Chedi kingdom (चेदि) was one among the many kingdoms ruled during early periods by Paurava kings and later by Yadav kings in the central and western India. It falls roughly in the Bundelkhand division of Madhya Pradesh regions to the south of river Yamuna and along river Betwa or Vetravati. Geography Bundelkhand lies between the Indo-Gangetic Plain to the north and the Vindhya Range to the south Madhya Pradesh (abbreviated as MP) ( Hindī: मध्य प्रदेश pronounced, Translation: Middle Province) often For the goddess of the river who is sometimes called Yamuna see Yami The Yamuna (Sanskrit यमुना The Betwa (Vetravati is a river in Northern India, and a Tributary of the Yamuna and joins Yamuna near Hamirpur. The Chedi kingdom was ruled by Sisupala, an ally of Jarasandha of Magadha and Duryodhana of Kuru. Shishupala or Sisupala was son of Damaghosha, king of Chedi, by Srutadeva, sister of Vasudeva; he was therefore cousin of Krishna Jarasandha ( Sanskrit: जरासंध the king of Magadha, is a character of the epic Mahābhārata. This article is about the kingdom of Magadha in Indian epic literature In the Hindu epic the Mahābhārata, Duryodhana (दुर्योधन is the eldest son of the blind king Dhritarashtra by Queen Gandhari The Kuru kingdom was ruled by the Kuru clan of kings The Pandavas and Kauravas were Kurus Other than these Kurus of India, there was another He was a rival of Vasudeva Krishna who was his uncle's son. This article describes Krishna's role in the Mahabharata For the main article on Krishna see Krishna. He was killed by Vasudeva Krishna during the Rajasuya sacrifice of the Pandava king Yudhisthira. This article describes Krishna's role in the Mahabharata For the main article on Krishna see Krishna. Rajasuya was a sacrifice described in detail in the Mahabharata, performed by the ancient kings of India who considered themselves powerful enough to be an Emperor In the great Hindu epic Mahabharata, Yudhisthira ( Sanskrit: युधिष्ठिर yudhiṣṭhira) the eldest son of King Bhima's wife was from Chedi. In the Mahābhārata, Bhima ( Sanskrit: भीम IAST: Bhīma was the second of the Pandava brothers The city called Suktimati is mentioned as the capital of Chedi. Suktimati ( Shuktimati, Sukti) was the capital city of the Chedi Kingdom in India. Prominent Chedis during Kurukshetra War included Damaghosha, Shishupala, Dhrishtaketu, Suketu, Sarabha, Bhima's wife, Nakula's wife Karenumati, Dhristaketu's sons. The Kurukshetra War ( Devangari: कुरुक्षेत्र युद्ध forms an essential component of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata Shishupala or Sisupala was son of Damaghosha, king of Chedi, by Srutadeva, sister of Vasudeva; he was therefore cousin of Krishna In the Mahābhārata, Bhima ( Sanskrit: भीम IAST: Bhīma was the second of the Pandava brothers Nakula ( Sanskrit: नकुल naküla) was one of the five Pandava brothers according to the epic Mahābhārata. Other famous Chedis included King Uparichara Vasu, his children, King Suvahu, King Sahaja
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References in Mahābhārata
Chedi mentioned as a Kingdom of Ancient India (Bharata Varsha)
The Kuru-Panchalas, the Salwas, the Madreyas, the Jangalas, the Surasena, the Kalingas, the Vodhas, the Malas, 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 Pandavas. In the Hindu epic Mahābhārata, the Pandava (or Pandawa brothers ( Sanskrit: पाण्डव pāṇḍavaḥ are the five acknowledged sons of
Surrounding the kingdom of the Kurus, are, many countries beautiful and abounding in corn, such as Panchala, Chedi, Matsya, Surasena, Pattachchara, Dasarna, Navarashtra, Malla, Salva, Yugandhara, Saurashtra, Avanti, and the spacious Kuntirashtra. The Kuru kingdom was ruled by the Kuru clan of kings The Pandavas and Kauravas were Kurus Other than these Kurus of India, there was another For the Genus of Gossamer-winged butterflies, see Panchala (butterfly. Matsya or Machcha ( Sanskrit for fish classically called the Mese (ˈmiːˌziː was the name of a tribe and the state of the Vedic civilization Surasena Kingdom was ruled by Yadava kings as per the epic Mahabharata. Dasarna kingdom was one among the many kingdoms ruled by Yadava kings in the central and western India Malla Kingdom was situated in the Gangatic Plain between the Kosala and Videha. Salwa is a kingdom grouped among the western kingdoms in the epic Mahabharata. This article is about the kingdom of Saurashtra in Indian epic literature The former Avanti kingdom was one among the many kingdoms ruled by the Yadava kings in the central and western India. As per the epic Mahabharata, the Kunti Kingdom was the kingdom of Kuntibhoja, one of the prominent kings among the Bhoja Yadavas. (4,1)
