Tag: a Mahabharata tale
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The seeds of a conflict, the birth of sons. Arjuna and the twins.
A hundred stalwart sons! The news bothered Pandu. He had handed over the kingdom to his brother but had not relinquished his or his heir’s rights to rule. The handing over was only a temporary arrangement. Now that Pandu had two sons he worried that Dhritarashtra had an intention to usurp what belonged to his…
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A 100 sons and a daughter.
On the same day that Duryodhana was born to Gandhari, her maid Sugudha gave birth to a son who would be called Yuyutsu. This was the son born out of Dhritarashtra’s lust. A half-brother of the same age as Duryodhana. He was named Yuyutsu by Dhritarashtra in the fond hope that he would be a…
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The race to get a heir for Hastinapur.
Pandu and his queens, Kunti and Madri, had gone to the forest in a despondent mood. But the forest enchanted them and slowly they began to live if not happily, at least with contentment. They accepted their situation which is the first step to a solution or overcoming a problem. The days in the forest…
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A caretaker Emperor. Dhritarashtra ascends the throne.
So came the emperor Pandu back to Hastinapur. He discussed the matter with his two wives both of whom were aghast on hearing the story. Sex is a major part of a marriage especially in the early days of a marriage. Companionship and understanding build up later. The loss of sexual activity would stretch the…
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The Curse on Pandu. (Or a Hex on Sex!)
Hastinapur waited, the dowager queen Satyavati and Bhishma waited in anticipation, Dhritarashtra waited in gloom. They were all waiting for an heir to the Kingdom. The women of Madra were reputed to be fertile and so the expectation was soon there would be happy tidings. But months became years and there was no child born…
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Hastinapur and the second wife.
Hastinapur was celebrating. They were soon to have another Queen, one who was said to be the most beautiful woman in the land. The palace was decorated and the servants hurried about rushing to finish last minute tasks. Only in one part of the palace was there no joy. In Pandu’s personal quarters there was…
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What gender is the Divine? Ardhanarishwara.
The concept of God or divinity in classical Hinduism is very different from most other faiths. God in Hinduism is formless and without attributes and to help us visualize we give different forms to the divine. The stories of Ardhanarishwara tell us this. Ardhanarishwara is Shiva and Parvathi fused as one. One half is Shiva,…
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Madri
Madri stood at the window gazing at the distant mountains. She wondered what was beyond those tall guardians. She was tall and well built girl like most of the women in the Kingdom. Fair with large melting eyes she was a woman who would attract attention wherever she went. She knew she was beautiful and…
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