and cursed Arjun to be killed by his own son Babruvahana.  Uloopi overheard this and decided to save him.  (This is from the ACK Uloopi)

Edited by .Vrish. - 12 November 2011 at 10:55am

What I was saying was that Uloopi knew of Arjun's fate since she was in Nagaloka when Arjun was cursed. She may not have known the fates of any others during the war except that Arjun was going to survive it and die later at the hands of Babruvahana. From what I've read, the gem can't be used without prior permission from the elders or the guardians. I don't think she had the option to use the gem as she wished.

Regarding Karna's son (Vrishketu or Vrishasena?) Adhirath was a charioteer and and naturally he would feel that if Vrish (ketu? - you had mentioned Vrishasena in the post, so got confused.)
was looked after by his royal kinsmen, it would be better for his future. Vrish may not have left them as such and probably, brought Adhirath and Radha along (maybe as his own charioteer?).

Any idea what happened to his foster uncles and cousins?

Edited by .Vrish. - 13 November 2011 at 6:16am

Uloopi  and the mystery of Naagmani

Edited by varaali - 14 November 2011 at 6:19am

Good explanation above.  I do disagree about one thing - even if Uloopi revived Iravana, Abhimanyu, Draupadi's sons, she would have been under no obligation to do it for the Kauravas.  Doing it for Duryodhan or Shakuni would still have been out of the question - she could have just done it for a select few Pandava sons and some younger allies, like Uttar, Sveta, Dhrishtadyumna's sons, etc, and left it @ that.

Edited by .Vrish. - 14 November 2011 at 1:48am