Reading Diary A: PDE Mahabharata

1. King Shantanu and Ganga

King Shantanu was very religious. The goddess, Ganga, was from the Ganges River. She took human form for a time in order to be King Shantanu's first wife. She told the king that she would marry him as long as he never went against her or did anything to harm her. When she gave birth to her first son, she threw him in the Ganges River, claiming it was for the baby's own good. Shantanu was horrified, but he dared not speak against her in the chance that she would leave him. She did the same with the next 7 children, but when the eighth was born, Shantanu had a fit of outrage. He broke his marriage vow, but he saved the child. This child would take the name Devavrata.

2. Devavrata's Vow

Devavrata now has the name, Bhishma, the Sanskrit word for "terrible oath". The king was in love with a fisherman's daughter, Satyavati, but if she gave birth to sons, they would not inherit the kingdom because of Devavrata. Devavrata relinquished his claim to the throne if this woman would marry the king. Chitrangada was one of the sons born to Satyavati and in time, he claimed the throne.

(Image Source: Raja Ravi Varma, Wikipedia Commons)

3. Kunti and Her Son

King Pandu had two wives, Kunti and Madri. He loved Madri more than Kunti, but Kunti was chief rani (queen). Kunti had been adopted by the rajah of Shurasena when she was very small and she grew up with him. There once was a visitor there, Durvasas, and she took care of whatever he needed. He granted her the power to compel love from a celestial being if she so desired. She had a baby with the son god, Surya, but felt shame afterwards. Her child, Karna, was placed in a basket on the river with celestial earrings that would give him power as he floated along the Ganges. The child floated along till he reached the region of Anga. A woman of Anga, Radha, and her husband wanted a child desperately, but could not have one. When they found Karna, they knew it had to be for them and that the gods heard their prayers. Karna grew up under their care.