Indraprastha - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The city of Indraprastha (City of Indra) (Present Day Delhi

Delhi

Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...

) was the capital of the kingdom led by the Pandavas in the Mahabharata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....

epic, located on the banks of the river Yamuna

Yamuna

The Yamuna is the largest tributary river of the Ganges in northern India...

Construction of the city

Mahabharata

The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....

contains a passage (Book1, chapter 209) referring to how the Pandavas made this city on the banks of Yamuna.

After the Pandavas became powerful due to their alliance with Panchala

Panchala Kingdom

This article is about the kingdom of Panchala during the epic-ages. For the historical kingdom, see Panchala.Panchala Kingdom extended from Himalayas in the north to river Charmanwati in the south during the period of Mahabharata. It had Kuru, Surasena and Matsya kingdoms to the west and the forest...

king Drupada

Drupada

Drupada , also known as Yajnasena, is a character in the Mahābhārata. He is king of the land of Panchala.In his youth he studies with, and becomes a friend of Drona. Drupada makes him promise to share all his fortunes with him. Later, when Drupada becomes king of Panchaladesa, Drona reminds him...

, by obtaining as wife Drupada

Drupada

's daughter Draupadi

Draupadi

In the epic Mahābhārata, Draupadi, also known as ' is the "emerged" daughter of King Drupada of Panchāla and the wife of the five Pandavas. When Yudhisthira becomes the king of Hastinapura at the end of the war, Draupadi becomes the queen of Indraprastha...

, king Dhritarashtra

Dhritarashtra

In the Mahābhārata, Dhritarashtra was King of Hastinapur at the time of the Kurukshetra War, the epic's climactic event. He was born the son of Vichitravirya's first wife Ambika, and was fathered by Vyasa. He was blind from birth, and became father to a hundred children by his wife Gandhari...

of Hastinapura

Hastinapura

Hastinapur is a town and a nagar panchayat in Meerut district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.-History:Hastinapur was the capital of the kingdom of the Kauravas, belonging to the Kuru dynasty of kings. The throne of this city was the prize over which the Kurukshetra War of the epic...

summoned them to his palace. King Dhritarashtra addressing Yudhishthira, said, ‘Listen, O son of Kunti, with thy brothers, to what I say. Repair ye to Khandavaprastha

Khandavaprastha

Khandavaprastha was a forest region on the banks of Yamuna river. Pandavas received the region when Dhritrashtra divided the kingdom between his sons and the Pandavas. The forest Khandava Vana was consumed by fire, assisted by Krishna and Arjuna. On the vacant land so created, Pandavas extended...

so that no difference may arise again (between you and my sons). If you take up your quarters there no one will be able to do you any injury. Protected by Partha (Arjuna

Arjuna

Arjuna in Indian mythology is the greatest warrior on earth and is one of the Pandavas, the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata. Arjuna, whose name means 'bright', 'shining', 'white' or 'silver' Arjuna (Devanagari: अर्जुन, Thai: อรชุน, Orachun, Tamil: Arjunan, Indonesian and Javanese: Harjuna,...

), reside you at Khandavaprastha, taking half of the kingdom.’

Agreeing to what Dhritarashtra said, the Pandavas set out from Hastinapura. And content with half the kingdom, they removed to Khandavaprastha, which was in unreclaimed desert. Then the Pandavas, with Krishna

Krishna

Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...

at their head, arriving there, beautified the place and made it a second heaven. And those mighty car-warriors, selecting with Krishna Dwaipayana’s assistance a sacred and auspicious region, performed certain propitiatory ceremonies and measured out a piece of land for their city. Then surrounded by a trench wide as the sea and by walls reaching high up to the heavens and white as the fleecy clouds or the rays of the moon, that foremost of cities looked resplendent like Bhogavati

Bhogavati

Bhogavati , that is, the voluptuous one, was the subterranean capital of the Nagas in the Nagaloka region of Patala. The place is also called Putkari. It is mentioned as Naga capital at . The foremost of cities which resembles the Amaravati of Deva king Indra, is known by the name of Bhogavati. It...

