BhishmaBhishma (Sanskrit: भीष्म, romanized: Bhīṣma), also known as Pitāmaha, Gangāputra, and Devavrata, is a central figure in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. He was a statesman and military commander of the ancient Kuru kingdom. Renowned for his wisdom, valor, skill in battle and unwavering principles, Bhishma served as the supreme commander of the Kaurava forces during the first ten days of the Kurukshetra War until his fall.
Amba (Mahabharata)Amba (Sanskrit: अम्बा, romanized: Ambā) is a character in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. She is the eldest and most beautiful daughter of Kashya, the King of Kashi, and the sister of Ambika and Ambalika. Amba, along with her sisters, were abducted by Bhishma during their svayamvara ceremony, as brides to marry Vichitravirya, the King of Hastinapura.
PandavaThe Pandavas (Sanskrit: पाण्डव, IAST: Pāṇḍava) is a patronymic referring to the five legendary brothers, Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva, who are central figures of the ancient Hindu epic Mahabharata. They are acknowledged as the sons of Pandu, the King of Kuru, but were fathered by different Devas (gods) due to Pandu's cursed inability to naturally sire children.
DrupadaDrupada (Sanskrit: द्रुपद, lit. 'firm footed or pillar'), also known as Yajnasena (Sanskrit: यज्ञसेन, lit. 'he whose army is sacrificial', IAST: Yajñasena), is the king of the southern part of Panchala Kingdom, in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. He is the father of Draupadi, the epic's heroine.
DraupadiDraupadi (Sanskrit: द्रौपदी, romanized: draupadī, lit. 'Daughter of Drupada'), also referred to as Krishnā, Panchali and Yajnaseni, is one of the central characters of the ancient Sanskrit epic, the Mahabharata (c. 400 BCE – 400 CE).
YakshaThe Yakshas (Sanskrit: , IAST: Yakṣa, Pali: Yakkha) are a broad class of nature spirits in Hindu mythology which are associated with water, trees, forests, wilderness, treasure, and fertility. They are usually considered benevolent, and sometimes mischievous or capricious. They appear in Hindu, Jain and Buddhist texts, as well as ancient and medieval temples of South Asia and Southeast Asia as guardian deities.
Kurukshetra WarBelligerentsTerritory-less Pandavas of KuruPanchala under DrupadaMatsya under VirataVrishni under SatyakiChedi under DhrishtaketuPandyasMagadha under JayatsenaKashiKuntiKrishna (noncombatant) Other alliesKauravas of Kuru kingdomAngaGandharaSindhuMadraKalingaKambojasBahlikasTrigartaPragjyotishaYadava Army (Narayani Sena of Krishna)Pundras Other alliesCommanders and leadersOverlordYudhishthiraCommander-in-chiefDhrishtadyumna (day 1-18) †Other-main warriorsArjunaBhimaDrupada†Virata†Chekitana†SatyakiShikhandi†:Abhimanyu†Ghatotkacha†5 Kekaya princes †Uttamaujas and Yudhamanyu†OverlordsDhritrashtraDuryodhana†Commanders-in-chiefBhishma (day 1-10) †Drona (day 11-15) †Karna (day 16-17) †Shalya (day 18) †Ashwatthama (night raid) Other commandersDushasana†Jayadratha†KripaKritavarmaBhurishravas†Bahlika†Bhagadatta†Sudakshina†Shakuni†Strength7 Akshauhinis153,090-100,300,000 chariots and chariot riders10,000–153,090 elephants and elephant riders459,270–1,000,000 horses and horse riders765,450–1,000,000,000 infantry (total 1,530,900 soldiers–1,003,830,900)11 Akshauhinis240,570 chariots and chariot riders240,570 elephants and elephant riders721,710 horses and horse riders – 100,000,000 horses (mentioned possibly as a hyperbole)1,202,850 infantry6,000,000 protecting elephants and chariots140,000,000 Pishachas280,000,000 Rakshasa420,000,000 Yaksha100,000,000 Narayani Sena(total 8,450,700 – 1,048,405,700 soldiers)Casualties and lossesAlmost total (1,530,892 soldiers)Only 8 known survivors: the Pandavas, Krishna, Satyaki, and YuyutsuAlmost total (2,405,697 soldiers)Only 3 known survivors - Ashwatthama, Kripa, and Kritavarma Yudhishthira gives a different number which is 1,660,020,000 dead and 24,165 missing.The Kurukshetra War (Sanskrit: कुरुक्षेत्रयुद्ध), also called the Mahabharata War, is a war described in the Hindu epic poemMahabharata, arising from a dynastic struggle between two groups of cousins, the Kauravas and the Pandavas, for the throne of Hastinapura.
MahabharataThe Mahābhārata ( mə-HAH-BAR-ə-tə, MAH-hə-; Sanskrit: महाभारतम्, IAST: Mahābhāratam, pronounced [mɐɦaːˈbʱaːrɐt̪ɐm], 'Great Bharata') is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India revered in Hinduism, the other being the Ramayana. Both are considered smṛti and itihasa texts.
AshvatthamaAshvatthama (IAST: Aśvatthāmā, also spelt as Ashwatthama and Ashvatthaman) is one of the major characters in the ancient Hindu epicMahabharata. He is the son of Drona, the royal preceptor to the Kuru princes—the Pandavas and the Kauravas. Ashvatthama is a close companion of Duryodhana, the leader of the Kauravas, and receives military training alongside the Kuru princes under the tutelage of his father.
PanchalaToday part ofIndiaPanchala (IAST: Pañcāla, Sanskrit: पांचाल) was an ancient kingdom of northern India, located in the Ganges-Yamuna Doab of the upper gangetic plain, which is identified as Kanyakubja or region around Kannauj. During the late Vedic period (c. 1100–500 BCE), it was one of the most powerful states of ancient India, closely allied with the Kuru kingdom.Sex assignmentSex assignment or gender assignment is the discernment of an infant's sex, typically made at birth based on an examination of the newborn's external genitalia by a healthcare provider such as a midwife, nurse, or physician. In the vast majority of cases (99.95%), sex is assigned unambiguously at birth. However, in about 1 in 2000 births, the baby's genitals may not clearly appear male or female, necessitating additional diagnostic steps, and deferring sex assignment.
Polyandry in IndiaHousehold forms and residenceExtendedMatrifocalMatrilocalNeolocalNuclearPatrilocal*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.