Friendship in Epics

The world knows them as the Trinity of Hinduism. Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. They create, preserve and destroy together. Opposite in beliefs, yet their respect and friendship are immense. At Shiva's wedding, Brahma becomes the priest, and Vishnu is his brother-in-law for the rituals. Time and again, they stand together to save the world. Time and again, Vishnu tries to calm Shiva's Rudra Roop. Brahma is cursed by Shiva for being vain, but that does not make them enemies. Their better halves, Parvati, Laxmi and Saraswati, too, are often regarded as sisters, such was their friendship.

He left his own brother to join the man who wanted to save his wife. He gave him secret news of the skills from his home side, and in return, he was grateful. Such was his dedication towards their friendship that he asked his friend to use Brahmastra to kill his own son in the wars. In return, after the war, he was made king by the man who saved his wife. They were Vivishana and Shree Ram. Such was their friendship that Vivishana sacrificed the life of his own son in Rama's hands. Sometimes friendship is made out of deals. Rama helped Sugriva kill Bali; in return, he got an army of monkeys to attack Lanka, and thus began his friendship with Sugriva.

The Queen of Lanka knew the price she had to pay for her husband's sins. Yet, she became friends with his captive Princess of Janaka Nagar. She stood by the Princess through her difficult time and supported her against her husband's will. Although like a daughter, this Princess told her tales of the life of the Jungle. She was in awe of this beautiful princess who knew so much. They were Mandodari and Sita, foes turned friends. They cried and stayed together throughout the epic battle.

The Prince of Hastinapur watched his Guru humiliate their Charioteer's son. The Ambitious Young Teenager, slightly older than they all, has come to seek knowledge of the weapons. He was a self-taught Archer. He had challenged the Prince's cousin to a duel when their Guru interrupted. The Prince who knew archery and his Guru were too vain to display their skills in a fight with a Suta Putra. The Suta Putra was adamant to prove that he was better than the Kshatriya prince. His ambition and high dreams impressed the Prince of Hastinapur. He went up to the insulted Archer, who was fuming with rage.
" What is your name?"
" Vasusena, sir." He stood up. Tensed. He bowed to the Prince.
" No, no, don't bow to me, you are a great archer, warriors never bow." Suyodhan held his hand.
" Thank you for your appreciation. I am honoured that you saw beyond my Suta lineage."
" Call me Suyodhan, Mitra!"
" Mitra?"
" Why not? Come with me to the Palace, and I will arrange for your lessons."
The Suta Putra hugged the prince in joy. His tears would not stop. He had roamed from Guru to Guru and Royal to Royal, waiting for his chance, and this Prince came as an angel to him. Thus, at an early age, these two started the greatest of friendships the world had witnessed. Suyodhan stood with him against the world, and Vasusena with his friend. Suyodhan's urge made his Grandfather send Vasusena to Parasurama, who alone accepted Suta students. He learnt the use of Astra and Sastra. He came back stronger and again asked for a duel, which went undecided. Suyodhan made him king of Anga to uplift his status as a King. At Drupad Nagar, when the Princess was insulting Vasusena for coming to a Swayambhar despite his Suta lineage, Suyodhan, without any thought, protested. Time and again, they stood beside each other, in their own Dharma and Adharma. Such was the friendship that even after knowing that he was going to fight against his own Half Brothers, Vasusena did not leave his friend's side; he was the power on which his friend decided to fight wars. Today, the world knows them as Danveer Karna and Duryodhana, the greatest warrior and the greatest of villains.

She met him at her wedding preparations. He was called on by her father for advice. She was a princess, and he was the greatest politician. He knew what lay ahead, and she trusted him blindly. When the world played with her dignity, He stood by her when her own husbands stood shameful and speechless. He supported her and prepared her for the worst. He was there whenever she was in trouble and she needed his help. Even when she lost her children and father, and brother in the war for her husband's throne, he was there to console her. He made her believe in the greater good. She was the cause of his tears. She was the reason that could fulfil his purpose in life on earth. He was Vishnu, She, his Laxmi. They were Vasudeva Krishna and Panchali Draupadi. The greatest friendship that could exist between a man and a woman.

All friendships are different, some purposeful, some innocent, some seeking help, others helping, yet each one is as important and dedicated as the others. These are the few examples of respect, support, and helpful friends we find in our Mythology, and yes, even today, their friendship is cherished and remembered and used as examples of great friendships.

