Draupadi College Essay Example

this, Draupadi became anxious.

What if no one could complete the task? Would she stay unmarried forever? While listening to his story, I always had faith that there would be a hero. That's typically how it goes. There is a distressed damsel and all of a sudden, a brave and charming hero comes forward to save her. They then get married and live happily ever after. After hearing different Indian mythological tales - Nala and Damyanti, Seeta and Rama, Rukmini and Krishna, Dusyanta and Shankuntala etc.

Despite my programming to think in a certain way, this story did not unfold as expected. Arjuna, the mighty hero, succeeded in completing the seemingly impossible task and won Draupadi's heart and hand, which aligned with my previous understanding. However, the subsequent events took an unexpected turn. Rather than marrying only Arjuna, Draupadi also married his four brothers. The disparity between this outcome and my understanding prompted me to seek an explanation from my grandfather. Reflecting on both my family's weddings and those depicted in movies, I realized that such a union was unprecedented.

My grandfather explained that Draupadi had prayed for a husband with five qualities, but God couldn't find one man with all of them. Instead, he told her to marry five men, each with one of the qualities. This is just one version, as there are other explanations for Draupadi's polyandry. In response, I asked my grandfather if it was like wanting one chocolate and getting five instead. He asked me who I thought was the perfect heroine in Bollywood and what qualities made her perfect. I excitedly got off his lap and started singing a song by Madhuri

Dixit, who I believed was the perfect heroine with her beautiful smile, lovely curls, slim body, versatility, and amazing dance skills.

Although I was too young to identify all five points at that time, my grandfather provided assistance by clarifying some of them. He proceeded to illustrate the concept by presenting five different women, each possessing a different attribute. For instance, one woman had a beautiful smile but lacked the other qualities, while another woman had a slender body but lacked the others.

One of the females possesses a unique talent, while another stands out with beautiful curls and yet another showcases impressive dancing skills. The question arises: can these five women come together and fill the shoes of Madhuri Dixit as the ultimate Bollywood actress? My immediate response was a firm shake of the head as I exclaimed, "God certainly played a trick on Draupadi, Grandpa! It's as if he gave her five chocolates instead of just one, but none turned out to be truly delightful." This was just one perspective on this matter. However, over time, my interpretations of this event have undergone transformation.

Today, like many other young Indian women, I am also facing parental pressure to enter into matrimony. During one particular ceremonial event in which a potential suitor would assess me, I couldn't help but think of Draupadi. I pondered upon her emotions during her own 'Swayamvara' and contemplated what thoughts would have consumed my mind had I been in her shoes. Visualizing myself as Draupadi, I look at my reflection in the mirror and observe an impeccably beautiful woman with a dusky complexion, adorned in silk and gold. In the moonlit glow's

reflection, my gleaming eyes are brimming with numerous uncertainties regarding what awaits me in the future.

Within myself, I observe a youthful and passionate woman who can no longer suppress her desire. Simultaneously, I perceive a profound intellect comparable to that of Lord Krishna, the individual who introduced the theory of Karma to this world. Lastly, within those mesmerizing azure eyes, I witness love. I inquire of my dear friend, Krishna, if he believes there exists a man in this world who is capable of fulfilling all five desires inherent to a woman:.

Krishna dismisses the notion of satisfying physical, emotional, material, intellectual, and spiritual needs in one person and asserts that no man on earth can achieve such a feat. He counters the idea of fulfilling these needs individually by marrying multiple partners with the argument that women should also have the right to practice polyandry if men are allowed to practice polygamy. Krishna challenges the patriarchal nature of Indian society and uses Draupadi as an example to support his point. However, it is unclear whether Draupadi had agency in choosing her husbands or if she was influenced by Krishna. The Mahabharata, passed down through generations via oral tradition, has deeply ingrained its portrayal of Draupadi into Indian culture, with each storyteller adding their own interpretation to the tale. As a result, whether Panchali was genuinely content with her five husbands or manipulated by Krishna remains an unanswered question.

