I've been an ardent fan of Mahabharata, but now that I think about it, except for Draupadi, Amba etc. getting their rightful revenge, it actually normalises rape and materialising women during several instances... Here are a few I remember:
Sage Parashara sleeps with Satyavati, in spite of her unwillingness, his only assurance to her that she will go back to being a virgin after giving birth to his child and she gets a “divine fragrance” (because apparently trauma is fine if you get perfume out of it; wth?)
Bheeshma "ACQUIRING" Ambika and Ambalika from their swayamvar for Vichitravirya....
Salva refusing to marry Amba, because he got defeated by Bheeshma.
Satyavati later calls on Vyasa to impregnate her daughters-in-law (who are clearly repulsed by him) by something called "niyoga", which does not make the term rape better in any way. And mind you, they were not even asked for consent. It is nauseating to think that Satyavati, herself, who went through something similar, did this. Oh, also after, Ambika, one of the victims, sends her maid to Vyasa, when he comes to impregnate her again... Ik it was a desperate move, Ambika, but way to go👏
Kunti accidentally calls upon Surya to test her powers, when she's still a child, and poor Lord Surya, bound by his duty, rapes her and leaves her to have his kid.
Pandu having no issue with the fact that multiple gods are sleeping with his wives, just so that he can have a son, which is obv not his.
Dhritarashtra impregnating Sugadha, Gandhari's maid, because Gandhari did not deliver her child past usual due... Apparently, being desperate for a child (i mean, a SON), is a valid reason to rape a maid
And yes, Draupadi is powerful. She questions the court. She refuses silence. But she and Bhanumati are both gambled away like property before anyone suddenly remembers morality exists.
Basically, Lineage > women. Sons > consent. Dynasty > dignity.
Both the epics show constant sexualisation of women and submissiveness.... Although they give valuable lessons and ALSO PROMOTE FEMALE EMPOWERMENT, you cannot ignore the crude misogyny baked into it.
She must probably belong to a tribe that used bird totems. She is married to the rishi Kalavriksha. Her son is named Hiranyahasta, who is married to Sumadhyama, the daughter of the king Madirashva.
She is invoked beside their women whose children were also born from inter-caste relationships and still were considered successful and respected brahmins. Bheeshma, after calling him a clown who should stop his clownery, mentions them when Yudhishthira expresses that he considers it sinful that sometimes [read: rarely] people not born 'purely' brahmin still get the respect they deserve based on their merit alone.
Thank you so much for writing about Vrishasena and Arjuna. Could you please also write something about them but in an AU where Kunti tells them the truth (before the dyut sabha)? Something fluffy, please!
This ask has been sitting in my inbox for four months. I'm so sorry anon, fluff is really not my thing, but I tried. I hope you like this little thing. Previous angst version is here.
1.
It is a bitter winter morning when Arjuna finds his mother in the royal hall, prepared to sweep his world from under his feet. He huddles together with his brothers, glancing warily as the Kaurava retinue moan and complain among themselves about being summoned. Pitamaha is here as well, as are the King and the Queen, and Uncle Vidura.
“Has something happened?” the later inquires.
“We are awaiting the arrival of Angaraj,” Mother Kunti says, white knuckles wringing at her saree.
Duryodhana perks up like a hunting dog. “Why do you need him?” he demands, possessive as ever.
“I am sure Her Majesty has her reasons,” Uncle Vidura tries, but Duryodhana is on a roll.
“You keep trying to speak to him, cornering him at court and courtyard, trying to turn my friend against me! Why else would the Pandava’s mother be so interested in the man that trounced her sons? I think-”
No one manages to hear his what he thinks, because Kunti interrupts this tirade by screaming, “He is my son!”
2.
In hindsight, it is only meet that Karna – who is apparently his brother – gatecrashes the party halfway through Kunti’s sobbing explanation. Arjuna is reasonably sure the man has never given up the chance to barge into situations with the discretion of a charging bull. Perhaps that is why they call him Vrisha.
Much to his chagrin, Karna and his sons are immediately swept up into the Kaurava ranks even as their mother speaks of floating the baby in the river.
Duryodhana speaks right over her, like the churlish prince he is, and asks, “What took you so long?”
“The storms felled quite a few trees.” Arjuna’s newfound brother shrugs and turns to Mother Kunti with a look of abject concern. “Who is this baby in the river? Should we send out search parties? Surely, it is not right to just leave him be.”
Half the gathering stares at him. Uncle Vidura lets out a long-suffering sigh. Pitamaha smacks his forehead into a pillar. All in all, the Kuru family never fails in being predictable.
3.
For his own part, Karna takes the news surprisingly well, right up until Pitamaha reveals that he would now be officially part of the family and one of the contenders for the throne. This sparks a terrible debate – for all his meddling in Duryodhana’s plans, the King of Anga appears to have little interest in being king of anyplace else. Brother Yudhisthira, with all his half-divine morality, protests being a part of any contention that involves his older brother as a competitor. Uncle Vidura, who is the Pandavas biggest advocate in the Kuru court, takes this about as well as expected, which is to say: not well at all.
Arjuna has migrated to a corner to escape the shouting, rubbing his forehead to put off an oncoming headache. A figure sidles up to him and offers a small canister.
“This might help, Uncle.”