Uttara's Hope

This is part of the "Uttara Series" You will find under the Mahabharata. The series is also available on Wattpad. She was clad in white attire. Her churamani and jewellery were all taken away. She sat numbly in front of his dead body for a whole day, pregnant with his heir, looking at his face as though he was asleep. He had told her more than once that this day could come and that she had to protect their heir. He feared her future without him. That one day turned the fifteen-year-old Princess of Matsya into an aged lady. She became quiet and aloof. Her only concern now was her baby. Her baby wiggled in her womb. She remembered him saying, " I will always be with you." All she wanted now was a son like his father. But she knew all Hastinapur wanted was an heir to the throne. The war had ended five days after his death, and they were back in the palace of Hastinapur victorious. She, for the first time, entered her real in-laws' home, but without him. All sh...

Asuras are not Demons

Demons in the Abrahamic religion are not the same as Asuras of Hinduism. Originally deities of Iranian origin, they were seen in the tribal context as no different from Devas but as counterparts to maintain balance. In early epics and Puranas, asura meant a chosen leader of great capacity. Only later, perhaps due to the Iranian link, their image declined. It was with the Brahmanas that the sharp divide appeared: devas as divine, asuras as evil. Puranic myths demonised them mainly to assert the superiority and immortality of devas, while asuras were cast as symbols of the "other." Since Tribes still worshipped them and embraced their power of negativity, being important to balance, they soon became synonymous with tribes, which was not the case mythologically. There are instances of Bali or Ravana being Kshatriya or Brahmin Asuras and competent kings. Indian demonology itself is vast and layered, shaped by surviving tribes, each with unique myths. Celestial, aerial, and terres...

Maharana Pratap: The Sun of Mewar

Many of you have read my fan fiction as well as historical representations of the life and times of Maharana Pratap Singh of Mewar. I provided small details of his life in many articles. But never have I ever made a separate historical post on him. It is very difficult to put together his life without the help of folklore because historical evidence is scarce. This one was requested, and hence here it goes. Needless to say, this one is very special. This is a blend of history and folklore. Leave your love. ❤️ Background and Birth: The year was 1540. Mewar was under a cloud of uncertainty. Banbir, their ruler for four years now, was a very incompetent ruler who always spent his time in luxury, drinking and dancing with girls. The crown prince Udai Singh was rumoured to have been killed by him. Chittorgarh was in darkness. Around March 1540, Mewar once again saw hope as some trusted generals, along with Kunwar Udai Singh, attacked Chittorgarh, taking Banbir by surprise. He was soon ...

Nawab E Bengal

Background: Nawab Alivardi Khan was ruling Bengal at the peak of Nawabi rule, expanding his strong empire. He had successfully suppressed the Marathas and had given a strong message to the British East India Company’s rising influence at Calcutta. Highly aware of the British Colonial policies across the globe, Nawab Alivardi Khan was strict with his policies and stronghold over Murshidabad, the then capital of Bengal (including present-day Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Orissa, and Bangladesh). He had two daughters and no sons. Amina Begum was the elder one, followed by Ghaseti Begum. Amina had three sons with her husband and courtier, Ahmed Khan. The second son, Mirza Mohammad, fondly called Siraj-Ud-Daulah (light of the country)by his grandfather, was born in 1733C.E. He was his grandfather’s favourite because he was born while he won over the Marathas. Alivardi Khan never let the “fortune child” of the family out of his sight. Siraj grew up accompanying his g...

Rakhi Tales

The year was 1535 CE. The Rajmata of Mewar, widow of Rana Sanga, was in a dilemma. On one hand was an attack from Bahadur Shah of Gujarat as a threat to her capital, Chittorgarh, and the throne of her beloved teenage son Vikramaditya. On the other hand, there was the son of her husband's archenemy, Humayun, who could be of some help. Rani Karnavati wrote a letter to Humayun, who was in the east at that time. Along with it, she sent a Rakhi, a thread of brotherhood, asking him, as a sister, for protection against the enemy. But the road was too long and time, of great essence. Humayun arrived at Chittorgarh, in response to her letter, keeping his end of the bargain but a little late. Rani Karnavati had already performed the Jauhar. They never met. Humayun established Rana Vikramaditya on the throne of Mewar, as he had promised as a brother, and returned to his post. Two dynasties, political rivals and sworn enemies, from Sanga-Babur to Pratap-Akbar and even Raj Singh-Aurangzeb, yet ...

