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Monday, December 07, 2015

Jatugriha - Mahabharata

What does does Jatugriha actually mean? The closest literal meaning is house made from lac, which is highly combustible. Jatu literally means lac or gum, and Griha means house.

Pandavas had to live there for sometime. This incident takes place in Adi Parva of Mahabharata, much before the Pandavas got married to Draupadi.

Why the Jatugriha here? The serials based on Mahabharata, show different versions of the same. I just wanted to share what Mahabharata has.

In consultation with Dhritarashtra, Duryodhana and the other Kaurava princes decided to burn the Pandavas alive. Vidura coming to know of this, approached Kunti and told her to flee the Kuru land with her sons, as no good would come if she stayed on. Hearing this, Kunti and her sons climbed on to a boat that had been prepared, and left Varnavrata.

A Nishada woman, who happened to be the house of lac, along with her children, got burnt to death.

The citizens of Varnavrata, thinking the Pandavas were dead, were saddened.

On the other hand, Dhritarashtra along with the other Kuru elders performed the last rites of the Pandavas.

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As the Mahabharata is being recited to Janmajeya, the king wanted to know what had happened in Varnavrata. He was then told what had happened there.

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Duryodhana was disturbed to see Bhima grow stronger by the day and Arjuna become skilled in the archery. Karna, Sakuni and Duryodhana then tried to hatch plans to get rid of the Pandavas. Every attempt failed. The people of Hastinapura also wanted Yudhistira to be crowned king.

Duryodhana approached Dhritarshtra and asked to him send the Pandavas to Varnavrata. Blined by the love for his son, the king agreed. Duryodhana then told the king that Bhisma and Drona would be loyal to the throne, Vidura alone would not be able to do any harm even if sided with the Pandavas.

The festival of Shiva was to start in Varnavrata, and the Pandavas were asked to stay there for sometime. Pandavas agreed to go there. Hearing this, Duryodhana asked Purochana, one his aides, to go to Varnavrata and construct a palace using all combustible material. The mud that was to be used would be mixed with oil and fat, to aid burning. It was to be built in such a manner that the Pandavas should not suspect this.

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