(the capital of the Nagas

Naga Kingdom

Naga Kingdom refers to the territory of a tribe called Nagas who were a group of hardy and warlike people spread throughout India during far ancient history. They were also considered as one of the supernatural races like Kinnaras and Yakshas...

) decked with the Nagas. And it stood adorned with palatial mansions and numerous gates, each furnished with a couple of panels resembling the out-stretched wings of Garuda

Garuda

The Garuda is a large mythical bird or bird-like creature that appears in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology.From an Indian perspective, Garuda is the Hindu name for the constellation Aquila and...

. And it was protected with gateways looking like the clouds and high as the Mandara mountains. And well-furnished with numerous weapons of attack, the missiles of the foes could not make slightest impression on them. And they were almost covered with darts and other missiles like double-tongued snakes. The turrets along the walls were filled with armed men in course of training; and the walls were lined with numerous warriors along their whole length. And there were thousands of sharp hooks and Sataghnis (machines slaying a century of warriors) and numerous other machines on the battlements. There were also large iron wheels planted on them. And with all these was that foremost of cities adorned. The streets were all wide and laid out excellently; and there was no fear in them of accident. And decked with innumerable mansions, the city became like unto Amaravati and came to be called Indraprastha (like unto Indra

Indra

' or is the King of the demi-gods or Devas and Lord of Heaven or Svargaloka in Hindu mythology. He is also the God of War, Storms, and Rainfall.Indra is one of the chief deities in the Rigveda...

’s city). In a delightful and auspicious part of the city rose the palace of the Pandavas filled with every kind of wealth and like unto the mansion of the celestial treasurer (Kubera

Kubera

Kubera , also spelt Kuber, is the Lord of wealth and the god-king of the semi-divine Yakshas in Hindu mythology. He is regarded as the regent of the North , and a protector of the world His many epithets extol him as the overlord of numerous semi-divine species and the owner of the treasures of...

) himself. And it looked like a mass of clouds charged with lightning.

“When the city was built, there came, numerous Brahmanas well-acquainted with all the Vedas and conversant with every language, wishing to dwell there. And there came also unto that town numerous merchants from every direction, in the hope of earning wealth. There also came numerous persons well-skilled in all the arts, wishing to take up their abode there. And around the city were laid out many delightful gardens adorned with numerous trees bearing both fruits and flowers. There were Amras (mango trees) and Amaratakas, and Kadamvas and Asokas, and Champakas; and Punnagas and Nagas and Lakuchas and Panasas; and Salas and Talas (palm trees) and Tamalas and Vakulas, and Ketakas with their fragrant loads; beautiful and blossoming and grand Amalakas with branches bent down with the weight of fruits and Lodhras and blossoming Ankolas; and Jamvus (blackberry trees) and Patalas and Kunjakas and Atimuktas; and Karaviras and Parijatas and numerous other kinds of trees always adorned with flowers and fruits and alive with feathery creatures of various species. And those verdant groves always resounded with the notes of maddened peacocks and Kokilas (blackbirds). And there were various pleasure-houses, bright as mirrors, and numerous bowers of creepers, and charming and artificial hillocks, and many lakes full to the brim of crystal water, and delightful tanks fragrant with lotuses and lilies and adorned with swans and ducks and chakravakas (brahminy ducks). And there were many delicious pools overgrown with fine aquatic plants. And there were also diverse ponds of great beauty and large dimension. And, the joy of the Pandavas increased from day to day, in consequence of their residence in that large kingdom that was peopled with pious men.

Thus in consequence of the virtuous behaviour of Bhishma and king Dhritarashtra towards them, the Pandavas took up their abode in Khandavaprastha. Adorned with those five mighty warriors, each equal unto Indra himself, that foremost of cities looked like Bhogavati adorned with the Nagas

Naga Kingdom

Clearing of the surrounding forest

Mahabharata also has another passage where describing how the surrounding forest of Khandava

Khandava Forest

Khandava Forest was an ancient forest mentioned in the epic Mahabharata. 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...

was burnt by Krishna

Krishna

and Arjuna

Arjuna

(Mbh 1.229):- Arjuna

Arjuna

covered the forest of Khandava with innumerable arrows like a thick fog. When the sky above that forest was thus covered with the arrows of Arjuna no living creature could then escape from below. It so happened that while that forest was burning, Takshaka

Takshaka

Takshaka was one of the Nagas mentioned in the epic Mahābhārata. He lived in a city named Takshasila, which was the new territory of Takshaka after his race was banished by Pandavas lead by Arjuna from the Khandava Forest and Kurukshetra, where they built their new kingdom.- The king of...

