Sahadeva- Part 1, early life

Sahadeva- Part 1, early life

Did you know that Sahadeva, the youngest Pandava prince, considered an embodiment of knowledge but a secretive man who never revealed anything, compiled together various occult sciences (Astrology) that helped to predict future, even Kurukshetra war?

Sahadeva सहदेव and his twin brother, Nakula, were children of King Pandu and Queen Madri by invoking the twin gods Ashvins. He was the last brother of the five Pandavas who played a pivotal role in the epic Mahabharata which involved a fratricidal war between two groups of cousins the Kauravas and Pandavas, at Kurukshetra,  

Sahadeva, though twin of Nakula, had no similarities with him in any of his charcheristics. While Nakula was born at sunrise, Sahadeva was born at sunset; probably at the twilight hour. Sahadeva, as the youngest of the five Pandava brothers, is said to personify the Legs of Man. He was a reservoir of knowldge but a secretive man who never revealed anything, compiled together various occult sciences (Astrolog) that helped to predict future. There is a story, though sounds apocryphall connected with his father Pandu which says that Pandu, before his untimely death had told his sons: "that ' years of celibacy and meditation in the forest has given me great knowledge which is embedded in my body. When I die, eat my flesh (in some versions his brain) and you will be blessed with all great knowledge. That shall be your true inheritance". But Pandu was cremated and hence his sons could not follow the wish of their father. Providentially, Sahadeva noticed ants carrying a tiny piece of his father's body and he suddenly took it and put in his mouth. Lo and behold, instantly, he knew everything of the past and even of future events. He revealed this to his mother and brothers but then Lord Krishna appeared on the scene advised him to keep quiet and never to reveal what he knew. Sahadeva had from that time kept quiet, knowing everything but never able to tell anyone. His secretive nature has now now become a byword colloquially referred as a ' Sahadeva '.

The literal meaning of the Sanskrit word Sahadeva is derived (Saha deva) from "Saha (सह) with (deva) dev" and the word Deva (देव) is derived from "div" which is cognate with Dyn , who is the Vedic original of the Nyaya system of thought. Thus, Sahadeva is considered to personify, the Nyaya system of thought. The compound word Sahadeva, comprising saha and deva is a Hindu term used for deity, and literally, Sahadeva means with Gods. Another meaning is thousand Gods. Sahadeva and his brother Nakula, are both called as Ashvineya (आश्विनेय), as they were born to Madri and Pandu with blessings of Ashvins, the Hindu twin gods associated with medicine, health, dawn and sciences. It is also believed that Sahadeva was an incarnation of Shukra, the guru of the asuras.

Following his mother Madri committing Sati (self immolation) at the pyre of her husband Pandu, the Pandava brothers along with their mother Kunti were escorted by Bhishma to Hastinapur to live with therir uncle Dhritarashtra who ruled over the Kuru Kingdom. Kunti, Sahadeva's and Nakula's stemother raised them along with her own sons in Hastinapur with love and care. It is said that Sahadeva was Kunti's favourite Pandava, in spite of not being her biological son. 

Sahadeva in his youth acquired skills in swordsmanship and astrology. Dronacharya trained him and his brothers in all aspects of warfare. He was also extremly creative with a talent in painting, music and other arts. He used to write stories about future generations of vimanas, gadgest to help see things in the distance, and gadgets that could amplify sounds, and more. He was also a master in medicine, equastrian skills, bovine veterinary, politics and humanities. It is belived that he was his brother Yudhishthira’s private counsellor. He was always mild-mannered, bashful, patent and virtuous. He closely inteacted with Lord Krishna at all times whom he considered as god incarnate.

Sahadeva's mother Madri's brother Shalya was very fond of his orphaned nephews, and would often visit them in Hastinapur. He also built up a strong bondage with Yudhishthira, the eldest of the Pandavas who was intensely possessive of his youngest brothers Nakula and Sahadeva. Shalya would often take his nephews to Madra and try to persuade them to shift to Madra permanently as his heirs to the Kingdom, eschewing right of his own children, as his nephews were born to Gods. This wish was fructified only after the Panadavaa won the Mahabharta war of Kuruskshetra. 

During the thirteen years exile period Sahadeav underwent along with his other Pandava brothers, following Yudhishthira loosing all his possessions including his wife in a dice game he played with Kaurva prince Duryodhana. During this period, Sahadeva learned the art of Parashu (axe)-fighting. He also acquired a powerful astra known as Nitishastra from Guru Brihaspathi., the teacher of the Devas.

During the Kurukshetra War, he slew many warriors including Shakuni, king of Gandhar. 

Note: To be continued in the next episode titled: Sahadeva- Part 2, marriage, Rajasuyayagba, exile and Mahabhrata war".

Narasipur Char