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The position of the Kuru kingdom in
Post Vedic or the Mahajanpada period.
Kuru (Sanskrit: कुरु) was the name of an Indo-Aryan clan in Iron Age Vedic India, which started in the Early Vedic period and later evolved into a republican Mahajanapada state in the later Vedic period.[1] The Kuru clan was located in the area of modern Haryana, Delhi and western parts of Uttar Pradesh (the region of Doab, till Prayag/Kaushambi)[2] in North India. According to ancient texts, the territory of Kuru clan lay between the Rgvedic river Sarasvati and river Ganges and was split into two parts as Kuru-Jangala and Kuru Proper.
The main information about this period is gathered from the Rig Veda, which was composed at the time when the Aryans first settled in North Western India—a land which they called the SaptaSindhu (the land of seven rivers), whose eastern boundary was defined by the Ganges river, till its confluence with Yamuna (as mentioned in the Rig Veda).[3] The Kuru clan, a branch of early Indo-Aryans, ruled the Ganga-Jamuna Doab and modern Haryana (earlier Eastern Punjab). However, till the Early Vedic period, the focus of the Vedic civilization was Punjab, while the Kuru land (Doab) was not even totally inhabited, and consisted mostly of dense forests.
For various reasons, the focus, in the later Vedic period, totally shifted out of Punjab, into the Doab, and thus to the Kuru clan.[4]. One reason could have been the drying up of Saraswati river, around whose banks the early Vedic Aryan civilization had flourished. Another reason was that there had been a continuous increase in the population during the later Vedic period due to the expansion of the economy based on agriculture. The increasing number and size of Painted Grey Ware (PGW) settlements in the Doab area shows this. With the passage of time, the Vedic people also acquired better knowledge of seasons, manuring and irrigation. All these developments resulted in the substantial enlargement of certain settlements such as Hastinapur and Kaushambi towards the end of the Later Vedic period. These settlements slowly began to acquire characteristics of towns. Such rudimentary towns inhabited mainly by the chiefs, princes, priests and artisans were supported by the peasants who could spare for them some part of their produce voluntarily or involuntarily.[5] Originally, Aryavarta is the name given to the Kuru-land (Ganga-Yamuna Doab) by the Indo-Aryans, and although, later the boundaries of Aryavarta spread to other areas, the Doab remained the centre of the Vedic civilization, as well as the Hindu religion and culture.
The Kuru tribe was formed, in the Early Vedic period, as a result of the alliance and merger between the Bharata and Puru tribes.[6] They formed the first political center of the Vedic period, with its capital initially at Hastinapur, and were the center of political power during roughly 1200 to 800 BCE.[7]. Towards the end of the Early Vedic period, the capital of the Kurus was transferred to Kaushambi, in the lower Doab, after Hastinapur was destroyed by floods [8] as well as because of upheavals in the Kuru family itself. [9][10].
Eventually, in the post Vedic period, the Kuru dynasty evolved into Kuru and Vats kingdoms, ruling over Upper Doab/Delhil/Haryana and lower Doab, respectively. The Vatsa branch of the Kuru dynasty further divided into Vats (Kaushambi) and Vats(Mathura) branches.[11] The Kuru branch merged with the Panchals and formed the Kuru-Panchal dynasty. As per the Jataka Tales, the capital of the Kurus in that period was Indraprastha, near modern Delhi which extended "seven leagues".
Archaeologically, Kuru clan most likely correspond to the Black and Red Ware Culture (BRW) of the 12th to 9th centuries BC and chronologically to the Mantra language Vedic text epoch. At this time, iron first appears in western India (iron is absent in the Rgvedic hymns, and makes its first appearance as śyāma ayas in the Atharvaveda). It was during this era of Kuru clan that the codification and redaction of the Vedic texts began.
The Atharvaveda (XX.127) refers to certain Parikshita as the "Chief of the Kurus".[12] His son Janamejaya figures in Satapatha Brahmana as well as in the Aitareya Brahmana. The Kurus in association with the Panchala tribes, known as the Kuru-Panchala, are frequently mentioned in the later Vedic literature. After the Early Iron Age, Panchala became the "urban" center of Vedic civilization. Archaeologically, the Painted Grey Ware (PGW) culture from ca. 900 BC corresponds, and the shift of the political centre from the Kurus to the Panchalas on the Ganges.
