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

Duryodhana

The eldest son of Dhritarashtra and chief rival of the Pandavas. He made many attempts to cheat the Pandavas of their right to the Kuru throne. After arrogantly ignoring the good advice of Bhishma, Drona, and Krishna he perished with his ninety-nine brothers in the Kurukshetra battle.

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

Duryodhana:

Duryodhana (Dhuryodhana). Chief (and eldest) of the evil-minded sons of Dhritharashtra.

(See also: Duryodhana, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Righteousness: God's Chariot Shows the Path

The wheel was, without doubt, a great technological breakthrough. It made quick motion possible. And when the wheel was integrated with the domesticated horse, it redefined mobility and did wonders for tactics and strategy of warfare. It also gave the charioteer a commanding view of life. Nagasena used the chariot as a metaphor to explain profound truths:

Read more here: » Righteousness: God's Chariot Shows the Path

When the princes come of age, Yudhisthira is given half the kingdom and made king of Indraprastha, so as to avoid a clash with the Kaurava princes over the whole Kuru kingdom. Duryodhana becomes the prince regent of Hastinapura, and owing to the age and blindness of his father, he accumulates much control and influence, managing the state affairs himself with a coterie of his advisors that include his ...

See also:

Duryodhana, 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 II - Duryodhana - Usurping the kingdom

Achilles' heel refers to a fatal weakness in a powerful person that leads or may lead to his downfall. It references a vulnerability that the individual may possess. While the mythological reference is physical, this can often be used as a description of an attribute or quality of a person that can lead to their downfall. In Greek mythology, Achilles is made invulnerable by being dipped in the river Styx by his mother, Thetis. However, his mother held him by the heel, and th ...

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In the Hindu epic Mahabharata, Ashwatthama (Sanskrit: अश्वत्थाम्, ashvatthām) or Ashwatthaman (Sanskrit: अश्वत्थमन्, ashvatthaman) was the son of guru Dronacharya. He is one of the seven Chiranjeevins. Dronacharya loved him dearly. False rumours about his death in the Kurukshetra war led to the death of his father in the hands of Prince Dhrishtadyumna. A vengeful Ashwatthama obtained permission from the dying Duryodhana to brutally murder Dhrishtadhyumna after the war had o ...

Read more here: » Ashwatthama: Encyclopedia - Ashwatthama

In the Mahabharata, Sakuni was the brother of Queen Gandhari, and was son of King Subala of Gandhara. He accompanied his sister to Hastinapura for her wedding, and remained as a nobleman at the court there. His activities at the court were concentrated on safeguarding the position of his sister's children; the Kaurava. Hence, he is seen as a scheming and evil person. He was responsible for arranging the dice game where Duryodhana, his nephew, ch ...

Read more here: » Sakuni: Encyclopedia - Sakuni

In the Mahabharata Dhritarashtra was the son born by Vichitravirya's first wife Ambika and fathered by Vyasa. This blind king of Hastinapura was father to 100 children by his wife Gandhari. These children came to be known as the Kauravas. Duryodhana and Dushasana were the first two sons. Dhritarashtra - Birth. After Vichitravirya's death his mother Satyavati sent for her first born, Vyasa. According to his mother's wishes, he visited both the wives of Vichitravirya to grant them a son. When Vyasa vi ...

Including:

• Dhritarashtra - Birth
• Dhritarashtra - Battle of Kurukshetra

Read more here: » Dhritarashtra: Encyclopedia - Dhritarashtra

Karna (written Karṇa in IAST transliteration) (also known as Karan) is one of the central figures in Hindu epic Mahabharata. He was the first son of Kunti, and was thus half brother to the Pandavas, and the eldest of them. Although Duryodhana of the Kauravas anoints him king of Anga, his role in the legend far exceeds the importance of a king. He fought for the Kauravas in the great battle at Kurukshetra. Karna - Birth. The princess Kunti, while young, was granted a boon whereby she could call upon any of ...

