| WORLD TRIBES IN KURUKSHETRA The Kurukshetra war was the huge war of the epic Mahabharata. Most of the kingdoms of India participated in this 18-day war. Kingdoms from outside India like China and Iran also participated in the war.
Tribes which Participated :
Pandav’s Side :
• Panchal :
Their king Drupad was the Pandavs’ most important ally. They joined the Pandavs because Drupad’s daughter Draupadi was married to the Pandavs.
At Present :
Near Himalayas, Uttar Pradesh
As mentioned in the Mahabharat, Panchal Pradesh was located between the Himalayas and the river Chamba on both sides of the river Ganga. Once, when the King of Panchal got the news of an attack from the King of Ayodhya, he said that his five (panch) sons only were enough to fight the war. Since then, it was called “Panchal”. During the time of Mahabharat, half of Panchal was owned by King Drupad and the other half was owned by Dronacharya. Draupadi was daughter of the King Drupad and married to Arjun after he won over her in the Swayamvar. Draupadi was named “Panchali” as she was the princess of Panchal.
• Kuntirastra :
Their king Kuntibhoj sided with the Pandavs. They joined the Pandavs because Kuntibhoj was the foster father of Kunti.
• Chedi :
Their king Shishupal had an enmity with Krishna, but after his death his son Dhristaketu allied with the Pandavs. He allied with the Pandavs because Kunti’s sister was married to Dhristaketu’s grandfather.
At Present :
Gwalior region, Madhya Pradesh
Located between the river Ganga and Narmada in Madhya Pradesh, the city of Chedi was a grand city of Mahabharata times. Shishupal, the King of Chedi, was the maternal cousin of Shri Krishna. Shishupal wanted to marry Rukmani but Krishna abducted her and got married to her. Because of this, Shishupal always remained angry with Krishna. While performing the Rajsurya Yagya, when Yudhishthir wanted to give Krishna chief position, Chedi King Shishupal insulted Krishna and called him all sorts of words. At this, Krishna killed him.
• Central Matsya :
Their king Virat and his sons were allies of the Pandavs. They joined the Pandavs because Virat’s daughter Uttara was married to Abhimanyu.
• Karush :
A important ally of the Pandavs. They joined the Pandavs because Kunti’s sister was married to the Karush king’s father.
• Somak :
They were a branch of the Panchals led by Sutasom. They joined the Pandavs because Sutasom was the son of Bhim.
• Kekeye :
The five Kekeye first brought an Akshauni to the Kauravs, but when the Kauravs attacked their kingdom for resources, the five Kekaye brothers joined the Pandavs.
At Present :
North border of Jammu and Kashmir
Kekeye Pradesh was an ancient city of the Mahabharat times. Jaysen, the King of Kekeye, was married to Radhadevi, sister of Vasudev. His son Vind was a friend of Jarasandh and Duryodhan. He wanted to get his sister married to Duryodhan but she loved Krishna, and so married Krishna. During the period of Mahabharat, Kekeye Pradesh was famous for its valorous warriors. Jaysen’s son Vind supported the Kauravas in the Mahabharata war.
• Pandya :
Their king Malayadhvaj came to help the Pandavs.
• Chola :
They were ruled by Malayadhvaj, so they joined the Pandavs
• Chera (Udrakeralas) :
They were allied with the Pandavs.
• Kashi :
The Kashi king Abhibhu with his two sons was on the Pandav side. They joined the Pandavs because Abhibhu’s sister Jallandhara was married to Bhim.
At Present :
Uttar Pradesh
The ancient city of Mahabharat period, Kashi was famous as the chief education centre of India. Bhisma Pitamah had won over Amba, Ambika and Ambalika, the three daughters of the Kashi King. Bhisma wanted to get them married to Vichitravirya. Amba was in love with Shalya, brother of Shishupal, so she refused to marry Vichitravirya. So Ambika and Ambalika were married to Vichitravirya. Dhritrashtra was Ambika’s son and Pandu was Ambalika’s son. Dhritrashtra’s sons were called Kauravas and Pandu’s sons were called Pandavas. The Mahabharata war was fought between the Kauravas and the Pandavs.
• Ashmak :
They were yadavs who fought for the Pandavs.
• Kulind :
Sided with Pandavs and attacked Kauravs with strong elephants.
• Patachchar :
They first joined the Kauravs, but then defected to the Pandav side along with Krathaputra of the Suparsas.
• Srinjay :
They were a branch of the Panchals led by Drupad.
• Malla :
Their king Deerghpragya came to the Pandavs. They fought for the Pandavs because they worshiped Kunti, they often associated with Bhim, they were promoted to the ranks of Kshatriya by Yudhisthir, and Yudhisthir set up a kingdom for them.
• Ashwamedh :
Their king Rochaman fought Bheem in Rajasuya campaign and chose Pandav side.
• Vrishnis :
They were Yadavs who ruled in Anart. They joined the Pandav forces because their leader Satyaki was Arjun’s disciple.