At Gautama Buddha's time, the Kuru country was ruled by a titular chieftain (king consul) named Korayvya. The Kurus of the Buddhist period did not occupy the same position as they did in the Vedic period but they continued to enjoy their ancient reputation for deep wisdom and sound health. The Kurus had matrimonial relations with the Yadavas, the Bhojas and the Panchalas. There is a Jataka reference to king Dhananjaya, introduced as a prince from the race of Yudhishtra. Though a well known monarchical people in the earlier period, the Kurus are known to have switched to a republican form of government during the sixth to fifth century BCE. In the fourth century BCE, Kautiliya's Arthashastra also attests the Kurus following the Rajashabdopajivin (king consul) constitution.
Additionally, according to Aitareya Brahmana, there was another clan called Northern Kurus in the north of Himalayas.
The whole Kuru clan originally, roughly corresponded to modern Thanesar, Delhi and the entire Ganga-Jamuna Doab till Prayag. The main rivers were Aruna, Ashumati, Hiranvati, Apaya, Kausiki, mythical Sarasvati, Jamuna, Ganga and Drishadvati or Rakshi.
In the Mahajanpada period, the Kuru Kingdom was divided into the Kuru and the Vatsa Kingdoms, with the Kurus ruling the present-day region between the triangle of Thanesar, Hisar and Hastinapur, and Vatsas (a branch of Kurus) ruling middle and lower Doab. In this period, this region was distinguished by five different names:
- Kuru-Jangala, corresponding to to present day Rohtak, Hansi, Hisar
- Kuru Proper between the Ganges and Yamuna with its capital at Hastinapura
- Kuru-kshetra, comprising Thanesar, Kaithal and Karnal.
- Vatsa (Mathura)
- Vatsa (Kaushambi)
Flow charts showing the differences between the historical and Epic views on the formation of Kuru tribe
This kingdom was ruled by the Pandava king, Yudhisthira. It was located between the Saraswati and Yamuna rivers, and forms the majority of what is now the modern state of Haryana. Indraprastha, now Delhi, was its capital.
This was the western part of Kuru. It was filled with forests like Khandava (eastern Hariyana), Rohitaka (Rohtak) and numerous other bush-lands. King Dhritarashtra gave this land to Yudhisthira to end the rivalry between the Pandavas and Kauravas. Yudhisthira developed the waste-land into a prosperous country to the envy of the Kauravas. His brother Arjuna, with the aid of Vasudeva Krishna, cleared the Khandava Forest, after the destruction and re-habitation of the settlements of Nagas, Danavas and Rakshasas who dwelled in those regions. Danava Maya was the chief architect of the constructions of the new kingdom, such as the royal court of Yudhisthira at Indraprastha.
Kuru was under the Kaurava king Duryodhana. It was located east of the Kurujangala kingdom of the Pandavas between the Yamuna and Ganges rivers. This kingdom roughly forms the western part of modern Uttar Pradesh bordering Haryana. Hastinapura, now a small town named Hastinapur 37 kilometres (23 mi) north-east of Meerut city in Uttar Pradesh, was identified as its capital.
Later, Duryodhana the son of Dhritarashtra annexed Kurujangala to his kingdom, causing a dispute. This dispute grew into the Kurukshetra war, which is the central theme of the Mahabharata. Nearly all the kingdoms in existence at the time took part in this war and lost their kings, generals and armies including a few million young able-bodied men. This resulted in a great socio-economic depression in ancient India, which was otherwise known as the 'Kali Yuga' or the 'Dark Age'.
The Kuru kingdom figures in the list of the sixteen great kingdoms, the Mahajanapadas of the early Buddhist Anguttara Nikaya. At the time of Buddha, the Kuru realm was only three hundred leagues in extent. Legendary Buddhist stories -the Jatakas attest that the capital of the Kurus was Indraprastha (Indapatta) near modern Delhi. It extended for seven leagues. The other city in the realm was Hatthinipura i.e. Hastinapura. The reigning king Dhananjaya is stated as prince from the race of Yudhishtra. But he was merely a titular chieftain (king consul).
During Buddha's time, Ratthapala, son of the Kuru ruler had embraced Buddhism.
The Buddha taught important and profound discourses in the Kurus such as the "Mahāsatipaṭṭhāna Sutta", the Great Discourse on the Foundation of Mindfulness, "Mahānidāna Sutta", The Great Discourse on Causation, and "Āneñjasappāya Sutta", the Way to the Imperturbable. Other discourses, as recorded in the Pali Canon, taught by the Buddha in the Kurus are Māgaṇḍiya Sutta, Raṭṭhapāla Sutta, Sammasa Sutta, Dutiya Ariyāvāsa Sutta.