, the chief of the Nagas

Naga Kingdom

, was not there, having gone at that time to the field of Kurukshetra

Kurukshetra

Kurukshetra is a land of historical and religious importance. Historically the land belonged to Punjab now a district in Haryana state of India. It is a holy place and is also known as Dharmakshetra . According to the Puranas, Kurukshetra is named after King Kuru, the ancestor of Kauravas and...

. But Aswasena, the mighty son of Takshaka, was there. He made great efforts to escape from that fire; but confined by Arjuna’s shafts he succeeded not in finding a way.

The inhabitants of this forest were mentioned as Nagas

Naga Kingdom

, Asuras and Rakshasas. They made stiff resistance to Arjuna:- Armed with machines vomiting from their mouths. Iron balls and bullets, and catapult

Catapult

A catapult is a device used to throw or hurl a projectile a great distance without the aid of explosive devices—particularly various types of ancient and medieval siege engines. Although the catapult has been used since ancient times, it has proven to be one of the most effective mechanisms during...

s for propelling huge stones, and rockets, they approached to strike Krishna and Arjuna, their energy and strength increased by wrath. But though they rained a perfect shower of weapons, Arjuna, addressing them reproachfully, struck off their heads with his own sharp arrows.

Some of them were displaced and some others were destroyed by this act of Arjuna. Some like the Naga

Naga Kingdom

Takshaka

became a great enemy of the Kurus due to this incident, culminating in the assassination of Kuru king Parikshit, who was the grandson of Arjuna

Arjuna

and subsequently leading to the partial destruction of the race of Nagas at the hands of Kuru king Janamejaya

Janamejaya

Janamejaya was a Kuru king. He was the son of Parikshit and Madravati. He was the grandson of Abhimanyu and the great-grandson of Arjuna, the valiant warrior hero of the Mahābhārata. He was ascended to the Kuru throne following the death of his father. His significance comes as the listener of the...

, the son of Parikshit. Some others like Asura

Asura

-In Hinduism:In Hinduism, the Asuras constitute a group of power-seeking deities, sometimes considered sinful and materialistic. The Daityas and Danavas were combinedly known as Asuras. The Asura were opposed to the Devas. Both groups are children of Kasyapa...

, Maya

Mayasura

In Hindu mythology, Maya , or Mayāsura was a great ancient king of the Asura, Daitya and Rakshasa races upon earth. He was also the chief architect of the people of the netherworld.-Tripura:...

, became an ally of the Pandavas. Maya, to show gratitude to Arjuna for not killing him, made the great palatial sabha (hall) for king Yudhisthira

Yudhisthira

In the great Hindu epic Mahabharata, Yudhisthira , the eldest son of King Pandu and Queen Kunti, was king of Indraprastha and later of Hastinapura. He was the leader of the Pandava side in the Kurukshetra War...

, on the land cleared after burning the Khandava forest.

The following passage in Mahabharata narrates how a wonderful palatial hall was constructed by Asura

Asura

architect Maya

Mayasura

In Hindu mythology, Maya , or Mayāsura was a great ancient king of the Asura, Daitya and Rakshasa races upon earth. He was also the chief architect of the people of the netherworld.-Tripura:...

in the area cleared by burning the forest (MBh 2.1,3)

Maya Danava, repeatedly spoke to Arjuna

Arjuna

‘O son of Kunti, I am saved by you. I want to return a favor to you'. Arjuna said,‘O great Asura

Asura

, everything hath already been done by thee (even by this offer of thine). Blest be thou. Go whithersoever thou likest. Be kind and well-disposed towards me, as we are even kind to and well-pleased with thee!’ When Maya persisted Krishna

Krishna

told him:- -‘Let a palatial sabha (meeting hall) as thou choosest, be built (by thee), if thou, O son of Diti

Diti

In Hinduism, Diti is an earth goddess and mother of the Maruts with Rudra. She is also the mother of the Daityas with the sage Kashyapa. She wanted to have a son who would be more powerful than Indra and so she practiced magic and kept herself pregnant for one year. Indra used a thunderbolt to...

