Indraprastha (Mahabharata) information | How Pandavas administrated Indraprastha | Burning of Khandav forest (Khandavprastha)
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Just before going to “Indraprastha (Mahabharata) information | How Pandavas administrated Indraprastha | Burning of Khandav forest (Khandavprastha)“, let us have some brief information.
In this post your will get information about the below and much more:
Where is Indraprastha of Mahabharata now? | What is Indraprastha called now? | Why Delhi is called Indraprastha in Mahabharata? |
Is Indraprastha and Hastinapur same? | Indraprastha and hastinapur | Indraprastha now known as | What happened to indraprastha after Mahabharat |
Indraprastha Delhi | Indraprastha city | Indraprastha meaning | Who built indraprastha | How Pandavas get Indraprastha? |
How did yudhisthira get Indraprastha? | How did Indraprastha look like? | Who made Indraprastha for Pandavas? | Burning of Khandav forest (Khandavprastha) |
Indraprastha meaning : In Sanskrit Indraprastha (Indraprasth) (इन्द्रप्रस्थ) means a plain (place) (city) which belongs to Lord Sri Indra Deva.
Indraprastha (Indraprasth) was the main city or in-fact was the capital of the Pandavas as mentioned in Mahabharata and Srimad Bhagavatam.
The present day historians research traces its location to the area of present-day New Delhi, specifically the Old Fort (Purana Qila) area.
The city is also known as Khandavaprastha (Khandavaprastha) or Khandava (Khandava) forest, the name of the forest area on the banks of the river Yamuna, which was cleared by Lord Krishna and Arjuna for the Pandavas to build their city.
History (brief) of the city of the Indraprastha is as given below:
Just before the war of the Kurukshetra or Mahabharata, Lord Sri Krishna proposed that if Dhritarashtra agrees to give the Pandavas only five villages, namely:
Indraprastha (इन्द्रप्रस्थ) (Present Delhi), Swarnaprastha (स्वर्णप्रस्थ) (Present Sonipat), Panaprastha (पनप्रस्थ) (Present Panipat), Vyaghraprastha (व्याघ्रप्रस्थ) (Present Baghpat) and Tilaprastha (तिलप्रस्थ) (Present Tilpat) then Pandavas will be more than happy.
Duryodhana viciously denied, commenting that he would not part with land even as small as the point of a needle.
This initiated the stage for the great war known as the ‘Battle of Kurukshetra’ (Kurukshetra Yuddha/Yudh), made famous by the epic Mahabharata.
The Pandavas ruled Indraprastha for about 36 years. The Mahabharata records that Indraprastha was the home of the Pandavas before the Mahabharata war.
How Pandavas administrated Indraprastha information is as given below:
This post will give more description of the the great administration of Pandavas in Indraprastha.
The portfolios allotted by Pandavas among themselves are quite interesting. Yudhishthira took charge of performing sacrifices, bestowing gifts, hospitality to sages etc.
Bhimasena (Bhima) took charge of the defense, education in spiritual knowledge, maintenance of the Varnashrama (four varna’s) duties etc.
Draupadi looked after women’s welfare, welfare of the servants, supervision of the treasury and helping women developing devotion to the Lord Sri Krishna (Lord Sri Vishnu).
Arjuna looked after foreign relations. Whereas in the case of Jarasandha etc. strong enemies Bhimasena (Bhima) used to keep watch on these demonic people.
Nakula and Sahadeva looked after the welfare of the army and the political policy of sandhi, vigraha etc.
During the administration of Pandavas, particularly, that of Bhimasena (Bhima), there was:
no poverty, no premature death, no diseases, no body transgresses varnashrama duties, and no body opposed the Supremacy of Lord Sri Krishna (Lord Sri Vishnu).
People had no need to meet the king for their needs, since all their needs were fully satisfied as per requirement. They met the king to have his darshan and nothing else.
After narrating the good administration of Pandavas certain family details are i.e. Yudhishthira married Devaki (not Vasudeva wife Devaki) the daughter of Shishupala.
Devaki was Goddess Sri Shyamala Devi in her earlier life and the wife of Lord Sri Yama Deva in her original form. Yudhisthira begot a son named Suhotra.