The Kurus of the Buddhist period did not occupy the same position as they did in the Vedic period but they continued to enjoy their ancient reputation for deep wisdom and sound health. The Kurus had matrimonial relations with Yadavas, the Bhojas and the Panchalas.
Though a well known monarchical people in earlier period, the Kurus are known to have switched to republic form of government during sixth/fifth century BCE. Fourth century BCE Kautiliya's Arthashastra also attests the Kurus as following the Rajashabdopajivin (king consul) constitution (11/1/1-4).
Kurus are mentioned by Pāṇini (Astadhyayi 4.1.168-75) as one of the fifteen powerful Kshatriya Janapadas of his times, with Hastinapura as its capital.
Pāṇini refers to the house-holders' way of life as against ascetic way obtaining amongst the Kurus.
In Buddhism, "Kuru Dharma" specifically refers to the Five Precepts of moral restraints which every Buddhist must take along with the Triple Gem. Buddhists trace the origins of the 5 precepts in the "Kuru Dhamma Jataka".
Kurus have frequently been coupled with the Panchalas in later Vedic and Puranic literature. The Kurus were followers of Brahmanical way of life, and the early kingdom in all probability is the location of the codification of the Vedas and the establishment of major schools of Vedic priesthood. They insisted on the purity of family life and cultivation of proper domestic relations and virtues, a way of life and philosophy that are reflected in the basic doctrine of Bhagvadgita expounded at Kurukshetra. In the land of Kurus-Panchalas, the speech is said to have its particular home. The mode of sacrifice among the Kuru-Panchalas is proclaimed to be the best. The Kuru Panchala kings are said to have performed Rajasuya sacrifice. There are numerous references to the Brahmanas of Kuru-Panchala country. Kurus were noted for deep wisdom and purity of life.
Epic traditions reveal that the kings of Kuru belonged to the Puru–Bharata family.
The Kuru-Puru connection is suggested by Rigveda (10.33.4) which attests Kuru-Sravana as the descendant of famous Puru king Trasadasyu. (4.38.1, 7.19.3).
A connection of the Bharatas with Kurukshetra is attested by Rigveda 3.23, Shatapatha Brahmana 13.5.4, Aitareya Brahmana 8.23 as well as the Mahabharata 7.66.8. The former Purus, Bharatas and several other minor clans were later fused together and amalgamated into the powerful Kurus who expanded east from the Punjab.
Mahabharata refers to kings Puru-ravas Aila, Ayu, Yayati Nahushya, Puru-Bharata Dauhshanti Saudyumni, Ajamidha, Riksha, Samavarana, Kuru, Uchchaihsravas Kaupayeya, Prati sutvana, Bahlika Pratipeya, Shantanu and Dhritarashtra in the ancestral line of Parikshit, the grandson of Pandava Arjuna.
The Puranas trace the lineage of the Pauravas, the line of kings who are related to the Kuru-Panchalas, to king Puru-rava Aila, who is stated to be king of Pratishthana.(This Pratishthana is near modern Allahabad and is not to be confused with the western Indian one, now called Paithan). It is stated that Kuru was the son of king Samvarna and Tapti. He had given his name to Kurukshetra. At Kurukshetra, he had performed tapasya (penance) and pleased Indra. Kuru's descendants became known as Kauravas (Brahmanda Purana III.68.21).
This Puranic view, in view of the evidence[clarification needed][vague] presented before, is not considered reliable.
Samvarana, in the line of Pururavas Aila, begat upon his wife, Tapati, daughter of Surya, a son named Kuru who grew to be so virtuous that his people chose him to be king and named the field Kurujangala. He made that field Kurukshetra sacred by practising asceticism there.
- Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva, Chapter 94
When Janamejaya wished to hear the history of kings who were descended from Puru. Vaisampayana narrated the lineage of kings in Puru’s line.
Puru had by his wife Paushti three sons Pravira, Iswara, and Raudraswa. Pravira was the perpetuator of the dynasty. Pravira had by his wife Suraseni a son named Manasyu. Manasyu had for his wife Sauviri. He begat upon her three sons called Sakta, Sahana, and Vagmi.
Raudraswa begat upon Apsara Misrakesi ten sons. They all had sons. Richeyu, Kaksreyu Vrikeyu, Sthandileyu, Vaneyu, Jaleyu, Tejeyu, Satyeyu, Dharmeyu and Sannateyu the tenth.
Amongst them all, Richeyu became the sole monarch and was known by the name of Anadhrishti. Anadhristi had a son of the name of Matinara who became a famous and virtuous king and performed the Rajasuya and the Ashwamedha. Matinara had four sons viz., Tansu, Mahan, Atiratha, and Druhyu.
