The core story of the work is that of a dynastic struggle for the throne of Hastinapura, the kingdom ruled by the Kuru clan. The two collateral branches of the family that participate in the struggle are the Kauravas, the elder branch of the family, and the Pandavas, the younger branch. The struggle culminates leading to the Great battle of Kurukshetra, and the Pandavas are ultimately victorious. The Mahabharata itself ends with the death of Krishna, and the subsequent end of his dynasty, and ascent of the Pandava brothers to Heaven. ...

See also:

Mahabharata, Mahabharata - Primary purport, Mahabharata - Background and history, Mahabharata - The Mahabharata, the epic story, Mahabharata - Stories, Mahabharata - Structure, Mahabharata - Modern Mahabharata, Mahabharata - Another Viewpoint, Mahabharata - The Significance of Mahabharata, Mahabharata - Symbolism of Mahabharata

Read more here: » Mahabharata: Encyclopedia II - Mahabharata - The Mahabharata, the epic story

See also:

Mahabharata, Mahabharata - Primary purport, Mahabharata - Background and history, Mahabharata - The Mahabharata the epic story, Mahabharata - Stories, Mahabharata - Structure, Mahabharata - Modern Mahabharata, Mahabharata - Another Viewpoint, Mahabharata - The Significance of Mahabharata, Mahabharata - Symbolism of Mahabharata

Read more here: » Mahabharata: Encyclopedia II - Mahabharata - The Mahabharata the epic story

Background - The story has its beginning at the time of King Shantanu, three generations before Krishna and Arjuna. King Shantanu’s first wife was named Ganga, who conceived 8 sons. The first seven sons were immersed in the sacred waters of the Ganges by their mother Ganga, immediately after birth. King Shantanu pleaded for his eighth son and Ganga conceded and allowed him to live, but she in turn immersed herself into the Ganges. This son was named Bhishma. After some time, Shantanu took a second queen named Satyavati, and t ...

See also:

Mahabharata, Mahabharata - Primary purport, Mahabharata - Background and history, Mahabharata - The Mahabharata the epic story, Mahabharata - Stories, Mahabharata - Structure, Mahabharata - Modern Mahabharata, Mahabharata - Another Viewpoint, Mahabharata - The Significance of Mahabharata, Mahabharata - Symbolism of Mahabharata

Read more here: » Mahabharata: Encyclopedia II - Mahabharata - The Significance of Mahabharata

Shruti Vedas Rig Veda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Atharva Veda Brahmanas Aranyakas Upanishads Smriti Itihāsas Mahābhārata Bhagavad Gītā Ramayana Puranas (List) Tantras Sutras (List) Stotras Ashtavakra Gita

The Mahabharata is the history of the Pandavas and the Pandavas. It gives a description of the great war, the Battle of Kurukshetra, which broke out between the Kauravas and the Pandavas who were cousins and descendants of the lunar race. The Mahabharata is an encyclopaedia of Hindu Dharma. It is rightly called the fifth Veda. There is really no theme in religion, philosophy, mysticism and polity which this great epic does not touch and expound.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Mahabharata: The Mahabharata in the Hindu Scriptures

The Mahabharata symbolizes the Creation of the Universe, and the Creation of Man from Spirit or the Supreme Consciousness, into Matter. The discourse in the Gita is the process by which one could reverse this descent. In other words, it details the steps by which man can reascend from his limited consciousness as a mortal being, back to the immortal consciousness of his true Self, merging with the Infinite (Spirit), from whence he came. SHANTANU He is representative of God, the Para-Brahman, and the father of all creatio ...

See also:

Mahabharata, Mahabharata - Primary purport, Mahabharata - Background and history, Mahabharata - The Mahabharata the epic story, Mahabharata - Stories, Mahabharata - Structure, Mahabharata - Modern Mahabharata, Mahabharata - Another Viewpoint, Mahabharata - The Significance of Mahabharata, Mahabharata - Symbolism of Mahabharata

Read more here: » Mahabharata: Encyclopedia II - Mahabharata - Symbolism of Mahabharata

The core story of the work is that of a dynastic struggle for the throne of Hastinapura, the kingdom ruled by the Kuru clan. The two collateral branches of the family that participate in the struggle are the Kauravas, the elder branch of the family, and the Pandavas, the younger branch. The struggle culminates leading to the Great battle of Kurukshetra, and the Pandavas are ultimately victorious. The Mahabharata itself ends with the death of Krishna, and the subsequent end of his dynasty, and ascent of the Pandava brothers to Heaven. ...

