The Lord of the Ganas - The son of Parvathi.

The beautiful Kailash mountains were a breathtaking sight and it never failed to impress Parvathi. And after her marriage with Shiva, living with Shiva, his Ganas and his sages, Parvathi loved the place more. She smiled as she looked around the snow clad mountains and knew that this would be the case, always.

Jaya and Vijaya, the two guards of Goddess Parvathi were speaking with her.

"Devi. How is Kailash?" They asked her. Parvathi smiled unable to stop herself. Her smile saying a lot more than she ever could. "Shiva, the Ganas, Nandi....they are all fine." The Goddess was unable to stop smiling as she remembered her times her. "And do you know, how much Nandi loves the Lord?" Parvathi told the two guards with open amazement. "Had I not seen it with my own eyes, I would never have believed it." Parvathi said shaking her head. The devotion that the half-man, half-bull had for Shiva was something that astounded Parvathi no end.

"And now as a consort of the Lord, Nandi loves me the same way he loves Shiva." Parvathi said with a radiant smile.

Jaya frowned. "But they are all Shiva’s Ganas, Devi." he said a little hesitatingly.

"So?" Paravathi asked quizzically.

Jaya and Vijaya said nothing as they went away from there.

************

"I am going for a bath. Please stand guard outside." Parvathi said as she found Nandi, who was waiting on her today.

"Yes,Devi." Nandi said nodding his head.

"Let no one in." Parvathi said with a smile.

"Never." Nandi said vehemently and then realized that the Goddess was making fun of him and she walked away.

Nandi was still standing guard outside when he felt rather than see the Lord come towards him. Nandi turned right sharply and saw that it was indeed Lord Shiva who was back. The man rushed forward bowing to the Lord.

"My friend." Shiva acknowledged Nandi as he walked inside his home with a smile.

Parvathi was decking herself when she heard some noise in the outer chambers. Parvathi almost pulled out her weapon when she realized exactly who the person was.

As Shiva was about to enter the inner apartment, he was very surprised to see his wife looking very angry as she was about to reach for her weapon. "What are you.....?" Shiva started.

"Shiva." Parvathi said breathing in deeply. Shiva said nothing as Parvathi continued. "I asked Nandi to stay guard while I went and took a bath." she said finally.

Shiva grinned. "You expected Nandi to stop me from entering my own house?"

Parvathi was annoyed. "I asked him not to let anyone in." she muttered as she walked inside.

Shiva laughed saying nothing.

However the Goddess was still annoyed.

**********

But they are all Shiva’s Ganas, Devi....

Jaya’s words were somehow ringing in Parvathi’s mind as she was unable to shake it off. She watched Nandi who was outside and somehow the words still kept repeating.

Making a sudden decision, Parvathi nodded to herself, her jaw in a set firm line.

The boy that Parvathi had created from her own body looked handsome beyond words. His twinkling and intelligent eyes masked the ferocious strength and valour that the boy had. Parvathi smiled as she admired the boy for one last time and then she breathed life into him.

"Mother!" the boy said and Parvathi felt a happiness she had not felt ever before in her life. "You are my son." Parvathi said unable to stop gazing at the boy. "You are mine." Parvathi said.

"Mother. Why did you create me?" the boy asked as his eyes searched for answers.

"I needed someone for myself." Parvathi said simply. "Someone who would answer only to me." she continued.

"Command me, mother." the boy said. "What should I do?"

Parvathi smiled to herself. "I am going to take a bath. Please make sure that no one comes inside, without my permission." Parvathi picked up a strong stick from the ground. "Take this and stay on guard."

The boy took the stick and went outside, looking around.

Parvathi watched the boy for one last time and then she went inside.

**********

Shiva was back when he saw an unusually handsome and strong boy outside his house. The boy"s eyes were shining with curiosity as the boy was looking around. More importantly, Shiva knew that the boy was standing outside his house with a specific reason.

"Who are you?" Shiva asked the boy.

"My mother has asked me to stay here and stay guard. She wanted no one to enter inside without her permission." the boy said looking at the Lord. "Who are you?" the boy asked.

"I am Shiva." Shiva said trying to walk inside the house.

There was absolutely no warning, when the boy suddenly hit Shiva with this staff. Shiva winced and was shocked as he watched the boy twirling the staff. The Ganas were shocked, unable to do anything.

"No one enters without my mother’s permission." the boy told Shiva as he was twirling his stick.

Shiva was blazing as he watched the boy. "I am Shiva, the husband of Parvathi. How dare you stop me from entering my own house?" he demanded angrily.

But the boy really did not hear anything, as he pushed Shiva back, saying nothing more. Shiva walked away from the house as he was looking at his Ganas who were watching the entire scene with horror.

"Ask who that boy is and what is doing here." Shiva said, almost snarling at his Ganas, as he walked away from there.

The Ganas looked at the angry Lord and then walked towards the boy. "Who are you? What are you trying to do?" The boy looked at the Ganas as if he was already picking out targets, as the Ganas continued. "If you want to stay alive, walk away from here." they said trying to threaten the boy.

The boy watched the Ganas coolly. "Who are you? What are you trying to do? And why are you fighting me?"

The Ganas looked at the boy warily. "We are the Ganas of Shiva. And we are the ones who look after him. And we will kill you if you do not move away from the door."

“I am the son of Parvathi.” The boy said as he clutched the stick tightly studying the Ganas, waiting for any of them to make the first move.