Amongst them, Tansu of great prowess became the perpetrator of Puru's line. Tansu begat a son named Ilina.
Ilina begat upon his wife Rathantara five sons with Dushmanta (Dushyanta) at their head. Dushmanta, Sura, Bhima, Pravasu, and Vasu. Vasu is mentioned as the founder of Chedi Kingdom. The eldest of them, Dushmanta, became king. Dushmanta had by his wife Sakuntala an intelligent son named Bharata who became king. Bharata gave his name to the race of which he was the founder. It is from him that the fame of that dynasty hath spread so wide. Bharata begat upon his three wives nine sons in all. But none of them were like their father and so Bharata was not at all pleased with them. Their mothers, therefore, became angry and slew them all. The procreation of children by Bharata, therefore, became vain.
The monarch then performed a great sacrifice and through the grace of Bharadwaja obtained a son named Bhumanyu. Then Bharata, the great descendant of Puru, regarding himself as really possessing a son, installed that son as his heir-apparent. Bhumanyu begat upon his wife, Pushkarini six sons named Suhotra, Suhotri, Suhavih, Sujeya, Diviratha and Kichika.
During the virtuous reign of Suhotra the surface of the whole earth was dotted witn innumerable sacrificial stakes. Suhotra begat upon his wife Aikshaki three sons, Ajmenid, Sumenid, and Purumenid. The eldest of them, Ajmenid, was the perpetuator of the royal line, and begat six sons: Riksha was born of the womb of his wife Dhumini; Dushmanta and Parameshthin, of his wife Nili.Jahnu, Jala and Rupina were born of his wife Kesini.
- All the tribes of the Panchalas are descended from Dushmanta and Parameshthin, two sons of the second wife of Puru king Ajmenid.
The Bharata prince Riksha who was older than both Jala and Rupina became king and begat Samvarana, the perpetuator of the royal line. It hath been heard that while Samvarana, the son of Riksha, was ruling, there happened a great loss of people from famine, pestilence, drought, and disease. Then the Panchalas invaded his kingdom. The Bharata princes were beaten by the troops of enemies. The Panchalas with their ten Akshauhinis defeated the Bharata prince. Samvarana then with his wife and ministers, sons and relatives, fled in fear, and took shelter in the forest on the banks of the Sindhu extending to the foot of the (western) mountains.
There the Bharatas lived for a full thousand years (for a long period), within their fort. After they had lived there a long period, one day the sage Vasishtha approached the exiled Bharatas.
It hath been heard that Vasishtha (becoming the priest) then installed the Bharata prince in the sovereignty of all the Kshatriyas. The king retook the capital that had been taken away from him and once more made all monarchs pay tribute to him. The powerful Samvarana, was thus installed once more in the actual sovereignty of the whole land.
Samvarana married, Tapati (whose abode was on the banks of river Tapati (Tapti, Maharashtra) , the daughter of Surya (a king of the Solar Dynasty) with the help of Vasistha a priest of Solar Dynasty kings. Samvarana begat in Tapati, a son named Kuru. This Kuru was exceedingly virtuous, and therefore, he was installed on the throne by his people. It is after his name that the field called Kurujangala (eastern Hariyana) has become so famous in the world. Devoted to asceticism, he made that field Kurukshetra sacred by practising asceticism there. He was the founder of the Kuru dynasty and the Kuru Kingdom.
Kuru’s wife, Vahini, brought forth five sons, viz., Avikshit, Bhavishyanta, Chaitraratha, Muni and Janamejaya-1. Avikshit begat Parikshit-1, Savalaswa, Adhiraja (See Karusha Kingdom), Viraja, Salmali, Uchaihsravas, Bhangakara and Jitari the eighth.
In the race of these were born, as the fruit of their pious acts seven mighty car-warriors with Janamejaya-2 at their head. Unto Parikshit-1 were born sons named Kakshasena, Ugrasena, Chitrasena, Indrasena, Sushena and Bhimasena. The sons of Janamejaya-2 were Dhritarashtra-1 who was the eldest, Pandu-1, Valhika-1, Nishadha , Jamvunada, Kundodara, Padati, Vasati the eighth.
- There was a Dhritarashtra who was a Gandharva)
- There was a Dhritarashtra who was a Naga
Among them Dhritarashtra-1 became king. Dhritarashtra-1 had eight sons, viz., Kundika, Hasti, Vitarka, Kratha, Havihsravas, Indrabha, and Bhumanyu.
