The Naga Princess

The Nagas (symbolically snakes) were a tribe who were well acquainted with life in forests and on rivers. They were said to be the ones who ruled the waters. Historically speaking, the Nagas lived in the northeastern parts of Aryavarta, close to Manipur, and extended their villages up to the land of Burma. The Naga tribe staying in the current state of Nagaland are proof of this. Now, this brings us to the story. The Naga Chief was Kauravya, who ruled the waters of the Ganges. His daughter was Ulupi. Some say she was a widow at a tender age, and some say she was unmarried.

The Pandava prince Arjun was roaming around Aryavarta in exile, for he had broken a promise and entered his elder brother's intimate room with their Shared wife. The punishment was this. He roamed all the way from Indraprastha to the mystic lands of Manipur and Nagaland. Ulupi, like any other princess of that time, desired the handsome and brave prince of Hastinapur. On hearing of his arrival in their land, she was quite in awe at the thought of meeting him.

As Arjun sat in a clearing beside the river, lost in his thoughts, the sound of a woman's anklet broke his chain of thoughts. He looked up to see the beautiful Ulupi clad in finery. She smiled like the dazzling stars, and her eyes were as dark as the night sky. The eyes were mesmerising and captive.

" You must be the Prince of Hastinapur."
" How do you know me, Lady?"
" Who doesn't know you, My Lord? You are the greatest archer in the whole of Aryavarta." Arjun smiled modestly.
" Who are you, my Lady?"
" I am Ulupi, Princess of the Nagas. "
" Nagas?" His smile faded. The grip around his bow tightened. His family had a long-drawn-out love-hate relationship with the tribe. The Nagas were not to be trusted, his father had told him.
" Yes, my Lord, we live at the Ganges, do accompany me to my father's palace under the waters. He is Kauravya, the King of the Waters." Ulupi went on unaware, hoping he would come with her and she could convince him to marry her.
" I am sorry, Princess, I can not accompany you to the Palace of your father."

" But..."
" I would prefer living like a hermit away from any palace luxury."
" But my Lord, not going with me will mean you are insulting our Royal invite."
" I can not help if you think so." Arjun was determined to stay away from the Nagas.

Angry at this rejection, Ulupi lost her cool. She was too determined to take him back to her Palace. She took out a mystic powder and intoxicated him in moments. Before he could realise it, Arjun was unconscious in one of the rooms of Ulupi's palace. She was happy to have him. He came into consciousness only after a few hours and was surprised to find himself underwater. In a flash, he remembered what had happened, and a smile curved his face. He liked the Naga Princess's determination.

" The Princess of Nagas is arriving at the chambers."

He turned around to see the same girl, clad in simple clothes, a balm in hand, an ever-smiling face looking at him.

" Here is a potion you can drink to get rid of your drowsiness." She handed him the bowl.
" I have never seen a girl like you. You make me unconscious and bring me here, then give me this to clear my head. Why were you so determined?"
" I would not have let any Prince insult my father by refusing his invitation. Whoever he might be."
" You are a strong woman. I admire that."
" Not all Nagas are bad, Rajkumar Arjun. Like people, there are some bad Nagas and some good Nagas; your conception needs to be corrected."
" By kidnapping me?" He was amused.
" My father will be meeting you shortly." He watched her leave.

At the King's Chamber, Arjun got a hero's welcome from the Nagas. The princess was indeed right about them being the good ones. At the gala dinner organised in his honour, the King took him aside and gave him a proposal. " Rajkumar, my only daughter Ulupi, is in love with you. She wishes to marry you, and upon your agreeing to this proposal, the Nagas and all other living creatures in the water shall be your slaves thereupon, and the kingdom will belong to you. Please accept this proposal and oblige."

Arjun was taken aback. Marriage to a Naga? Was it worth hurting Panchali and his brother's sentiments? Wouldn't his cousins laugh at him for marrying a Naga? He looked at Ulupi across the room. But she has come a long way in his love; there was no turning back for her.

" I need some time to think, and I want to talk to Ulupi." The King agreed.

The next morning, Ulupi came to his chambers with eyes clearly asking a lot of questions about why he called upon her.

" Ulupi, when you have heard everything about me, I hope you know that my loyalty to Panchali is irreplaceable, and no other wife can accompany me to Indraprastha."
" I don't wish to leave Nagaland for you, too, Rajkumar, I will rule in the absence of my father, and am training in warfare to do so..."
" Then I can marry you."

