A Super Hero Legend of India - A Thousand Year Flashback

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All wars create landmark in the human history and teach us some lessons through the outcomes. Human race has always been at war, with the right warring against wrong and vice versa.

'ANYTHING IS FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR'. The most famous as well as notorious 18 day history may be the good example for this.

KRISHNA AND KURUKSHETRA WAR:

I am the goal, the sustainer, the master, the witness, the refuge, the guardian, the well-wisher, the creation, the dissolution, the preservation, the reservoir and the imperishable cause – Bhagavad Gita 9.18

Krishna was the supreme instigator of the Kurukshetra war. He never wanted to avoid it and thus never advised any of the warring parties for recourse of a different path. Duryodhana, who respected Krishna enough to have sought his advice before the war could have been persuaded by him.

Once battle seemed inevitable, Krishna offered both sides the opportunity to choose between having either his army or simply himself alone, but on the condition that he personally would not raise any weapon. Arjuna, on behalf of the Pandavas, chose to have Krishna on their side, and Duryodhana, chief of the Kauravas, chose Krishna's army. In other words, he chose to fight against his own army – something which no king has ever done unless in a situation of rebellion. At the time of the great battle, Krishna acted as Arjuna's charioteer, since it was a position that did not require the wielding of weapons.

Kauravas violation of Dharmayudha:

Krishna's role in Kurukshetra war is significant. Dharmayudha or warfare of righteousness has some rules and regulations to be followed by the warriors fighting on either sides. When Kauravas violated the rules of the war, Krishna played a cruicial role in directing Pandavas to the warfare of unrighteousness.

The "rules of ethical conduct", dharmayuddha, for the war are:

• Fighting must begin no earlier than sunrise and end exactly at sunset.
• More than one warriors may not attack a single warrior.
• Two warriors may "duel", or engage in prolonged personal combat, only if they carry the same weapons and they are on the same type of mount (on foot, on a horse, on an elephant, or in a chariot).
• No warrior may kill or injure a warrior who has surrendered.
• One who surrenders becomes a prisoner of war and will then be subject to the protections of a prisoner of war.
• No warrior may kill or injure an unarmed warrior.
• No warrior may kill or injure an unconscious warrior.
• No warrior may kill or injure a person or animal not taking part in the war.
• No warrior may kill or injure a warrior whose back is turned away.
• No warrior may attack a woman.
• No warrior may strike an animal not considered a direct threat.
• The rules specific to each weapon must be followed. For example, it is prohibited to strike below the waist in mace warfare.
• Warriors may not engage in any unfair warfare.

Courtesy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharmayuddha

The rules of the Dhrmayudha was broken by Kauravas by the slay of Abhimanyu, the son of Arjuna and Krishna's sister Subhadra at the thirteenth day of the battle. Abhimanyu was taken by the Kaurava army in the Chakravyuha formation as he was one of the ferocious warrior who was a great threat to Kaurava brigade.

It is also said that only Krishna, Arjuna, Pradyuma (son of Krishna and Rukmini) know fully about the Chakravyuha formation techniquies from Pandavas side. Abhimanyu was said to have learnt the penetration of the seven tier defense Chakravyuha formation when he was in his mother's womb while Arjuna was explaning the military formation to his wife.  Since Subhadra fell asleep in the middle Arjuna was not able to explain the techniques of entry and exit in Chakravyuha fullly and hence Abhimanyu was said to know only the entry of formation and the not the exit. As the per the rules of engagement "More than one warriors may not attack a single warrior" but Abhimanyu was targeted and killed by all leading warriors of Kauravas.

Krishna's revenge via Arjuna:

Jayadratha the husband of Dushala, the only sister of Kaurava brothers played a cruicial role in Abhimanyu's slay as he prevented the Pandavas to come to the rescue of Abhimanyu. Jayadratha was given a boon by his father that whoever shall be the reason to make his son's head fall on ground shall have their head break into 100 pieces.