However, before starting the fight, the Ganas went to Shiva first. "That boy is the son of the Goddess!" the Ganas said telling Shiva everything that had happened.

But right now, Shiva was very angry. He looked at the Ganas contemptuously. "I don’t care about that. I want that boy out of there." he said deliberately and refused to hear anything more.

The Ganas went back to the boy and this time there was a ridiculously short battle between the boy and the Ganas and the Ganas were defeated. None of them wanted to fight the boy who was all alone and added to the fact, the boy was a very good warrior.

The Ganas looked at the boy with troubled eyes nursing injuries. "That man is Shiva, the husband of Parvathi. Why do you not let him enter his own house?" one of them asked angrily.

The boy stopped for a few seconds looking uncertainly.....

********

Parvathi frowned as she thought she heard something from outside the house. She called her friend. "Find out what is happening outside." she snapped.

Parvathi’s friend went outside and she saw the battle between the Ganas and the boy and their dialogues. In a flash, she understood what had happened as she ran inside the house. "These Ganas of Shiva." Parvathi’s friend blazed angrily. "They want to enter your apartment. And they don’t care whether you want them inside or not....’ the friend took in a deep breath trying to control herself. ‘....And they fought your son." the friend finished angrily.

Parvathi heard this and a slow anger made way into her heart. "Shiva tried to force his way inside his own house. He did not even wait." she said angrily. She turned to her friend, as her anger almost threatened to consume her. "Go to my son and tell him that no one is to enter my house, without my permission. NO ONE." She said finally.

The friend raced outside to the boy. "Sir. Your mother tells you that you are not to let anyone force their way inside the house." the friend saw the Ganas who were limping and wincing in pain.

The confusion in the boy’s face was gone on hearing the words of the lady before him and he smiled. Parvathi’s friend saw the wincing Ganas and smirked at them. "Who are these Ganas before you, sir? Can they really hope to win against a person like you?" she asked as she walked back inside the house.

The boy smiled as he looked at the wincing Ganas. "You are the Ganas of Shiva and I am the son of Parvathi. You have to carry out the wishes of Shiva and I am bound to Parvathi. So you do what you think is right and I will do what I am supposed to do." the boy said holding his staff tightly as he looked at the Ganas with a dangerous smile on his lips.

However instead of fighting the boy, the Ganas went back to Shiva told Shiva all that had happened and what the boy had told him. For a few seconds Shiva looked at his Ganas not able to talk.

"Parvathi." Shiva whispered finally, to himself, shaking his head.

Shiva took a deep breath turning to his Ganas. "That boy is preventing me from getting inside my own house." Shiva looked at his men fiercely. "The boy...." Shiva took a deep breath trying to control himself. "….wants a war. And he shall have it."

*********

Nandi looked at his men and then back at the boy, as they were back outside the house of Shiva and Parvathi.

"I will go and fight him first." Nandi looked at Bhringin, another Gana. "If I fail, you will follow me."

Bhringin nodded.

Nandi came forward as the boy was watching him ready for anything. Nandi got down and tried to catch the boy by his feet. Realizing that the boy was more powerful, Bhringin charged at the boy, catching his other leg.

The boy saw the two men and hit them hard with his stick. The two warriors let the boy go, wincing in pain. Scrambling back, the boy picked up an iron club from the ground and twirled it around watching the men.

The other Ganas also started attacking the boy. And it definitely looked like it was going to be an uneven battle. But then nobody knew what the boy was capable of. And the Ganas were in for a shock. A very rude shock.

The boy fought with the natural skill of a warrior and was fighting mad. He almost fought like he was possessed and no one was able to contain the boy. The boy did not care who he was facing or what they were doing. He twirled the iron club and the damage he did to the Ganas was incalculable. Most of the Ganas were hurt badly - some with broken bones and many with shattered knees...

The Ganas were frankly scared when they heard the sound of the stick coming anywhere near them and most of them fled from the battlefield.

The boy looked around as he watched the retreating Ganas. He looked at the doorway once more and picked up the stick that his mother had given him and along with the iron club that lay down, he walked back the doorway. He stood there with a proud face as he watched the Ganas run.

*******

Narada, the divine sage who roamed all over the worlds was watching the battle and he was frankly terrified of what he was watching. The Ganas of Shiva were being routed in battle and it was not done by some huge demon or any powerful being. It was done by a little boy, a powerful little boy. Narada looked around wondering what to do and decided that battle was definitely not the way this matter could be resolved. He walked away from there and went to Satyaloka.

"Lord Brahma." Narada said without any preamble as he met his father at Satyaloka. "We need your help before things really go out of hand." Narada continued.

"What happened?" Lord Brahma asked worried.

Narada sighed

***********

Both Brahma and Vishnu came to Shiva and were shocked to find Lord Shiva looking angry and morose.

Shiva spoke to Brahma first without any preamble. “I do not wish a fight.” Shiva said. “There is a boy outside my house and he is not letting me inside.” Shiva looked at Brahma with piercing eyes. “Just talk to the boy.”

Brahma nodded as he along with a few of the Ganas went to Shiva’s home. There he found the boy watching them warily.

Brahma signaled the others to stop as he went near the boy. “I am not here to….” That was as far as Brahma got.

The boy came forward and without giving Brahma a chance to explain himself started pulling Brahma’s beard.

