This is the part one of the series Relationships In Mahabharata. In this part we will list down all Mamu's of Mahabharata. Mamu or Mama or Mamashree, is the Hindi (Indian Language)
word for maternal uncle (The brother of one’s mother). Mahabharata the Epic
Hindu Mythology seems to have too many characters. Among those most of the critical
characters turned out to be Mamu of some or the other characters. If you go
through the entire Mahabharata you may found there are lot more Mamus (Maternal
Uncles) than Chachus(Paternal Uncles), Mousis (Maternal Aunt’s) or Bua’s(Paternal
Aunt’s). It’s quite fascinating that most of the characters in Mahabharata are
created based on maternal relations which make many of the Mamu’s as central
characters of that epic. I had listed below all Mamu’s (Maternal Uncles) found
in entire Mahabharata. Let me know if I had missed anyone. I will start with the
most famous Mamu’s or the way they have explicitly mentioned as Mamu/Mama/Mama
Shri in Mahabharata and then to the implicit ones.
S.No
|
Mamu
|
Of
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Details
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1.
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Kaṁsa' or Kansa (कंस)
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Krishna
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Kaṁsa' or Kansa is the brother of Devaki,
who is married to Vasudeva. Their eighth son Krishna who later killed his
Maternal uncle Kansa is the story well known. Kansa can be considered Mamu of
Balarama (बलराम) too who is elder brother of Krishna (Seventh
son of Vasudev and Devaki) but before birth he got transferred to the womb of
Rohini, another wife of Vasudeva. So by birth Balrama is not nephew of Kamsa.
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2.
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Shakuni (शकुनि)
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Kaurava (कौरव)
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Shakuni is the Brother of Gandhari, and son of King of Gandhar,
Suvala. Gandhari, is married to Dhritarashtra and has 100 Son and 1 Daughter and
they collectively called as Kaurava’s. The main characters of Kaurava’s are
Duryodhan, Dushashan, Vikarna and Daughter Dushala. It seems remaining 97
Kaurava’s don’t have any substantial role in Mahabharata. Kurava’s especially
Duryodhana and Dushashana are very close to Shakuni. Mamu Shakuni was one of
the main villains in Mahabharata and one of the key people that caused the
Mahabharata war.
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3.
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Vasudeva (वसुदेव)
|
Yudhistira, Bhima and Arjuna
|
Kunti was biological daughter of Shurashena, and also sister of
Vasudeva, who is father of Krishna and Balrama. Kunti was first wife of King
Pandu and has three sons Yudhistira, Bhima and Arjuna. This relation makes
Vasudeva as Maternal Uncle of Yudhistira, Bhima and Arjuna. Before Kunti
married to Pandu, she bore Karna to Surya (The Sun), which makes Vasudeva as mama
of Karna too.
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4.
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Shalya(शल्य)
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Nakula and Shadeva
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King Pandu had two wifes one is Kunti and second one is Madri. Shalya
was the brother of Madri. Madri was mother of Nakula and Sahadeva. All five
sons of Pandu are collectively known as Pandavs. In Mahabharata war Shalya
was tricked by Shakuni and Duryodhana to fight against Pandav’s or
specifically Nakula and Shadeva. He became commander of Kaurava army on last
day of the war and mentioned in Mahabharata as Shalya Parva. Yudhistira
Killed him during the war.
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5.
|
Vasudeva (वसुदेव)
|
Shishupal (शिशुपाल)
|
Shishupal was son of Srutakriti, who is another sister of Vasudeva.
This relation makes Vasudeva his maternal uncle. Like Pandava’s, Shishupal
was also a cousin to Krishna but he consider Krishna implacable foe, because
Krishna had carried off Rukmini, his intended wife. Krishna had promised
Sishupal’s mother that he will only forgive his 100 sins. After Sishupal’s
100th sin Krishna strikes off Shishupala's head with his discus, Sudarshana
Chakra.
