Indian Epics

Long ago, King Shantanu met Ganga, the river goddess. From this matrimony he was able to procure one living son, Deverat. Deverat's other siblings had been drowned by his mother. Because King Shantanu spoke out against Ganga for her infanticide, Ganga took Deverat and left. Then, many years later King Shantanu was able to be reunited with his long lost son, Deverat. After many years of being alone, King Shantanu fell in love with Satyavati, a fisherman's daughter. However, she refused to marry him. "You already have a baby momma and her son will be the next king so why should I marry you?" said Satyavati "I.." King Shantu was speechless. What could he say? Even though he was a king, being a single father scared many women off. King Shantanu turned back to his kingdom deeply saddened. Deverat noticed his father's sadness and approached him. "What's wrong dad?" "Nothing, son. I am fine." However, Deverat knew this was not n...

For this reading note I want to focus on the births of Pandu's and Dhirarashtra's sons. Pandu has two wives Kunti and Mardi. They all decided to dwell in the forest. However, because Pandu shot a hermit who was in the form of a deer, the hermit cast a curse on Pandu before he died. The hermit cursed Pandu that he would die when he would lay with a woman. It was fitting because Pandu shot the hermit when he was laying with another hermit who was also in the form of a deer. Kunti and Mardi had not had any children yet. Therefore, Pandu had no heirs to leave behind until Kunti revealed that she could called a god with a mantra and bear his children. One by one Kunti called the gods and had five children. Her first son, Yudhishthir, who was virtuous and patient was from Yama. The next son, Bheem, was strong and fast as the wind and he came from Vayudev, the Wind God. The last son from Kunti and Indra was Arjun. He was destined to be a great warrior. Madri did not have children ye...

For today's reading notes I would like to focus on Bhishma/Devarat. Devarat is the son of King Shantanu and Ganga. Kind Shantanu fell in love with Satyavati. However, she refused to marry him because her sons would not be the crown princes with Devarat being the first born son. To make his father happy, Devarat made a terrible oath that he would not take the throne or marry/have children so there would not be an opponent for the claim of the throne. The terrible oath that Devarat swore is how Devarat became known as Bhishma. Bhishma came to mentor his half brothers Chitrangad and Vichitiraveerya. Not once did he try to take their throne. Bhishma went as far as kidnapping Amba, Ambika, and Ambalika to be the wives of Vichitiraveerya. Amba asked to leave for she had eyes for another and Bhishma apologized to her and let her go. However, when she went to King Shalva he rejected her and told her to go marry Bhishma. Bhishma also refused Amba because he wanted to keep his oath. Vichitir...