Getting scared, Brahma tried to pull himself back, when the boy picked up the iron club. Brahma saw no more as he ran back hard, with the Ganas following him. The boy caught some of the Ganas and attacked them, as the others escaped…

Gasping for breath, Brahma told Shiva all that had happened.

Shiva was very angry by the time Brahma finished talking. He turned to Indra and his son Kartikeya. “Muster up all our forces. Get the boy out of there.” Shiva said with blazing eyes.

*********

Parvathi was talking to her friends when she felt a sudden chill. She stopped talking as she looked around. Something had just happened... Something not good at all. Parvathi frowned as she closed her eyes and concentrated.

Parvathi’s friends were genuinely terrified as the Goddess opened her eyes. That she looked scary was a given. What was more terrifying was the firm set jaw of the Goddess which clearly showed that the Goddess was going to do something terrible.

The friends watched, as from Parvathi emerged two extraordinarily powerful women. The two women who were created were beautiful but their ferociousness masked all their beauty. They looked like mean fighting machines who would kill without a second thought.

‘Command us, Mother.’ The two Shakthis told Parvathi.

‘There is an army coming after my son.’ Parvathi said coldly. ‘Protect him.’

********

The boy watched as a big army was coming towards him. The Ganas whom he had fought till then seemed almost docile compared to the army which was coming towards him. What was more scary were the leaders of the two groups. They seemed phenomenally powerful and exuded a confidence of having fought and won battles before this.

The boy clutched the iron club more tightly, when he watched the army surround him from all sides. The boy took a deep breath as he relaxed when he felt it. It was something so powerful that he was sure that even his opponents had felt it. The boy turned and was shocked. Standing beside him were two powerfully built women who looked more ferocious than the entire army that he was facing.

One of the Shakthis turned to the other. “None of their weapons should reach him.” She said watching the army around them.

The boy watched as the Ganas hurled their weapons at him. He kept his iron club ready to ward off the weapon, when the boy watched shocked as the weapon stopped just as soon as it left the hands of the Ganas. The Ganas were themselves shocked as the weapon stopped in midair.

This time the Goddesses smiled dangerously as the weapon turned. The weapons went and hit the very Ganas who had hurled them.

It took a second for the boy to understand what was happening and grinning he picked up his iron club started twirling it around, to deal with the Ganas who were attacking him without any weapons…..

It was a ridiculously short battle. The boy was unstoppable even by himself and with the two Shakthis there was nothing anyone could do….

The Ganas ran from battle again, but Kartikeya did not run. He and the boy were exchanging blows as the Ganas ran back to Shiva.

And back at the fight between Karthikeya and the boy, Kartikeya was also no match for the boy and he lost the fight….

**********

“We… We thought….” The Ganas panted as they saw Shiva. “We thought that just because we were the Ganas of Shiva no one could stop us.” One of the Ganas told Shiva. “But our arrogance is now gone.” The Ganas were pleading with Shiva. “This boy, my Lord, whoever he is, you are the only one who can stop him. Even Lord Kartikeya himself is no match for him.” The Ganas fell at the feet of Shiva.

Shiva watched the Ganas with absolutely no expression on his face. He then turned to Vishnu “I believe we have a battle in our hands.” Was all he said.

********

The boy watched as this time it was just two people who were coming towards him and one of them was Shiva. The Ganas were standing at a distance. The Shakthis watched the two men warily. The boy twirled his iron club as he hit one of the two warriors – Vishnu. Lord Vishnu turned to Lord Shiva. “I will use my Maya and keep him engaged.” he said as something powerful shot out of his hands.

The Shakthis joined their forces together and fused their powers inside the boy’s body. The boy was unable to believe it as something powerful ran through him… Using the power the boy was able to fight Vishnu’s Maya.

In between, Shiva attacked, trying to find an opening in the boy’s defences. But the boy fought like one possessed. He threw his iron club at Shiva"s Trident, as the trident fell from the Lord’s hands. Angrily Shiva picked up his Pinaka - his bow, trying to shoot the boy. Only to find that the boy was protected by the Shakthis.

The boy fought unbelievably fast and he was able to decimate Lord Vishnu’s attack. Vishnu threw his discus at the boy and at the last minute the boy brought down the club on the discus. Without a second thought, the boy threw the club at Vishnu and Garuda caught the club in his mouth.

Remembering his mother, the boy picked up the staff which she had given him and started fighting with Vishnu again.

For a few seconds it looked like the boy was going to win. Lord Vishnu fell down as the boy hit him with the staff. The boy turned his attention to Shiva, failing to understand that Vishnu was only feigning to have fallen down.

The boy was getting ready to attack Shiva when he heard movement behind him. The boy realized that Lord Vishnu was only pretending to have fallen and hastily turned around. The boy turned as Shiva picked up his Trident and there was no mistake in Shiva’s aim.

And Parvathi’s son lay dead in the battlefield as the Trident decapitated him.

*******

For a second there was complete silence in the battlefield. Nobody could actually believe that the battle was over. But the boy was lying in the battlefield unmoving. Shiva’s Ganas were unable to believe it and then there were sudden screams of joy.

"The boy is gone."

"We have won."

"Lord Shiva has won."

It became a crescendo of shouts and soon all the Ganas were rejoicing.

They were so jubilant that none of them noticed that Lord Shiva was not even remotely happy. In fact he was remorseful, knowing that he had done something unforgivable.

*******

For a second, Parvathi felt that the entire universe had gone quiet. She watched her trembling hands and was filled with rage. A rage which she just could not control.