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6.
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Balrama and Krishna
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Abhimanyu (अभिमन्यु)
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Abhimanyu was son of Subhadra and Arjun. Subhadra is Daughter of
Vasudeva. In other words sister of Balrama and Krishna. This makes them
maternal uncle of Abhimanyu. On 13th Day of Mahabharata war
Abhimanyu broke the circular formation (Chakravyuh) Set by guru Drona to
Capture King Yudhistira. Abhimanyu saved Yudhistira by entering into the
chakravyuh without knowing how to come out of it and lost his life. He learnt
about the entering inside the chakravyuh when he was in his mother’s womb.
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7.
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Kripacharya
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Ashwatthama (अश्वत्थामा)
|
Kripa also known as Kripacharya was the Raaj Guru (Royal Teacher) of
Hastinapur and was the Guru (Teacher) of both Kauravas and Panadavas before Drona
(द्रोण)
became their Guru (Teacher). Dronacharya (Drona + Acharya {Teacher}) Married
Kripa’s sister Kripi. Their Son Aswathama is also immortal like his Mama Kripacharya.
On the last night of Mahabharata war Ashwatthama along with Kripacharya
Killed Upapandava’s, Dristyadyumna and Srikhandini in their sleep and he had been
cursed by Krishna for this misdeed.
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8.
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Hidimb (हिडिम्ब)
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Ghatotkacha (घटोत्कच)
|
Pandavas escaped from the Lakshagraha plot by Shakuni and reached a
dense forest. At night Tired and exhausted, they all fell asleep except Bhima
who kept a watch. Hidimb and his sister, Hidimbi (हिडिंबी) were
tempted at the sight of the Pandavas and wished to feast on them. For this
purpose, Hidimbi changed herself into a beautiful woman and brought them near
Hidimba. However, Hidimb came into conflict with Bhima and a great
fight took place between Hidimb and Bhima which resulted in Hidimb getting
killed. Bhima Married Hidimbi and Ghatotkacha born from
tha marriage. As the brother of Hidimbi he is the maternal uncle of Ghatotkacha.
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9.
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Dhrishtadyumna (धृष्टद्युम्न)
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Upapandavas
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Draupadi was married to all five Pandavas. Upapandavas are the five
sons born to Draupadi from each of the five Pandavas. They are Shrutavindhya, Sutasoma, Srutakarman, Satanika and Srutasena. Draupadi was born from fire
and so is Dhrishtadyumna from the same Yagna(Ritual). All five of them were
killed by Ashwathama thinking them as Pandavas on the night of the last day
of the war
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10.
|
Kichak or Kichaka
|
Uttar
(उत्तर) and Uttara (उत्तरा)
|
Kichak was the army commander of Matsya, the kingdom ruled by Virata
(विराट). Kichak was brother
of Sudeshna. Sudeshna was the queen of the Matsya Kindom. Virata and Sudeshna
had One Son named Uttar (उत्तर) and Daughter Named Uttara (उत्तरा). Some
version of Mahabharat mentioned about 4 son of Virata including Uttar. Name
of the remaining sons are Shveta, Satanika and Shankha, so Keechaka was
maternal uncle of those too. During the 13th year incognito period
of the 13 year exile, Pandavas stayed at Matsya or Virata kingdom. Bheema
killed Keechaka due to his lust for Draupadi.
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11.
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Uttar (उत्तर)
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Parikshit (परिक्षित्)
|
Daughter of Virata, Uttara got Married to Abhimanyu (Son of Arjuna).
Their Son Parkshit succeded Yudhisthira to the throne of Hastinapur. Like
Ghatotkach, Parikshit never able to see his Maternal Uncle Uttar as He died
before his birth. All sons of Virata died on very first day of the war. Along
with Uttar Shveta, Satanika and Shankha are also Mamu of Parikshit.
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12.