Draupadi's mysterious nature contributes to her allure, making her a captivating figure in Hindu society. Despite challenging societal norms, her character has become an integral part of Indian culture. Throughout the Mahabharata, the narrator seems to defy societal

taboos and customs with Draupadi's assistance. She not only defied conventions during her time but remains too unconventional even for today's Indian society. This is evident in the fact that, despite naming our children after various Indian mythological characters, we have been hesitant to name them after Draupadi for many years. Even after 5000 years, people still question her morality and regard her as if she were a prostitute.

The question is not whether we have understood Draupadi; the question is whether we have ever appreciated her if it were her choice. Appreciating a character like Draupadi is a matter of choice. The Indian society has cleverly chosen Sita as a role model for all women in India. Sita is depicted as a beautiful, calm, and virtuous woman who always supports her husband unconditionally, without raising her voice against any mistreatment. Thas said, Draupadi also stood by her husbands during times of trouble, but unlike Sita, she actively competed with the men in her family and fought for her rights. Her mere birth signified rebellion against the laws of nature.

Jesus and Draupadi were both born in unconventional ways. Jesus was born without a physical father, while Draupadi was born without a physical mother. Draupadi, also known as Yajnaseni, along with her brother Dhrstadyumna, emerged from a sacrificial fire performed by their father. The purpose of this fire ritual was to seek revenge on Drona, who was the master of Arjuna, one of Draupadi's eventual husbands. Due to her exquisite dark complexion resembling a lotus flower, she was originally named Krsna but later renamed Draupadi, signifying her as the daughter of Drupad.

Draupadi is depicted as a powerful

and determined woman who possesses qualities equal to that of a man in terms of intelligence and resilience. She is portrayed as someone who is capable of ruling an empire and commands respect and admiration. The association between Draupadi and the number five is reminiscent of the famous Coke ad in which a 200 ml bottle was priced at 5 Rs., and the phrase "Panch?" was exclaimed every second.

Draupadi, one of the five most venerated women in the Hindu religion (Pancha Kanya), had five husbands and five sons. Hence, when I first learned that she was also known as Panchali, I immediately associated it with the word "Panch" meaning five.

However, belonging to the kingdom of Panchala, it simply meant she belonged to the kingdom. Yet, her association with the number five transports me to ancient India where women enjoyed unrestricted sexual freedom, able to engage in sexual relations with any man they desired. Moreover, any man who refused her advances was considered a eunuch.

The absence of the law of marriage and the term "whore" in Indian society resulted in a lack of regulation. This led to concerns about ownership, responsibility for children, and fidelity. The institution of marriage was introduced by Shvetaketu with the aim to restrict women and their desires, ultimately reducing infinite possibilities to just four.

Traditionally, if a woman's spouse was unable to conceive with her, she had the option to engage in intimate relations with three other men. This brought the possibility for a woman to be involved with a total of four men, including her spouse. Any involvement beyond this number would result in labeling her as a prostitute. The

controversy stems from the significance of the number five, which led to Draupadi being deemed a prostitute due to this belief. Nevertheless, it is worth mentioning that Nakul and Sahdev were nearly indistinguishable twins.

So, ideally, she was only with four men, but that doesn't mean we can no longer label her as just one. Unfortunately, the Indian society became even more stringent afterwards and made a slight adjustment to the law, limiting a woman to being committed to only one man.

In her four marriages, a woman first married the romantic ‚Chandra dev? (moon), then the highly erotic Gandharva, followed by the ‚Agni dev? (fire) who sanctifies all things, and finally her mortal husband. Even today, with Aishwariya Rai marrying a tree before Abhishek Bachchan, it seems not much has changed since then. Regarding Draupadi's status, she is still referred to as a whore. The dark complexion of Draupadi represents not only her energy and fury but also her dark side. Like every other character in the Mahabharata, she is also a flawed human being. Let's revisit the episode of 'Swayamvara'.