, who art the foremost of all artists, desirest to do good to Yudhishthira the just. Indeed, build thou such a palace that persons belonging to the world of men may not be able to imitate it even after examining it with care, while seated within. And, O Maya, build thou a mansion in which we may behold a combination of godly, asuric and human designs.’”

Then Krishna and Partha (Arjuna) after having narrated everything unto king Yudhishthira the just, introduced Maya unto him. Yudhishthira received Maya with respect, offering him the honour he deserved. And, O Bharata, Maya accepted that honour thinking highly of it. That great son of Diti

Diti

then recited unto the sons of Pandu the history of the Danava

Danava (Hinduism)

In Vedic mythology the Danavas were a race of the Asuras.The Danavas were the sons of Danu, who in turn was a daughter of Daksha. Danu is connected with the waters of heavens and she is probably associated with the formless, primordial waters that existed prior to the creation. The name is...

Vrisha-parva, and that foremost of artists then, having rested awhile, set himself after much thoughtful planning to build a palace for the illustrious sons of Pandu

Pandu

In the Mahābhārata epic, King Pandu is the son of Ambalika and Rishi Ved Vyasa. He is more popularly known as the father of the Pandavas and ruled Hastinapur.-Birth:...

. Having performed on an auspicious day the initial propitiatory rites of foundation and having also gratified thousands of well-versed Brahmanas with sweetened milk and rice and with rich presents of various kinds, measured out a plot of land five thousand cubits square, which was delightful and exceedingly handsome to behold and which was favourable for construction of a building well-suited to the exigencies of every season.

Then Maya Danava addressed Arjuna, saying ‘I now go with thy leave, but shall come back soon. On the north of the Kailasa peak near the mountains of Mainaka, while the Danavas were engaged in a sacrifice on the banks of Vindu lake, I gathered a huge quantity of delightful and variegated vanda (a kind of rough materials) composed of jewels and gems. This was placed in the mansion of Vrishaparva ever devoted to truth. If it be yet existing, I shall come back, O Bharata, with it. I shall then commence the construction of the delightful palace of the Pandavas, which is to be adorned with every kind of gems.

Maya brought all these materials and built the hall. The palace that Maya built consisted of columns of gold, and occupied, an area of five thousand cubits. The palace, possessing an exceedingly beautiful form, like unto that of Agni or Suryya, or Soma, shone in great splendour, and by its brilliance seemed to darken even the bright rays of the sun. And with the effulgence it exhibited, which was a mixture of both celestial and terrestrial light, it looked as if it was on fire. Like unto a mass of new clouds conspicuous in the sky, the palace rose up coming into view of all. Indeed, the palace that the dexterous Maya built was so wide, delightful, and refreshing, and composed of such excellent materials, and furnished with such golden walls and archways, and adorned with so many varied pictures. And eight thousand Rakshasas called Kinkaras, fierce, huge-bodied and endued with great strength, of red coppery eyes and arrowy ears, well-armed and capable of ranging through the air, used to guard and protect that palace. Within that palace Maya placed a peerless tank, and in that tank were lotuses with leaves of dark-coloured gems and stalks of bright jewels, and other flowers also of golden leaves. And aquatic fowls of various species sported on its bosom. Itself variegated with full-blown lotuses and stocked with fishes and tortoises of golden hue, its bottom was without mud and its water transparent. There was a flight of crystal stairs leading from the banks to the edge of the water. The gentle breezes that swept along its bosom softly shook the flowers that studded it. The banks of that tank were overlaid with slabs of costly marble set with pearls. And beholding that tank thus adorned all around with jewels and precious stones, many kings that came there mistook it for land and fell into it with eyes open. Many tall trees of various kinds were planted all around the palace. Of green foliage and cool shade, and ever blossoming, they were all very charming to behold. Artificial woods were laid around, always emitting a delicious fragrance. And there were many tanks also that were adorned with swans and Karandavas and Chakravakas (Brahminy ducks) in the grounds lying about the mansion. And the breeze bearing the fragrance of lotuses growing in water and (of those growing on land) ministered unto the pleasure and happiness of the Pandavas.

