100 Kauravas born at the same time ?
The intriguing story behind the birth of the 100 Kauravas
The story behind the birth of the Kauravas is one of the most intriguing tales in Hindu mythology. It begins with the marriage of King Dhritarashtra, the blind king of Hastinapura, to Gandhari, a princess from Gandhara. Despite being blind, Dhritarashtra was the eldest son of King Vichitravirya and therefore, the rightful heir to the throne. However, his disability prevented him from becoming the king, and instead, his younger brother Pandu was crowned as the king.
Gandhari was a devoted wife, and she had vowed to serve her husband in all circumstances. However, when she learned that her husband was blind, she decided to blindfold herself as well, so as not to see the world that her husband could not. This was a sign of her commitment to her husband and her role as queen.
Kunti, the mother of the Pandavas, was a close friend of Gandhari. She was blessed with a boon that allowed her to summon any god and bear a child with them. She used this boon to bear children with the gods Dharma, Vayu, and Indra, who became the fathers of Yudhishthira, Bhima, and Arjuna, respectively. However, she also shared this boon with her friend Gandhari, who was eager to bear children of her own.
Gandhari, however, faced a terrible curse. She had been blessed with a boon that would give her a hundred sons, but a sage had cursed her that she would not give birth for two years. Frustrated with the delay, she took matters into her own hands and hit her womb hard, resulting in the birth of a lifeless mass of flesh.
Dismayed and heartbroken, Gandhari decided to abandon the mass of flesh.
However, the sage Vyasa intervened and instructed her to divide the mass into 101 parts, which she then placed in jars filled with ghee and buried in the ground. After two years, the jars were opened, and each part had transformed into a living being.
The first jar gave birth to Duryodhana, the leader of the Kauravas, and the rest gave birth to his 99 brothers.
This story highlights the complexities of human nature and the consequences of impatience and desire. Despite her noble intentions, Gandhari’s eagerness to bear children led to disastrous consequences for her family and the kingdom. However, the story also emphasizes the power of divine intervention and the role of fate in shaping our lives.