She saw everything that had happened and saw the Ganas rejoicing in the battlefield. All around her dead son. The Goddess watched the scene as it replayed in her mind and within a span of a few seconds standing before her were hundreds and thousands of bloodthirsty Shakthis, all of who had emerged from her.

"Command us, Mother." the Shakthis said.

"They killed my son." Parvathi said listlessly. She turned her eyes to her Shakthis. "None of them deserve to live. Not while my son is dead." The Shakthis watched each other as Parvathi was steadily losing control over herself. "Kill them all." the Goddess said simply.

And so the madness began.....

The Shakthis commanded by Parvathi saw nothing and heard nothing. They destroyed everything that came in their path. Sages, Yakshas, Gods...nothing survived the Shakthis. And it looked very bad. Most of the Gods were sure that the end of the world was near, because nothing seemed to stop the Shakthis and their numbers just kept multiplying...

Having no other choice to stop this madness, the Gods along with Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma went to Parvathi.

"Please forgive us, Goddess." they said and the Goddess just refused to listen to them.

"Please Devi." Lord Vishnu said gently. "We will do whatever you want. Stop this massacre."

Parvathi watched Vishnu and slowly some semblance of control came to her. "I need my son back. And I need him to have an honourable status among you." she looked at Vishnu. "If that is done, there will be no more killing. Otherwise...." Parvathi smiled mirthlessly as she did not even bother completing the threat.

The Gods hurried back to Shiva and he heard all that they had to say. He turned to them. "Go north. Find the first living thing that you see and bring its head." the Gods definitely knew when not to waste time and were out almost as soon as Shiva commanded them.

They took the body of the boy with them and traveled north. The first animal that they saw was a single tusked elephant. They cut the head of the elephant and they attached it to the boy"s body. Using the powerful mantras and the holy waters, they were able to attach the body of the boy with the head of the elephant.

They brought the boy to Shiva who watched the boy with a strange smile. Shiva closed his eyes as he touched the boy.

The Ganas were shocked, as the boy with the elephant head, woke up as if he was just sleeping. He was very handsome looking with the face of an elephant. The red complexion of the boy outlined his fine features and his eyes showed an intelligence which belied his age...

The Gods took the boy to Parvathi and the Shakthis which emerged from her just vanished, without a trace. If Parvathi had felt that her son was handsome before, she had no words to describe her boy right now. She hugged her son tightly, as words completely failed her.

Shiva came up from behind the Gods and the Ganas as he saw Parvathi and the boy.

"This is my other son." Shiva said proudly.

Parvathi could not hide her smile as Shiva continued. "Me, Vishnu and Brahma are all worshiped in the three worlds. However this son of mine shall be worshiped before all of us." Shiva turned to the Ganas. "He will be your Lord henceforth, the Lord of the Ganas – Ganesha. My son Ganesha." Lord Shiva said with quiet pride.

-Adapted from the Shiva Purana
*This story is available on Kindle Amazon in the book the Lord of the Ganas: Story of Hinduism, priced at Rs. 49

Chapter 16 - The Death of Kindhama

King Pandu was in the forest.

With his wives in the kingdom, Pandu was hunting in the jungles surrounding the kingdom of Hastinapur, looking for good kill.

He was searching for the wild animals.

But he was unable to find any wild animals and that was when he spotted two deers running around the forest. As Pandu was studying the deers, it was obvious that the animals were happy and joyful in each other’s company.

But unfortunately Pandu did not pay any attention to that. He was just frustrated that he had no kill for the day and without thinking he pulled out his arrow as he saw the deers.

The deers had just run behind a shrub and without thinking Pandu let his arrow fly.

The single event changed the event of Hastinapur. To an enormous extent.

As the arrow flew from Pandu’s bow, he heard the sound of the arrow hitting its prey.

Confidently he was about to walk towards the prey, when Pandu stopped stock still.

He knew that he had hit the male deer. He had not expected the deer to cry out.

But that was not what had happened. It was something worse. Because what Pandu heard was the piteous cries of a human.

Stunned Pandu ran behind the shrub and he was shocked as he saw the deer missing and a human lying behind the shrub.

A long arrow was protruding from the man’s chest and that was what told Pandu that his arrow was a shot to the heart, leaving absolutely no room for errors. It was Pandu’s arrow at the man’s heart.

Pandu was hyperventilating as he was studying the dying man as he let the spare arrow in his hand fall as he cradled the head of the dying sage in his lap.

“Sir...” Pandu let out a gasping breath studying the man.

“Why did you kill me?” The dying man wheezed and he was barely able to get the words out.

“I..” Pandu shook his head looking terrified. “I did not intend to hurt you. I was hunting the deer.”

The man let out another painful breath. “I am Kindhama. I am a sage in the forest. I wanted to enjoy the company of my wife in the form of a deer.” The dying man looked at Pandu with broken eyes. “It was at that time that you shot me.”

“How...” Pandu could barely even breathe. “I… I… did not know it was you, my Lord.”

But the dying man was angry. More than angry.

“You can hunt wild animals in the forest who had done you harm. Why did you kill a harmless deer?”

Pandu had no answer to this one as he was tongue-tied. The bow in his shoulder felt heavy.

But Kindhama was still not done having the last word.

“You seem to be a man of royal bearing. One of the things that a king should learn is how not to misuse the power he has. Not only have you not followed that, you have shot me when I was with my wife.” The sage’s eyes grew furious as he nodded at Pandu. “For this I curse you.”