King Uparichara Vasu and the festival of bamboo pole
Uparichara Vasu was a king of Chedi belonging to the Puru Dynasty. He was known as the friend of Indra. Indra ( Sanskrit: इन्द्र or इंद्र Indra, Malay: Indera, Thai: พระอินทร์ Phra-Intra During his reign, Chedi kingdom contained much mineral wealth. It was abundant in animals and corn. There were many towns and cities in the kingdom. He possessed a very special chariot. He introduced a festival in his kingdom in the honor of Indra. This article describes different festivals celebrated in ancient India as revealed by the epics Mahabharata and Ramayana. The festival involved planting of a bamboo pole every year, in honor of Indra. Indra ( Sanskrit: इन्द्र or इंद्र Indra, Malay: Indera, Thai: พระอินทร์ Phra-Intra The king will then pray for the expansion of his cities and kingdom. After erecting the pole, people decked it with golden cloth and scents and garlands and various ornaments. From Chedi, he ruled a large territory, placing his sons as governors of various provinces. His son Vrihadratha (Maharatha) was installed in Magadha. This article is about the kingdom of Magadha in Indian epic literature His other sons, viz Pratyagraha, Kusamva (Manivahana), Mavella and Yadu also became governors at various places. Thus the Chedi king attained the status of an emperor and his kingdom became a vast empire. He diverted the waters of river Suktimati from the locks of the Mountain Kolahala, for irrigating his capital-city which he named Suktimati. (1,63)
- 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 Matsya Kingdom and founded the royal dynasty called Matsya Dynasty. Matsya or Machcha ( Sanskrit for fish classically called the Mese (ˈmiːˌziː was the name of a tribe and the state of the Vedic civilization The female child lived as a member of fishermen community. Her line established as fishermen on the banks of river Yamuna, in the kingdom of Kurus. For the goddess of the river who is sometimes called Yamuna see Yami The Yamuna (Sanskrit यमुना The Kuru kingdom was ruled by the Kuru clan of kings The Pandavas and Kauravas were Kurus Other than these Kurus of India, there was another The famous Kuru king Santanu's wife Satyavati was from this fishermen community. Shantanu ( Sanskrit: शंतनु is a king of Hastinapura in the great epic of the Mahābhārata. Satyavati ( Sanskrit: सत्यवती is the great-grandmother of the Pandava and Kaurava princes principal characters of the Mahābhārata The author of Mahābhārata, vis Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa and the Kuru kings viz Chitrangada and Vichitravirya were the sons of Satyavati. Vyāsa ( Devanāgarī: व्यास is a central and revered figure in the majority of Hindu traditions Pandavas and Kauravas where the grandsons of Vichitravirya. In the Hindu epic Mahābhārata, the Pandava (or Pandawa brothers ( Sanskrit: पाण्डव pāṇḍavaḥ are the five acknowledged sons of The term Kaurava ( Sanskrit:कौरव is a Sanskrit term that means a descendant of Kuru, a legendary king who is the ancestor of many of the characters (1,63)
- Another story connects Vasu with non-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, he answered that is was edible. (13,115)
- 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 Sisupala of Chedi