Inaugural day at the palatial hall of Indraprastha

(MBh 2.4) Then that chief of men, king Yudhishthira, entered that palatial sabha. Upon the seats in that palace sat, along with the Pandavas, Rishis and kings that came from various countries, viz., Asita and Devala, Satya, Sarpamali and Mahasira; Arvavasu, Sumitra, Maitreya, Sunaka and Vali; Vaka, Dalvya, Sthulasira, Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa, and Suka Sumanta, Jaimini, Paila, and the disciples of Vyasa. Tittiri, Yajanavalkya, and Lomaharshana with his son; Apsuhomya, Dhaumya, Animandavya; and Kausika; Damoshnisha and Traivali, Parnada, and Varayanuka, Maunjayana, Vayubhaksha, Parasarya, and Sarika; Valivaka, Silivaka, Satyapala, and Krita-srama; Jatukarna, and Sikhavat. Alamva and Parijataka; the exalted Parvata, and the great Muni Markandeya; Pavitrapani, Savarna, Bhaluki, and Galava. Janghabandhu, Raibhya, Kopavega, and Bhrigu: Harivabhru, Kaundinya, Vabhrumali, and Sanatana, Kakshivat, and Ashija, Nachiketa, and Aushija, Nachiketa, and Gautama;

Painga, Varaha, Sunaka, and Sandilya of great ascetic merit: Kukkura, Venujangha, Kalapa and Katha;--these virtuous and learned Munis with senses and souls under complete control, and many others as numerous, all well-skilled in the Vedas and Vedangas and conversant with (rules of) morality and pure and spotless in behaviour, waited on the illustrious Yudhishthira, and gladdened him by their sacred discourses. And so also numerous principal Kshatriyas, such as the illustrious and virtuous Mujaketu, Vivarddhana, Sangramjit, Durmukha, the powerful Ugrasena;

Kakshasena, the lord of the Earth, Kshemaka the invincible; Kamatha, the king of Kamboja

Kambojas

The Kambojas were a kshatriya tribe of Iron Age India, frequently mentioned in Sanskrit and Pali literature.They were an Indo-Iranian tribe situated at the boundary of the Indo-Aryans and the Iranians, and appear to have moved from the Iranian into the Indo-Aryan sphere over time.The Kambojas...

, and the mighty Kampana who alone made the Yavanas to ever tremble at his name just as the god that wieldeth the thunder-bolt maketh those Asuras, the Kalakeyas

Kalakeyas

In Hinduism the Kalakeyas or Kalakanjas were a powerful, ferocious and cruel clan of Danavas.-Kalaka and Puloma:The Kalakeyas were the descendants of Kalaka, daughter of Vaiswanara . Vaiswanara had three other beautiful daughters...

, tremble before him; Jatasura, and the king of the Madra

Madra

Madra, Mada or Madraka is the name of an ancient region and its inhabitants, located in the north-west division of the ancient Indian sub-continent.-Uttaramadra division:...

kas, Kunti

Kunti Kingdom

As per the epic Mahabharata, the Kunti Kingdom was the kingdom of Kuntibhoja, one of the prominent kings among the Bhoja Yadavas.Kunti, the mother of Pandavas and the first wife of Kuru king Pandu, was the adopted daughter of the king Kuntibhoja. Her given name was Pritha and she was a sister of...

, Pulinda the king of the Kiratas

Kirata Kingdom

Kirata Kingdom in Sanskrit literature and Hindu mythology refers to any kingdom of the Kirata people, who were dwellers mostly in the Himalayas and North-East India. They took part in the Kurukshetra War along with Parvatas and other Himalayan tribes...

, and the kings of Anga

Anga Kingdom

Anga was a kingdom ruled by non-Vedic rulers. Anga king Lomapada was a friend of Kosala king Dasaratha. Kosala Princess Santha, elder to Raghava Rama, lived as the daughter of Lomapada, since he was childless. Duryodhana established Karna as the ruler of Angas. It is believed that there were many...

and Vanga

Vanga Kingdom

Vanga orBengal was a kingdom located in the eastern part of the Indian Subcontinent, comprising part of West Bengal, India and present-day modern Bangladesh. It was a seafaring nation of Ancient India.- References in Mahabharata :...

