The Kurukshetra war, according to scholars taking into consideration archeological, astronomical and literary evidences took place around 3102 BCE in the modern day state of Haryana in India and was described in detail in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. Kurukshetra is the name of a district in the present-day Indian state of Haryana. ... (33rd century BC - 32nd century BC - 31st century BC - other centuries) (5th millennium BC - 4th millennium BC - 3rd millennium BC) Events Varna nekropol: The oldest gold in the world found near Varna lake. ... Hinduism (Sanskrit/Hindi: ; also known as Brahminism, Sanātana Dharma - , and Vaidika Dharma - ) is a worldwide religious tradition that is based on the ancient Aryan scriptures of Vedas. ... The epic is a broadly defined genre of poetry, and one of the major forms of narrative literature. ... The Mahabharata (Devanagari: महाभारत, phonetically Mahābhārata - see note), sometimes just called Bharata, is one of the two major ancient Sanskrit epics of India, the other being the Ramayana. ...

Introduction

Fought for 18 days, the Battle of Kurukshetra was perhaps the greatest battle fought in ancient India. Shown here is Arjuna and his charioteer Krishna between the two warring armies.

The Mahabharata is one of the important Hindu Epics. It is mainly an account of the life and deeds of several generations of a ruling dynasty named the "Kuru" clan. Central to the epic is an account of a great war that took place between first cousins belonging to this family. Kurukshetra, literally Land of the Kurus, was the battleground on which this war, known as the Kurukshetra war, was fought. Image File history File links Kurukshetrawar. ... Image File history File links Kurukshetrawar. ... Krishna to Arjuna: Behold My mystic opulence! Artwork © courtesy of The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust Arjuna (Sanskrit: अर्जुन, arjuna) is one of the heroes of the epic Hindu Mahabharata. ... Krishna (कृष्ण in Devanagari, IAST ) is according to common Hindu tradition the eighth avatar of Vishnu. ... The Mahabharata (Devanagari: महाभारत, phonetically Mahābhārata - see note), sometimes just called Bharata, is one of the two major ancient Sanskrit epics of India, the other being the Ramayana. ... The great Hindu Epics are also occasionally termed Mahakavya (Great Compositions); the terms refer to a canon of Hindu religious scripture. ... In the Mahabharata, Kuru is a legendary king, the progenitor of the Kuru clan, to both the Kauravas and the Pandavas, the principal characters of the Mahabharata, belong. ...

The two sides to the war were the Pandavas and the Kauravas. Earlier during the Mahabharata, the Kauravas cheated the Pandavas at a dice game, forcing their Pandava cousins to go into exile for thirteen years, being twelve years of forest exile, and one year of anonymous exile. If the Pandavas were caught during the year of anonymity, they would have to go to twelve years of exile again. Even after the exile, the eldest of the Kaurava brothers, Duryodhana, refused to return the kingdom to the Pandavas. In order to regain the kingdom, the Pandavas fought the war. In the Mahabharata, the Pandavas are the five acknowledged sons of Pandu, by his two wives Kunti and Madri. ... The term Kaurava is a Sanskrit term, that means the descendants of Kuru, a legendary king who is the ancestor of many of the characters of the Mahabharata. ... In the Mahabharata, Duryodhana (or Dhuryodhana) is the eldest son of the blind king Dhritarashtra by Queen Gandhari, and the eldest of the one hundred Kaurava brothers, and the chief antagonist of the Pandavas. ...

The Pandava Army

• The Pandava Brothers:
  • Prince Yudhisthira, Eldest son of Pandu
  • Prince Bhima, Second son of Pandu
  • Prince Arjuna, Third son of Pandu
  • Twin Princes Nakula and Sahadeva, Youngest sons of Pandu
• The Kingdom of Panchala:
  • King Drupada, Father-in-Law of the Pandavas
  • Prince Shikhandi, Elder son of Drupada
  • Prince Dhrishtadhyumna, Younger son of Drupada
• The Kingdom of Matsya:
  • King Virata, Friend of the Pandavas
  • Prince Uttara, Son of King Virata
• The Kingdom of Dwaraka:
  • Prince Satyaki
  • Prince Krishna (Served as Charioteer to Arjuna - vowed not to lift weapons during the war)
• Others
  • Demon Ghatotkacha, Son of Bhima through the demoness Hidimba
  • Prince Abhimanyu, Son of Arjuna through Princess Subhadra of Dwaraka
  • Prince Yuyutsu, The only Kaurava who crossed over to fight for the Pandavas.

