Kaurava

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The term Kaurava (Sanskrit: कौरव) is a Sanskrit term, that means a descendant of Kuru, a legendary king who is the ancestor of many of the characters of the Mahābhārata.

The term is used in the Mahābhārata with two meanings:

• The wider meaning, to represent all the descendants of Kuru. This meaning, which includes the Pandava brothers, is sometimes used in the Mahābhārata, especially in some of the earlier parts.
• The commoner and narrower meaning, to represent the elder line of the descendants of King Kuru. This restricts it to the children of King Dhritarashtra, as his line is the elder line of descent from Kuru. It excludes the children of the younger brother Pandu, who founds his own line, the Pandava.

The rest of this article deals with the Kaurava in the narrower sense, that is the children of Dhritarashtra, by Queen Gandhari. When referring to these, a more specific term is also frequently encountered - Dhārtarāṣṭra, a derivative of Dhṛtarāṣṭra (Dhritarashtra).

According to the standard texts, Gandhari wanted a hundred sons, and Vyasa granted her a boon that she would have these. Another version says that she was unable to have any children for a long time and she eventually became pregnant, but did not deliver for two years, after which she gave birth to a lump of flesh. Vyasa cut this lump into a hundred and one pieces, and these eventually developed into a hundred boys and one girl.

This story should be read in view of the dispute over the succession to the throne of the kingdom. It attributes a late birth to Duryodhana, the eldest son of Dhritarashtra, despite his father's early marriage. This legitimises the case for his cousin Yudhisthira to claim the throne, since he could claim to be the eldest of his generation.

Although all hundred sons have been named, only the first few are normally mentioned in the Mahābhārata. The first five are:

• Duryodhana
• Dushasana
• Dussala (daughter)
• Jalagandha
• Sama

All the male sons of Dritarashtra were killed in the great battle at Kurukshetra.

Sons of the Kauravas fought in the Great War. Duryodhana had 29 sons of which few survived. Upon the death of Dushasan, the second kaurava, Purujit was made Kaurava Yuvaraja. After his death, Sudarsha was made the Yuvaraj. After the defeat of all, Ashwathhama crowned Durmukha, youngest son of Duryodhana as next King and continued struggle.

Contents 1 The Kauravas 2 See also 3 References 4 External links

[edit] The Kauravas

To quote from Mahabharata, Sambava Parva, Section CXV (http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01116.htm)
And during the time when Gandhari was in a state of advanced pregnancy, there was a maid servant of the Vaisya class who used to attend on Dhritarashtra. During that year, O king, was begotten upon her by the illustrious Dhritarashtra a son endued with great intelligence who was afterwards named Yuvutsu. And because he was begotten by a Kshatriya upon a Vaisya woman, he was subject to the constant taunts of the kauravas.

"Thus were born unto the wise Dhritarashtra
- a hundred sons who were all heroes and mighty chariot-fighters, and
- a daughter over and above the hundred, and
- another son Yuyutsu of great energy and prowess begotten upon a Vaisya woman.'"

The Kauravas

1. . Duryodhana
2. . Dussaasana
3. . Dussaha
4. . Dussalan
5. . Jalagandha
6. . Sama
7. . Saha
8. . Vindha
9. . Anuvindha
10. . Durdharsha
11. . Subaahu
12. . Dushpradharsha
13. . Durmarshana
14. . Durmukha
15. . Dushkarna
16. . Karna
17. . Vikarna
18. . Sala
19. . Sathwan
20. . Sulochan
21. . Chithra
22. . Upachithra
23. . Chithraaksha
24. . Chaaruchithra
25. . Saraasana
26. . Durmada
27. . Durvigaaha
28. . Vivilsu
29. . Vikatinanda
30. . Oornanaabha
31. . Sunaabha
32. . Nanda
33. . Upananda
34. . Chithrabaana
35. . Chithravarma
36. . Suvarma
37. . Durvimocha
38. . Ayobaahu
39. . Mahabaahu
40. . Chithraamga
41. . Chithrakundala
42. . Bheemavega
43. . Bheemabela
44. . Vaalaky
45. . Belavardhana
46. . Ugraayudha
47. . Sushena
48. . Kundhaadhara
49. . Mahodara
50. . Chithraayudha
51. . Nishamgy
52. . Paasy
53. . Vrindaaraka
54. . Dridhavarma
55. . Dridhakshathra
56. . Somakeerthy
57. . Anthudara
58. . Dridhasandha
59. . Jaraasandha
60. . Sathyasandha
61. . Sadaasuvaak
62. . Ugrasravas
63. . Ugrasena
64. . Senaany
65. . Dushparaaja
66. . Aparaajitha
67. . Kundhasaai
68. . Visaalaaksha
69. . Duraadhara
70. . Dridhahastha
71. . Suhastha
72. . Vaathavega
73. . Suvarcha
74. . Aadithyakethu
75. . Bahwaasy
76. . Naagadatha
77. . Ugrasaai
78. . Kavachy
79. . Kradhana
80. . Kundhy
81. . Bheemavikra
82. . Dhanurdhara
83. . Veerabaahu
84. . Alolupa
85. . Abhaya
86. . Dhridhakarmaavu
87. . Dhridharathaasraya
88. . Anaadhrushya
89. . Kundhabhedy
90. . Viraavy
91. . Chithrakundala
92. . Pradhama
93. . Amapramaadhy
94. . Deerkharoma
95. . Suveeryavaan
96. . Dheerkhabaahu
97. . Sujaatha
98. . Kaanchanadhwaja
99. . Kundhaasy
100. . Virajass
101. . Yuyutsu *
102. . Dussala(Daughter)

(*Yuyutsu is the son of Dhrutharaastrar in a vysya maid servent . During the kurushethra war he joined with pandavas. He was the caretaker of king Parikshit, son of Abhimanyu, when Parikshit was a minor)^[1]

[edit] See also

• The Kurus

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Persons and Stories from Mahabharata
• The Kaurava race in Sri Lanka - Web site of Kshatriya Maha Sabha