Gandhari: The Epitome Of Virtue

By- Khushi Bisht

Gandhari, one of the major characters of Mahabharata, is considered to be the incarnation of Goddess Mati (Goddess of Knowledge). She was the daughter of King Subala, the Gandhara Kingdom's (an area in northwestern Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan) ruler, and was given the name Gandhari as a result.

Gandhari was King Dhritrashtra's wife and the Kuru kingdom's eldest daughter-in-law. However, unlike other female characters like Draupadi, Gandhari is barely mentioned in any of the literary works. In this post, we'll take a closer look at Gandhari's character, both as a wife and mother.

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Princess of Gandhara

The king of Gandhar, Subala had a daughter named Gandhari who he named after his kingdom. She was Shakuni's younger sister, who was a key figure in the Mahabharata battle.

She was a devout follower of Lord Shiva and would spend hours in prayer and fasting. According to the Mahabharata narrative, Lord Shiva was so impressed with her dedication and granted her the boon of giving birth to 100 mighty sons.

Dhritarashtra and GandhariWikimedia Commons

Wife of Dhritarashtra

Gandhari was married to the Kuru kingdom's eldest ruler, "Dhritarashtra," and is generally considered the embodiment of virtue. In the Mahabharata epic, she is portrayed as a devout and loyal wife, charming, virtuous, and faithful woman.

When she learned that her husband Dhritarashtra was blind, she swore to wear a blindfold for the rest of her life. Due to her devotion to her husband, she cloaked herself in endless darkness. This act exemplifies Gandhari's loyalty and conjugal devotion.

Mother Of 101 Children

Gandhari gave birth to a hundred sons (the Kauravas) and one daughter, Dushala. Since Gandhari was blindfolded, she was incapable of seeing and leading her children down the righteous path.

Gandhari's greatest weakness was her affection for her sons, particularly her eldest, Duryodhana, which caused her to be oblivious to his defects. She adored her children. However, she was also aware of her eldest son, Duryodhana's, arrogance and stubbornness.

Even though Gandhari's sons were presented as villains, the Mahabharata credits Gandhari with strong principles. She urged her sons to pursue dharma and live peacefully with the Pandavas on numerous occasions.

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According to the Mahabharata narrative, Lord Shiva was so impressed with Gandhari's dedication and granted her the boon of giving birth to 100 mighty sons.Wikimedia Commons

Curse Of Gandhari

Sacrificing her vision and austere lifestyle bestowed enormous divine strength onto Gandhari, enabling her to bestow superpowers and curses.

When the dreadful war concluded, Shri Krishna went to Gandhari to receive her blessings before departing for the Dwarka. However, instead of blessings, he was cursed by her.

She cursed him by saying that he would suffer the same sorrow as she did when she lost her entire family. She said that the Yadu kingdom would perish and this curse came true 36 years later. Losing all her sons brought her such anguish that she cursed Lord Krishna, destroying the Yadavas.

Overall, Gandhari was the embodiment of love and devotion. She was the ideal wife and spent her entire married life in the darkness. She is one of Mahabharata's most important characters whom mythologists have simply overlooked.