Reading Notes: Mahabharata - Karmic Revolution Part B

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Pandu
-Mistook a hermit couple for deer and shot arrows at them
-Dying in the throws of passion, the man placed a curse on Pandu
-Pandu would die in the embrace of his wives; he was therefore forced to become celibate

Kunti
-Was blessed with a mantra to invoke the Gods and bear their children
-Yama's son: Yudhistira
     -Blessed with virtue and patience
-Vayu: Bhima
    -As strong and as fast as the wind
-Indra: Arjuna
    -"Archer's eyes"

Kunti is an essential character and a prime example of a strong woman in the Mahabharata. She bears three of the legendary Pandavas, and is the only parental figure left to raise them after Pandu and Madri perish.

 Madri
-Does not wish to remain childless, and utilizes Kunti's mantra to invoke the Ashwinis
-Had two sons: Nakula and Sahadeva

Ghandari
-Has a difficult initial pregnancy
-Is haunted by nightmares of hellish creatures
-Gives birth to a lump of "putrid flesh"
-Lump of flesh cast away in forest
-Sage divides flesh into one hundred lumps
-Places lumps in vats of oil, eventually emerging as the hundred sons
-"Something demonic" about these children
-Could only be loved by blind parents

 The story of Ghandari and the hundred sons she bore is not included in Narayan's version of the Mahabharata, and I was excited to learn about where these children had come from. The story was much more macabre than I imagined; I think it would be great fun to write about the balls of flesh and how they grew into the evil sons.

Two women of the Mahabharata: Kunti and Draupadi. Source: Wikimedia Commons

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Bibliography: "The Mahabharata." Video Series. Epified. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrWYQjLLbXch4II3e8ke0S-6u7JpPSCmJ 

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