“NO!”

Pandu screamed shaking his head.

“My Lord.” Pandu begged the sage. “You do not understand. It was a mistake. I made a mistake. Please do not curse me. I did not know what I was...”

“I DO NOT WANT TO LISTEN TO YOUR FOOLISH EXPLANATIONS.” The sage wheezed looking even more angry.

Pandu stared at the sage as blood was coming out of the sage’s mouth.

“You shot at me when I was with my wife. For this, I curse you human, that the minute you touch your wife, you shall fall dead.”

“NO!”

But Pandu’s words were worthless. His words and sobs echoed through the entire forest. But no one heard it.

Because Kindhama had died with those last words.

Chapter 15 - The marriage of Madri and Pandu

Some time after the marriage of Kunti and Pandu, Bhishma collected a huge army and marched towards Valhika, in the kingdom of Madra.

Salya, who was the King of Madra saw the huge army of Hastinapur marching towards his capital. Making a split second decision, Salya immediately invited Bhishma to his own kingdom. Salya was very hospitable to the Kuru general and gave the general all the comforts that his kingdom could afford.

“What brings your here, my Lord? Salya asked Bhishma after Bhishma had rested.

“I have come here for your sister Madri!” Bhishma told Salya. “I have heard that she is beautiful and virtuous. I choose her as the second wife for Pandu,” Bhishma watched Salya with dangerous eyes. “Ours is a powerful kingdom and we are in every way fit to be considered as a good alliance for you,” Bhishma took a deep breath, studying Salya. “So choose well, Salya.”

Salya frowned and then nodded his head. “My Lord, before you speak further, first hear me out,” Salya started. “Hastinapur is one of the most powerful kingdoms in the country right now and I am more than sure that the alliance that you are offering is perfect for us,” Salya took a deep breath and then nodded to Bhishma, “But please understand. We, in the kingdom of Madra have a custom. The woman in our kingdoms cannot be offered for marriage because someone asks their hand in marriage.” Salya said. “It is our custom that our women are properly appreciated, before they are given in marriage.”

Bhishma frowned for a few seconds as Salya continued. “I am incapable of going against this customs, because this has been followed in our kingdom for many years now.”

Bhishma frowned again. The choice for him was fairly simple – whether he wanted war or not. Bhishma decided that the kingdom of Madra could be useful ally and refrained from going to war. Bhishma went back to his camp and sent to the kingdom of Madra – gold coins, precious stones, clothes, ornaments, gems, pearls and corals and a few thousand elephants, horses and chariots, as a gift for Salya’s sister – Madri.

Having accepted the gifts, Salya decided that the kingdom of Hastinapur would definitely take good care of his sister and decking her up in the finest jewelery, sent her with Bhishma to the kingdom of Hastinapur.

There, Pandu married his second wife Madri amidst great pomp and fair.

For the next month, Pandu was very happy as he enjoyed the company of both his wives.

But then his duty towards the kingdom beckoned Pandu.

After a month, leaving both his wives, Pandu collected a huge army and marched out to protect his kingdom. There were many robber tribes of Asarna which were causing havoc in his kingdom and Pandu marched against the thieves. In no time at all, Pandu was able to destroy the thieves and sent them running. But Pandu did not stop there.

Pandu turned his attention to the Dhirga, the ruler of Magadha.

And there was a small battle there and Pandu killed Dhirga and took everything in the treasury of Magadha, including the chariots and the animals from the kingdom. Now Pandu was in full form and he marched into Mithila and conquered the Videhans and then spread his territory to the kingdoms of Kasi, Sunbha and the Pundra.

Pandu defeated all the kings and they were made the vassals of the kingdom of Hastinapur.

The people of Hastinapur were very happy. Because Pandu had now brought back Hastinapur to its former glory – to the times when the kingdom had been when under the rule of King Shantanu.

And then Pandu came back to the kingdom of Hastinapur bringing with him an immense fortune, starting from gems, precious stones, pearls, corals, gold, silver, beautiful chariots and horses, elephants, and the other animals.

After having reached the capital, Pandu under Dhirdarashtra’s request divided all the riches that he had acquired to all his relatives including Bhishma, the old queen mother – Satyavathi, Ambika and Ambalika – the mothers of Dhirdarashtra and Pandu respectively and then to Vidura.

Dhirdarashtra performed huge sacrifices with the newly found wealth and the kingdom of Hastinapur had another era of prosperity from the new found wealth. 

Chapter 14 - The marriage of Kunti

Kunti muttered to herself, the mantra which was fresh in her mind. And unfortunately for Kunti she was doing that as she was staring at the Sun God....

For a few seconds, Kunti was shocked because she heard a sound behind her. Wondering who it was behind her, she whirled around startled and was shocked.....

Standing before her, completely thrilling her in his brightness was Surya, the Sun God. Kunti had no doubt in her mind that this was indeed the Sun God. The aura which emanated from the man was something that only a Deva could have. And the pleasant warmth coming off the man made it clear as to who he was....

Kunti was horrified, wondering what it was that she had done. She was just thinking about the Sun God....Was it....? Suddenly the words of the Sage Durvasa struck her – Any Deva would appear before you....

Kunti was struggling to control her raising panic, as the Surya Deva spoke. ‘Why have you summoned me, princess?’

