M116 - Dhritarastra Marriage with Gandhari

Upon the birth of Dhritarastra, Pandu, and Vidura, the earth prospered. There was an abundant harvest of crops, and all the trees were ladened with fruits and flowers. The people became literate, brave and honest, and guided by Bhishma, performed devotional sacrifices for the pleasure of Lord Vishnu. The people of Hasthinapura were so contented with the rule of Bhishma. The Kuru kingdom grew in prosperity.

Bhishma raised the three children, Dhritarastra, Pandu and Vidura, as if they were his own. The children grew up into young men well versed in Vedas and skilled in athletics. As Pandu grew, he excelled all men in archery, whereas Dhritarastra excelled in personal strength, and it was soon known to everyone that there was no one equal to Vidura in devotion to Vishnu and knowledge of the dictates of morality. In due course of time Pandu became King of Hasthinapura, as Dhritarastra was born blind, and Vidura was born of a maid servant. Therefore, neither of them could accept the throne.

As Dhritarastra and Pandu attained adulthood, the time came to marry them to proper wives. Considering the situation, Bhishma decided that three princesses were worthy of being married to the Kuru princes. They were Gandhari, the daughter of the Gandhara King Subala, Pritha, the daughter of King Surasena, and Madri, the daughter of the King Madra. Gandhari was the incarnation of Goddess ‘Mati’, personification of Goddess Sarasvati’s intelligence. Hence, she was also called as ‘Vasumati’.

Attracted to the idea of marrying Dhritarastra to Gandhari, Bhishma sent messenger to the father of Gandhari. King Subala at first hesitated, hearing that Dhritarastra was blind, but taking into consideration the blood line of the Kurus, he consented to marry her to Dhritarastra. When Gandhari heard that her future husband was blind, she voluntarily blindfolded herself and took a vow to remain so for the rest of her life. Shakuni, the son of Subala and Gandhari's brother, was not pleased at the prospect of her sister being married to a blind prince who would not even be considered as the heir to the throne. But still Shakuni unhappily took Gandhari to the city of the Kurus, Hasthinapura, and formally handed her over to Dhritarastra. Gandhari became so chaste and devoted to Dhritarastra, that she never spoke of men other than her husband or her superiors.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

M127 - Story of Dronacharya

Image
Sage Bharadwaja was living at the source of the river Ganga, observing rigid vows. Once when he went to the river to perform his ablutions, he met Ghritachi, a celestial woman known as an Apsara. Seeing the beautiful woman emerging from the river after taking her bath, the sage was consumed with a burning desire. On seeing her clothes coming off her body, his vital fluid came out. The sage held it in a vessel called Drona. Eventually, Drona, the child, sprang out of the fluid preserved by the sage.  The child thus born studied the Vedas and other scriptures.  Bharadwaja taught his knowledge of arms to his illustrious disciple Agnivesa, who was born from fire. Agnivesa, in turn, taught the Science of Weapons to Drona. King Prishata, a great friend of Bharadwaja had a son by name  Drupada.  Drupada, came to the hermitage of Bharadwaja to study under the sage. He was studying in the company of Drona. They became good friends. Their friendship became so intimate that at one st
Read more

M101 - Curse on Ganga and Mahabhisha by Brahma

Image
There was a king known by the name of Mahabhishak born in the race of Ikshvaku . He became the great king among all the kings on the earth, and was truthful (in speech) and of true prowess. By a thousand horse-sacrifices 'Asvametha' and 'Vajapeya' a hundred Rajasuyas he had gratified the chief of the celestials(devas) and ultimately attained to heaven. One day the celestials had assembled together and were worshiping Brahma the creator in his Court .  Ganga , the queen of rivers, also came there to pay her adoration to the Grandsire Lord Brahma . During this time, there was a sudden gust of wind which momentarily displaced her garments as white as the beams of the moon. As her skin became exposed, the celestials bowed down their heads to avoid looking at her in respect to the presence of Brahma. But Mahabhishak was immensely attracted to Ganga and started staring at her continuously. To which Ganga also reciprocated with her amorous glances. Brahma got dis
Read more

M220 - Pandu's Life in the Forest

Image
Pandu began his ascetic way of life along with his two wives, Kunti and Madri. He travelled from place to place in the mountains. By virtue of his strict adherence to austerity, he became the favorite of various groups of ascetics like the Siddhas and Charanyas living in the woods. Many Rishis (sages) also adored Pandu, some treating him as their son, some as their brother and some as their friend.  Some even treated him as a Brahmarishi, a title that could be earned only by a Brahmin. One day, Pandu lamented to the sages about his fate of having to go with no children because of the curse delivered on him by sage Kindama. He said, “Men  born in this world have four obligations or debts that they owe, one to the gods, one to the rishis, one to their ancestors and one to other men.  The gods have to be pleased by performing sacrifices; the debt owed to sages can be repaid  by doing meditation and practicing asceticism, the debt owed to the ancestors can be repaid by begetting so
Read more