Dhritarashtra-1 had many grandsons, of whom three only were famous. They were Pratipa, Dharmanetra, Sunetra. Among these three, Pratipa became unrivalled on earth. Pratipa begat three sons, viz., Devapi, Santanu, and the mighty car-warrior Valhika-2.
The eldest Devapi adopted the ascetic course of life, impelled thereto by the desire of benefiting his brothers. The kingdom was obtained by Santanu and the mighty car-warrior Valhika-2 (See Bahlika Kingdom). There were born in the race of Bharata numberless other excellent monarchs who by their number swelled the Aila dynasty into gigantic proportions.
The Vahlika king who took part in Kurukshetra War was Vahlika-3. Dhritarashtra who was the father of Duryodhana was Dritarashtra-2. Pandu the father of Pandavas was Pandu-2. There were many kings named Janamejaya and Parikhsit in the lineage of Aila-Puru-Bharata-Kuru dynasty. The Janamejaya unto who Vaisampayana narrated the history of his forefathers was the last among the Janamejayas viz Janamejaya 3 or 4. He was the son of the last among the kings named Parikshit
- Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva, Section 95
Janamejaya wished to know the lineage of his forefathers in detail commencing from Manu, the Emperor of Dravida, and the first king known to humanity. Vaisampayana narrated that lineage in detail.
Pururavas is considered as the first king in the Lunar Dynasty.
Daksha begat Aditi (one of the 13 great mothers in the ancient world), and Aditi begat Vivaswat, Vivaswat (belonging to the Solar Dynasty) begat the Dravidaeeswara Manu. Then Manu begat Ha and Ha begat Pururavas (In another reference Pururavas is mentioned as the son of Ila (1,75) who the daughter of Manu). Hence he was called Pururavas-Aila.
Yadu and Turvusu contained the genes of Bhargavas, considered to be a priest among Asuras. Druhyu, Anu and Puru contained the genes of Asura kings, the warrior-class among the Asuras. Thus the lineage of ancient Indian kings is a mixture of diverse races of people. Yadu's line gave rise to the Yadavas and Purus line the Pauravas. The others viz Turvusu, Druhyu and Anu gave rise to the races collectively called by the Vedic tribes (predominantly Purus) as Mlecchas. They included the Tusharas, Yavanas and Anavas (some believe them to be ancient Iranian tribes).
Ayus begat Nahusha (also considered to be a Naga), and Nahusha begat Yayati. Yayati had two wives, viz., Devayani, the daughter of Usanas (Bhargava Sukra), and Sharmishtha the daughter of (Asura king) Vrishaparvan. Devayani gave birth to Yadu and Turvasu; and Vrishaparvan's daughter, Sarmishtha gave birth to Druhyu, Anu, and Puru. The descendants of Yadu are the Yadavas and of Puru are the Pauravas.
- Puru had a wife of the name of Kausalya, on whom he begat a son named Janamejaya-1.
- Janamejaya-1 performed three horse-sacrifices and a sacrifice called Viswajit. Then he entered into the woods. Janamejaya had married Ananta, the daughter of Madhava, and begat upon her a son called Prachinwat.
- Prachinwat was so called because he had conquered all the eastern countries up to the very confines of the region where the Sun rises (Arunachal Pradesh).
- Prachinwat married Asmaki, a daughter of the Yadavas and begat upon her a son named Sanyati.
- Sanyati married Varangi, the daughter of Drishadwata (probably dwelling in the shores of Dhrisadwati river, in Hariyana) and begat upon her a son named Ahayanti.
- Ahayanti married Bhanumati, the daughter of Kritavirya and begat upon her a son named Sarvabhauma.
- Sarvabhauma married Sunanda, the daughter of the Kekaya prince, having obtained her by force. He begat upon her a son named Jayatsena.
- Jayatsena married Susrava, the daughter of the Vidarbha king and begat upon her Avachina.
- Avachina also married another princess of Vidarbha, Maryada by name. He begat on her a son named Arihan.
- Arihan married Angi and begat on her Mahabhauma.
- Mahabhauma married Suyajna, the daughter of Prasenajit of her was born Ayutanayi. he was so called because he had performed a sacrifice at which the fat of an Ayuta (ten thousands) of male beings was required.
- Ayutanayi took for a wife Kama, the daughter of Prithusravas. By her was born a son named Akrodhana.
- Akrodhan took to wife Karambha, the daughter of the king of Kalinga and of her was born Devatithi.
- Devatithi took for his wife Maryada, the princess of Videha. Of her was born a son named Arihan.
- Arihan s/o Devatithi took to wife Sudeva, the princess of Anga, and upon her he begat a son named Riksha.