Sisodiya: Kings, Queens and Princes (1538 - 1597)

I am back with another History post, this time it is on the wives and sons of Rana Udai Singh II of Mewar, his son and heir Maharana Pratap and Rana Amar Singh. This is a continuation of the Sisodia Family History I posted some time back. The information has been taken from Annals of Mewar by James Todd, Maharana Pratap by B.N. Rana, and Maharana Pratap by Rima Hooja. Udai Singh II was the son of Ranisa Karnawati and Rana Sangram Singh. He was born on 4th August 1 522, at Chittorgarh and died on 28th February 1 572 at Gogunda . He was the Ruler of the Sisodia Dynasty. He is believed to have 56 sons and 2 5 wives, apart from the many insignificant queens in his Rani Mahal. Here is a list of his main queens and their sons. Maharani Jaivanta Bai Songara of Jalore was his chief queen and consort. Her son is Maharana Pratap. He was married to her before he went to war with Banbir, as her father, Akshayraj Rao, was a friend and ally of his father, Rana Sanga. Saj...

The Reva Cries

Roopmati had watched the troops leave. She had stood behind the chief queen as she traditionally bid goodbye to her sons. She had waited for the Sultan to come to her. He did. He was confident that the sudden advancement of Akbar’s foster brother Adham Khan could be curbed. It was not war, just precaution. He reassured her. Malwa would never bow to the Timurids. And he would not let anything happen to her. To Her. Roopmati felt suffocated by her husband’s affectionate hug. She felt trapped in the scrutinising eyes of all the people in the palace. Angry, blaming eyes. She tried to pace herself and sing, but her voice cracked in fear. Her melody was drowned in tears. Every evening, a messenger would come to the chief queen with the news of war. Roopmati was kept in the darkness. She was not told about anything. She knew the rumours. She was a witch. A temptress who caused doom to the Sultan of Malwa. She was a spy of the enemy planted in his life to destroy him. She wondered if he came b...

The Emperor's First Wife

Ruqaiya Sultana Begum was born to Babur's second surviving son, Hindal Mirza, and his wife, Sultanam Begum, in 1542 C.E., merely a few months after Hamida Banu gave birth to the heir Jalaluddin Mohammad Akbar. She was well-versed in Persian, Urdu and Arabic and was attracted to poetry and music. Being a proud descendant of the Timurid clan, most of Rukaiya's childhood was spent in Kabul, near the Bagh E Babur, built by Babur himself. From early childhood, she had seen the struggle of her family to regain their lost power in Hind. In 1551 C.E., just after her father died young at a battle for Humayun, leaving her and her mother in the harem of the emperor, it was Hamida Banu who wanted the marriage of Rukaiya to her first cousin, Akbar. Theirs was the first in-house marriage of the Mughals, soon to be followed by many more in the generations to come. At the mere age of nine, she had married the crown prince, and when Humayun won back Lahore, she was fifteen. At the mere age ...

Mewar: Origin of Guhilots

Origin: Lord Rama had two sons, Labh and Kush . The Ranas of Mewar are descendants of the former. Labh had built his capital at Lah-Kot (Lahore) , and the branch from which the Mewar blue blood arrives resided there until Kanaksen (Often traced as the founder)moved to Dwarika, Saurashtra. "Sen" was used as a title term for many decades by this Suryavanshi clan until it later changed to "Dit" or "Aditya", names of the Sun. Aditya was changed to Guhilot permanently after the expulsion from Saurashtra when they settled in the Ahar valleys (Aravallis). The Sisodia clan sprang from a Prince of Chittoor who had killed a hard chase hare (sissoo in local dialect). The branch often used " Ranawat ", meaning "Royal Blood", as a title, but over time, Sisodia emerged as the retained branch name. Kanaksen wrestled dominance of the Parmar race and founded Birnagar in AD 144. Four generations hence, Vijay Sen ...

Rao Raja of Bundi

Chhatrasal Singh Hada of Bundi (1632 to 1658) Rao Raja Chhatrasal Singh Hada Introduction Raja Chhatrasal Hada, who is referred to in books often as Chattar Sal or Satr Sal, was the crown prince of Bundi when his grandfather, Rao Ratan Singh, enjoyed the highest Mansaab under Jehangir’s reign. Rao Ratan Singh, for his contribution to the wars and services to protect the interests of Emperor Jehangir, was given the honorary title of “Sarbuland Rai”. He also actively helped Shah Jahan during his rebellion against the emperor because of Nur Jahan's petticoat government. After his death, his second son Madho Singh was the rightful heir, but he nominated his grandson Chattarsal instead because he was the grandson of his first son Gopinath, who died in an imperial war. The Rao Raja ascended the throne of Bundi at a ‘young’ age, as mentioned in the Shahjahan Nama. His date of birth remains unknown. His uncles were granted the Jagirs of Kota and Palaita, while he was accepted as the king...

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