Draupadi: Ten Interesting facts!!!

Draupadi is the most significant woman in the Hindu classic, Mahabharata.

As depicted in the Mahabharata, Draupadi was the daughter of Drupada, the king of Panchala, which is now known located somewhere in Bareilly. Drupada had been defeated by the Arjuna, on behalf of Guru Dronacharya. Latter, in order to gain revenge on Guru Dronacharya, Drupada performed a Putrakameshti yajna. From that sacrificial yajna kund, appeared a beautiful dark-skinned young woman Draupadi. When she emerged from the fire, a heavenly voice (aakaashvaani) said that she would bring about the destruction of the Kuruvansh.

Here are some interesting facts about Draupadi, the Paanchaali.

It is believed by some people that Draupadi, in her previous birth, was Indrasena the wife of great saint Moudgalya, who died in early age due to leprosy. In order to fulfill her own desires, Indrasena worshiped Lord Shiva and asked for a husband. However, she asked the same for five times in a rush.

There is another version of Mahabharata, where it is mentioned that Draupadi was a great devotee of Lord Shiva, and had always wished to marry someone with five qualities including Righteousness, Mighty, Archery Skills, Handsome and Tolerant. However, Lord Shiva misinterpreted her to wish and blessed her to have five husbands with each personality.

In South India, it is believed that Draupadi was an incarnation of Goddess Maha Kali, who was born to help Lord Krishna to abolish the arrogant Kauravas.

Draupadi agreed to become the wife of five Pandavas on one condition, i.e. she would never share her household with any other women, which means the Pandavas had no right to bring their other wives to Indraprastha.

Pandavas also decided that Draupadi would stay with each of the brothers for a year and then would move to next brother. This shrewd decision was taken to prevent distrust and to identify paternity of Draupadi’s children.

As agreed between Pandavas and Draupadi, only one brother was permissible to enter her chamber at a time and was supposed to keep his shoes outside as a mark of indication but one day, a dog took away Yudhishthira’s shoes then Draupadi cursed dogs by saying: “All the world will see you copulate in public, stripped of all shame.”

Before Draupadi moved from one husband to another, she walked through fiery fire to recapture her purity and virginity.

Draupadi had one son each from each of the Pandava brothers. They were known as Uppanadavas.

Draupadi’s Vessel, which means her kitchen that, had an abundant stock of food. It was considered as a mark of a great homemaker and Draupadi was surely one. She never let anyone sleep empty stomach in her palace or those who came for alms.

Draupadi had always considered Lord Krishna as her true friend, Sakhaa. Lord Krishna was the only who came to her rescue whenever she had found herself in awful situations.

Draupadi was never responsible for the Mahabharata war, however, most of the people do believe that she was the one who provoked for the war. That is absolutely incorrect. Of course she had always encouraged Yudhishthir and Arjun to fight against wrong, however, the issue still remains debatable based on people’s perceptions.

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