For a moment Arjuna nearly mistakes him for Karna – which should not be possible, given that his new brother is still yelling about something, and would never call him ‘uncle’ besides – but then he notices the differences. Anga’s Crown Prince is as fair as his father, but his cheeks are still adorably round, and his hair is several shades darker. He is also smiling, which is not a reaction Arjuna has ever garnered from his father, although he has seen Karna laugh often enough in his cousin’s company.
“Vrishasena, is it? Well met. What is this?”
Vrishasena bows. “Yes indeed, uncle. My greetings. This is for your headache.”
Arjuna takes the canister with raised eyebrows. Inside, there is a familiar slimy green paste. “You carry balms around?” he asks, smirking.
Vrishasena shrugs easily. “People are annoying,” he says, then winks cheekily at him and adds, “not you though. You have pretty hair.”
Arjuna’s startled laughter lasts a very long time.
+1.
“Father is wonderful,” Vrishasena says, nocking an arrow on his bow, “but he and mother kind of fought and now he’s upset.”
“I think he is mad at you for taking lessons from me,” Arjuna says, pressing gently down on his shoulders. “Stop being so tense, or you will miss.”
Vrishasena shrugs his shoulders and tosses his head obligingly, then stands much looser. “Nah,” he says, then releases the arrow. It pierces the swaying mango halfway through and carries it into the bushes. “He has stolen Abhimanyu, so he thinks it’s a fair deal. Besides, he likes having brothers.”
Arjuna would like to contest that, but it is true. For all his follies, Karna is astonishingly adept at micromanaging a hundred and five siblings, plus the two extras, without resorting to moralizing or murder. He’s still not ready to give up their reputation as rivals though, so all he says is, “Good shot.”
Vrishasena smirks at him. His nephew has grown quite a few inches in the months they have been away, so they are mostly eye-to-eye now.
“Just good?” Karna’s son definitely has Karna’s cockiness. “Not ‘excellent’ or ‘magnificent’ or ‘sublime’?”
“No,” Arjuna slaps him behind his head, laughing, “you do not need a bigger ego.”
“It’s not that big, uncle,” Vrishasena protests.
Arjuna laughs again. “If you stop pestering me for compliments, I will help you sneak into the kitchen. The cook is making special sweets today.”
Vrishasena pouts, thinking. “I also get to braid your hair.”
Arjuna will never understand the boy’s obsession with his hair, but who is he to deny his nephew anything, especially when he is getting a braid out of it? So, he shrugs and says, “Sure,” and off they go.
omg, not sure if you’ve watched house of the dragon BUT i had this thought that won’t leave me
rhaenyra and alicent and the drama between their kids is probably exactly what would have happened had
a) bhishma had not made his vow and decided to fight for his rights
b) bhishma had been a girl? and girls could inherit?
Yes! This is why as much as people give the Fisher King (and by proxy, Satyavati) a hard time for demanding the vow, they....kind of had a point? The potential for bloodshed and outright anarchy one could have with a full grown heir, and much younger half-brothers was out of control--and again, the Fisher King just refuses to put his daughter into that situation, which is absolutely his right.
Now the results were indeed tragic, but I want to emphasize that it's a tragedy of people trying to do what was best for them in a bad situation, rather than being intentionally vicious/ambitious--and that often gets glossed over for ~drama~
Hi there! Its me again hehehe 💙 What are your thoughts about dhanishta nakshatra pada 2?
Have a nice day/night!
🪐♂️⚧️♑Capricorn 26° to 30°
Melodious. Good with music. Could be great dancers too.
In fact I found myself singing a lot more, and practicing some songs when saturn was transiting Dhanishta.
Have social grace.
Could be the ideal image of what society expects them to be.
Tall, skinny, athletic.
Supplemented by Mars which gives a good metabolism, Saturn which gives decent bone structure and shows the lack of excess fat and mercury which usually gives a lanky agile build.
Basically won the genetic lottery. Lots of famous actresses and models have a dhanishta sun/moon/rising. I suggest Claire Nakti's beauty video.
🥬🍒Since this falls in the mercury pada, they could be really calculative or plan meticulously when it comes to achieving personal success. Could have a well meditated exercise or dietary routine.
🏑🧿Good hand eye coordination.
🤗🧚They're usually really good looking. I'm talking model / filmstar quality looks. Could generate massive wealth. Usually gifted tremendously.
They could really exert all their energy towards achieving their goals. And they have lots of it. Mean what they say and do what they say.
If they're in a band, they're probably a drummer. Or play an air based musical instrument?
Again, since it's a mars ruled Nakshatra, I feel like I'd have a thread of commonality with someone with this moon.
Could be super connected to the elements of nature. If they practiced witchcraft, they'd definitely uses fire, earth, water and spirit. Connected to the 8 vasus of hindu mythology.
They have immense willpower. This could be seen in them shirking pleasure for work. Or just lasting really long.
Celibacy related themes. One of the oldest characters in the Hindu epic Mahabharata was able to control the timing of his death based on breathing techniques. Son to a king, He won a lot of wars but took no wives because he had promised his step mother that her sons would be king.
Honor. Integrity. Restraint. AND respect would be key themes.
In India, drums are played at weddings. In ancient times, the royal messengers would go around beating the drums and to relay the kings announcements. This Nakshatra could symbolism bring g news to people or being in a position of authoriry making announcements or announcing something auspicious. Announcements so tend to bring people together so something to do with that.
These natives could have more successful romantic relationships later in life.
