Khandava Forest
Khandava Forest (Khandava Vana, Sanskrit: खाण्डव वन, khāndəvə vənə) or Khandavaprastha (Sanskrit: खाण्डवप्रस्थ) was an ancient forest mentioned in the epic Mahabharata.[1] It lay to the west of Yamuna river, in modern-day Delhi territory. Pandavas cleared this forest to construct their capital city called Indraprastha. This forest was earlier inhabited by Naga tribes led by a king named Takshaka.[2] Arjuna and Krishna cleared this forest by setting up a fire. The inhabitants of this forest were displaced. This was the root cause of the enmity of the Naga Takshaka towards the Kuru kings who ruled from Indraprastha and Hastinapura.[2]
The Mahabharata states that Indra was the protecting deity (deva) of Khandava forest, which is why the region was known as Indraprastha.[3] When the forest was being burned, Indra attacked Arjuna with his bolt (vajra), injuring him.[4]
References
- ^ Sir William Wilson Hunter, The Indian empire: its history, people and products, Trubner, 1882,
... the five Pandava brethren of the Mahabharata burned out the snake-king Takshaka from his primeval Khandava forest ...
- ^ a b author, The Mahabharata, Book 1 of 18: Adi Parva, Forgotten Books, ISBN 978-1-60506-611-0,
... I adore thee also, to obtain the ear-rings, O Takshaka, who formerly dwelt in Kurukshetra and the forest of Khandava! ... And Takshaka, surprised beyond measure and terrified by the heat of the fire, hastily came out ...
{{citation}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ Paryattan Kosh, Subodh Pocket Books, ISBN 978-81-7078-081-6,
... खाण्डव वन की रक्षा इन्द्र किया करते थे ...
- ^ Mahavir Prasad Dwivedi, Bhārata Yāyāvara, Mahavirprasad Dvivedi Rachnavli, Volume 12, Kitāba Ghara, 1995, ISBN 978-81-7016-259-9,
... उस वन में इन्द्र का मित्र नाग-राज तक्षक रहता है ... खाण्डव वन जलाने के समय इन्द्र ने अपने वज्र की चोटों से अर्जुन के शरीर को ...