In the great Hindu epic Mahabharata, Yudhisthira (Sanskrit: युधिष्ठिर, yudhishthira) was the eldest son of King Pandu and Queen Kunti, king of Hastinapura and Indraprastha, and World Emperor. ... In the Mahabharata epic, Pandu is the son of Vichitravirya and his second wife, Ambalika from Vyasa. ... A mortif depicting Bheema in the battle ready posture. ... Krishna to Arjuna: Behold My mystic opulence! Artwork © courtesy of The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust Arjuna (Sanskrit: अर्जुन, arjuna) is one of the heroes of the epic Hindu Mahabharata. ... Nakula was the son of King Pandu and Queen Madri. ... Sahadeva is a character in the Mahabharata. ... The position of the Panchala kingdom in Iron Age Vedic India. ... Drupada is a character in the Mahabharata. ... Shikandi is a character in the Mahabharata. ... Dhrishtadhyumna was born of the sacrificial fire, along with his sister Draupadi, in a sacrifice performed with the revenge motive by his father Drupada, who was the king of Panchala. ... Matsya or Machcha (Sanskrit for fish) was the name of a tribe and the state of the Vedic civilization of India. ... In Hindu mythology, Virata is the king in whose court the Pandavas spent a year in concealment during their exile. ... Uttara in Hindu mythology is the name of the son of King Virata who went into battle with Arjuna, in disguise, as his charioteer. ... Dwarka is a city in Gujarat, India. ... In the Mahabharata epic, Satyaki, also called Yuyudhana, a powerful warrior belong to the Yadava-Vrishni dynasty of Lord Krishna. ... Krishna (कृष्ण in Devanagari, IAST ) is according to common Hindu tradition the eighth avatar of Vishnu. ... In the Mahabharata, Ghatotkacha is the son of Bhima and Hidimbi. ... Abhimanyu (Sanskrit: अभिमन्यु, abhimanyu) is a tragic hero in the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata. ...

The Kaurava Army

• The Kaurava Brothers:
  • Prince Duryodhana, Eldest son of King Dhritarashtra
  • Prince Dushasana, Second son of King Dhritarashtra
  • Various other princes, the ninety-eight other sons of King Dhritarashtra (who also fathered Yuyutsu and a daughter).

• The Kingdom of Hastinapur:
  • Bhishma, Grand-uncle to Pandavas and Kauravas, forced to side with Kauravas due to loyalty to King Dhritrashtra
  • Drona, Teacher to Pandavas and Kauravas, forced to side with Kauravas due to loyalty to King Dhritrashtra
  • Ashwathama, Son of Drona
  • Shakuni, Maternal uncle to the Kauravas
  • Kripa, Family Sage and Advisor to the Kuru Dynasty, forced to side with Kauravas due to loyalty to King Dhritrashtra
• The Kingdom of Anga:
  • Karna, illegitimate and abandoned elder brother of Pandavas, believed by most at the time to be son of a charioteer, but actually the son of Kunti
• The Kingdom of Madra
  • King Shalya, Maternal uncle to the Pandavas, tricked into giving a promise to fight for the Kauravas by Duryodhana and Shakuni
• The Tribe of Trigartha
  • Chief Susharma
• The Kingdom of Dwaraka
  • Kritaverma, General of the Dwaraka Army
• The Kingdom of Sindh
  • King Jayadratha, Brother-in-law to the Kauravas
• Others

In the Mahabharata, Duryodhana (or Dhuryodhana) is the eldest son of the blind king Dhritarashtra by Queen Gandhari, and the eldest of the one hundred Kaurava brothers, and the chief antagonist of the Pandavas. ... In Mahabharata Dhritarashtra was the son bore by Vichitraviryas first wife Ambika from Vyasa. ... (Also spelt Duhshasana. ... In the epic Mahabharata, Hastinapura is the capital of the Kauravas, the desendents of Kuru, which include the Pandavas In the present world Hastinapura is a small town called Hastinapur, 37km from Meerut and 120km from Delhi. ... Bhishma born as Devavrata, son of Shantanu and the holy River Ganga, is the most respected and perhaps the most fabulous character in the epic Mahabharata after Lord Krishna. ... In the epic Mahabharata, Drona (or Dronacharya) is the royal guru to the Kauravas and the Pandavas. ... In the Hindu epic Mahabharata, Ashwatthama was the son of guru, Dronacharya. ... A character in the Mahabharata, Shakuni was the brother of Gandhari. ... Kripa, also often called Kripacharya, was the chief priest at the court of Hastinapura, in the Mahabharata. ... Earliest reference to Angas occurs in Atharava Veda (V.22. ... Karna (Sanskrit: कर्ण written Karṇa in IAST transliteration) (also known as Karan) is one of the central figures in Hindu epic Mahabharata. ... In Hinduism, Princess Kunti is the mother of the Pandavas. ... Madra or Madraka is the name of an ancient people, thought to belong to Iranian group, located in the north-west division of ancient Indian sub-continent. ... King Shalya was the brother of Madri, the mother of Nakula and Sahadeva. ... It has been suggested that Sovira be merged into this article or section. ... In the epic Mahabharata, Jayadratha is the king of Sindhu. ...