As a revenge of Abhimanyu's death Arjuna vowed to kill Jayadratha by the next day sunset failing which he would kill himself. On the fourteenth day, a long brigade of warriors were standing in between Arjuna and Jayadratha and Krishna found that it is impossible for Arjuna to reach him before sunset. Hence Krishna created a eclipse much like a sunset. Jayadratha was sure that Arjuna has failed in his vow and happily appeared in front of Arjuna to see him kill himself. Krishna made the solar eclipse retreat and told Arjuna to kill him as sun has not set yet. Arjuna immediately used his powerful weapon and beheaded him. Krishna made the head of Jayadratha to fall on the lap of his father. Jayadratha's father shocked on seeing a head on his lap dropped it on the ground and his head burst into pieces.

Kauravas violation of rule on the fourteenth day:
The battle continued post sunset against the another rule of engagement. Ghadodkaja, the son of Bheema and Hidimba had a special ability to fly in the air. Also he got boons from Krishna himself that he can use his power more powerfully at nights. Since war continued post sunset, Ghadodkaja fought with full power and created a havoc for Kaurava army. Dhuryodhana, requested Karna to finish him off and hence Karna used his divine weapon Indrastra which he reserved to kill Arjuna. The weapon can be used only once and he used it on Ghadodkaja and beheaded him.

Krishna smiled as Karna wasted his weapon which otherwise would have brought victory to them. With Indrastra's use Ghadodkaja was killed and the weapon returned back to Indra and Arjuna was saved.

Krishna's trickery and violation of rule on fifteenth day:
Drona most fiercly fought from Kaurava's side and Krishna planned to knock him by his weakness. Krishna instructed Bheema to kill a elephant named Aswathama which is also the name of the son of Drona and made Bheema to scream loudly Aswathama was dead. Drona seeked Yudhirstira for the truth. While Yudhirstira told 'Ashwathama Hatahath, naro va Kunjaro va' meaning Ashwathama was dead but not sure it is son or elephant. Krishna blowed the counch shell loudly and made the second half of the sentence not to be heard by Drona. Hence Drona felt sad hearing his son dead and did not fight again in the battle and subsequently beheaded by Dhristadyumna, son of Draupada and brother of Draupadi.

Krishna's rug with Karna:

Karna became the strong warrior from Kauravas's side and killed enormous number of Pandava army. Karna's chariot was stuck in the mud. At that time he had a misunderstanding with his charioteer and the charioteer left the battlefield. Karna, was trying single handedly to lift the chariot. Krishna told Arjuna to shoot the arrow on him which is against the rul of engagement. When Arjuna hesitated, Krishna reminded how Karna mercilessly killed Abhimanyu inside Chakravyuha against the rules of battle. Arjuna got angry  and shot arrow on his chest. Karna being a chariter was breathing still as his deeds protected his soul from leaving his body. Krishna disgiused himself a poor man and went to Karna while he was breathing his last breath. Krishna asked him to donate his deeds which he gained from charity. Karna knowing the trick of Krishna donated his deeds to Krishna happily as Karna never says no to anyone whoever ask him anything. As soon as Krishna got the deeds, Karna breathed his last and died.

Krishna and Duryodhana:

Gandhari, the mother of Kauravas was given as boon for her sacrifice of volutary blinding herself for the sake of her husband. Her boon was that whatever she sets eyes it shall be indestructable . She instructed Duryodhana to come naked so that she can bless his whole body as indestructable. Krishna tricked Duryodhana and made him to cover his thighs. Hence Gandhari was not able to see her son's thighs and bless thus making susceptible for attack.

 At eighteenth day, when Duryodhana lost all hopes of victory Yudhirshtira gave him an option to chose a weapon and chose a fighter from Pandavas side to have a fair fight. Duryodhana chose Bhima to have a duel.

After long and fierce battle Duryodhana was exhausted. Krishna signalled Bhima by tapping his thighs and Bhima attacked Duryodhana in his thighs which was actually the violation of rules as a warrior is not supposed to be attacked below hips.

While Duryodhana was dying he told Krishna whatever victory he has got is not attained by fair means.

Krishna said. "Yes, these men truly were invincible, while fought against fairly, but I had to uphold dharma".

With Duryodhanas's death, the historical war came to an end,  leaving only 12 survivors Pandavas, Krishna from Pandavas side and Satyaki, Ashwatthama, Kripacharya, Yuyutsu, Vrishakethu (son of Karna) and Kritvarma  from Kauravas side.


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