• Dravid :
Southern tribe who sided with the Pandavs.
• Nishad :
There were several Nishad kingdoms. The Nishad kingdoms under Maniman and Ekalavya’s son joined the Pandavs.
• Southern Nishad :
They ruled in South India and joined the Pandavs.
• Param Kamboj :
They brought 6000 troops to the Pandavs.
• Ulluk :
Their king Vrihant was a major ally of the Kauravs and was part of the Bahlik federation, but chose the Pandavs.
• Kumar :
Their king Srenimat chose Pandavs.
• Prabhadrak :
A Panchal tribe that sided with Pandavs.
• Southern Matsya :
They were ruled by the brothers and kinsmen of Virat, so they sided with the Pandavs.
• Rakshash :
Their king Ghatotgach was the son of Bhim, so they joined the Pandavs.
• Pahlav :
A northern tribe that sided with the Pandavs.
• Shivi :
Shivi took side of Pandavs.
At Present :
South Punjab, north border of India
Shivi Desh was located on the north border of India in South Punjab. The grandson of the generous King Ushinar was a Shaivya, who had got his daughter Devika married to Yudhishthir. During the war of Mahabharat, Shaivya played the major role of an archer from the side of the Pandavs.
• Kuru :
Kauravs were from that tribe.
• Trigart (Sampshapataks) :
Their king Susharma along with his brothers was an important ally of the Kauravs. They joined the Kauravs because they were related to Dronacharya.
• Vatadhan :
Their king was captured and their army was forced to fight with the Kauravs.
• Sivi :
They were under Jayadrath who was an ally of the Kauravs.
• Sauvir :
They were under the control of Jayadrath who was a Kaurav ally.
• Sindhu :
This was the kingdom of Jayadrath, an ally of the Kauravs. He fought for the Kauravas because Dushala was married to him.
At Present :
Sindh-Punjab, Mohen-jo-Daro
The ancient Sindhu Desh of Mahabharat time was famous for art-literature and commerce-business. King Jaydrath of Sindhu Desh was married to Dushaala, daughter of Dhritrashtra. In the war of Mahabharat, Jaydrath supported the Kauravas. Jaydrath was the chief reason of the death of Arjun’s son Abhimanyu who was caught up in the chakravyuh. To take revenge of Abhimanyu’s death, Arjun killed Jaydrath.
• Kuru-Vahlik :
They were descended from Bahlik, the brother of Shantanu. Many other tribes joined the Kauravs because they joined.
• Pragjyotish :
Their king Bhagdatt was an ally of the Kauravs.
At Present :
Guwahati, Assam
The capital of ancient Assam state, Pragjyotishpur, was located near present-day Guwahati. During the Mahabharata times, Narkasur was the king of this state. He had made 16000 girls captive. He even fought a battle with Lord Krishna. Shri Krishna killed Narkasur and took all 16000 girls to Dwarka and married them. Later, Bhagdutt, the ruler of Pragjyotishpur, fought the war of Mahabharata from the side of the Kauravas and was killed by Arjun. Here, near the Neelkanth Mountain, is located the famous temple of Kamakhya Devi built by Narkasur.
• Gandhar :
Their king Shakuni was the 100 brothers’ uncle and the main plotter of the schemes of the Kauravs.
At present :
Sindh Pradesh, Rawalpindi
This is an ancient city of Mahabharat times situated to the west of river Sindhu in Sindhu Pradesh. Dhritrashtra’s wife Gandhari was the daughter of King Subal of Gandhar. Gandhari’s brother Shakuni was Duryodhan’s maternal uncle, who defeated Pandavs by fraud in a gamble and became one of the reasons of the war of Mahabharat.
• Madra :
Their king Shalya was siding with the Pandavs, but was tricked into fighting with the Kauravas.
At Present :
Other side of the Himalayas in the North, Jammu- Kashmir
There was an ancient state on the other side of the Himalayas in the North which was called as Madra Desh in Vedic times. According to Aitrai Brahmin, since this was located to the North of the other side of the Himalayas, it was also called Uttarkuru. During the time of Mahabharat, Shalya was the King of Madra Desh. His sister Madri was married to Pandu. Sahadev and Nakul were Madri’s sons. For the Rajsurya Yagya organised by Yudhishthir, residents of Madra had come with gifts for Yudhishthir.
• Salva :
They fought on the Kaurav’s side.
• Amvasth :
Important ally of the Kauravs. They joined the Kauravs because they were part of the Bahlik family.
• Tushar :
A northern tribe that sided with the Kauravs.
• Kambhoj :
Their king Sudakshin was a friend of Duryodhan, so he chose Kauravs. He was also part of the Bahlik family.
• Saka :
Northwestern tribe that was under Bhagdatt, a Kuru ally.
• Yavan :
They fought on Kaurav side.