, and Pandrya

Pundra Kingdom

Pundra was an eastern kingdom located in West Bengal, Bangladesh and Purnia . A Pundra king challenged Vasudeva Krishna by imitating his attributes. He called himself Paundraka Vasudeva. He was later killed by Vasudeva Krishna in a battle...

, and the king of Udhara, and Andhaka; Sumitra, and Saivya

Sivi Kingdom

Sivi is mentioned as a kingdom and as the name of a king in the epic Mahabharata. Probably there was a Sivi king who became famous as Sivi or the kingdom itself may be named after him. Sivi king was famous for his truthfulness...

that slayer of foes; Sumanas, the king of the Kiratas, and Chanur the King of the Yavanas, Devarata, Bhoja, and the so called Bhimaratha, Srutayudha—the king of Kalinga

Kalinga Kingdom

Kalinga forms the sea shore of Orissa and Andhra region of Andhra pradesh state in India. Kuru king Duryodhana's wife was from Kalinga. Kalingas sided with Duryodhana in the Kurukshetra War...

, Jayasena the king of Magadha

Magadha Kingdom

Magadha was a kingdom ruled by non-Vedic kings. Jarasandha was the greatest among them during epic times. His capital was Rajagriha or Rajgir a modern hill resort in Bihar. Jarasandha's continuous assault on the Yadava kingdom of Surasena resulted in their withdrawal from central India to western...

; and Sukarman, and Chekitana, and Puru that slayer of foes;

Ketumata, Vasudana, and Vaideha

Videha Kingdom

In the Ramayana, Videha was the kingdom of the royal sage Seeradhwaja Janaka, the father of Sita, Raghava Rama's wife. Rama's brothers married Sita's sisters, so the Videha Kingdom was closely allied to the Kosala Kingdom. Mithila was the capital of Videha, now identified with Janakpur, a town in...

and Kritakshana: Sudharman, Aniruddha, Srutayu endued with great strength; the invincible Anuparaja

Anupa Kingdom

Anupa was a kingdom mentioned in the epic Mahabharata. It lay to the north west of Vidarbha, in Maharashtra state of India. It was founded by the races from the western kingdoms like Madra and Kamboja...

, the handsome Karmajit; Sisupala with his son, the king of Karusha

Karusha Kingdom

Karusha Kingdom was one among the many kingdoms ruled by Yadava kings in the central and western India.It lies to the south of Chedi. Karusha king Dantavaktra supported Chedi king Sishupala and was killed by Vasudeva Krishna...

; and the invincible youths of the Vrishni race, all equal in beauty unto the celestials, viz., Ahuka, Viprithu, Sada, Sarana, Akrura, Kritavarman, and Satyaka, the son of Sini; and Bhismaka, Ankriti, and the powerful Dyumatsena, those chief of bowmen viz., the Kaikeyas

Kekeya Kingdom

Kekeya is a kingdom grouped among the western kingdoms in the epic Mahabharata. The epic Ramayana also mentions Kekeya as a western kingdom. One of the wives of Dasaratha, the king of Kosala and father of Raghava Rama, was from Kekeya kingdom and was known as Kaikeyi...

and Yajnasena

Drupada

of the Somaka race; these Kshatriya

Kshatriya

*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...

s endured with great might, all well-armed and wealthy, and many others also regarded as the foremost, all waited upon Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, in that Sabha, desirous of ministering to his happiness. And those princes also, endued with great strength, who dressing themselves in deer-skins learnt the science of weapons under Arjuna

Arjuna

, waited upon Yudhishthira. The princes also of the Vrishni race, viz., Pradyumna (the son of Rukmini) and Samva, and Yuyudhana

Satyaki

Yuyudhana , better known as Satyaki , was a powerful warrior belonging to the Vrishni clan of the Yadavas, to which Krishna also belonged. According to the Puranas, he was grandson of Shini of the Vrishni clan, and son of Satyaka. Satyaki was devoted to Krishna and his best friend Arjuna, with...

the son of Satyaka and Sudharman and Aniruddha and Saivya that foremost of men who had learnt the science of arms under Arjuna these and many other kings, O lord of the Earth, used to wait on Yudhishthira on that occasion. And that friend of Dhananjaya, Tumvuru, and the Gandharva

Gandharva Kingdom

Gandharva Kingdom refers to the territory inhabited by a people called the Gandharvas, who were one of the Exotic Tribes of Ancient India. They were well versed in music and dance. Gandarvas were also powerful warriors who roamed in Indian kingdoms disregarding any Indian king or Kshatriya warrior...