Kunti was lost for an answer. She...? She blinked at the Sun God unable to reply as the Sun God continued. ‘Why did you invoke the mantra on looking at me?’ the Sun God asked in his melodious voice.

That was when Kunti found her voice. She realized that there had been no misunderstanding. The mantra of Sage Durvasa was devastatingly efficient. ‘It was a mistake!’ Kunti mumbled, falling at the feet of the Deva. ‘Please! It was just the foolish curiosity of young girl! Please forgive me, Arka.’ Kunti said watching the Deva. ‘I invoked the mantra without realizing its power.’

Surya was surprised and then he was perturbed. ‘I am afraid, I cannot leave you. The mantra binds me.’

Kunti was hyperventilating as Surya Deva continued. ‘The mantra which summoned me, requires me to give you a child, who has my powers.’

Kunti blinked as she was watching the worst nightmares come true. ‘NO....’

The Sun God unfortunately did not have much choice in that matter. He blessed Kunti with a son and vanished from there.

**********

Kunti watched the baby and was still reeling from the shock. The baby was powerful and was born with a naturally strong armour around his body. But Kunti was really not admiring the beauty of the child before her. What had started out as a simple case of curiosity was now rapidly out of hand.

She watched her palace and decided to do the most prudent thing, which she could do at that time.

Taking the child, she wrapped the child in her clothes and without anyone noticing, took the child to the river and put the child inside a box and let the box float through the river....

(The box was found by Adhiratha’s wife Radha and they adopted the child immediately. And because the child was born with a natural armour and earrings, they named him Vasusena meaning the one who is born with wealth. Even as a child, Vasusena spent hours praying in the Sun and would give anyone anything that they wanted, when he was praying. Indra, the Lord of the Devas, came to Vasusena and demanded the natural armour from Vasusena. Because Vasusena took away his armour and gave it to Indra, he was called as Karna – the one who peeled his own armour)

***********

Meanwhile back at Kuntibhoja’s household, Kuntibhoja was a worried man. Though his daughter was an unrivaled beauty and extraordinarily intelligent, he still had no offers for her marriage.

Kuntibhoja then hoisted a Swayamvara, which was attended by the kings of the country and there, Kunti married Pandu, the prince of the Hastinapur....

Chapter 13 - The daughter of Surasena

Surasena, one of the chief of the Yadavas was a worried man. The promise made by him to his cousin Kuntibhoja, who was Surasena’s paternal aunt’s son, was the reason for the chief’s worry.

Surasena saw his two children – the elder daughter – Prutha and the younger son – Vasudeva

Surasena caressed the baby girl’s cheeks, lovingly, a tinge of sadness in his heart....

He had made a promise and he was bound by it...

‘Prutha!’ Surasena cooed the baby girl’s name as he cradled her in her arms. Knowing that he could not put off his promise anymore, Surasena carried the child with him to another anxious Yadava chief – Kuntibhoja who was waiting outside the chambers.

Mustering up a smile, Surasena handed over the girl baby to the trembling hands of Kuntibhoja.

‘She is my first born, Kuntibhoja!’ Surasena said his voice almost cracking with emotion. ‘Just as I have promised, I have given my child to you to raise as your own daughter!’

Kuntibhoja took the girl in his hands his heart soaring with the strange emotion....He had no children, which was the sole worry always eating away his heart. He was cradling the child in his arms and saw the beautiful black eyes of the girl child look at him and nearly laughed with joy. Now no one, not one person, shall call Kuntibhoja as childless. He had a daughter, his own daughter....

Kuntibhoja was delirious with joy as he saw Surasena.

‘Kunti!’ Kuntibhoja said a beautiful smile lit up his features. ‘She is not Prutha anymore! She is my daughter! So she shall be called Kunti, the daughter of Kuntibhoja!’

And with that Kuntibhoja left with his daughter.

(In some versions, it is mentioned that Kunti was adopted when she was a teenager. Veda Vyasa’s Mahabharatha does not specify whether Kunti was a child or a teenager when she was adopted.)

*****

Kuntibhoja was the very happy man. He felt he was blessed. Ever since the day, he had bought Kunti into his house, his rule had flourished. And Kunti was extremely mature for her age.

Even in her teens, Kunti was responsible and practically looked after all the affairs of the kingdom. So much so that her father had made her in charge of the hospitality given to guests and Brhamins – a post which required a lot of diplomacy and tact.

The young Kunti took the post with the maturity that belied her age.

And it was during that time, that Sage Durvasa, came to the household of Kuntibhoja.

Kunti was very careful while dealing with the man. She had heard of the terrible temper of the sage and the consequences of angering that man. And Kunti gave it her best shot and was even able to keep the sage happy.....

The sage was pleased with the young Kunti and wanted to repay her for her intelligence. And so just before he was about to leave Kuntibhoja’s household, he called the young Kunti aside.

‘I wish to repay your kindness for looking after me!’ He said without any preamble.

Kunti watched the sage not saying anything. Presumably because there was nothing that she could say to this statement.

‘There is a mantra! Using this mantra, you shall be able to summon any Deva!’ the sage continued.

Kunti frowned. Deva? Why would she need to summon a Deva? Kunti wondered. But still she asked nothing.

‘The Deva shall come and bless you with children!’ the sage finished, a strange smile on his lips.

Kunti was actually aghast and struggled from not showing anything on her face. ‘Why are you teaching me this mantra, sir?’ she asked finally, watching the sage, a growing fear gnawing at her stomach.