- Riksha married Jwala, the daughter of Naga Takshaka, and he begat upon her a son of the name of Matinara, who performed on the bank of Sarasvati River the twelve years’ sacrifice said to be so efficacious. He married a maiden from the Saraswati valley. He begat upon her a son named Tansu.
- Tansu himself begat a son named Ilina on his wife, the princess Kalingi.
- Ilina begat on his wife Rathantari five sons, of whom Dushyanta was the eldest.
- Dushyanta took to wife Sakuntala, the daughter of Viswamitra. He begat on her a son named Bharata.
- Bharata married Sunanda, the daughter of Sarvasena, the king of Kasi, and begat upon her the son named Bhumanyu.
- Bhumanyu married Vijaya, the daughter of Dasarha. He begat upon her a son
- Suhotra Suhotra married Suvarna, the daughter of Ikshvaku. To her was born a son named Hasti.
- Hasti founded acity, which has, therefore, been called Hastinapura. Hasti married Yasodhara, the princess of Trigarta. Of her was born a son named Vikunthana.
- Vikunthana took for a wife Sudeva, the princess of Dasarha. By her was born a son named Ajmenid.
- Ajmenid had four wives named Kaikeyi, Gandhari, Visala and Riksha. He begat on them numerous (2400) sons. But amongst them all, Samvarana became the perpetuator of the dynasty.
- Samvarana took for his wife Tapati (who dwelled near Tapati Tapti river in Maharashtra), the daughter of Vivaswat (Surya, or one belonging to the Solar Dynasty).
- From Tapati was born Kuru, who married Subhangi, the princess of Dasarha. He begat on her a son named Viduratha,
- Viduratha took to wife Supriya, the daughter of the Madhavas. He begat upon her a son named Anaswan.
- Anaswan married Amrita, the daughter of the Madhavas. Of her was born a son named Parikshit-1.
- Parikshit-1 took for his wife Suvasa, the daughter of the Vahudas, and begat upon her a son named Bhimasena.
- Bhimasena married Kumari, the princess of Kekaya and begat upon her Pratisravas.
- Pratisravas' son was Pratipa.
- Pratipa married Sunanda, the daughter of Sivi, and begat upon her three sons, viz., Devapi, Santanu and Valhika-1. Devapi, while still a boy, entered the woods as a hermit. Santanu became king.
Those old men that were touched by this monarch not only felt an indescribable sensation of pleasure but also became restored to youth. Therefore, this monarch was called Santanu. Santanu married a maiden living in the vicinity of Ganges, who bore him a son Devavrata who was afterwards called Bhishma. Bhishma, moved by the desire of doing good to his father, got Santanu married to Satyavati who was also called Gandhakali. In her maidenhood she had a son by Parasara, named Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa. Upon her Santanu begat two other sons named Chitrangada and Vichitravirya. Before they attained to majority, Chitrangada had been slain by the Gandharvas. Vichitravirya became king, and married the two daughters of the king of Kasi, named Ambika and Ambalika. But Vichitravirya died childless.
Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa on the request of mother Satyavati begat three children, viz., Dhritarashtra, Pandu, and Vidura upon the widowed wives of Vichitravirya. King Dhritarashtra had a hundred sons by his wife, Gandhari in consequence of the boon granted by Dwaipayana. amongst those hundred sons of Dhritarashtra, four became celebrated. They are Duryodhana, Dushasana, Vikarna, and Chitrasena. Pandu had two jewels of wives, viz., Kunti, also called Pritha, and Madri. Pandu was childless. So Kunti raised up offspring upon the wishes of Pandu. By Dharma she had Yudhishthira; by Maruta, Bhima: and by Sakra, Arjuna. On Madri were raised by the twin Aswins, the twins Nakula and Sahadeva. These five became well known as the Pandavas. Pandu and Madri died. After some time those five Pandavas were taken by the ascetics of the woods to Hastinapura. Duryodhana became exceedingly jealous of them and tried to murder them. Pandavas escaped all the murder attempts by Duryodhana and married Draupadi the Panchala princess, for a wife. They then ruled half of the Kuru kingdom, with Indraprastha as their capital.