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Vitararaja
|
Ved Vyasa, Chitrangada, Vichityaverya
|
The birth story of Satyavati (सत्यवती)
mentioned that she had twin brother who created the Matsya Kingdom. She is
the mother of Ved Vyasa who wrote Mahabharata and also of Chitrangada and Vichityaverya
from King Shantanu. Satyavati was great grandmother of Kauravas and Pandavas.
Her desire that only her blood will rule the kingdom actually triggers
Mahabharata. There is no mention of the name of her brother in whole
Mahabharata. The name given here is from different version of Mahabharata
telling the same story. Please suggest if you find the correct name of
Maternal Uncle Vitararaja.
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13.
|
Kauravas (कौरव)
|
Suratha
|
Kauravas (कौरव) which
includes Duryodhana, Dushashana, Vikarna has in total 100 brothers with only
Sister named Dushala. She got Married to Jayadratha, the king of Sindhu. They
had a Son named Suratha. During the war, Arjuna hears of his son
Abhimanyu’s death due to Jayadradha and vows to kill Jayadradha before the
next day's sunset. This is achieved by the help of Krishna. After the war,
Yudhishtira, takes out an Ashwamedha Yagya (Horse Sacrifice Ritual) wherein
Arjuna follows a sacrificial horse with his army. The horse enters the Sindhu
territory. Dussala's son Suradha, who was ruling this land, dies of fright on
knowing about the approaching army along with Arjuna.
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14.
|
Rukmi
|
Pradyumna and his 9 Brothers
|
Rukmini was wife of Krishna and also sister of Rukmi. Rukmi planned to forcefully marry her
Sister to Shishupal (शिशुपाल)
but Rukmini was in love with Krishna so asked him for help her run away from
this marriage. Krishna with the help of Arjuna, eloped with Rukmini and
Married her. During this incident Krishna was about to kill Rukmi but Rukmini
asked him to spare her brother’s life. So Krishna clean shaved Rukmi’s head as
humiliation. After this incident Rukmi was never in good terms with Krishna
and Rukmini. Rukmi
and his kingdom did not participate in Kurukshetra/Mahabharata war. The first son of Queen Rukmini was Pradyumna, and also born
of her were Charudeshna, Sudeshna, Charudeha, Sucharu, Charugupta, Bhadracharu, Charuchandra, Vicharu,
and Charu. Pradyumna was the crown prince of Dwaraka
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15.
|
Dhristaketu
|
Narimitra
|
This is very lesser known story that Dristaketu and Karenumati were
children of Shishupal (शिशुपाल).
Karenumati was wedded to Nakula (One Of The Panadava) and Narimitra is there
son. Dhristaketu was an army-general in the army of Pandavas in Kurukshetra/Mahabharata
War. Dhristaketu also was slain in battle by Drona. Sarabha is another son of
Sishupal so he is Maternal Uncle of Narimitra too.
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16.
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Dhrishtadyumna (धृष्टद्युम्न)
|
Kshatradeva
|
Dhrishtadyumna’s other sister Shrikhandini had a son named Kshatradeva. Nothing much has been written
about Kshatradeva in Mahabharata. Shirikhandini and Dhrishtadyumna got
killed by Ashwathama on last night of the war.
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17.
|
No Name
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Iravan
|
Ulūpī or Uloopi was one of the Arjuna’s wives. During his exile when
Arjuna was in east part of India, the widow Naga princess Uloopi became
infatuated with him. Ulūpī induced an unwilling Arjuna to take her for a
wife. She was the mother of Iravan. Iravan grew up in Nagaloka, protected by
his mother, but was rejected by his maternal uncle because of the latter's
hatred of Arjuna. In some version of Mahabharata the person who rejected
Iravan was Uloopi’s first husband brother, but none of the version specified
any name to that person or character. I am considering him as another unnamed
Mamu similar to the Mamu of Ved Vyasa as mentioned above.
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©Tapas Majumdar
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