Weapons

During the Kurukshetra war, several weapons were used. The weapons, and their most notable users, included:

• Bow and arrows - Arjuna, Bhishma, Drona, Karna, Abhimanyu
• Mace - Bhima, Duryodhana
• Spear - Yudhishtira
• Dagger / Sword - Nakula, Sahadeva

This is about the projectile weapon bow. ... Japanese arrow (ya) and head An arrow is a pointed projectile that is shot with a bow. ... Krishna to Arjuna: Behold My mystic opulence! Artwork © courtesy of The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust Arjuna (Sanskrit: अर्जुन, arjuna) is one of the heroes of the epic Hindu Mahabharata. ... Karna (Sanskrit: कर्ण written Karṇa in IAST transliteration) (also known as Karan) is one of the central figures in Hindu epic Mahabharata. ... Assorted maces This article is about the personal weapon. ... Hunting spear and knife, from Mesa Verde National Park. ... A dagger (from Vulgar Latin: daca - a Dacian knife) is a blade weapon (essentially a double-edged knife) used for stabbing, thrusting or as a secondary defense weapon in close combat. ... Swiss longsword, 15th or 16th century Sword (Old English: sweord; akin to Old High German: swerd, wounding tool; Proto-Indo-European: *swer-, to wound, to hurt) is a term for a long-edged, bladed weapon, consisting in its most fundamental design of a blade, usually with two edges for striking...

Divisions and Formations

Each army consisted of several divisions; the Kauravas had eleven while the Pandavas controlled seven. A division (akshauhini) includes 21,870 chariots and chariot-riders, 21,870 elephants and riders, 65,610 horses and riders, and 109,350 foot-soldiers (in a ratio of 1:1:3:5). The combined number of warriors and soldiers in both armies was approximately four million. Chariot was the name of a WW2 naval weapon, the British manned torpedo. ... Chariot was the name of a WW2 naval weapon, the British manned torpedo. ... Indian war elephant, relief at Mathura, 2nd century BC War elephants were important, although not widespread, weapons in ancient military history. ... Cavalry is also a common misspelling of the Biblical hill Calvary. ...

This war was perhaps the bloodiest war in history as most of warriors and soldiers perished during the brief period of only eighteen days. Arjuna, in a fit of extreme anger over the death of his son Abhimanyu, alone killed one akshauhini of Kaurava soldiers in a single day. The war left an extremely large number of widows and orphans, led to an economic depression and beginning of Kali Yuga. Kali Yuga is also the title of a book by Roland Charles Wagner. ...

At various times during battle, the Supreme Commander could order special formations ("vyuhas"). Each formation had a specific purpose; some were defensive while others were offensive. Furthermore, each formation had specific strengths and weaknesses. The formations were named encountered are as follows:

• Krauncha vyuha - Heron formation
• Makara vyuha - Crocadile formation (The one formed by Karna on 16^th day)
• Kurma vyuha - Tortoise or Turtle formation (See also Roman Testudo formation)
• Trishula vyuha - Trident formation
• Chakra vyuha - Wheel or Discus formation
• Kamala vyuha or Padma vyuha - Lotus formation

It is not clear what the formations actually indicate. They may be formations bearing resemblance to animals, or, as C Rajagopalachari puts it, it may be a name given to strategies and formations much like our modern "operation so-and-so". A century of Roman legionaires in testudo formation, as portrayed in the Rome: Total War computer game, copyright 2004 Creative Assembly and Activision In Ancient Roman warfare, the testudo or tortoise formation was a formation utilized commonly by the Roman Legions during battles, particularly sieges. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ...

The Rules of Engagement

The two Supreme Commanders met and framed "rules of ethical conduct", dharmayuddha, for the war. The rules included: Dharmayuddha is a Sanskrit word made up of two roots: dharma meaning righteousness, and yuddha meaning warfare. ...

• Fighting must begin no earlier than sunrise and end exactly at sunset.
• Multiple warriors may not attack a single warrior.
• Two warriors may "duel," or engage in prolonged personal combat, only if they carry the same weapons and they are on the same mount (no mount, a horse, an elephant, or a chariot).
• No warrior may kill or injure a warrior who has surrendered.
• One who surrenders becomes a prisoner of war and a slave.
• No warrior may kill or injure an unarmed warrior.
• No warrior may kill or injure an unconscious warrior.
• No warrior may kill or injure a person or animal not taking part in the war.
• No warrior may kill or injure a warrior whose back is turned away.
• No warrior may strike an animal not considered a direct threat.
• The rules specific to each weapon must be followed. For example, it is prohibited to strike below the waist in mace warfare.
• Warriors may not engage in any "unfair" warfare whatsoever.

Most of these laws were broken at least once by both sides.

External links

• Kurukshetra (town)
• Dating the Kurukshetra war

Hinduism | Hindu mythology | Itihasa
Male Deities: Brahma | Vishnu | Shiva | Rama | Krishna | Ganesha | Indra | Lakshman | Hanuman
Female Deities: Gayatri | Lakshmi | Saraswati | Durga | Devi | Sita | Radha | Kali | Parvati | Shakti
Texts: Vedas | Upanishads | Puranas | Ramayana | Mahabharata