During that time Yudhishthira begat Prativindhya; Bhima, Sutasoma; Arjuna, Srutakriti; Nakula, Satanika; and Sahadeva, Srutakarman. Besides these, Yudhishthira, having obtained for his wife Devika, the daughter of Govasana of the Saivya tribe, in a self-choice ceremony, begat upon her a son named Yaudheya. Bhima also obtaining for a wife Valandhara, the daughter of the king of Kasi, offered his own prowess as dower and begat upon her a son named Sarvaga. Arjuna also, repairing to Dwaravati, brought away by force Subhadra. the sweet-speeched sister of Vasudeva Krishna, and returned in happiness. He begat upon her a son named Abhimanyu. Nakula obtaining for his wife Karenumati, the princess of Chedi, begat upon her a son named Niramitra. Sahadeva also married Vijaya, the daughter of Dyutimat, the king of Madra, obtaining her in a self-choice ceremony and begat upon her a son named Suhotra. Bhimasena had some time before begat upon Hidimva a son named Ghatotkacha. Arjuna also begat a son named Iravat upon the Naga lady Uloopi and another son named Babhruvahana upon Chitrangada a princess from a southern country known as Manipura.
Amongst them all, Abhimanyu was the perpetuator of the family. He married Uttara, the daughter of Virata who begat a son named Parikshit. He was born as a dead child, but was revived by Krishna in an experiment Hence he is called Parikshita. Parikshit married Madravati. Her son was Janamejaya. Jamamejaya, in his wife Vapushtama begat two sons named Satanika and Sankukarna. Satanika also hath begotten one son named Aswamedhadatta upon the princess of Videha.
Hastinapura the capital of Kuru kingdom was the center of military education during the period of Mahabharata. Drona was the foremost of the preceptors in all modes of warfare. Drona himself learned the science of warfare from his father Bharadwaja and the great warrior of the age viz Bhargava Rama. Bhishma, who was the foremost of the Kuru warriors, also was a disciple of Bhargava Rama. Kripa was another preceptor of arms. Under the guidance of all these scions of military science, the Pandavas and Kauravas became highly skilled in warfare. This military academy was the reason for the dominance of Kauravas and Pandavas among the kingdoms of ancient India. Archary, Mace fight, sword fight, other weapons like javelin --- these in permutation with the modes of warfare viz on foot, on a horse, on a chariot and on a war-elephant --- all these were taught by Drona to his disciples in this academy. He also taught how to form military formations and how to strategize the military moves and how to ride chariots. Archery was the speciality taught in excellence by Drona, especially when the bowman was moving in a chariot. Arjuna was the foremost among his disciples as a bowman. Bhima and Duryodhana excelled in mace-fight; Dhristadyumna, Nakula and Sahadeva excelled in sword-fight.
Even Dhristadyumna, the prince from the Panchala Kingdom which was closest competitor of the Kurus for dominance in Aryavarta, came to study the science of warfare under Drona, in his military academy at Hastinapura, the capital of Kurus (1,169). Others who come to Hastinapura seeking military science were Ekalavya the prince of Nishada Kingdom (1,134) and Karna the prince from Anga Kingdom, ruled by Suta tribes.
- The first king Pururavas was always surrounded by companions that were superhuman (See Exotic Tribes of Ancient India). It was Pururavas who first brought from the region of the Gandharvas the three kinds of fire (1,75). His kingdom lay probably beyond the Himalayas in Tibet or still north in Xinjiyang or in Kyrgistan.
- Nahusha is mentioned as ruling even the territories of Devas (somewhere in Tibet). Yayati was the first king in the line to interact with the Asura clans like the Vrishaparvas (Vrishaparva's kingdom lay to the north of Uttarakhand, in Tibet).
- Yayati's son Puru established the Paurava dynasty, one of the branches of the Lunar Dynasty. He probably ruled the regions south of Himalayas in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.
- Among the descendants of Puru, Dushyanta's son Bharata was the foremost who established the Bharata dynasty. During that time the dynasty ruled the whole regions now known as the Indo-Gangatic plain and extended their power up to the Vindhya ranges in the south. In his line, was born Samvarana.
- During the time of Samvarana, the dynasty was banished by the Panchalas to south and west. There they lived on the banks of Sindhu and in the valleys of the western mountains.
- Samvarana's son Kuru established the Kuru dynasty and re-established in their old territory in the Indo-Gangatic plain. They ruled the regions between Sarasvati River and Ganges. This was the Kuru Kingdom inherited by Pratipa, Santanu, Vichitraviry and Dhritarashtra. During the reign of Dhritarashtra, due to his lack of interest in satisfying requsts of his subjects, the Kuru kingdom is mentioned as declining from its prosperity (9,41). Pandavas with Yudhisthira as their king temporarily raised the importance of Kuru kingdom, by his military campaigns through his four powerful brothers viz Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva. He conquered the whole of ancient India and brought tribute from numerous kings. But that prosperity vanished in Kurukshetra War, when the Kuru warriors annihilated each other, destroying along with them many ruling clans in ancient India. The destruction was so immense that the entire ancient India succumbed to a long-lasting socio-economic-depression. The ancient Indian texts mention this Dark Age of depression and anarchy as Kali Yuga.
