Sharath Komarraju's Blog, page 50

How Did Bhishma Get His Name?

Bhishma is the grandfather of the Pandavas and Kauravas in the Mahabharata. For much of the story, he is known and called only by this name, so it is often overlooked that this is in fact not his birth name. It is a title given to him because of an act of will that he undertakes when he is a youth of sixteen.

So how did Bhishma get his name?

The word ‘Bhishma’ means ‘terrible’. When he is a young man, in order to facilitate the marriage of his father, King Shantanu, to a fisherman’s daught...

12 Mahabharata Stories From the Drona Parva – Part 1

The Drona Parva of the Mahabharata begins on the eleventh day of the Mahabharata war. It ends with the death of Drona on the fifteenth day.

Following on from the Bhishma Parva post, I have put together a dozen Mahabharata stories from the Drona Parva, which will add to our growing repository of Mahabharata stories.

And here it is! From Duryodhana’s boon to Arjuna’s resolve, from Bhagadatta’s valour to Abhimanyu’s death, we have it all. Enjoy!

Did you know? We have put together 1500...

What Happened After the Mahabharata War?

Like most people, I thought the Kurukshetra war is the last thing that happens in the Mahabharata. After all, the whole story is a long build up to it, right? After it is done and dusted, what is left to do but roll the credits?

Then I was doing some research and realized that after the Sauptika Parva (the last of the war books), there are eight more books in the Mahabharata. Which led me to ask: indeed, what happened after the Mahabharata war?

Here’s a quick summary:

The widows and...

12 Lesser Known Mahabharata Stories From the Bhishma Parva

The Bhishma Parva of the Mahabharata begins with the beginning of the Mahabharata war and ends with the fall of Bhishma on his bed of arrows. It has a number of small incidents that set up the dramatic events that will happen later on during the battle.

Following on from the post on Udyoga Parva, I have put together a dozen Mahabharata stories from the Bhishma Parva, which will add to our growing repository of Mahabharata stories.

And here it is! From individual matchups in the war to the...

12 Mahabharata Stories From the Udyoga Parva Perfect for Bedtime Reading

The Udyoga Parva of the Mahabharata begins with the wedding of Abhimanyu and Uttara in Upaplavya, the capital city of Virata’s Matsya. It ends with the Pandava and Kaurava armies lining up against each other in Kurukshetra.

Following on from the post on Virata Parva, I have put together a dozen Mahabharata stories from the Udyoga Parva, which will add to our growing repository of Mahabharata stories.

And here it is! From the earliest peace talks to the division of Anarta, from Krishna’s p...

What are the different names of Arjuna in the Mahabharata?

If you’re a student of the Mahabharata, you will know that Arjuna is the most powerful warrior of his time. During the course of the story, you will hear other characters refer to him in a variety of different names. If you’re like me, you will have often wondered: What are the different names of Arjuna?

Arjuna has twelve different names. They are: Arjuna, Falguna, Jishnu, Kiriti, Shwetavahana, Vibhatsu, Vijaya, Krishna, Savyasachi, Gudakesha, Kapidhwaja, and Dhananjaya. He also has other des...

12 Mahabharata Stories From the Virata Parva For Your Reading Pleasure

The Virata Parva of the Mahabharata begins with the arrival of the Pandavas in Matsya, the kingdom of Virata, and ends with the dramatic single-handed victory of Arjuna over the Kaurava army.

Following on from the Vana Parva post Part 2, I have put together a dozen more Mahabharata stories from the Virata Parva, which will add to our growing repository of Mahabharata stories.

And here it is! From reasons for choosing Matsya to the hiding of weapons, from cooks who wrestle to eunuchs w...

12 More Mahabharata Stories From the Vana Parva That Will Enchant You

The Vana Parva of the Mahabharata begins with the departure of the Pandavas into the forest, and ends with their return after thirteen years of exile.

Following on from the Vana Parva post Part 1, I have put together a dozen more Mahabharata stories from the Vana Parva, which will add to our growing repository of Mahabharata stories.

And here’s the result. From kings who sacrifice their only sons to sages who subdue mountains, these twelve stories have a bit of something for everyone....

12 Mahabharata Stories From the Vana Parva That You Will Love to Read and Share

The Vana Parva of the Mahabharata begins with the departure of the Pandavas into the forest, and ends with their return after thirteen years of exile.

Following on from the Sabha Parva post, I have put together a dozen Mahabharata stories from the Vana Parva, which will add to our growing repository of Mahabharata stories.

And here’s the result. From inexhaustible vessels to divine weapons, from sages who digest Rakshasas to infants who feed off Indra’s finger, these twelve stories ha...

12 Mahabharata Stories From the Sabha Parva That Make for Delightful Reading

The Sabha Parva of the Mahabharata begins with the rise of the Pandavas – Yudhishthir becomes the emperor – and ends with their defeat in the game of dice.

Following on from the Adi Parva post, I have put together a dozen Mahabharata stories from the Sabha Parva, which will add to our growing repository of Mahabharata stories.

And here’s the result. From great treasures to prophecies, from debates on dharma to vengeful vows taken in anger, these twelve stories have a bit of something ...