• Kaling :
Their king Shrutayus chose the Kauravs. They joined the Kauravs because they had been defeated by Yudhisthir several times in the past for their unrighteous deeds, so they wanted revenge.
• Ang :
Their king Karn was a friend of Duryodhan and supported the Kauravs in the Great War.
At Present :
Gonda, Uttar Pradesh
Malini Nagari was the capital of an ancient region of the Gonda district in Uttar Pradesh. Duryodhan had throned Karn as the King of this state. Duryodhan had received this state as a gift from Jarasandh. The capital Malini Nagari is a Shaktipeeth. According to the Puranas, Sati’s right hand - after being cut by the chakra of Vishnu - had fallen here.
• Vang :
They brought elephants for the Kauravs. They joined the Kauravs because they had been defeated by Yudhisthir several times in the past for their unrighteous deeds, so they wanted revenge.
• Sinhal :
They ruled a colonial kingdom of Vang, so they joined the Kauravs.
• Nishad :
The Kaling royal family ruled over them, so they sided with the Kauravs.
• Avanti :
The rulers of Avanti, Vind and Anuvind were close friends of Duryodhan. They also had enmity with Krishna, so they joined the Kauravs.
• Vasati :
Their king Vasatiya was a close cousin of the Kauravs.
• Pulind :
They were dwellers of the Vindhya Range and chose the Kauravs.
• Mahishmati (Hehey) :
Their ruler Nil Duryodhan was on the Kaurav’s side. They chose the Kauravs because Nil Duryodhan had been defeated by Sahadev in his military campaign, so he wanted revenge on Sahadev due to his arrogance.
• Kosal :
Their king Vrihadval sided with Duryodhan and brought 10,000 chariots.
• Nishad :
They were ruled by the same royal family that ruled the Kalings and chose the Kauravs. They joined because of their enmity with Kuntibhoj and the Karushas.
• Andhak :
They were headed by Kritavarma and were the only Yadavs on the Kaurav’s side.
• Andhra :
They fought for Duryodhan and the Kauravs.
• Abhisar :
They joined the Kauravs because their rulers were part of the Bahlik family.
• Abhir :
Abhir king Chitra and his brother Chitrasen sided with the Kauravs.
• Karnapravarna :
Joined the Kaurav forces.
• Kitavas :
They were headed by Shakuni’s son Ulluk.
• Southern Kuntal :
They sided with the Kauravs.
• Khas :
A northern tribe that chose the Kauravs in the great war.
• Kirat :
They were under Bhagdatt’s control, who was a Kaurav ally.
• China :
They were part of Bhagdatt’s army.
• Tundirek :
Sided with the Kauravas.
• Parad / Paratak :
A northern that was in the Kaurav forces.
• Eastern Vangs :
They brought elephants to the Kuru forces.
• Surasen :
They were from Mathura and helped the Kauravs in the Kurukshetra war.
• Simhal :
A kingdom near Lanka that joined the Kauravs.
• Saurashtra :
A kingdom near Dwarka that sided with Duryodhan.
• Mekal :
Mekals fought on the Kaurav side.
• Pragjyotish :
This was the kingdom of Bhagdatt, who was an ally of the Pandavs.
• Prasthal :
They were a branch of the Trigarts.
• Tamralipti :
Their king Samudrasen chose Kauravs.
• Rakshash :
Two Rakshash kings (viz. Alayudh and Alambush) joined the Kauravs because Danavs preferred the Kauravs.
• Kekaye :
The 5 Kekaye brothers eventually joined the Pandavs, but Vind and Anuvind, another set of brothers from the Kekaye family, chose the Kauravs.
• Nishadh :
They fought for the Kauravas.
• Vidarbh :
Their king Rukmi asked both sides if they wanted his help, but both sides declined.
At Present :
Vidarbh
King Bhismak of Vidarbha, capital of Vidarbha Pradesh, was a valorous person. At the time of the Surya Yagya organized by the Pandavas, he had captured the horse of the yagya. Due to this, there was a fight between him and Sahadev and he was defeated. Bhismak was Jarasandh’s friend and considered Krishna as his enemy. Shri Krishna had kidnapped his daughter Rukmani and married her.
• Kashmir :
They were defeated by Arjun and did not participate in war.
• Kichak :
They were under Matsya control and their king Kechak was killed by Bheem. They did not participate in the Kurukshetra war.
Matsya At present :
North Rajasthan
Matsya Desh, located north of present-day Rajasthan, was one of the chief states of the Mahabharata times. Its capital was Viraatnagari. Pandavas had lived here at the King Viraat’s palace in disguise for one year as they were to live incognito after the exile. During this time, King Viraat’s brother-in-law and commander Kichak set a bad eye on Draupadi and was killed by Bhima. Arjun’s son Abhimanyu was married to King Viraat’s daughter Uttara. There is a mention of Matsya Desh even in the Vedic times.
• Mahishak :
They did not participate in the war.
• Videh :
They did not participate in the war because of their small army. |