The Nagas rejoiced in the grand wedding of their Princess, and a son, Iravan, was born to them. Arjun left Ulupi and Iravan with his other wife, Chitrangada, Princess of Manipur. When the Kurukshetra war broke out, Iravan, an eighteen-year-old lad, was sent by his mother to fight for his father. However, Arjun could not remember either Ullupi or her son before selfishly asking him to sacrifice his head to the goddess Kali. Iravan, who always wanted to please his father, did so without hesitation. Upon losing her own son, Ulupi trained Chitrangada's son Babruvahana in the art of warfare to make him an ideal king. Such was her training that during the Ashwamedha Yajna of the Pandavas, Babruvahana killed Arjun with his arrow when he stopped their horses at Manipur. Ulupi, hearing this, rushed to the spot and saved Arjun's life with the Mritunjay Mantra she learned from the goddess Ganga herself. Ulupi met her long-lost husband and never even once blamed him for sacrificing their son. She stayed all her life in Manipur, helping her stepson with the administration of the land. A proud Naga princess, she never depended on Arjun or expected his support, and was brave and independent enough to take care of herself.

The Festival of Bengal: Days and Rituals

This article is partly featured in The Statesman Festival 2024 Magazine. In Bengal, Durga Puja is not only a religious tradition, but it is also a festival. It is called “ Bangalir Shreshto Utsab ” or the greatest festival of Bengalis. It is because, although it started as a religious festival, as we have discussed in the previous blogs, it turned out to be a representation of cultural unity and the freedom movement, as well as seeing her as the daughter returning home with her children. It is called a " Sarbojonin " Utsab or a festival meant for all and sundry. Durga Puja is inclusive of caste, creed, religion, as well as gender identities and professions. Thus, it is more than just a Puja . The traditions, rituals and ways of Durga Puja are hence very different from Navratri, which are observed in individual homes. Let's find out how. The Pandals and idol: As per Hindu tradition, four things are important when the idol of Maa Durga is prepared. These include clay fro...

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 t...

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...

Rani Padmini: The Valiant Queen

This story is a retelling of some parts of Malik Mohammad Jayasi's Padmavat, which was a historical fiction poem written in 1540, about 200 years after the siege of Chittorgarh by Allauddin Khilji. Historically, the Rajputs of Mewar didn't keep accounts of their queens, even by name, so the name Padmini or Padmavati was made up by Jayasi to represent the women of Chittor who chose the Jauhar. Historically speaking, Allauddin Khilji wanted the trade route to Surat for himself, which went through Mewar and Rana Ratan Singh, a patron of art, was not known for his military skills. So when Khilji surrounded the fort, the only way out was the Saka and Jauhar. Rani Padmini's Jauhar, as it is now popularly called, is also not the first Jauhar Khilji witnessed. The Jauhars of Ranthambore and Jaisalmer happened before he attacked Chittorgarh. Also, the act of Jauhar happened as early as the Greek invasions of Porus's state, when it is described as the "Mass immolation of Sat...

Shikhandi: A Tale of Identity and Revenge

Hastinapur was the most powerful empire in the north of the Vindyas, in the subcontinent once ruled by King Bharata. When its long-reigning and prosperous king Shantanu passed away in old age, he left behind his ambitious wife Satyabati, her two sons, Chitrangad and Bichitravirjaya and his first surviving son from his first wife Ganga, Devabrata, who took the lifelong oath of not being king nor marrying or having any progeny and hence earned the name Bhishma. When Chitrangad was about to ascend the throne, he died in an unfortunate accident, leaving the minor Bichitravirjaya as the only contender on the throne. Bhishma almost outspokenly took over the role of guardian to the throne of Hastinapur upon this event. However, the rules suggested that the young prince must marry before he could be crowned. Upon hearing of this, Bhishma sent his spies around the subcontinent to find eligible princesses who would not only marry the heir apparent but also be the future queen and queen mother of...

