Kauravas were the sons of Kuru king Dhritarashtra and Queen Gandhari. We know that they were 100 brothers but that is actually not the case they were 102!! Surprising right!!!!
Let’s go through the facts and find out who were other 2 Kauravas were.
Who was Gandhari?
Gandhari was the Princess of Gandhara and the daughter of King Subala. Before her marriage, she performed severe penance to please Lord Shiva. Pleased with her devotion, Lord Shiva granted her a boon to have 100 children. She was later married to Dhritarashtra, the King of Hastinapur. Upon learning that her husband was blind, she chose to blindfold herself for life, saying, “I do not wish to see anything that my husband cannot see.”
Gnadhari got boon again from sage Vyasa
One day, Sage Vyasa came to Gandhari’s palace, exhausted and hungry. Following tradition, Gandhari welcomed him warmly and served him with great devotion. Vyasa was deeply moved by her dedication and offered to grant her a boon. She asked for 100 sons, each as powerful as her husband. Vyasa blessed her.
Why did she ask for the same boon again? I think after the marriage, she not only wanted 100 sons but also wanted them to be powerful, considering the political situation of Hastinapur at that time.
Gandhari Became Preganent
When Gandhari got pregnant, she and her husband were so happy, But their happiness didn’t last long. Even after waiting for 2 years, she didn’t deliver the child and Pandu the younger brother of Dhritarashtra, was blessed with his first son. Being so frustrated Gandhari started to beat her womb and in the process delivered the hard mass of flesh like an iron ball.
How 101 Kauravas were born?
A hard mass of flesh like an iron ball
Gandhari was so disappointed to see the flesh of mass instead of 100 children after her long-awaited two-year pregnancy. Sage Vayasa came to help her. He told her to prepare the 100 jars filled with Ghee(clarified butter) and sprinkle water on the flesh.
After that Vyasa divided that Ball of flesh into 100 pieces each about the size of a thumb. Gandhari also desired a Daughter so Vyasa made 101 pieces. Each piece carefully placed inside the jar of Ghee and stroed in a secret location where they could be carefully monitored.
Vyasa advised Gandhari to open these jars only after 2 years. After the designated time Dhryodhana, the first child of the Gandhari born from one of the jars and within a month all the other 99 sons and 1 daughter were born from the jars.
Who was the 102nd brother of Kaurava?
Being impatient from the Gandhari’s long pregnancy Dhritarashtra fathered a son Yuyutsu from a maid named Sugadha. He was also born at the same time as the other Kauravas hence there wasn’t any significant age gap between them.
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