Please remove this notice after the article has been expanded. Details are on this talk page or at Wikipedia:Requests for expansion. In the Hindu epic Mahabharata, Draupadi is the daughter of King Drupada, and becomes the wife of the five Pandavas. When Yudhisthira becomes the king of Hastinapura, Indraprastha and the Emperor of India at the end of the war, Draupadi becomes his Queen. Draupadi - Birth. Draupadi and her brother Dhristadyumna emerged together from a sacrificial fire that ...

Including:

• Draupadi - Birth
• Draupadi - Marriage to the Pandavas
• Draupadi - Draupadi's Cheer-Haran
• Draupadi - Devotion to Krishna

Read more here: » Draupadi: Encyclopedia - Draupadi

Draupadi

The daughter of Drupada and wife of all five Pandavas. Both she and her twin brother, Dhrishtadyumna, were born to help destroy the Kuru dynasty. An attempt to disrobe her in a royal assembly doomed the Kurus to annihilation.

(See also: Draupadi, Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Draupadi (Sanskrit) The wife in common of the five Pandava princes and brothers. In the allegory of the Mahabharata, she stands for the terrestrial life of the personality and, as such, she is made very little of and is allowed by Yudhistthira to be insulted and even taken into slavery during a wager at a game of dice. Yudhishthira was the eldest of the Pandava brothers and Draupadi's chief lord. In this relation he represents the higher ego.

(See also: Draupadi, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Brahmins (Brahmanas) as well as the other castes grow Choti or Sikha, a tuft of hair. This tuff of hair was not so small in olden days, as seen in the present day. It covered the whole brain. They allowed the hair to grow. They never cut the tuft. It protects the brain from any sudden stroke and keeps it cool.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Tuft: Hindu Symbols - The Tuft, Its Utility And Significance

Draupadi’s Cheer-Haran, literally meaning stripping of one’s clothes, marks a definitive moment in the story of Mahabharat. It is the central reason of the Mahabharat war, the rivalry between Pandavas and Kauravas being the more general cause. Yudhishthir and his four brothers were the rulers of Indraprastha under the sovereignty of Emperor Dhritarashtra. Dhritarashtra’s son Duryodhan who resided in the capital of the empire Hastinapur was forever jealous of his cousins. Together with his brothers, his friend Karna and ma ...

See also:

Draupadi, Draupadi - Birth, Draupadi - Marriage to the Pandavas, Draupadi - Draupadi's Cheer-Haran, Draupadi - Devotion to Krishna

Read more here: » Draupadi: Encyclopedia II - Draupadi - Draupadi's Cheer-Haran

Lord Krishna's influence on our lives far exceeds that of any other God-incarnate. Krishna is depicted not only as an embodiment of wisdom and selfless action, but also as a humane liberal and practical philosopher with foresight.

Krishna's mysticism and activism have greatly inspired poets, painters, writers, dramatists and dancers. The advice he rendered to a disheartened Arjuna at Kurukshetra - immortalised in the Bhagavad Gita - greatly influenced philosophers and continues to inspire millions of people worldwide.

(See also: Krishna, Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Divine Import of Krishna Leela

It was the darkest hour of the era. The brutalities perpetrated by despot king Kansa had become unbearable. In such a period of crisis, during the Dwapar Yuga, the Divine Power descended on earth in human form as Krishna. He is Raagi as well as Vairaagi; Nar and Narayan; Chakradhar and Murlidhar - all blending into one incarnation, Krishna.

Read more here: » Krishna Leela: Divine Import of Krishna Leela

Every aspirant in the spiritual path becomes a victim to the mood of depression in the beginning of the Sadhana period. You will have to overcome this mood through discrimination, reflection, Vichara, singing Hari's Name, prayer, etc. This mood is like a passing cloud. You should not be unnecessarily alarmed. It will pass off soon if you are vigilant.

From "Easy Steps to Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Sadhana: Pearl-drops of Prema

In the Mahabharata, Duryodhana (or Dhuryodhana) is the eldest son of the blind king Dhritarashtra by Queen Gandhari, and the eldest of the one hundred Kaurava brothers, and the chief antagonist of the Pandavas. Duryodhana - Birth. When Dhritarashtra's queen Gandhari's pregnancy continues for an unusually long period of time, she beats her womb in frustration, and envy of Kunti, the queen of Pandu who had given birth to the five Pandavas. Due to her actions, a hardened mass of grey-colored flesh emerg ...

