Pandava: Encyclopedia - Pandava

Pandava

In the Mahabharata, the Pandava are the five acknowledged sons of Pandu, by his two wives Kunti and Madri. They are

• Yudhishtira
• Bhima
• Arjuna (sons of Pandu's first wife Kunti),

and the twins

• Nakula and
• Sahadeva (sons of his second wife Madri).

As Pandu is cursed with death if he ever has intercourse with his wives, the actual fatherhood of the children is traditionally attributed to various gods, by the boon that was given to Kunti by Durvasa. According to the story, Kunti was allowed to call on each of the devas for a son, who would be immediately borne to her (see also the story of Karna). She was also able to transfer the boon to Madri. The five brothers are

• Yudhishtira's fatherhood to Yama, the Lord of death and justice
• Bhima to Vayu, the Lord of Wind
• Arjuna to Indra, the ruler of heaven.
• Nakula and Sahadeva to the Ashwini twins.

All five brothers are married to one woman, the princess Draupadi. Arjuna however is the one who actually wins her in a Swayamvara. Among many towns and cities founded by the five brothers individually or together, five prasthas (cities) are prominently mentioned and still exist. These were Indraprastha (Delhi), Panprastha (Panipat), Sonprastha (Sonipat), Tilprastha (Tilpat) and Vyagprastha (Bagpat).

The Pandavas engaged in the Mahabharata war with their one hundred cousins, the Kauravas.

Category: Mahabharata epic

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Pandava", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki