Dushasana

When Dhritarashtra's queen Gandhari's pregnancy continues for an unusually long period of time, she beats her womb in frustration and envy of Kunti, the queen of Pandu, who had given birth to three of the five Pandavas. Due to her actions, a hardened mass of grey-colored flesh emerges from her womb. Gandhari is devastated, and calls upon Vyasa, the great sage who had blessed her with one hundred sons, to redeem his words.

Vyasa divides the flesh ball into one hundred equal pieces, and puts them in pots of ghee, which are sealed and buried into the earth for one year. At the end of the year, the first pot is opened, and Duryodhana emerges. The next one to emerge is Dushasana. Dushasana is devoted to his older brother Duryodhana, and is also closely involved in the various schemes and plots to kill the Pandavas. [more]

Draupadi

In the epic Mahabharata, Draupadi, also known as Devanagari is the adopted daughter of King Drupada of Panchāla and the wife of the five Pandavas. When Yudhisthira becomes the king of Hastinapura at the end of the war, Draupadi becomes his queen. She is sometimes called Krishnaa as also Panchali, (one from the kingdom of Panchāla). She had five sons by each of the Pandavas: Prativindhya, Sutasoma, Shruthakeerti, Satanika, and Srutasena. [more]

Sahadeva

Nakula as seen in the Javanese shadow puppet play (wayang)

The fifth son of King Pandu and Queen Madri

• protagonist 

• dynasty            :   Kuru, Candrawangsa.

• weapon             : sword

• nature               : wise

• other names  : Tantipala

• wife                   : Dropadi, Wijaya

• son                    : Srutakama (with Dropadi), Suhotra (with Wijaya)

[more]

Nakula

Nakula as seen in the Javanese shadow puppet play (wayang)

The fourth son of King Pandu and Queen Madri

• protagonist 

• dynasty           :  Kuru.

• weapon             : sword

• nature              : honest, loyal, obedient, compassion, knew back in order and can keep a secret.

• other names    : Pinten

• wife                   : Dropadi, Karenumati, Srengganawati, Sayati

• son                    : Bambang Pramusinta, Pramuwati, Sritanjung

[more]

Arjuna

Arjuna as seen in the Javanese shadow puppet play (wayang)

Bima

Bhima as seen in the Javanese shadow puppet play (wayang)

The second son of King Pandu and Queen Kunti

• protagonist 

• dynasty           :  Kuru.

• weapon             : Gada Rujapala

• nature              : strong, always rude and intimidating for the enemy, even though a soft heart.

• other names    : Bratasena, Balawa, Birawa, Dandungwacana, Nagata, Kusumayuda, Kowara, Bimasena, Pandusiwi, Bayusuta, Sena, Wijasena, Jagal Abilowo

• wife                   : Dropadi, Nagagini, Arimbi, Urangayu, Rekatawati

• son                    :  Gatotkaca, Sutasoma, Antareja, Antasena

[more]

Yudhisthira

Yudhisthira as seen in the Javanese shadow puppet play (wayang)

 The eldest son of King Pandu and Queen Kunti 

• protagonist 

• kingdom           : Indraprastha and Hastinapura.

• weapon             : Jamus Kalimasada (book), Tunggulnaga (umbrella), Robyong Mustikawarih (necklace)

• nature              : justice and wisdom

• other names    : Dharmaraja, puntadewa, Dharmawangsa or Dharmaputra, Gunatalikrama, Samiaji, Ajataśatru, Bhārata, Kurumukhya, Kurunandana, Kurupati, Pandawa, Partha.

• wife                   : dropadi

• Son                    : Pancawala

[more]