Sisupala was the son of the King Damaghosha (1,189). He had another name viz Sunitha. His mother was a Yadava lady by the name Srutakirti, who was the sister of Kunti, the mother of Pandavas. Kunti ( Sanskrit: कुंती is the mother of the eldest three of the Pandava brothers from the Indian epic Mahābhārata. In the Hindu epic Mahābhārata, the Pandava (or Pandawa brothers ( Sanskrit: पाण्डव pāṇḍavaḥ are the five acknowledged sons of Both Kunti and Srutakirti was sister's of Vasudeva the father of Vasudeva Krishna. This article describes Krishna's role in the Mahabharata For the main article on Krishna see Krishna. However Sisupala developed enmity with Krishna (2,44), though he was affectionate to the Pandava Bhima. In the Hindu epic Mahābhārata, the Pandava (or Pandawa brothers ( Sanskrit: पाण्डव pāṇḍavaḥ are the five acknowledged sons of In the Mahābhārata, Bhima ( Sanskrit: भीम IAST: Bhīma was the second of the Pandava brothers During his military campaign to collect tribute for Pandava king Yudhisthira's Rajasuya sacrifice, Bhima stayed at the palace of Sisupala for a month as a guest. In the Hindu epic Mahābhārata, the Pandava (or Pandawa brothers ( Sanskrit: पाण्डव pāṇḍavaḥ are the five acknowledged sons of In the great Hindu epic Mahabharata, Yudhisthira ( Sanskrit: युधिष्ठिर yudhiṣṭhira) the eldest son of King Rajasuya was a sacrifice described in detail in the Mahabharata, performed by the ancient kings of India who considered themselves powerful enough to be an Emperor He also accepted Yudhisthira's sway over his kingdom and gave Bhima tribute (2,28). During the midst of Yudhisthira's Rajasuya ceremony, a dispute arose between Sisupala and Vasudeva Krishna. Pandavas tried to mediate. He also rebuked the Pandavas and Kuru grandsire Bhishma along with Krishna. Bhishma: One of the strongest characters of the Mahabharata. He was the great-uncle of both the Pandavas and the Kauravas A unparalleled archer he once Then Krishna, extremely provoked, slew Sisupala. (2,44).
Sisupala's hostilities to Krishna were many. He burned the city of Dwaraka, while Krishna was in Pragjyotisha with his army. This article is about a Hindu philosophical concept the original or absolute manifestation of God Pragjyotisha was a mythological kingdom first mentioned in the Hindu epics and later Hindu literature He attacked king Bhoja, sporting at Raivataka hill close to Dwaraka. He stole the horse of Krishna's father Vasudeva, during his horse-sacrifice. He insulted the wife of Akrura (Vabhru - the friend of Krishna), on her way from Dwaraka to Sauvira Kingdom. Sauvira was a kingdom mentioned in the epic Mahabharata. According to the epic Jayadratha was the king of Sindhus, Sauviras and Sivis. He also insulted princess of Visala, viz Bhadra, the fiancé of Karusha king. Karusha Kingdom was one among the many kingdoms ruled by Yadava kings in the central and western India (2,44)
- Yudhisthira installed Sisupala's son in the throne of Chedi. (2,44)
- Sisupala's sister was married to Bhima as per the reference in (15,25)
King Dhristaketu of Chedi
Dhristaketu , the king of Chedi (3,12), was described as the son of king Sisupala (5,50). In the Mahābhārata, Bhima ( Sanskrit: भीम IAST: Bhīma was the second of the Pandava brothers During the time of Dhristaketu also, Suktimati was the capital of Chedi. Dhristaketu was an army-general in the army of Pandavas in Kurukshetra War. The Kurukshetra War ( Devangari: कुरुक्षेत्र युद्ध forms an essential component of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata He was the leader of the army of the Chedis, the Kasis, and the Karushas (5,199). Kasi (Kashi was an ancient kingdom with Varanasi as its capital on the banks of Ganges River. Karusha Kingdom was one among the many kingdoms ruled by Yadava kings in the central and western India He was a Maharatha ( a great car-warrior) as per the rating of Bhishma (5,172). Bhishma: One of the strongest characters of the Mahabharata. He was the great-uncle of both the Pandavas and the Kauravas A unparalleled archer he once One of his sons also took part in the war(5,57). He was slain by Drona (7,128),(11,25). In the epic Mahābhārata, Drona ( Sanskrit: द्रोण droNa) or Dronacharya (द्रोणाचार्य droNāchārya Dhristaketu also was slain in battle by Drona.