See also:

Mahabharata, Mahabharata - Scope, Mahabharata - Background and history, Mahabharata - The central story, Mahabharata - The books, Mahabharata - Jaimini's version, Mahabharata - In modern times, Mahabharata - Another Viewpoint

Read more here: » Mahabharata: Encyclopedia II - Mahabharata - The central story

Abhimanyu is a tragic hero in the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata. He is the son of Arjuna and Subhadra, and nephew of Lord Krishna. Abhimanyu - Birth, Education and War. As an unborn child in his mother's womb, Abhimanyu learns the knowledge of entering the deadly and virtually impenetrable Chakra Vyuha (see Wars of Hindu Mythology) from his father Arjuna. The epic explains that he overheard his father talking about this with this mother from the womb. Trained by his father, who is ...

Including:

• Abhimanyu - Birth, Education and War
• Abhimanyu - Abhimanyu's death
• Abhimanyu - Arjuna's Great Revenge
• Abhimanyu - Explanation of his Death
• Abhimanyu - See Also

Read more here: » Abhimanyu: Encyclopedia - Abhimanyu

Kavitrayam is a Telugu expression for trinity of poets. Kavitrayam popularly refers to the poets who translated the great epic Mahabharata into Telugu. The trinity consists of: Nannayya, popularly hailed as Adi Kavi or the first poet, belonged to Rajamundry, an ancient city on the banks of river Godavari. He is said to have belonged to 1000 - 1100. Nannayya initiated the gigantic task of translation of the great epic into Telugu. Before translation, he had to revise Telugu by building new gramm ...

Read more here: » Kavitrayam: Encyclopedia - Kavitrayam

In Hindu mythology, Maya, or Mayasura was a great ancient king of the Asura, Daitya and Rakshasa races upon earth. He was also the chief architect of the peoples of the netherworlds. Mayasura - Tripura. He was the designer and king of the three flying cities, known as the Tripura. They were great cities of prosperity, power and dominance over the world, but due to their impious nature, Maya's cities were torched out of the sky by Lord Shiva. Hindu mytholo ...

Including:

• Mayasura - Tripura
• Mayasura - In the Ramayana
• Mayasura - In the Mahabharata

Read more here: » Mayasura: Encyclopedia - Mayasura

Parikshita is in the Mahabharata epic the successor of Yudhisthira to the throne of Hastinapura. Alternate spellings of his name are Pariksita, and Parikshit. His name is a common Hindu name across India today. Parikshita - Birth. Parikshita is the son of Uttara, the Matsya princess and Abhimanyu, the Vrishni son of Arjuna. He is born only after the end of the war. Uttara is carrying their son in her womb when Abhimanyu is mercilessly and unfairly slain by the Kauravas. Later, As ...

Including:

• Parikshita - Birth
• Parikshita - Prophecy of Life
• Parikshita - King of Hastinapura

Read more here: » Parikshita: Encyclopedia - Parikshita

The city of Indraprastha (City of Indra) was a major northern city in ancient India that was the capital of the kingdom led by the Pandavas in the Mahabharata epic. It is located upon the banks of the river Yamuna and extremely close to the modern national capital of Delhi. Indeed, it is said to have been "the first city of Delhi". Indraprastha - Foundation. When Yudhisthira, the eldest of the five Pandava brothers is given the kingdom of Khandavaprastha, a region northwest to the city ...

Including:

• Indraprastha - Foundation
• Indraprastha - In history
• Indraprastha - Declining importance
• Indraprastha - Lineage of Delhi

Read more here: » Indraprastha: Encyclopedia - Indraprastha

Chandravarma Kamboja is the first Kamboja king mentioned by name in the Mahabharata. He appears to have been an ancient and very powerful ruler of the Kambojas. He finds mention in the Adiparva section of the epic where he is stated to be an Asura or a demonic ruler (See main entry candra in Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary) [1]. Mahabharata styles Chandravarma as an incarnation of Daitya Chandra, t ...