Bhima married Kaali the daughter of the king of Kashi. The Kaali was Goddess Sri Bharati Devi in her original form (Lord Sri Vayu Deva wife – Bhimasena was an avatar of Vayu Deva).
When Jarasandha found the Kaali garlanded Bhima, he went on abusing Lord Sri Vishnu and praising Lord Shiva and attacked Bhima.
It was a double attack, an attack on the Supremacy of Lord Sri Vishnu and an attack on Bhima physically. Bhima had to first defeat Jarasandha in respect of the first attack.
The Vedas and all the granthas (Hindu Texts) declare the Lord Sri Vishnu as supreme. Even in Saivagamas, Lord Sri Vishnu is described as sarvottama / supreme.
The Buddha is also an incarnation of Lord Sri Vishnu. The preceptor of Charvakas, that is, Brihaspati claims Lord Sri Vishnu as his preceptor.
Lord Sri Vishnu bestows Moksha / Mukti (liberation) to all.
Bhima says in Mahabharata, on the other hand Lord Shiva ran away when Bhasmasura confronted him the poison gulped by Lord Shiva made his neck dark. From these facts it is clear that Lord Shiva is not supreme.
Bhima continues, once at Hastinavati (Hastinapur) when I was proceeding to worship Lord Sri Vishnu, Ganga obstructed me. I pushed her with my left hand.
Once Lord Shiva came in the form of tiger perusing Parvati who had taken the form of a cow to test me. I hit him with my mace and he went into a Linga which is now known as Vyaghralinga.
Lord Shiva appeared in the form of a Brahmana (Brahmin) at Kedara (present Kedarnath) and debated with me about the supremacy of Bhagavan.
Lord Shiva was defeated by me (Bhima is telling this story in Mahabharata during his stay in Indraprastha) and entered into a Linga.
That is why the devotees of Lord Sri Vishnu are prohibited from going to Kedara (Kedarnath).
Bhimasena (Bhima) gives these details to impress upon Jarasandha that the devotees of Lord Sri Vishnu are so strong that there is no need to establish the supremacy any further.
Silencing Jarasandha in this way in respect of the Supremacy of Lord Sri Vishnu, Bhimasena won the first round of the battle.
Then Bhimasena (Bhima) threw Jarasandha in the water of Ganga. Jarasandha ran away.
Bhimasena (Bhima) returned to Indraprastha with Kaali Devi (an avatar of Goddess Sri Bharati Devi) the daughter of the king of Kashi and married with her. Bhimasena begot a son Sarvatrata through Kaali.
(Above stories are never shown on TV serials and movies. Not sure why…)
Duryodhana Studies under Balarama information is as given below:
Balarama stayed in Hastinapura for five years. Duryodhana desired to take advantage of this. He became the disciple of Balarama and studied gada-yuddha (use of the mace) under him.
Duryodhana asked Balarama to give his sister Subhadra to him in marriage.
Duryodhana made Balarama to take an oath to give Subhadra holding his hand marked by plough. Subhadra was Trijata in the earlier birth (during Ramayana period).
As a result of her (Trijata) service to Goddess Sri Sita Devi, she was now born as the sister of Lord Sri Krishna.
Eight queens of Lord Sri Krishna information is as given below:
Lord Sri Krishna married Kalindi, that is, the river Yamuna. Lord Sri Krishna married Nila (Nagnajiti) by controlling seven bulls simultaneously.
Lord Sri Krishna married Mitravinda defeating her brothers Vinda and Anuvinda. Lord Sri Krishna also married Bhadra and Lakshana.
The condition for seeking hand of Lakshana was more difficult than Draupadi.
The aim of the arrow was placed reverting it and the arrow had to move above and hit it moving back. Jarasandha, Duryodhana etc. failed.
Arjuna tried but deliberately did not hit it. He knew that she was to be married by Lord Sri Krishna.
Bhimasena (Bhima) did not even look at the bow out of high regard to Lord Sri Krishna.
(Bhimasena never ever goes against the wishes of Lord Sri Krishna. Bhimasena was an avatar of Lord Sri Vayu Deva. Same Vayu deva was born as Hanuman during the Ramayana period. This means both Hanuman and Bhimasena were same).
