The Pandavas are the five sons of Pandu, a king of the Kuru dynasty. Yudhishtra, Bheema and Arjuna were born to Kunti, his first wife. The twins Nakula and Sahadeva were born to his second wife Madri.
Each of the Pandavas has a divine father, as Pandu was incapable of fathering a child as a result of a curse. The father of Yudhishtra is Yama, the father of Bheema is Vayu, the father of Arjuna is Indra and the fathers of the twins Nakula and Sahadeva are the divine Ashwini twins.
The Pandavas were all married to the Panchala princess Draupadi. Arjuna and Bheema married other women also.
Through Draupadi each Pandava fathered a son, and all of them
were collectively known as the upa-Pandavas.
All the upa-Pandavas were murdered by Ashwatthama at the end of the battle at Kurukshetra.
2006-08-28 21:29:30
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answer #1
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answered by PK LAMBA 6
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In the Mahabharata, the Pandavas (singular Pandava, in Sanskrit pÄá¹á¸avaḥ) are the five acknowledged sons of Pandu, by his two wives Kunti and Madri. They are
(sons of Pandu's first wife Kunti),
Yudhishtira
Bhima
Arjuna
(sons of his second wife Madri).
Nakula and
Sahadeva
The five Pandavas have distinct traits:
Yudhishtira - righteous and truthful.
Bhima - known for his strength, and his appetite.
Arjuna - the great archer, also learnt dance from the fairy (called Apsaras) in Indra's court.
Nakula and Sahadeva - proficient horsemen and swordsmen.
As Pandu is cursed with death if he ever has intercourse with his wives, the actual fatherhood of the children is traditionally attributed to various gods, by the boon that was given to Kunti by Durvasa. According to the story, Kunti was allowed to call on each of the devas for a son, who would be immediately borne to her (see also the story of Karna). She was also able to transfer the boon to Madri. The five brothers are
Yudhishtira's fatherhood to Yama, the Lord of Righteousness.
Bhima to Vayu, the Lord of Wind
Arjuna to Indra, the ruler of heaven.
Nakula and Sahadeva to the Ashwini Gods twins, the Divine Physicians.
All five brothers are married to one woman, the princess Draupadi. Arjuna however is the one who actually wins her in a Swayamvara. Among the numerous towns and cities founded or visited by the five brothers individually or together, five prasthas (cities) are prominently mentioned and still exist. These were Indraprastha (Delhi), Panprastha (Panipat), Sonprastha (Sonipat), Tilprastha (Tilpat) and Vyagprastha (Bagpat).
The Pandavas engaged in the Mahabharata war with their one hundred cousins, the Kauravas.
In the early 19th century, religionist Godfrey Higgins speculated that an ancient secret religious order, Pandeism, held Pandu and the Pandavas among their figures of worship, and that the reach of this group had extended all the way from India to Ireland.
2006-08-29 02:38:26
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answer #2
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answered by mspentinum 3
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Any question on Mahabharatha can be very elaborately answered. So let me be short and crisp.
The Pandava Brothers (5) - Yudishtra, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva - had one son each through their common wife Droupathi. Who were later killed by Aswathama - Drona's son.
These 5 sons of Pandavas are called UPAPANDAVAS
2006-08-31 21:57:03
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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