Kaurava
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The term Kaurava (Sanskrit: कौरव) is a Sanskrit term, that means a descendant of Kuru, a legendary king who is the ancestor of many of the characters of the Mahābhārata.
The term is used in the Mahābhārata with two meanings:
- The wider meaning, to represent all the descendants of Kuru. This meaning, which includes the Pandava brothers, is sometimes used in the Mahābhārata, especially in some of the earlier parts.
- The commoner and narrower meaning, to represent the elder line of the descendants of King Kuru. This restricts it to the children of King Dhritarashtra, as his line is the elder line of descent from Kuru. It excludes the children of the younger brother Pandu, who founds his own line, the Pandava.
The rest of this article deals with the Kaurava in the narrower sense, that is the children of Dhritarashtra, by Queen Gandhari. When referring to these, a more specific term is also frequently encountered - Dhārtarāṣṭra, a derivative of Dhṛtarāṣṭra (Dhritarashtra).
According to the standard texts, Gandhari wanted a hundred sons, and Vyasa granted her a boon that she would have these. Another version says that she was unable to have any children for a long time and she eventually became pregnant, but did not deliver for two years, after which she gave birth to a lump of flesh. Vyasa cut this lump into a hundred and one pieces, and these eventually developed into a hundred boys and one girl.
This story should be read in view of the dispute over the succession to the throne of the kingdom. It attributes a late birth to Duryodhana, the eldest son of Dhritarashtra, despite his father's early marriage. This legitimises the case for his cousin Yudhisthira to claim the throne, since he could claim to be the eldest of his generation.
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This article's factual accuracy is disputed. Please see the relevant discussion on the talk page. (April 2009) |
Although all hundred sons have been named, only the first few are normally mentioned in the Mahābhārata. The first five are:
- Duryodhana
- Dushasana
- Dussala (daughter)
- Jalagandha
- Sama
All the male sons of Dritarashtra were killed in the great battle at Kurukshetra.
Sons of the Kauravas fought in the Great War. Duryodhana had 29 sons of which few survived. Upon the death of Dushasan, the second kaurava, Purujit was made Kaurava Yuvaraja. After his death, Sudarsha was made the Yuvaraj. After the defeat of all, Ashwathhama crowned Durmukha, youngest son of Duryodhana as next King and continued struggle. They migrated to the west and formed the Kathi tribe now living in Kathiawar, Gujarat.[citation needed]
[edit] The Kauravas
To quote from Mahabharata, Sambava Parva, Section CXV (http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01116.htm)
And during the time when Gandhari was in a state of advanced pregnancy, there was a maid servant of the Vaisya class who used to attend on Dhritarashtra. During that year, O king, was begotten upon her by the illustrious Dhritarashtra a son endued with great intelligence who was afterwards named Yuvutsu. And because he was begotten by a Kshatriya upon a Vaisya woman, he was subject to the constant taunts of the kauravas.
"Thus were born unto the wise Dhritarashtra
- a hundred sons who were all heroes and mighty chariot-fighters, and
- a daughter over and above the hundred, and
- another son Yuyutsu of great energy and prowess begotten upon a Vaisya woman.'"
The Kauravas
01. Duryodhanan 02. Dussaasanan 03. Dussahan 04. Dussalan 05. Jalagandhan 06. Saman 07. Sahan 08. Vindhan 09. Anuvindhan 10. Durdharshan 11. Subaahu 12. Dushpradharshan 13. Durmarshanan 14. Durmukhan 15. Dushkarnan 16. Karnan 17. Vikarnan 18. Salan 19. Sathwan 20. Sulochanan 21. Chithran 22. Upachithran 23. Chithraakshan 24. Chaaruchithran 25. Saraasanan 26. Durmadan 27. Durvigaahan 28. Vivilsu 29. Vikatinandan 30. Oornanaabhan 31. Sunaabhan 32. Nandan 33. Upanandan 34. Chithrabaanan 35. Chithravarman 36. Suvarman 37. Durvimochan 38. Ayobaahu 39. Mahabaahu 40. Chithraamgan 41. Chithrakundalan 42. Bheemavegan 43. Bheemabelan 44. Vaalaky 45. Belavardhanan 46. Ugraayudhan 47. Sushenan 48. Kundhaadharan 49. Mahodaran 50. Chithraayudhan 51. Nishamgy 52. Paasy 53. Vrindaarakan 54. Dridhavarman 55. Dridhakshathran 56. Somakeerthy 57. Anthudaran 58. Dridhasandhan 59. Jaraasandhan 60. Sathyasandhan 61. Sadaasuvaak 62. Ugrasravas 63. Ugrasenan 64. Senaany 65. Dushparaajan 66. Aparaajithan 67. Kundhasaai 68. Visaalaakshan 69. Duraadharan 70. Dridhahasthan 71. Suhasthan 72. Vaathavegan 73. Suvarchan 74. Aadithyakethu 75. Bahwaasy 76. Naagadathan 77. Ugrasaai 78. Kavachy 79. Kradhanan 80. Kundhy 81. Bheemavikran 82. Dhanurdharan 83. Veerabaahu 84. Alolupan 85. Abhayan 86. Dhridhakarmaavu 87. Dhridharathaasrayan 88. Anaadhrushyan 89. Kundhabhedy 90. Viraavy 91. Chithrakundalan 92. Pradhaman 93. Amapramaadhy 94. Deerkharoman 95. Suveeryavaan 96. Dheerkhabaahu 97. Sujaathan 98. Kaanchanadhwajan 99. Kundhaasy 100. Virajass 101. Yuyulssu * 102. Dussala (*Yuyulssu is the son of Dhrutharaastrar in a vysya maid servent . During the kurushethra war he joined with pandava. He was the caretaker of king Parishath, son of Abhimanue, when Parishath was a minor) (Reference: - Puranic Encyclopedia of Vettom Mani. Mahabharata Aadiparvam – chapter 67) Contributed by T.J.Neriamparampil (neriamparampil@hotmail.com)