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

Radha refers to either one of two figures in Hindu religion. By far the most important is Radha, the gopi, who participates in the Rasa Lila with Krishna. Radha - The Mahabharata. Radha - Radha the gopi. In the story of Krishna, as told in the Puranas and the Mahabharata, she is one of the gopis (cow-herding women) of the forest of Vrindavan, and was brought up in this community with Krishna. In the orginal story she is briefly mentioned as one of the gopis who Krishna plays wit ...

Including:

• Radha - The Mahabharata
• Radha - Radha the gopi
• Radha - The foster mother of Karna
• Radha - Radha the Gopi in later Vaishnava traditions
• Radha - Festivals
• Radha - Radha the most important Gopi of Krishna
• Radha - Radha the beautiful one

Read more here: » Radha: Encyclopedia - Radha

Mahabharata: (Sanskrit) "Great Epic of India."

The world's longest epic poem. It revolves around the conflict between two royal families, the Pandavas and Kauravas, and their great battle of Kurukshetra near modern Delhi in approximately 1424 bce. Woven through the plot are countless discourses on philosophy, religion, astronomy, cosmology, polity, economics and many stories illustrative of simple truths and ethical principles. The Bhagavad Gita is one section of the work. The Mahabharata is revered as scripture by Vaishnavites and Smartas.

See: Bhagavad Gita, Itihasa.

(See also: Mahabharata, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

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

Vyasa (Vyāsa in IAST transliteration) is an important and much revered figure in the Hindu tradition and its literature. He is considered to be an ideal Brahmarishi- omniscient, truthful, purest of the pure and possessor of knowledge of the essence of Brahman. Vyasa - The legend of Vyasa. Vyasa appears for the first time as the author and an important character in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. The epic, whilst having its roots in historical events centuries before the common era, is an extraordinarily long c ...

Including:

• Vyasa - The legend of Vyasa
• Vyasa - 'Veda' Vyasa
• Vyasa - Author of Mahabharata
• Vyasa - Author of Puranas
• Vyasa - Vyasa in Buddhism
• Vyasa - In the Arthashastra
• Vyasa - Author of Brahma Sutra
• Vyasa - Author of Yoga Bhashya

Read more here: » Vyasa: Encyclopedia - Vyasa

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 Mahabharata epic, Ekalavya is a young prince of the Nishadha tribes, who achieves a skill level parallel to the great Arjuna, despite Drona's rejection of him. Ekalavya - Becoming a warrior. Ekalavya - Drona's rejection. Ekalavya comes to Drona for instruction. Drona rejects him on account of him not belonging to the Vedic religion, nor being an Indo-Aryan. Ekalavya - Self-training and prowess. Ekalavya is undeterred, and e ...

Including:

• Ekalavya - Becoming a warrior
• Ekalavya - Drona's rejection
• Ekalavya - Self-training and prowess
• Ekalavya - Ekalavya's dakshina
• Ekalavya - Modern perspective

Read more here: » Ekalavya: Encyclopedia - Ekalavya

Uttarakuru was the name of ancient country and its people as numerously referenced in ancient Vedic, Brahmanical and the Buddhist texts and numerous other ancient Sanskrit texts. Sometimes the Uttarakuru country and its people are described as belonging to real world but at other times they appear to be mythical. Uttarakuru - Vedic Literature and Uttarakuru. Aitareya Brahmana makes first reference to Uttarakuru and Uttaramadra as real-life Janapadas and informs us that these two nations lied b ...

Including:

• Uttarakuru - Vedic Literature and Uttarakuru
• Uttarakuru - Puranas and Uttarakuru
• Uttarakuru - Mahabharata and Uttarakuru
• Uttarakuru - Ramayana and Uttarakuru
• Uttarakuru - Buddhist Texts and Uttarakuru
• Uttarakuru - Rajatrangini of Kalhana and Uttarakuru
• Uttarakuru - Foreign Sources on Uttarakuru
• Uttarakuru - Geographical Location of Uttarakuru

Read more here: » Uttarakuru: Encyclopedia - Uttarakuru