Ganga
Ganga, we know was wed by King Shantanu under one condition, that he shall never question anything that Ganga does. While the king patiently sees Ganga kill seven of his sons, immediately after birth. But when his eighth son is born, he couldn't resist himself and stops her from throwing away the infant in her waters. That is when Ganga informs Shantanu that these were eight curses Vasu sons who she promised that she will bring to salvation by taking them in her water beds. But the son is left alive and is named Devavrat, who is later called Bhisma.
After arjun pierces Bhishma with his arrows and brings him to his death bed, Ganga is very angry with Arjun and denies to talk to him after the war of Kurukshetra. Arjun before going for his Ashwamedha yagna victory journey wants to take Ganga's blessings. He approaches Ganga and is met with the seven Vasu sons, who are furious on Arjun for killing their bother; they challenge Arjun for a duel. They all lose to Arjun and he out of respect ties them and leaves on the banks of Ganga. When Ganga comes by she is furious and curses that he will be killed by his own son.
Ulupi:
Ulupi, is a princess warrior from Naglok, daughter of Serpent King, Kauravya, who ruled the underwater kingdom of snakes in the Ganga River. The story is that, nagas resided in kingdom of Khandavprastha. When Pandavas are given the kingdom as their part, they try to make it livable, and while doing this Arjun and Krishna encounter a army of Nagas and damage it fiercely. While Nagas relocate to underwaters of Ganga and take offence and plan to avenge their defeat from the Pandavas.
When Arjun reaches Nagalog, as a part of their Ashwamedha yagna victory journey; he is met with the very beautiful and brave warrior princes Ulupi. Arjuna is able to make the Nagas agree to their friendship and also marries Ulupi.
Chitrangada:
Manalur was a kingdom in the Southern region of India during Mahabharata period. It was ruled by a king named Chitravana. He had a daughter named Chitrangada. For many generations, the dynasty did not have more than one heir. Since Chitravana did not have any other heir, he trained Chitrangada in warfare and rule.
During Pandavas exile, Arjun reaches the kingdom of Manipur, where he is encountered by the warrior Chitrangada dressed like a man. He instantly falls in love with her. When he approached the king to seek her hand in marriage, the king told him the story of his ancestor Prabhanjana who was childless and undertook severe austerities to obtain offspring. Finally, Mahadev appeared to Prabhanjana, granting him the boon that each successive descendant of his race should have one child. As Chitravana, unlike his ancestors, had not a son, but a daughter, he made her a “Putrika". This meant that a son, born of her, would be his successor, and no one else. Arjuna readily agreed to this condition. Marrying Chitrangada, he stayed with her for three years. When Chitrangada had given birth to a son, Arjuna embraced her affectionately and took leave of her and her father to resume his wanderings.
When their paths crossed
Later as a part of the Ashwamedha Yagna victory journey, Arjun reaches the kingdom of Manipur and is met with a prince, who asks to fight him before entering. While Arjuna asked about the identity of the young man, he said he was the prince of the land and that was enough introduction to start a fight. A fierce fight started and Arjuna was shocked to see the dexterity with which arrows were pouring at him. He was finally hit by one of the arrows and before he fell unconscious, he realised that the young man was the son of Chitrangada. Chitrangada came crying to the spot hearing the incident and he met Arjuna at his death bed. As soon as Ulupi realises this, she rushes to spot with mrityu sanjeevani, a stone capable of bringing back dead men to life. She told Chitrangada and Babruvahana that Arjuna had a curse by Ganga that he would be killed by his own son and that with the incident, he was relieved of his curse. Arjuna was woken up with the stone and he was happy to see both his wives and his son. Arjuna took Ulupi, Chitrangada and her son Babruvahana to Hastinapura.
And this we know how these three mighty ladies and their stories are intertwined. More ahead, stay tuned.
Ganga, we know was wed by King Shantanu under one condition, that he shall never question anything that Ganga does. While the king patiently sees Ganga kill seven of his sons, immediately after birth. But when his eighth son is born, he couldn't resist himself and stops her from throwing away the infant in her waters. That is when Ganga informs Shantanu that these were eight curses Vasu sons who she promised that she will bring to salvation by taking them in her water beds. But the son is left alive and is named Devavrat, who is later called Bhisma.
Ulupi:
Ulupi, is a princess warrior from Naglok, daughter of Serpent King, Kauravya, who ruled the underwater kingdom of snakes in the Ganga River. The story is that, nagas resided in kingdom of Khandavprastha. When Pandavas are given the kingdom as their part, they try to make it livable, and while doing this Arjun and Krishna encounter a army of Nagas and damage it fiercely. While Nagas relocate to underwaters of Ganga and take offence and plan to avenge their defeat from the Pandavas.When Arjun reaches Nagalog, as a part of their Ashwamedha yagna victory journey; he is met with the very beautiful and brave warrior princes Ulupi. Arjuna is able to make the Nagas agree to their friendship and also marries Ulupi.
Chitrangada:
Manalur was a kingdom in the Southern region of India during Mahabharata period. It was ruled by a king named Chitravana. He had a daughter named Chitrangada. For many generations, the dynasty did not have more than one heir. Since Chitravana did not have any other heir, he trained Chitrangada in warfare and rule.
During Pandavas exile, Arjun reaches the kingdom of Manipur, where he is encountered by the warrior Chitrangada dressed like a man. He instantly falls in love with her. When he approached the king to seek her hand in marriage, the king told him the story of his ancestor Prabhanjana who was childless and undertook severe austerities to obtain offspring. Finally, Mahadev appeared to Prabhanjana, granting him the boon that each successive descendant of his race should have one child. As Chitravana, unlike his ancestors, had not a son, but a daughter, he made her a “Putrika". This meant that a son, born of her, would be his successor, and no one else. Arjuna readily agreed to this condition. Marrying Chitrangada, he stayed with her for three years. When Chitrangada had given birth to a son, Arjuna embraced her affectionately and took leave of her and her father to resume his wanderings.
When their paths crossed
Later as a part of the Ashwamedha Yagna victory journey, Arjun reaches the kingdom of Manipur and is met with a prince, who asks to fight him before entering. While Arjuna asked about the identity of the young man, he said he was the prince of the land and that was enough introduction to start a fight. A fierce fight started and Arjuna was shocked to see the dexterity with which arrows were pouring at him. He was finally hit by one of the arrows and before he fell unconscious, he realised that the young man was the son of Chitrangada. Chitrangada came crying to the spot hearing the incident and he met Arjuna at his death bed. As soon as Ulupi realises this, she rushes to spot with mrityu sanjeevani, a stone capable of bringing back dead men to life. She told Chitrangada and Babruvahana that Arjuna had a curse by Ganga that he would be killed by his own son and that with the incident, he was relieved of his curse. Arjuna was woken up with the stone and he was happy to see both his wives and his son. Arjuna took Ulupi, Chitrangada and her son Babruvahana to Hastinapura.
And this we know how these three mighty ladies and their stories are intertwined. More ahead, stay tuned.
Comments