Including:

• Duryodhana - Birth
• Duryodhana - Omens
• Duryodhana - Development
• Duryodhana - Karna
• Duryodhana - Evil tendencies and schemes
• Duryodhana - Usurping the kingdom
• Duryodhana - The dice plot and Draupadi's humiliation
• Duryodhana - World emperor
• Duryodhana - The Kurukshetra War
• Duryodhana - Gandhari's blessing and the fight with Bhima
• Duryodhana - Death and Heaven
• Duryodhana - Modern assessment
• Duryodhana - In media

Read more here: » Duryodhana: Encyclopedia - Duryodhana

In Hindu mythology, Arjuna is one of the heroes of the epic Mahabharata. His name means 'bright', 'shining', or 'silver' [1]. He was the third of the five Pandava brothers, and the youngest of the three children borne by Kunti, the first wife of Pandu. Arjuna - Birth. Pandu had been cursed with death in case he ever indulged in intercourse. He therefore was unable to sire a child. His first wife, Kunti, had in her maiden days received a boon from sage Durvasa, which enabled her to invoke any deity of her ch ...

Including:

• Arjuna - Birth
• Arjuna - Personality
• Arjuna - The Diligent Student
• Arjuna - Draupadi
• Arjuna - Adherence to his Duty
• Arjuna - Marital Engagements
• Arjuna - In Exile
• Arjuna - The Kurukshetra War
• Arjuna - Krishna and Arjuna
• Arjuna - The Bhagavad Gita
• Arjuna - Karna and Arjuna
• Arjuna - Arjuna's revenge
• Arjuna - After the War
• Arjuna - Other Names of Arjuna
• Arjuna - Referencees

Read more here: » Arjuna: Encyclopedia - Arjuna

Sahadeva is a character in the Mahabharata. He is one of the sons of Madri by the Ashwins, and is one of the Pandava brothers. He has a twin brother named Nakula. All the five Pandava brothers were wed concurrently to Draupadi, and each had a son by her. During their incognito in the Matsya kingdom of king Virata, Sahadev was responsible for the cowshed and had taken a vow to kill the king of Gandhara, Shakuni who had tricked them all their life. He was successful in his vow in killing Shaku ...

Read more here: » Sahadeva: Encyclopedia - Sahadeva

Dhristadyumna was the son of Drupada and brother of Draupadi and Shikhandi in the classic epic Mahabharata. He is appointed Commander of the Pandava Army, and is responsible for the killing of Drona. Dhristadyumna - Birth. The king of the Panchalas, Drupada undertakes a putrakami yagna, a sacrifice to please the Gods and obtain offspring by their blessing. Drupada desires a son who can kill Drona, the Kuru martial guru who had humiliated him in battle and taken half his kingdom, even though it was Dr ...

Including:

• Dhristadyumna - Birth
• Dhristadyumna - In the War
• Dhristadyumna - Killing Drona
• Dhristadyumna - Death

Read more here: » Dhristadyumna: Encyclopedia - Dhristadyumna

In the epic Mahabharata, Jayadratha is the king of Sindhu. He is married to Dusshala, the sister of the Kaurava brothers. Jayadratha - Boon from Shiva. Jayadratha insults Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas, by attempting to abduct her and forcibly marry her. After the Pandavas capture him, he is saved from death by Yudhisthira, who proclaims him his slave. Desiring to avenge his humiliation, Jayadratha performs a tapasya to please Shiva. He asks for the power to defeat the Pandavas, but Shiva says th ...

Including:

• Jayadratha - Boon from Shiva
• Jayadratha - In the War
• Jayadratha - Arjuna's revenge
• Jayadratha - Aftermath

Read more here: » Jayadratha: Encyclopedia - Jayadratha

Sudakshina Kamboja is the third king of the Kambojas referred to in the Mahabharata. And is also the most referenced of all the Kamboja kings in the whole Mahabharata and most illustrious warrior of the Kambojas of Epic Age. Sudakshina Kamboja - Kamboj traditions and Sudakshina. According to the traditions of the Kamboj community passed on to it from its ancestors, a certain king Sodakhsh (Sudakshina) is believed to have descended from the line of god Chander Burman of remote antiquity.