Including:

• Karna - Birth
• Karna - Upbringing
• Karna - Training
• Karna - King of Anga
• Karna - The Tragedy of Karna
• Karna - The Ride with The Lord
• Karna - The Great War: Kurukshetra
• Karna - Karna's Honor and Dishonor in Battle
• Karna - After Karna's Death
• Karna - Contrast with Arjuna
• Karna - Parallels
• Karna - Iliad
• Karna - Bible

Read more here: » Karna: Encyclopedia - Karna

In Hinduism, Andhaka often refers to a malevolent demon. Andhaka - The Story. Andhaka was the demon son of Shiva, and was created from a drop of his sweat. He was born blind. After birth, Andhaka was given to Hiranyaksha to be raised, as he had no sons. Later, Andhaka become the king of Hiranyaksha's kingdom. Shortly after becoming king Andhaka discovered that his cousins were plotting to overthrow him, so he retreated to the forest to meditate. He fasted and stood upon one leg for mor ...

Including:

• Andhaka - The Story

Read more here: » Andhaka: Encyclopedia - Andhaka

Vanavaasa in Kannada Language means exile to the forest. Pandavaas lost to Kauravas in a game of dice and according to the pact they had to leave their kingdom to the kauravas and go to forest. A total of 13years of exile was imposed on the pandavaas. Out of 13years they had to spend 12years in forest and one year of anonymous exile. If the Pandavas were caught during the year of anonymity, they would have to go to twelve years of exile again. The Pandavas after finishing their exile period returned to Duryodhana and asked him to return their kingdom. On refusal from Dur

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In Hinduism, Balarama (phonetically Balarāma - his other names include Baladeva, Balabhadra and Halayudha) is the name of the elder brother of Sri Krishna. Most South Indian Hindu sects and some Vaishnava sects based in eastern India regard Balarama as being the ninth avatar of Vishnu. In either tradition, Balarama is acknowledged as being a manifestation of Adis ...

Including:

• Balarama - Appearance
• Balarama - Pastimes
• Balarama - Disappearance

Read more here: » Balarama: Encyclopedia - Balarama

Vidura was a son of a maid-servent who served the Queens of Hastinapura, Queen Ambika and Ambalika. In some accounts, he was an incarnation of Yama or Dharma Raj, who was cursed by the sage, Mandavya, for imposing punishment on him that exceed the sin. The Queens were married to King Vichitravirya of Hastinapur, who died childless. Vichitravirya's mother Satyavati, who needed to ensure that the line was carried on, called upon her other son Vyasa, to go to the beds of the two queens and father children. Vyasa was a hermit, and ...

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The term Kaurava is a Sanskrit term, that means the descendants of Kuru, a legendary king who is the ancestor of many of the characters of the Mahabharata. It is often written as Kauravas in English; technically this plural form is incorrect since the Sanskrit form is plural already. The singular term, for a single descendant of Kuru, is Kaura. The term is used in the Mahabharata with two meanings; 1. the wider meaning, to represent all the descendants of Kuru. This meaning, which includes the Pandava brothers, is sometimes used in the Mahabha ...

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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

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

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

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

Sattriraju Lakshmi Narayana, also known as Bapu was born on 14th of December in 1933 in Narsapur, West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh. He graduated as a lawyer from University of Madras in 1955. He joined as political cartoonist for the newspaper Andhra Patrika in 1955. He later went on to become a designer, movie director and a popular painter. Bapu artist - Painting Style. Bapu introduced a painting that uses simple bright colours which are easy on the eye. His unique style of economy of strokes, ...

Including:

• Bapu artist - Painting Style
• Bapu artist - Collaborations with other artists
• Bapu artist - Movies
• Bapu artist - Other works
• Bapu artist - Awards and Acclaim

Read more here: » Bapu artist: Encyclopedia - Bapu artist