Chittasena with his ministers, any many other Gandharvas and Apsara

Apsara

An Apsara , also known as Vidhya Dhari or Tep Apsar in Khmer, Accharā or A Bố Sa La Tư , Bidadari , Biradali , Widodari and Apson , is a female spirit of the clouds and waters in...

s, well-skilled in vocal and instrumental music and in cadence and Kinnaras

Kinnara Kingdom

In Indian epic literature, Kinnara Kingdom refers to the territory of a tribe called Kinnaras who were one among the exotic tribes, mentioned along with others like Devas , Asuras , Pisachas, Gandharvas, Kimpurushas, Vanaras, Suparnas, Rakshasas, Bhutas and Yakshas...

also well-versed in (musical) measures and motions singing celestial tunes in proper and charming voices, waited upon and gladdened the sons of Pandu

Pandu

In the Mahābhārata epic, King Pandu is the son of Ambalika and Rishi Ved Vyasa. He is more popularly known as the father of the Pandavas and ruled Hastinapur.-Birth:...

and the Rishis who sat in that Sabha. And seated in that Sabha, those bull among men, of rigid vows and devoted to truth, all waited upon Yudhishthira like the celestials in heaven waiting upon Brahma

Brahma

Brahma is the Hindu god of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. According to the Brahma Purana, he is the father of Mānu, and from Mānu all human beings are descended. In the Ramayana and the...

Aftermath

After the Pandavas were banished by the Kauravas into forest, Indraprastha fell into the hands of Kaurava crown prince Duryodhana

Duryodhana

In the Hindu epic the Mahābhārata, Duryodhana is the eldest son of the blind king Dhritarashtra by Queen Gandhari, the eldest of the one hundred Kaurava brothers, Emperor of the world at that time which means Emperor of India or Bharatvarsha as it was known at that time, cousin and the chief...

. Later when Pandavas defeated the Kauravas in Kurukshetra War

Kurukshetra war

According to the Indian epic poem Mahābhārata, a dynastic succession struggle between two groups of cousins of an Indo-Aryan kingdom called Kuru, the Kauravas and Pandavas, for the throne of Hastinapura resulted in the Kurukshetra War in which a number of ancient kingdoms participated as allies of...

, and king Yudhisthira

Yudhisthira

, ascended the throne of Hastinapura

Hastinapura

once again, his brother Arjuna

Arjuna

stayed at Indraprastha, with Krishna

Krishna

, his friend and teacher, and looked after the matters of boarders of the kingdom. When Pandavas renounced the kingdom and went into forest as ascetics, Arjuna's grandson Parikshit was installed king of Hastinapura

Hastinapura

and Yuyutsu

Yuyutsu

Yuyutsu in the Hindu epic Mahabharata, was the only son of Dhritarashtra who survived the Kurukshetra war.Fearing problems with Gandhari's pregnancy which had continued for over a year, Dhritrashtra married a woman from Vaisya Varna, from whom he bore a son, Yuyutsu...

son of King Dhritarashtra

Dhritarashtra

, was installed as the king of Indraprasta. King Vajra

King Vajra (Vajranabh)

Vajra also known as Vajranabh , was one of the last surviving Yadu, who succeeded King Aniruddha to the throne, according to the Mahabharata and the Puranas. He was the great grandson of Krishna, the grandson of Pradyumna and Son of Aniruddha.-Meanings:1) Vajra also means thunderbolt or daimond...