Chandra's Choice: The Story of Dhruvasvamini

More often than not, the private lives of kings and the existence of their queens remain in the words of bards rather than those of chroniclers. Dhruvasvamini is no different, even after being the queen of the golden age of the Indian Subcontinent. She appears in the Basarh Clay Seal as the mother of Govinda Gupta (attributed as a sibling of Kumara Gupta I) and the queen wife of Chandra Gupta II or Vikramaditya. Except for one mention of Dhruva Devi, as she is popularly known, she remains a mysterious character in the Gupta lineage, with a side mention in the dynasty’s history. Visakhadatta, a famous poet and playwright, who later wrote DeviChandraGuptam as the play capturing the life of Chandra Gupta II, captured Dhruva Devi as one of the protagonists of his story. Although some scholars attribute Visakhadatta to be under the patronage of Chandra Gupta II himself when he wrote this story, many historians debate the literary work as a historical fiction written much after his time. Tru...

The Garuda Cannon of Krishna Chandra

Maharaja Krishna Chandra was an influential king in Nadia, Bengal, who formed his capital at Krishnanagar. During the preparation of the Battle of Plassey that sealed the deal for British Colonisation in Bengal in 1757, Krishna Chandra was under the Mughals of Delhi, who did not support Bengal Subah Nawab Siraj Ud Daulah in his attack against the British in Calcutta. As a result, he too was vocal against Siraj and supported the British. Siraj ordered for him to be imprisoned for not paying his due taxes to the Nawab, and he found freedom only after Robert Clive and Mir Jafar ousted Siraj by betraying him. Once Krishna Chandra was back in his state, the Mughal emperor, who was now reduced to a puppet of the British, by suggestion of Robert Clive, gifted the king a token of appreciation for his support, a cannon, which the Raja named the Garuda Cannon. What was so special about the cannon? This is the only cannon found in any museum with an inscription in Bengali scripture. Most cannons ...

Battle of Haldighati

There have been a lot of talks going on regarding who won the Battle of Haldighati. While some want to change what we read and say that the Maharana won it, many oppose the point with a Mughal victory. Here, I compile every account I found of the Battle and its Aftermath and make my unbiased conclusion on the topic. PS. The dates vary from book to book; I gave the ones I found in most sources. The Background: Relation with Mughals Mewar was one of Rajputana's strongest individual kingdoms, along with the likes of Marwar and Kacchawar (Jaipur). Long before the Mughals under Akbar, Mewar under Rana Sangram Singh had successfully managed to keep the "Turk Invaders" under Babar at bay, fighting 17 wars, big and small. The relationship was further questioned when, during the invasion from Saurashtra, Sanga's widow, Rani Karnavati, had written to Mughal Emperor Humayun for help, sending him a rakhi. Contrary to popular belief, Humayun had rested on his way from Gaur (Beng...

Chittorgarh: The First Jauhar

The concept of Jauhar holds a profound place in Rajputana history. It is a ritual where Rajput women willingly choose death by jumping into a fire altar, invoking the gods, and embracing honour rather than living under the humiliation of enemy conquest. Unlike Sati, Jauhar was never forced or compulsory; it was considered the most honourable death a Rajputani could choose when their men lost battles and the enemy laid siege. The Historical Setting: Jauhar Gate and Chittorgarh Fort Chittorgarh Fort once housed the palace of Rana Ratan Singh near the famed Vijay Stambh and his Jal Mahal at the fort’s main gate. When Alauddin Khilji invaded Chittor, much of this was destroyed. However, later ruler Rana Kumbha rebuilt the Jal Mahal and re-established the Jauhar Sthal to honour Queen Padmavati (also known as Padmini). Ratan Singh, who ruled Mewar during Khilji’s reign as Sultan of Delhi, was known to be a peace-loving monarch who enjoyed music and poetry. One of his court poets, Ragha...

Dharma, Adharma and Other Opinions

Abhimanyu's Death changed the course of the battle for the Pandavas. They fought with rage and won the battle in the next five days. They slay each warrior in the same ruthless way to seek revenge for Abhimanyu. But my question is, was it all worth it? Was the throne of Hastinapur more precious than the young lives lost? Are cousins killing each other? Disrobing a woman in the courtroom? Where was Dharma in silence? Ram left Ayodhya without a question. Kaikeyi became the villain in the life of the favourite son of the kingdom. Her own son hated her. Sita suffered for it, Ayodhya suffered for it, and Dasharatha died in grief. Was it all worth the throne of Ayodhya? Vibhishana and Sugriva fought with their own brothers and betrayed them for the throne. Power has always been this manipulative. People say Power is the strongest of all desires. It can do almost anything like magic. The great epics are indeed proof of this Human behaviour. If we consider characters as mere humans living ...

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