#iravati

This is a compilation of the women who appear in different versions of the Mahabharata as well as the folkloric literature that enriches it further.

Written versions being actively covered so far are Vaishampayana Mahabharata (considered the mainstream original), Harivamsha (appendix to the Vaishampayana version), Vishnu Puran (written around the same time and hence considered as a supplementary narrative), and Jaimineya Mahabharata (only from the Ashvamedha Parva that still survives).

I sometimes also supplement interesting information about these women if I find them in other purans.

Other sources occasionally used/planned for future: Bhasa's plays, Kabi Sanjay's Bangla Mahabharat, Kashiram Dash's Bangla Mahabharat and the Bheel Mahabharat.

To be added if I find good translations: Souther Recension of Mahabharata, Javanese and Balinese Kakawins, Sarala Mahabharata, Jain and Jataka versions. I might also add more here if I find more versions to be excited about.

Link: Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

Shataroopa

Devahooti

Prasooti

Aditi

Diti

Danu

Kadru

Vinata

Simhika

Danayu

Kaala

Pradha

Muni

Kapila

Khyati

Dhata

Vidhata

Lakshmi

Mohini

Sura

Surabhi

Gaandharvi

Saraswati

Mrityu

Shibaa

Chandrani Rohini

Gargi Vachaknavi

Sulabha

Svaha

Anasuya

Arundhati

Lopamudra

Puloma

Shubha

Sinivali

Devasena

Daityasena

Kavyamata

Shachi

Upasruti

Mamata

Pradveshi

Sudeshna (Bengal)

Aushinari

Suneeta

Tara

Svetaketu's Mother

Sujata

Ila

Urvashi

Sukanya

Indumati

Keshini

Viraja Ashokasundari

Jayanti

Urjasvati

Devayani

Sharmishtha

Ghurnika

Shandili

Madhavi

Bindumati

Yadavi

Iravati

Sumati

Kunigarga's Daughter

Vaidisheyi

Kausalya

Shooraseni

Paushtri Madhavi

Mishrakeshi

Sauviri

Ashmaki

Varangi

Haiheyi Bhanumati

Kaikeyi Sunanda

Sushrava

Maryada

Aangi

Suyajna

Kaama

Karambha

Maryada Vaidehi

Sudeva

Jvala

Kalingi

Rathantari

Sammata

Menaka

Shakuntala

Pramadvara

Sunanda Kaushalya

Vijaya Dasarhi

Suvarna

Yashodhara

This is a compilation of the women who appear in different versions of the Mahabharata as well as the folkloric literature that enriches it further.

Written versions being actively covered so far are Vaishampayana Mahabharata (considered the mainstream original), Harivamsha (appendix to the Vaishampayana version), Vishnu Puran (written around the same time and hence considered as a supplementary narrative), and Jaimineya Mahabharata (only from the Ashvamedha Parva that still survives).

I sometimes also supplement interesting information about these women if I find them in other purans.

Other sources occasionally used/planned for future: Bhasa's plays, Kabi Sanjay's Bangla Mahabharat, Kashiram Dash's Bangla Mahabharat and the Bheel Mahabharat.

To be added if I find good translations: Souther Recension of Mahabharata, Javanese and Balinese Kakawins, Sarala Mahabharata, Jain and Jataka versions. I might also add more here if I find more versions to be excited about.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

Bhanu

Bheemarika

Tamrapaksha

Jalandhama

Mitravati

Bhadravati

Gatravati

Vrihati

Sudeva (Gada)

Shveta

Chitra

Chitravati

Stambhavati

Sutasoma

Mayavati

Shubhangi

Uttara

Lakshmana

Vasundhara

Prabhavati

Chandravati

Gunavati

Shuchimukhi

Bhanumati Yadavi

Padmavati Sraigali

Sravana Bhajamani

Sravishtha Bhajamani

Kamada

Kamadattika

Kashya Andhaki

Ashmaki

Ashmaki (Anavrishti)

Kashya (Akroora)

Bhadravati Pauravi

Vaidarbhi Madhavi

Aikshvaki Pauradvaani

Madhumati

Kaushalya Saatvati

Yauvanashvi

Sravana Chaitraka

Sravishtha Chaitraka

Ahilavati

Neela

Jana

Jvala

Madanamanjari

Shakuni's Wife

Prabhavati

Jaradgava

Kuttani in Dwarka

Malini

Telini

Sootika

First Gopi in Hastinapur

Second Gopi in Hastinapur

Kuttani in Hastinapur

Dancer in Hastinapur

Bhadravati (Vrishaketu)

Chandi

Hamsadhvaja's Wife

Kuvalaya

Prabhavati (Sudhanva)

Sundari

Bhadra

Sudanti

Sunanda (Neeladhvaja)

Dhamilla

Pramila

Stri-Rajya Soldier

Old Rakshasi

Second Rakshasi

Third Rakshasi

Fourth Rakshasi

Achhoda

First Apsara in Manipur

Second Apsara in Manipur

Kumudvati

Krishnasharma's Daughter

Malini (Veeravarma's Daughter)

Vishoochika

Shofa

Vicharchika

Sangrahani

Queen of Kerala

Chandrahas' Nurse

Medhavati

Women in Chandanavati

Queen of Kuntalpur

Champakamaalini

Vishaya

Sairandhri of Kuntalpur

Taarakakshi

Trishna

Chandika

Not much is known about her except that she is the daughter of Kadru, and [according to some sources] the mother of the Airavatas. She is also associated with the river Ravi/Payoshni.

This to me presents a poignant connection. Iravati is the sister of the Nagas, which narratively mirrors the relationship of Kauravas and Dushhala.

In old Sanskrit the words "Naga" and "Hasti" simultaneously signifies both "snake" and "elephant". This connection is poetically exploited as Hastinapura is referred to multiple times in the epic as Nagasahvaya.

Laying its base upon Janmejaya's Sarpa-satra, the genocide of the Nagas, Mahabharata itself spends almost half of the first Parva detailing the dynastic intricacies of the Nagas and their tumultuous relationship with the Kuru dynasty.

Several times we run into this interlinked metaphor in the story:

Bheema, as a child, meets Vasuki who is his [great x 3 +]great-granduncle and gains the physical strength of a hundred elephants,

Krishna's grandmother is identified as a Naga woman,

Arjuna and Krishna form an enmity with Takshaka, a friend of Indra and Airavata, when they burn his home down,

Arjuna's second partner Uloopi's father is identified as the Naga Kauravya-Airavat, and,

Yudhishthira meets Naga-Nahusha, a distant relative who also nearly kills Bheema himself.

This key to this trend of different sub-factions on both sides aligning and dis-aligning with the snake/elephant totems lies probably with this little-known woman who lays near-forgotten in a tiny corner of this vast epic.

07 Iravati by Objection06

Day 8 and I went full throttle!  If this is a Hayashibara Megumi…. salute / tribute….Memor- wait no…. WHY NOT DRAW THE WOMAN HERSELF!

A re-draw of one of her album covers [more like back cover….] and transformed and converted in to Musashi [Jessie]! NOTICE ME NOW SENPAI! (;*△*;)

Day 8:  Irāvatī

I’m still making that post with all 18 together… More to come until November 18 on my DeviantArt, Kimkun06! :^)

I got inordinately excited and ran to get Amar Chitra Katha’s Malavika off my bookshelf.