These marriages resulted in Lord Sri Krishna having eight queens:
That is, Rukmini (an avatar of Goddess Sri Lakshmi Devi), Satyabhama (an avatar of Goddess Sri Laskhmi Devi), Jambavati (an avatar of Goddess Sri Tulasi Devi), Kalindi, Nila, Mitravrinda, Bhadra and Lakshana.
The first two were full incarnations of Goddess Sri Lakshmi Devi. The others had only the avesha (part) of Goddess Sri Lakshmi Devi.
Information about Ascharya and Dhanya is as given below:
Duryodhana performed a sacrifice. Many kings and dignitaries participated in it. They desired to see the newly built Dvaraka (Dwarka). They were received at Raivata hill.
Lord Sri Krishna welcomed them at this stage and at same time Narada Maharshi arrives. Narada Maharshi greeted Lord Sri Krishna as ‘Ascharya’ and ‘Dhanya’.
Lord Sri Krishna enquired what he means by these expressions to Maharishi Narada.
Devarishi Narada explained that ‘Ascharya’ means you alone are supreme and ‘Dhanya’ means all others are under your control and you sustain them all.
Devarishi Narada explained the way in which he discovered this fact.
Maharishi Narada said: once I saw a deity in the Kurma form in the river Ganga. I told him that there is no one who is superior to you. He said Ganga is superior to me.
Ganga said Varuna is superior to her. Varuna said Prithvi i.e., Uma. Uma said Shiva, Shesha and Garuda.
Shiva, Shesha and Garuda said Brahma is superior to them. Brahma said Sri Rama is superior. Lord Sri Rama is abhimani devata (controlling God) of Vedas.
Vedas said my Yagnabhimano form Yajna is superior to me. She said my Lord Sri Krishna is superior to me and to all (here both Sri Rama and Sri Krishna are one and same).
Maharishi Narada tells Lord Sri Krishna that I greeted you as Ascharya and Dhanya discovering this fact from these deities.
Lord Sri Krishna said there is one more form of Lord Sri Rama i.e., Dakshina. Dakshina is a part of my very personality. That is why I am called Ardha-Narayana. I am superior to her.
This Dakshina Devi (She is Goddess Sri Lakshmi Devi) is Goddess Sri Rukmini Devi.
The three forms of Lakshmi. Viz, Veda-abhimani Ramaa (read as Ramaa and not as Raama), Yajna-abhimani Yagna and Dakshina-abhimani Dakshina are the forms of one and the same Goddess Sri Lakshmi Devi. They all are same and equal.
The superiority of the second and the third forms is stated keeping in mind only their placement.
Veda-abhimani form is outside, Yajna-abhimani is on the lap of the Lord Sri Vishnu and Dakshina-abhimani is the very part of the body.
Devarishi Narada told Kunti and others that, Lord Sri Krishna is all and the most powerful.
Lord Sri Krishna demonstrated it by taking away the weapons of Bhishma, Drona, Karna, and Kripa etc. all within a moment.
Bhima did not take his weapon against Lord Sri Krishna as he never opposed Lord Sri Krishna. He was just thrown away from his chariot. This was all a play to realize the all powerfulness of Lord Sri Krishna.
Devarishi Narada praised Rukmini Devi and gave parijata flower to her. This upsets Satyabhama. However, Lord Sri Krishna assured her that he would get the very Parijata tree for her.
Narakasura vadha (slaying of Narakasur) information is as given below:
Lord Sri Indra Deva and other deities approached Lord Sri Krishna with an appeal to kill Narakasura.
Lord Sri Krishna leaves for Pragjyotisapura with Satyabhama. Narakasura was born from Lord Sri Varaha form of Lord Sri Vishnu through Dharadevi (mother earth).
Narakasura was invincible as a result of boon from Lord Sri Brahma Deva. His ministers were also similarly blessed. He had built three tiers fronts viz. Giridurga, Jaladurga and Pasadurga.
The last was prepared by Mura with six thousand ropes. Peetha, Mura, Nikumbha, Hayagriva and Panchanga were the ministers of Narakasura.
Narakasura had forcibly taken away the Sveta-chatra (white umbrella) of Lord Sri Varuna Deva, Manishikara from Lord Sri Indra, and the ear-rings of Aditi Devi.
Lord Sri Krishna attacked Prag-jyotisha city, destroyed the three forts. Killed the five ministers, and thirty-five sons of these ministers.