The sage smiled. But it was not a happy smile. It was a smile of a man who genuinely knew more than her.

‘It is important that you know this!’ was all the sage said.

Kunti did not understand. But she knew that she could get no further explanations from the sage.

A steady fear was growing in her heart as she learnt the mantra that the great sage taught her.

Having completed his work there, Sage Durvasa walked away from the household of Kuntibhoja.

*******

The knowledge that Kunti got from the mantra, seemed too impossibly good for her to believe. Any Deva? The sage had told her that any Deva was bound by her summons! Was the mantra really effective?

Kunti was watching the rising sun from her window as a sudden thought assaulted her. Any Deva! Any Deva she called by the mantra would come to her.....

Chapter 12 - The ruler of Hastinapur

During the times when Bhishma ruled the kingdom of Hastinapur as the regent, the kingdom was made up of Kurujangala and Kurukshetra.

After the birth of the three children, the kingdom of Hastinapur knew some genuine peace.

The crops grew well and trade flourished. Nature was extremely magnanimous towards the kingdom and everything was perfect. The kingdom prospered to almost unprecedented heights. It was said that during this time, the kingdom was so rich and prosperous that there were no robbers anywhere in the kingdom.

It was in these happy circumstances that Dhirdarashtra, Pandu and Vidura grew under the guidance of Bhishma.

Losing his two brothers – Chitrangada and Vichitraviryan, had made Bhishma love the children even more and he brought them up like his own sons. Bhishma taught them everything, right from the Vedas to the use of weapons.

It is said that Pandu excelled in archery like no other person. As predicted by his father, Dhirdarashtra was phenomenally strong.

The quiet Vidura possessing neither the brute strength of Dhirdarashtra, nor the prowess in weapons like Pandu, immersed himself in the studies of Vedas and the Puranas. Vidura became the wisest among people, even at a young age.

As the princes came of age, Bhishma and Satyavathi had a discussion.

'Mother! There is a matter regarding the kingdom! I want your advice on it!' Bhishma said frowning.

The aging Satyavathi nodded her head as Bhishma started. 'I have been ruling this kingdom for the past few years! I have been doing so as the regent of Hastinapur! Because Pandu and Dhirdarashtra were young minors! However now the time has come for me to shed this responsibility! Both the princes have come to age!' Bhishma smiled tightly as he looked at Satyavathi. 'In fact, that is what I wanted your advice about...'

Satyavathi frowned as Bhishma continued. He was never a man who minced words. And with Satyavathi, he knew that he could speak his mind freely. She would understand..

Bhishma took a deep breath as he continued. 'Dhirdarashtra was born a day before Pandu! That makes him the elder prince. Customs demands that he be given the throne! But.....' Bhishma hesitated for a second and then continued. 'I do not think that is a good idea! Though I was the one who trained Dhiradarashtra and I know that he is a very good warrior and a good student of the Vedas, I do not think he should be the king!'

'Because of his blindness?' Satyavathi asked as a quiet wind blew into the room.

Bhishma smiled sadly nodding his head. 'We cannot have a blind man as the king! One of the many duties of a king is to lead his armies to battle at the time of war! Unfortunately, Dhirdarashtra may not be able to carry out that duty!'

Satyavathi thought for a long time. Finally she nodded her head. 'Considering that Dhirdarashtra is blind and Vidura is not from the royal line, I suggest that Pandu, though he is second born...he be crowned as the king of Hastinapur!'

Bhishma smiled as he looked at Satyavathi.

So that was another decisive moment in the Mahabharatha story. The throne which belonged rightfully to Bhishma was taken from him. And bound by his vow, Bhishma, ignoring custom, decided to hand over the throne to the pale Pandu, though he was not the eldest of the family. All because Dhiradarashtra was born blind...

The coronation took place is great pomp and the people were happy - for now the kingdom had a real king. Pandu also relied heavily on Bhishma for ruling the kingdom.

It is said that Pandu was an excellent military general and during his times he fought plenty of successful battles and increased the borders of the Hastinapur to great lengths. Bhishma continued to rule the kingdom and peace and prosperity flourished in the vast kingdom.....

Chapter 11 - The third son of Veda Vyasa

Long ago, there was a great sage called Mandavya. The sage had given up everything and spent his entire time in meditation of the Brahman (The Force which runs within us all). The sage had taken the vow of silence and spent his entire time with his eyes closed and without talking to anyone. 
Unfortunately, however the sage was caught in one of Fate’s traps…..

A group of thieves had stolen plenty of jewellery, looting the people of a particular kingdom. Unable to take it anymore, the people approached their king to put an end to the menace. The king along with his trusted soldiers hunted the thieves in the forest.

As the soldiers started hunting the thieves, the thieves found themselves being chased towards the hermitage. The chief of the thieves realized that this hermitage which was right in the heart of the forest surrounded by dense trees would be the ideal place to lose the king and his men. As they entered the hermitage, the chief of the gang called his men. ‘The king and his men seem very keen now!’ He panted under the heavy load of the jewels, which the thieves were carrying with them. ‘If you value your lives, take the loot and hide inside the hermitage! The king would not search the hermitage! They value the great sages who live there....’

The other thieves realized the wisdom of the chief and hid inside the hermitage with the loot.

