Hindu Mythology

Lesson 6: The Mahabharata

The Lunar Dynasty

Atri and Kardam were among the sons Brahma had produced using his mental powers. He also produced Manu and Shatrupa who were the founders of the human race. One of their daughters Devhuti married Kardam. Kardam and Devhuti had a daughter, Anasuya, who married Atri. Atri and Anasuya were the parents of Som. Som means moon in Hindi and the Lunar dynasty is named after this son of sage Atri. Som was vain and had a roving eye as well. He abducted Brihaspati's wife, Tara. Brihaspati was the preceptor of the demi-Gods. Ultimately Som was forced to return Tara to Brihaspati, but in the meanwhile Tara had already given birth to Som's son Buddh.

Vaivasvata Manu was the son of Surya and Samjna. He did not have any child initially, so he organized a Putrayeshti Yagya (a sacrifice with the objective of obtaining a son). However a girl was born. On the king’s request the girl was transformed to a boy, Sudyumna. One day Sudyumna had gone on a hunting excursion. As soon as Sudyumna entered the forest Sharayan, he got converted into a female and was named Ila. Buddh fell in love with Ila and they agreed to get married. From their marriage, a son, Pururava was born. Pururava is regarded as the founder of the lunar dynasty. His wife, Aushiniri, was barren and the lineage continued through his son from his mistress, the celestial maiden Urvashi. From Ayu to Nahush the dynasty passed uneventfully. Once Indra killed a brahmin and had to go in hiding. The demi-Gods elected Nahush to rule them in his place. Once he ascended the throne of heaven Nahush wanted Indra’s wife as well. He was unceremoniously removed. His son Yayati played a major role.

Yayati was married to Devyani, the daughter of Shukracharya who was the preceptor of the Demons. They had two sons, Yadu and Turvasu. Yayati was also secretly married to Sharmishtha, the daughter of a Demon King. They had three sons, Druhya, Anu and Puru. When Shukracharya learnt of his son-in-law’s second marriage he cursed Yayati that old age will set on him, though he was in the prime of his youth. He kept a loophole for Yayati. If any of Yayati’s sons would exchange his youth for his father’s old age, Yayati would once again become young. Puru the youngest son agreed to help his father. For a thousand years Yayati lived a pleasurable life with his wives. After his passions were fully sated he returned Puru's youth to him. In return for Puru's sacrifice he crowned Puru as the next king of the Lunar dynasty and declared that his lineage would continue through Puru. It was in this dynasty that the warring cousins, the Kauravas and the Pandavas were born. Yadu started his own dynasty. Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Vishnu, who was the advisor to the Pandavas, was a descendent of Yadu.

There is an interesting incident between Arjuna, the third Pandava, and Urvashi the apsara. Urvashi was immortal and forever young. Once when Arjuna came to heaven she invited him to her bedroom because Indra had instructed her to take good care of Arjuna. Arjuna reminded her that she was his ancestor and hence there could not be any sexual relationship between them. Angered by this response Urvashi decreed that Arjuna would have to live as a eunuch for one year.

Optional Exercises

2a. Starting from Brahma draw the family trees of the initial Solar and Lunar dynasties and note how they connect. Go up to Ikshvaku in the case of the solar dynasty and Pururava in the case of the Lunar dynasty.

2b. Read in detail about the Lunar dynasty at the following site.
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/myth...

2c. Read in detail about Pururava and Urvashi at the following sites.
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/myth...
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/myth...

2d. Read in detail about Yayati from ‘The Indian Epics Retold’ on page 413.

2e. The incident between Urvashi and Arjuna raises several issues. Was Urvashi wrong in inviting Arjuna to her bedroom is one of them. Begin the discussion from here and slowly rope in the other issues.

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