Narakasura came out of the city and attacked Lord Sri Krishna with his mace Shatagni. Lord Sri Krishna swallowed the mace and pretended as if he is was exhausted.
Satyabhama took the Saranga bow and destroyed the chariot and the weapons of Narakasura. She also pretended to be exhausted.
Lord Sri Krishna killed Narakasura with his chakra (disc). He entered into the palace. Narakasura mother Goddess Bhudevi (Mother Earth) returned the ear-rings of Aditi Devi.
Bhagadatta the son of Narakasura was coronated as a successor of Narakasura. Lord Sri Krishna took six thousand elephants and other wealth and sent it to Dvaraka (Dwarka).
The big elephant Supratika was left for Bhagadatta. Lord Sri Krishna found the sixteen thousand and one hundred girls imprisoned in the palace by Narakasura.
These were the children of Lord Sri Agni Deva in their original form. They desired to marry Lord Sri Krishna and were born as girls during the Dvapara Yuga.
Lord Sri Krishna arranged to send them to Dvaraka (Dwarka). These girls have the avesha (part) of Goddess Sri Lakshmi Devi and therefore are eligible for the contact with Lord Sri Krishna.
[Please note that they were not avatars of Goddess Sri Lakshmi Devi, but they had only part (avesha) of Goddess Sri Lakshmi Devi.]
Lord Sri Krishna took back Manishikara of Lord Sri Indra Deva and Swetachatra of Lord Sri Varuna Deva and went to Indraloka (Swarga).
Lord Sri Krishna gave the earrings to Aditi Devi.
Lord Sri Krishna sported with Satyabhama in Nandana garden. She saw Parijata tree at Nandana garden and desired to have it. Lord Sri Krishna removed it and placed it on Garuda.
Goddess Sri Sachi Devi was upset by it. Lord Sri Indra Deva together with other deities attacked Lord Sri Krishna and Satyabhama Devi.
Satyabhama Devi herself took the Sharanga bow and cut the weapons of Kubera. Garuda threw Varuna in the sea.
Lord Shiva with Nandi was also thrown out. Lord Sri Indra Deva threw his Vajrayudha at Lord Sri Krishna. It was prevented by his left hand by Lord Sri Krishna, while Indra surrenders.
Lord Sri Krishna returns to Dvaraka (Dwarka). Planted Parijata and Manishikara in the foreyard of Satyabhama’s house.
Lord Sri Krishna married the sixteen thousand and one hundred girls bought from Narakasura’s palace. Lord Sri Krishna begot ten sons and one daughter from each of them.
Among these sons, Satyabhama begot a son that is Bhani. He was originally one of the twelve suns that is Savita.
Rukmini begot the sons of Pradyumna and Charudeshna. Originally Pradhyumna was Kaama Deva and Charudeshna was Ganesha.
Pradyumna and Samba undertook dig-vijayayatra and went to Patala and defeated Vasuki. They also defeated Maya who came in their way. They defeated Jayanta and Vrishaba in the Indraloka.
Sunda and Upasunda information is as given below:
Sunda and Upasunda the sons of Nikumba a descendent of Hiranyakashipu were considerably troubling the sages.
These two had obtained a boon from Brahma that they should not be killed by anybody excepting the very brother.
They thought they will never have any enmity to kill each other.
When these brothers started harassing the ascetics. Brahma created a beautiful woman Tilottama. She was so charming that even Shiva assumed four daces to look at her all around.
Tilottama appeared before Sunda and Upasunda. Both were captivated by her charm and started fighting to get her. Ultimately they were killed by each other.
Arjuna’s Tirtha yatra information is as given below:
Narada instructed the Pandavas to be with Draupadi by the rotation of one year each instead of a rotation by one day.
Accordingly they lived with her by the rotation of a year. When a couple is in privacy, no one is expected to disturb them.
However, once Arjuna had to enter the private chamber of Yudhishtira, when he was engaged in a private conversation with Draupadi.
This was because, a Brahman’s cow was to be protected and Arjuna had to take his bow that was kept in Yudhishtira’s chamber.
Consequently, he had to undertake Tirtha yatra for a year.
In the course of his pilgrimage he came across Ulupi a Naga race girl and at her request he begot a son Iravan through her.
The Nagas declared her and her son as outcaste. However, Indra took care of the both in Indraloka.