Hastinapura was the biggest city in Kuru Kingdom and was the capital of Kauravas, while the Pandavas ruled at Indraprastha, which grew into the second largest city of the Kuru Kingdom. Apart from these to main cities , Kuru kingdom contain many towns like Vardhamana, Pramanakoti, Varanavati, Vrikastali; provinces like Makandi; plains like Kurukshetra and forests like Kamyaka Forest and Dwaita Forest at the frienges of its territory.
The whole Kurukshetra War was fought for the sake of the two factions of the royal family of the Kurus, viz the Kauravas and the Pandavas. They brought into this war almost all the rulers of ancient India. The colossal destruction of life and wealth in this war led ancient India into a socio-economic depression (otherwise known as the Kali Yuga or the Dark Age) that lasted for a long period .
The prominent Kuru heroes who fought in the war were the five Pandavas, their sons, Duryodhana and his brothers, their sons and the Kuru grandsire viz Bhishma. The remote cousins of the Kurus in Bahlika, who were also considered as Kurus, also fought the war. They were king Bahlika, his son Somadatta and Somadatta's sons viz Bhurisravas and Sala. Drona and Kripa, the two preceptors in military science who dwelled with the Kurus, and who were counted among the Kuru warriors, also participated in the war.
For further details see Kurukshetra War
After the Yadava rule in Dwaraka ended when the Dwaraka island sank into ocean, Arjuna, bringing the remnant Yadavas from there to Kurukshetra, established them in various regions around Kurukshetra.
The son of Kritavarma (the Bhoja-Yadava hero) was established in the city called Martikavata. (It was the capital of Salwa Kingdom that lied to the south-west of Kurujangala). Vrishni-Yadava hero viz Satyaki's son was established on the banks of Sarasvati River. Prince Vajra of Vasudeva Krishna's line was established at Indraprastha (16,7).
The Kuru lineage was continued by Parikshit the son of Abhimanyu, at Hastinapura, after the rule of Pandava king Yudhisthira. Parikshit's son Janamejaya was the last famous Kuru king
See the main article Uttara Kuru Kingdom, for more details.
In addition to the Kurus of India ruled by the Pandavas and the Kauravas, there was a kingdom of Uttara Kurus to the north of the Himalayas. Some historians identify this kingdom as Kyrgistan. In an epic about this nation, Bhishma abducted three brides from Kasi kingdom to become brides of his half-brother Vichitavirya. This same custom of abduction of brides by their potential bridegroom or his allies still prevails in Kyrgistan. The border between the states of India and Kyrgistan at the time of the epic is uncertain, but Arjuna collected tribute from Uttara Kuru during his northern military campaign for Yudhisthira's Rajasuya sacrifice. In some places, the epic describes them as ageless and diseaseless. They were also considered to follow a republican constitution with no monarchy.
- ^ "Kuru Kingdom". http://www.gloriousindia.com/history/kuru_kingdom.html.
- ^ The History of India, edited by Kenneth Pletcher; Chapter: The Development of Indian Civilization from C. 1500 BCE To 300 CE|63
- ^ The Ganges in myth and history, by Steven G. Darian
- ^ Geographical knowledge of the Vedic Period
- ^ THE VEDIC AGE (1500BC–600BC)
- ^ National Council of Educational Research and Training, History Text Book, Part 1, India
- ^ M Witzel, Early Sanskritization: Origin and Development of the Kuru state, EJVS vol. 1 no. 4 (1995); also in B. Kölver (ed.), Recht, Staat und Verwaltung im klassischen Indien. The state, the Law, and Administration in Classical India, München, R. Oldenbourg, 1997, p.27-52
- ^ The History of India, edited by Kenneth Pletcher; Chapter: The Development of Indian Civilization from C.1500 BCE To 300 CE|63
- ^ http://kaushambhi.nic.in/
- ^ http://www.all-art.org/Visual_History/01india1.htm
- ^ Political History of Uttar Pradesh; Govt of Uttar Pradesh, official website.
- ^ Raychaudhuri, H. C. (1972). Political History of Ancient India: From the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty, Calcutta:University of Calcutta, pp.11
^ Bharata Bhumi aur Unke Nivasi, 1930, pp 297–304, Jaychandra Vidyalankar; Abhidharamkosa, Vasubandhu, Varanasi, 1930, 3/57; Yuan Chwang p 32-35
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