Chedi Kingdom
Chedi (
According to the
In the Puranas
The Chedi clan and kingdom was founded by Chidi, the son of Vidarbha and belonging to the Yadava dynasty. Chedi was later conquered and ruled by the Pururava King Vasu Uparichara, upon the order of Indra. Uparichara's descendant is Shishupala.[citation needed]
Chedi mentioned as a Kingdom of Ancient India (Bharata Varsha)
The Kuru-Panchalas, the Salwas, the Madreyas, the Jangalas, the Surasenas, the Kalingas, the Vodhas, the Mallas, the Matsyas, the Sauvalyas, the Kuntalas, the Kasi-Kosalas, the Chedis, the Karushas, the Bhojas...(6,9)
Chedi was one among the kingdoms chosen for spending the 13th year of exile by the
Surrounding the kingdom of the
King Uparichara Vasu and the festival of bamboo pole
- This beautiful city of the Chedis was called after the Oyster. (14,83)
His wife Girika, was from the valley of Kolahala. Girika's brother was installed as the generalissimo of Vasu's army. Apart from his five royal sons, he had a son and a daughter born of a woman of fisherman community. The male child, in due course established the
- Another story connects Vasu with vegetarianism in ancient India. Filled with doubts respecting the propriety of eating flesh, some sages asked Uparichara Vasu for solving them. King Vasu, knowing that flesh is inedible, answered that it was edible. From that moment Vasu fell down from the firmament on the earth. After this he once more repeated his opinion, with the result that he had to sink below the earth for it. (13,115)[1]
- A similar story connects Vasu with the issue of animal sacrifices. In his opinion sacrifices could be performed with or without the slaughter of animals. (14,91)
King Shishupala of Chedi
Shishupala's hostilities to Krishna were many. He burned the city of
- Yudhishthira installed Shishupala's son in the throne of Chedi. (2,44)
- Shishupala's sister was married to Bhima as per the reference in (15,25)
King Dhrishtaketu of Chedi
Dhrishtaketu, the king of Chedi (3,12), was described as the elder son of King
- Chedi Princess, Karenumati, was wedded to the Pandava Nakula, and prince Narimitra was their son. (1,95). It is not clear if she was Dhrishtaketu's sister. However, it was mentioned that his sister was the wife of one of the Pandavas (3,22) (15,1).
- Sarabha, the middle son of Shishupala became the king of Chedi after the death of Dhrishtaketu. He was killed in battle by Arjuna during his military campaign, after the Kurukshetra War. (14,83)
- Mahipala, the youngest son of Shishupala, was killed by Dussasana with an exploding arrow on the 9th day of the Kurukshetra War.
Other Kings of Chedi
- King Subahu was described as the king of Chedi, during the time of Nishadha king Nala and Lord Rama . His wife, Damayanti the princess of Vidarbha, left alone in forest, met a caravan of traders heading towards Chedi. Along with them she reached the Chedi capital and lived as a servant maid of queen, in the palace of Chedi. (3–64,65)
- King Sahaja among the Chedis and Matsyas, were described as an annihilator of his own race (5,74). He was the ally of Lord Rama.
Chedis in Kurukshetra War
King of Chedi Kingdom, Dhrishtaketu, the son of Shishupala (who was killed by Krishna on the day of Yudhishthira's Rajasuya Yagna) and his sons (at least 3) took part in the Kurukshetra War from the Pandavas' side. Dhrishtaketu was killed by Guru Dronacharya on the 14th day of the war. Prince of Chedi kingdom (Son of Dhrishaketu) was killed by Ashwatthama on the 15th day of the war.
Chedi King Dhrishtaketu and his sons
- The powerful chief of the Chedis, Dhrishtaketu, accompanied by an Akshauhini, came to the sons of Pandu. (5–19,57)
- The assembled kings of the Chedi and the Karusha tribes have all taken the part of the Pandavas with all their resources. (5,22)
- Chedi King Dhrishtaketu employed Kamboja steeds of variegated hue in the battle (7,23)
- Drona slew Dhrishtaketu and his son (7,122)
- Another Chedi prince was slain by Ashwatthama, the son of Drona (7,198)
- Another son of Shishupala, brother of Dhrishtaketu, named Suketu also was slain by Drona (8,6)
In popular culture
In the 2012 anthropological thriller The Krishna Key, the origin of the Chedi clan is linked to the Yadavas. Dr. Devendra Chedi is one of the main characters of the novel who is the genetic expert.[2]
See also
- Mahameghavahana dynasty
- Epic India
- Shishupala
References
- ^ "The Mahabharata". sacred-texts.com.
- ^ The Krishna Key, Chapter, 46,The Krishna Key , Sanghi, Ashwin, Westland Publishers 2012
- "The Mahabharata". sacred-texts.com.
- Kisari Mohan Ganguli, The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose, 1883–1896.