King Kuru

Kuru (Sanskrit: कुरु, kuru m.), the name of the legendary ancestor of the clan of the Kurus in the Mahabharata. He was the son of Samvarana and of Tapati, the daughter of the Sun.[1]

Kuru's family and his influence

In the legend, Kuru is an ancestor of Pandu and his descendants, the Pandavas, and also of Dhritarashtra and his descendants, the Kauravas. This latter name, derived as a patronym from "Kuru", is only used for the descendants of Dhritarashtra.[2]

King Kuru had two wives named Shubhanga and Vahini. He had a son named Viduratha with Shubhanga, and five sons with Vahini, named Ashvavat, Abhishyat, Citraratha, Muni and Janamejaya.[3][4] Due to his merits and great ascetic practices the region "Kurujangal" was named after him. It has also been known as Kurukshetra since ancient Vedic times.[5]

See also

Kuru (kingdom)

References

  1. ↑ Monier Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (Oxford, 1899), p. 294.1
  2. ↑ Monier Williams (1899), S. 294.1
  3. ↑ Mbhr. 1.89.44 and 1.90.40 (Pune Critical Edition 1971)
  4. ↑ J.A.B. van Buitenen, Mahabharata Book 1, Chicago 1973, pp. 212–214
  5. ↑ M.M.S. Shastri Chitrao, Bharatavarshiya Prachin Charitrakosha (Dictionary of Ancient Indian Biography, in Hindi) Pune 1964, p. 151
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