The soldiers arrived at the hermitage before the king and hesitantly searched the hermitage. The plan of the thieves backfired as the soldiers found the thieves and the stolen jewels. They dragged the thieves to the king.
The king looked angrily at the whole lot and turned to his soldiers. 'Are these the only people or are there any more people?'
The soldiers looked hesitantly at each other and finally one of them spoke. 'Well...there was one more sage....I think it was his hermitage, where the thieves hid....!'
The king frowned looking at the soldiers. ‘Where is he?’

‘Back there! Right in the middle of the hermitage….!’

The king grew more and more perplexed as he heard the soldiers. ‘Why did you not bring him with you?’

‘He is a sage sir….He looks powerful, we were afraid to disturb his meditation!’ One of the soldiers muttered.

The king was however livid with rage. ‘YOU FOOLS! Hurry up and make sure you catch him! How on earth do you know that the man is a sage? He is probably the chief of the bandits! It was just a simple matter for the chief to disguise himself as a sage and just like he wanted, you left him….’ The king shouted angrily.

The soldiers heard no more and were back to the hermitage and much to their relief they found the sage there. It almost seemed as if the sage was not even aware of what was happening around him….The soldiers asked him repeatedly many questions. However because of the vow of silence and his meditation, the sage did not answer any of the questions. 

However by this time the king himself came to the hermitage. He was very angry at the foolishness of his men and wanted to make sure they were not fooled a second time. He saw the soldiers taking to the silent sage. Probably it was the work of Fate or probably the king was a very foolish man, whatever the reason the king on seeing the entire scene immediately decided that the sage was the chief of the bandits disguised, just to fool him.

‘That man is the chief of the bandits! Bind that man along with the other thieves and impale him with your spear!’ He commanded angrily, pointing at the sage. The soldiers looked alarmed at the king as he continued. ‘That would serve as a reminder to the other thieves, never to steal from my people!’ He finished.

The king was so furious that the soldiers did not even argue with him. The soldiers carried out the orders and all of them left the place….

The sage was so deep in mediation when the king and his men impaled him. The powers of his mind helped the sage to control his pain to a great extent. The sage stayed that way with the stake inside him and without any food for a long time.....
The other sages in the forest divined that sage Mandavya was in pain and came to visit the sage. Though they tried to remove the spear, they found that the spear was lodged inside the sage's body too deeply and could not be removed.
'Why is this happening to you, my friend?' One of the sages asked sage Mandavya in great anger.
The sage smiled through his pain. 'I am the only one who is to blame for this! No one else....!' He said gritting his teeth.
The news of the wrath of the other sages reached the king and he rushed back to the forest. He realized that only a really great person could stay like this and fell at the feet of all the sages and asked for forgiveness. All the sages coldly refused and said that the only person who could forgive the king was Sage Mandavya himself.

Sage Mandavya opened his eyes from his mediation and out of the purity of his heart forgave the king. ‘Looks like I am destined to undergo this trial!’ The sage wheezed. ‘I do not hold you responsible for this…!’

The king tried to remove the spear, but a portion of the spear was stuck within the sage's body and could not be removed. The king sawed off the remaining portion of the spear hanging out of the body. 

Receiving the forgiveness of the sage, the relieved king went back to his kingdom.

The sage continued with his penances with the spear firmly stuck in his body and it made no difference to him. Since that day, the sage was also called Ani Mandavya (Mandavya with the spear within him)

Through the power of his meditation, the sage was able to achieve great powers of mind, which was not even known to the others. 
With these immense powers, the sage once went to visit Lord Dharma, the Lord of Death.

‘You are Lord Dharma! You are supposed to make sure that the things that happen to people…. leads the people to understand their mistakes, and make sure people repent for it! …Why..Why did I deserve to be impaled like this? What was the sin committed by me to deserve this?’ The sage demanded.

Lord Dharma bowed to the great man. ‘Sir! When you were younger, out of sheer curiosity, your impaled a butterfly! It was for causing pain to that creature, you underwent that pain!’

Sage Mandavya frowned. 'When did I do that?'
Lord Dharma thought back. 'You were a child then sir! It was a long time....'
Sage Mandavya looked scornfully at Lord Dharma. ‘I was a child, then! I could not even know the result of my action at that time!’ The sage now looked dangerously at the Lord of Death. ‘The Shastra clearly prescribe that any deed done by a child below the age of 12 is not punishable because they do it without understanding it!' The eyes of the sage narrowed dangerously. 'Is that the only reason I had to undergo so much agony?’

Lord Dharma nodded mutely as the sage suddenly looked very angry. ‘The punishment that you have given me, for a crime done when I was young, is too great! Listen to my words, Lord Dharma! You….I curse you that will be born as a human for this injustice!’ Before the terrified Lord Dharma could say anything in his defence, the sage walked out of there…..
It is said that from that time, the age from which the  deeds of the child would be punishable was increased to 14. Anything done by a child below that age was held to be childish prank and forgiven....

The words of Sage Mandavya were so powerful and that was the reason Lord Dharma was born as a human.

Lord Dharma was born as the son of the great sage Veda Vyasa, and was as an extraordinarily intelligent human with complete control over his senses. Though both his step brothers ruled the kingdom of Hastinapur, he never even aspired for the throne….

And because his mother was a servant, throughout the Mahabharatha he was relegated to the position of an advisor, whose advice was unfortunately studiously ignored than followed. 

The man, whose advice if had been followed would have probably averted a lot of calamities in the Mahabharatha, including the war itself….

That man was Vidura, the incarnate of Lord Dharma….