Arujuna marries Chitrangadha who was the daughter of Chitravahana the king of Manipura.
Arjuna begot a son Babruvahana (an avatara of Jayanta) through Chitrangadha (an avatara of Sachi Devi). He was given in adoption to the Pandya king by way of Putrika putra dharma.
The Pandya king Virasena was an amsha of Surya of Tvasta form. Chitrangadha was originally Sachi Devi. Arjuna proceeded to Prabhasa.
On the way, at Kanyatirtha, he was caught by five crocodiles. He dragged the five out of water. These were originally five apsaras and were cursed to be born as crocodiles by a Brahmana.
These apsaras i.e., Vargas, Saurabheyi, Samichi, Budbuda and Lata were in crocodile form in five lakes i.e., Agastya, Saubhadra, Pauloma, Karandhama and Bharadvaja.
The Brahmana had told them that when some strong man drags them out, they will get their original form.
Accordingly, when they were dragged out by Arjuna and thus they were released from the crocodile form.
Subhadra parinaya information is as given below:
From Prabhasa, Arjuna proceeded towards Dvaraka. He took the form of a Sanyasi and sat under a tree on Raivata hill.
Balarama saw him and asked Sri Krishna to arrange accommodation for this sanyasi near Kanyagara during chaturmasya (four months) and provide all facilities to him.
Sri Krishna pretended to caution Balarama by saying that it is not safe to provide accommodations for this young sannyasi near Kanyagara.
Balarama said that the sannyasi are above temptations and one should not question the bonafide of an ascetic.
Subhadra was asked to serve this sanyasi (Arjuna). One day Balarama and all others went to Pindoddhara Kshetra. There was a big festival their.
Sanyasi did not go as he was not to leave the place until the chaturmasya was over. Subhadra also remained as she had to serve him.
Subhadra enquired sanyasi whether he knew the where-abouts of Arjuna who is on a pilgrimage.
Sanyasi revealed his identity as Arjuna. He proposed that they should marry by Gandharva way. She said that without Sri Krishna’s consent and blessing she cannot proceed in the matter.
At this juncture Sri Krishna arrives with his parents. Indra, Satyaki, Narada etc. also arrived. The marriage was celebrated.
Sri Krishna left his chariot for Arjuna and returned to Pindoddhara Kshetra. Arjuna left the place with Subhadra. The security guards of the city tried to prevent Arjuna.
Viprithu who was in charge of the security was already secretly instructed by Sri Krishna not to prevent Arjuna.
Subhadra herself was taking the chariot ahead (was the sarathi at that time). Balarama came to know about it. Balarama was enraged.
However Sri Krishna pacified Balarama and other Yadavas. Arjuna came to Indraprastha with Subhadra.
Draupadi and his brothers were very happy to receive them. Pandavas begot five sons i.e., Prativindya, Srutasoma, Srutakirti, Srutanika, Srutakriya.
All these were originally Visva devas. These children had the avesha of the five Gandharvas i.e., Chitraratha, Abhitamra, Kishora, Gopala and Bala.
Abhimanyu was born after Prativindya and Srutasoma. Originally Abhimanyu was an avatara of Budha (the graha, that is planet). He had also the avesha of Chandra Deva.
Khandava dahana (Khandav Dahan) (burning of Khandav forest / Khandavprastha) information is as given below:
One day Sri Krishna and Arjuna went to Khandava forest with Satyabhama and Subhadra.
Agni Deva appeared before them in the form of Brahmana and appealed for food. He said he needs the whole of this forest as his food.
This forest belongs to Indra. He is obstructing me. Agni had tried to burn this forest seven times.
However, Takshaka was living in this forest prevented him with the support of Indra.
Agni brought chakra from Narayana at Badri and gave it to Sri Krishna. This was already once obtained by Sri Krishna. This was already once obtained by Sri Krishna at Gomantaka.
Agni Procured Gandiva bow from Varuna and gave it to Arjuna. He also gave white horses, chariot and the flag with the emblem of Hanuman.
Arjuna encircles the entire Khandavavana with his arrows and saw that no one went out of it; Sri Krishna and Arjuna destroyed the whole forest and offered it to Agni Deva.
Indra Deva surrendered. Maya who was in that forest appealed to Arjuna to save him. Arjuna lets off him.
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