Mahabharath !! Funeral rites of King Pandu!!

Jai Sriman Narayana !!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The great epic Mahabharath was composed by Maharishi Veda Vyasa/Krishna Dwaipayana, son of Sage Parasara and Sathyavati, a woman from fishermen clan.  Mahabharath describes the legend of Bharatha Dynasty.     It was written in 18 Parva such as Adhi Parva, Sabha Parva, Vana Parva, Virada Parva, Udhyoga Parva, Bhishma Parva, Drona Parva, Karna Parva, Shalya Parva, Soupthika Parva, Stri Parva, Shanthi Parva, Anushasana Parva, Ashwamedha Parva, Ashramavasika Parva, Musala Parva, Mahaprasthanika Parva and Swargarohana Parva and each Parva has divided into many Upaparva and has chapters in detail.    Adhi Parva depicts the life of King Dushyantha and his wife Shakunthala and their son Sarvadhamanan, who was famously known as Bharatha, a righteous ruler of Bharatha Empior.

 

Lord Brahma created deities, Sages and Prajapathis.  It was the beginning of the growth of human race from the sixty daughters of Daksha Prajapathi.  Pururavass,  Yayathi, Puru,  Dushyantha,  Bharatha, Shanthanu were born in the family of Dithi, one of the daughters of Daksha Prajapathi. 

 

 

King Janamejaya, son of King Pareekshit conducted a grand Yagna to please serpent Gods.  There were a huge number of Rishis & Sages were present in the magnificent Yagna, Maharishi Veda Vyasa along with his disciple Rishi Vaishampayana and Sage Ugrasrava Sauti was also amongst them.   Rishi Vaishampayana narrated the stories of Kuru Dynasty to King Janamejaya at the time of Naga Yagna.  Later, this anecdote was described to the Sages and Rishis assembled in Naimisharanya by Sage Sauti, son of Sage Romaharshana/Lomaharshana, disciple of Maharishi Veda Vyasa.

 

Rishi Vaishampayan narrated the funeral rites of King Pandu to King Janamejaya.  King Drutharashtra ordered to perform the funeral rites of King Pandu in a majestic manner, as a commencement of the rites performed abundance charities in the form of cattle, clothes, jewels, precious stones and various kinds of wealth.  Drutharashtra instructed to make elaborate arrangements to perform the funeral rites of Madri as desired by Kunthi, also advised to wrap up the mortal body of Madri meticulously in order to protect from the contact of Lord Sun or Lord Vayu and not to grieve over the death of the noble and blameless King Pandu who has left five valiant children of celestials for the Kingdom of Hasthinapur.  Vidura sincerely followed the instruction of Drutharashtra and the proper arrangements for the funeral were made with the approval of Bhishma Pithamaha, a sacred place was chosen to perform the funeral rites of Pandu.  The royal priests were arranged the sacred fire, ghee and fragrances to pour over the funeral pyre.  The mortal body of monarch and his queen was decked with abundance flowers of various fragrances, marvelous umbrella on top and carried it on the shoulders of men, followed by the sounds of various musical instruments.  There were multitudes of Brahmana, Kshathriyas, Vaishya and Shudras followed the procession, mourning over the death of their beloved King.  Bhishma Pithamaha, Vidura and the five children of Pandu wept bitterly.  Finally, the procession reached on the river banks of Ganga.  The mortal body of monarch and queen was sanctified with the water of river Ganga and various fragrant paste smeared over the bodies, white ceremonial cloth covered on the lifeless body of King Pandu, that gave out the appearance him as alive and fast asleep.  The funeral ceremony was performed by the royal priests and the Kurus followed the instructions sincerely, set fire on the lifeless bodies and offered various fragrant substances, lotuses and sandal paste to the funeral pyre.  Princesses of Kasi wept bitterly calling out the name of her dearest son, the birds and the creatures cried loudly out of grief, Bhishma Pithamaha,  Drutharashtra, Vidura and females in the royal family and children,  the peoples of Kingdom of Hasthinapur surrounded by them were in low spirits.  The royal family took ceremonial bath after the funeral; they consoled the bereaved children of Pandu.  Shortly, Pandavas returned to the grass of bed and the priests returned to their places.  The people of Kingdom of Hasthinapur grieved over the death of their favorite King Pandu, spent twelve days mourning with the Pandavas.

 

 

Jai Sriman Narayana !!