- Chedi Princess Karenumati was wedded to the Pandava Nakula, and prince Narimitra was their son. In the Hindu epic Mahābhārata, the Pandava (or Pandawa brothers ( Sanskrit: पाण्डव pāṇḍavaḥ are the five acknowledged sons of Nakula ( Sanskrit: नकुल naküla) was one of the five Pandava brothers according to the epic Mahābhārata. (1,95). It is not clear if she was Dhristaketu's sister. However it was mentioned that his sister was the wife of one of the Pandavas (3,22)(15,1).
- Sarabha, the son of Sisupala became the king of Chedi after the death of Dhristaketu. He was defeated in battle by Arjuna during his military campaign, after the Kurukshetra War. Arjuna or Arjun ( Sanskrit: अर्जुन arjuna) is one of the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata, whose name The Kurukshetra War ( Devangari: कुरुक्षेत्र युद्ध forms an essential component of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata (14,83)
Other Kings of Chedi
- King Suvahu was described as the king of Chedi, during the time of Nishadha king Nala. Nishadha was the kingdom of the celebrated king Nala, who loved and married Damayanti the princess of Vidarbha Kingdom. Nala ( Sanskrit: नल a character in Hindu mythology is the king of Nishadha Kingdom, who marries princess Damayanti, of Vidarbha Kingdom His wife, Damayanti the princess of Vidarbha, left alone in forest, met a caravan of traders heading towards Chedi. Damayanti (दमयंती a character in Hindu mythology was the princess of Vidarbha Kingdom, who married king Nala, of Nishadha Kingdom Vidarbha kingdom was one among the many kingdoms ruled by Yadava kings (Bhoja Yadavas in the central and western India in a region still known as Vidarbha. 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)
Chedis in Kurukshetra War
Chedi King Dhristaketu 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 Dhristaketu and his son (7,122)
- Another Chedi prince was slain by Aswatthaman, the son of Drona (7,198)
- Another son of Sisupala, brother of Dhristaketu, named Suketu also was slain by Drona (8,6)
Chedi army
Chedi army is mentioned with many other armies fighting on the side of Pandavas
- The Kasayas, the Chedis, the Matsyas, the Srinjayas (5,57)
- The Kasis, the Panchalas, the Chedis, and the Matsyas(5,72)
- The Chedis, the Panchalas, and the Kekayas(5,144)
- The Pandavas, the Chedis, the Panchalas, and the Yadavas(5,144)
- The Chedis, the Kasis, the Karushas, and the Panchalas (6,47)
- The Chedis, the Kasis, the Karushas, and the Pauravas (6,54)
- The Chedis, the Panchalas, the Kurushas, the Matsyas(6,59)
- The Chedis, the Kasis, and the Karushas (6-107,117)
- The Chedis and the Panchalas(6,116)
- The Matsyas, the Panchalas, and the Chedis (6,119)
- The Kekayas, the Chedis, the Karushas, the Matsyas (7,9)
- The Panchalas, the Kekayas, the Matsyas, the Chedis, the Karushas and the Kosalas (7-21,153,163)
- The Chedis, the Panchalas, and the Pandavas (7,30)
- The Chedis, the Matsyas, and the Srinjayas (7,76)
- The Chedis and Panchalas and Srinjayas (7,105)
- The Chedis, the Panchalas, the Srinjayas, and the Kekayas (7,111)
- The Chedis, the Srinjayas, the Kasis, and the Kosalas (7,112)
- The Kaikeyas and the Chedis(7,151)
- The Chedis, the Panchalas, and the Somakas(7,157)
- The Prabhadrakas, the Panchalas, the Chedis, and the Kaikeyas (7,191)
- A king named Chediddhaja sided with Kauravas (5,62)
See also
Other kingdoms in this group include
- Heheya (Narmada valley)
- Surasena (Mathura district Uttar Pradesh)
- Dasarna (in Madhya Pradesh)
- Karusha (in Madhya Pradesh)
- Kunti (in Madhya Pradesh)
- Avanti (around Ujjain)
- Malava (Eastern Rajasthan) (migrated from Western Malava)
- Gurjara (Southern Rajasthan)
- Anarta (Northern Gujarat)
- Saurashtra (Southern Gujarat)
- Dwaraka (Offshore Gujarat)
- Vidarbha (North East Maharashtra)
References
- Mahābhārata of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated to English by Kisari Mohan Ganguli
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