Including:

• Sudakshina Kamboja - Kamboj traditions and Sudakshina
• Sudakshina Kamboja - Physical Characteristics of Sudakshina
• Sudakshina Kamboja - Sudakshina at Abhisheka ceremony of Yudhisthra
• Sudakshina Kamboja - Sudakshina at Draupadi’s Swayamvara
• Sudakshina Kamboja - Sudakshina Kamboja in Mahabharata war
• Sudakshina Kamboja - Sudakshina and his army
• Sudakshina Kamboja - Sudakshina one of ten salient commanders of Kurus
• Sudakshina Kamboja - Krshna extols Sudakshina
• Sudakshina Kamboja - Bhishma extols Sudakshina
• Sudakshina Kamboja - Durodhana extols Sudakshina
• Sudakshina Kamboja - Sudakshina’s duels in the war
• Sudakshina Kamboja - Duryodhan at the death of Sudakshina
• Sudakshina Kamboja - Karna at the death of Sudakshina
• Sudakshina Kamboja - Vasudeva at the death of Sudakshina
• Sudakshina Kamboja - Gandhari at the death of Sudakshina
• Sudakshina Kamboja - Epilogue

Read more here: » Sudakshina Kamboja: Encyclopedia - Sudakshina Kamboja

Drupada, also known as Yajnasena, is a character in the Mahabharata. He is king of the land of Panchala. In his youth he studies with, and becomes a friend of Drona. Later he insults Drona because he is not of royal blood. Drona, with the help of the princes of Hastinapura, defeats him in war, and takes half his kingdom. Drupada is father to the reborn Amba, who is known as the man Shikhandi, but who was born as ...

Read more here: » Drupada: Encyclopedia - Drupada

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 t ...

Read more here: » Pandava: Encyclopedia - Pandava

In the Mahabharata, Bhima (Sanskrit: भीम्, bhīm) or Bhimasena (Sanskrit: भीमसेन्, bhīmasén) is a heroic warrior, son of Kunti by Vayu, but the acknowledged son of Pandu and the second eldest of the Pandava brothers (if Karna, son of Kunti by Surya is considered, then Bhima becomes the third eldest sun of Kunti). He is distinguished from his brothers by his great stature and strength. He was recognized as the strongest man in the three worlds (heaven, hell and earth) and was a rival to Dury ...

Read more here: » Bhima: Encyclopedia - Bhima

Swayamvara, in ancient India, was a practice of choosing a life partner, among a list of suitors by a girl of marriageable age. Swayam in Sanskrit means Self and Vara means choosing or wanting. In this practice, the girl's father decides to conduct the Swayamvara of the daughter at an auspicious time and venue, and broadcasts the news of this to the outside world. Kings, typically used to send messengers to outside lands whereas commoners arrang ...

Read more here: » Swayamvara: Encyclopedia - Swayamvara

Chhath or Dala Chhath is a Hindu festival, which is unique to Bihar state, India and Terai of Nepal. This festival is also celebrated in the north-east parts of India, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and some regions of Chhattisgarh. Chhath - Etymology. The word “chhath” denotes the number 6 in Hindi and the festival begins on the sixth day of the Hindu lunar calendar month of “kartik”, which corresponds to months of October-November in the Gregorian calendar. The festival of Chhath< ...

Including:

• Chhath - Etymology
• Chhath - The festival

Read more here: » Chhath: Encyclopedia - Chhath

In the great Hindu epic Mahabharata, Yudhisthira (Sanskrit: युधिष्ठिर्, yudhishthir) was the eldest son of King Pandu and Queen Kunti, king of Hastinapura and Indraprastha, and World Emperor. He was the principal protagonist of the Kurukshetra War, and for his unblemished piety, known as Dharmaraja (Most pious one). Yudhisthira - Birth and Upbringing. Pandu, the king of Hastinapura and father of the Pandavas could not sire children as he was cursed to die by a ...

Including:

• Yudhisthira - Birth and Upbringing
• Yudhisthira - son of Dharma
• Yudhisthira - King of Indraprastha
• Yudhisthira - Rajasuya
• Yudhisthira - Exile of 14 years
• Yudhisthira - The War at Kurukshetra
• Yudhisthira - Drona's death
• Yudhisthira - Emperor of the World
• Yudhisthira - Ashwamedha
• Yudhisthira - Retirement and Ascent to Heaven

Read more here: » Yudhisthira: Encyclopedia - Yudhisthira