, Krishna's great grandson is named ruler of the Yadavas

Yadu

Yadu is one of the five Indo-Aryan tribes mentioned in the Rig Veda . The Mahabharata, the Harivamsha and the Puranas mention Yadu as the eldest son of king Yayati and his queen Devayani. The prince of King Yayati, Yadu was a self-respecting and a very established ruler...

and he and the tribe were instated in Indraprastha after the destruction of Dwarka

Dwarka

Dwarka also spelled Dvarka, Dwaraka, and Dvaraka, is a city and a municipality of Jamnagar district in the Gujarat state in India. Dwarka , also known as Dwarawati in Sanskrit literature is rated as one of the seven most ancient cities in the country...

. Parikshit's son king Janamejaya

Janamejaya

was mentioned as ruling the kingdom from Hastinapura

Hastinapura

.

Hindu

Hindu

Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...

monarch Raja Dhilu is said to have founded the ancient city of Delhi

Delhi

close to Indraprastha.

List of Kings

Lineage of Emperors of Bharatvarsha (INDIA)after Mahabharata

About 30 Emperors belonging to the House of Yudhisthira ruled collectively for 1,770 years, 11 months and 10 days:
The following is the list of Rulers and Years of Reign (Year, month, day)

Yudhisthira 36 Years 8 Months 25 Days
Parikshita 60 Years 0 Months 0 Days
Janamejaya 84 Years 7 Months 23 Days
Ashwamedha 82 Years 8 Months 22 Days
Rama II 88 Years 2 Months 8 Days
Chhatra Mala 81 Years 11 Months 27 Days
Chitraratha 75 Years 3 Months 18 Days
Dushtashailya 75 Years 10 Months 24 Days
Ugrasena 78 Years 7 Months 21 Days
Shurasena 78 Years 7 Months 21 Days
Bhuvanapati 69 Years 5 Months 5 Days
Ranajita 65 Years 10 Months 4 Days
Rikshaka 64 Years 7 Months 4 Days
Sukhdeva 62 Years 0 Months 24 Days
Naraharideva 51 Years 10 Months 2 Days
Suchiratha 42 Years 11 Months 2 Days
Shurasena II 58 Years 10 Months 8 Days
Parvatasena 55 Years 8 Months 10 Days
Medhavi 52 Years 10 Months 10 Days
Sonachira 50 Years 8 Months 21 Days
Bhimadeva 47 Years 9 Months 20 Days
Nriharideva 45 Years 11 Months 23 Days
Purnamala 44 Years 8 Months 7 Days
Karadavi 44 Years 10 Months 8 Days
Alammika 50 Years 11 Months 8 Days
Udayapala 38 Years 9 Months 0 Days
Duvanamala 40 Years 10 Months 26 Days
Damata 32 Years 0 Months 0 Days
Shimpala 58 Years 5 Months 8 Days
Kshemaka 48 Years 11 Months 21 Days

Vishwa, the prime minister of Kshemaka, killed Kshemaka and took over the kingdom. Fourteen generations of Vishwa ruled for 500 years, 3 Month and 17 days as follows:

King/Queen Years Month Days

Vishwa 17 3 29
Purseni 42 8 21
Veerseni 52 10 7
Anangshayi 47 8 23
Harijit 35 9 17
Paramseni 44 2 23
Sukhpatal 30 2 21
Kadrut 42 9 24
Sajj 32 2 14
Amarchud 27 3 16
Amipal 22 11 25
Dashrath 25 4 12
Veersaal 31 8 11
Veersaalsena 47 0 14

Veersaalsena was killed by his prime minister Veermaha whose 16 generations ruled for 445 years, 5 months and 3 days as follows:

King/Queen Years Month Days

Raja Veermaha 35 10 8
Ajitsingh 27 7 19
Sarvadatta 28 3 10
Bhuwanpati 15 4 10
Veersen 21 2 13
Mahipal 40 8 7
Shatrushaal 26 4 3
Sanghraj 17 2 10
Tejpal 28 11 10
Manikchand 37 7 21
Kamseni 42 5 10
Shatrumardan 8 11 13
Jeevanlok 28 9 17
Harirao 26 10 29
Veersen II 35 2 20
Adityaketu 23 11 13

Adityaketu is said to be ruling from Magadha so the capital had shifted from Indraprastha to Magadha. Raja Dandhar of Prayaag killed Adityaketu of Magadh.

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.