At that time, there was a man who possessed all five traits desired by Draupadi - Karna, the illegitimate son of Kunti. He displayed exceptional skill in handling and assembling the bow, and would have successfully hit the target if Draupadi had not intervened. She publicly degraded him by referring to him as a son of a charioteer, thus humiliating him in front of everyone present.

Draupadi prevented him from participating in the 'Swayamvara' stating that as the daughter of a 'Kshatriya' (high caste), she could never envision marrying someone from a lower caste. This demonstrates how

deeply rooted the evils of the caste system are in Indian society, to the extent that even a modern and intelligent woman like her is not exempt from its influence. If prejudice was one of her flaws, pride was another. At one point, Duryodhana was granted Hastinapura while Yudhishthira received Indraprasth. During that time, Draupadi served as the queen of that kingdom.

The Pandavas, aided by Lord Krishna, transformed their kingdom into a heavenly abode. When Duryodhana and his followers visited Indraprastha, Draupadi showed them the Palace of Illusions. The palace's courtyard was split into two sections: half land and half water. The supposedly sturdy granite flooring was actually water, while the seemingly rippled surface resembled a lake.

Duryodhana, considering water as land, stepped onto its solid surface and was suddenly submerged waist-deep, becoming completely soaked. Draupadi, filled with vanity, wasted no time in making a disrespectful comment, suggesting that blindness ran in Dhritrashtra's family. This only angered Duryodhana further, while Draupadi and her maids found amusement in the situation. This event marked the start of their downfall.

If Draupadi could be a caustic queen, she could also be characterized as the epitome of compassion. Despite enduring every hardship that her husbands had to go through, she remained faithfully by their side. Her love and loyalty for them could not be altered by anyone in this world. When confronted by Jayadratha, who abducted her, she depicted the Pandavas as godlike figures, emphasizing their greatness. The narrator also illustrates her as a forgiving individual. Ultimately, she forgives Arjuna for marrying another woman, Subhadra, and treats Subhadra with kindness as if she were her own younger sister.

Despite being ill-treated by

Gandhari's sons, Draupadi still looks after Gandhari with respect and affection after the war. Her virtuous nature has earned her a place as the last of the five 'panchayat', a group of five highly revered women in Hindu tradition. Even today, she continues to inspire women. (Pancha Kanya Stuti) Moving on, we come to one of the most significant incidents in the Mahabharata. This incident is often considered a defining moment in the story. During our institute's Social Science classes, Professor-

Matthew once said, "In India, it is extremely difficult for a person to live (not to be confused with survival) if the person is a woman or a whore." Draupadi was undoubtedly a woman, but her character was constantly scrutinized. She fell into both categories and therefore endured humiliation and mistreatment as fate had decided. In the game of dice manipulated by Sakuni, Duryodhana's uncle, an inexperienced Yudhishthira loses all his wealth to Duryodhana.

Yudisthira's foolishness leads to the loss of not only his wealth but also his brothers and his wife, as if he had the right to gamble them away. This raises doubts about Yudisthira's status as the 'Dharma-Raj' (the righteous one). Seeking revenge on Draupadi, Duryodhana commands his servants to forcefully bring her into the courtroom. In a clever move, Draupadi asks the miserable servant to go back and inquire from Yudhisthira, "Whom did he lose first, himself or her?" This question creates a paradox that the 'Dharma-Raj' was never able to answer. If Yudisthira had lost his wife before himself, then he would immediately lose his title as 'the righteous one', as he failed in his duty to protect his wife.

If Yudhisthira

had already lost himself, he had no right to bet on Draupadi. This incident showcases that Yudhisthira, despite not being truly righteous, is titled as ‘Dharma-Raj’. It demonstrates the dominance of noble blood males in the society. An analogy can be made between Draupadi and the common man, both facing unfortunate circumstances.

Corruption is akin to Dushashana in Indian society, where the silent council represents the blind King Dhidhrashtra's courtroom. The common man falls victim to this corruption constantly, yet remains voiceless against this injustice. Similar to Vidur and Vikarna, a few virtuous individuals may speak out, but their words go unheard. Only God knows if he will save the common man, as he saved Draupadi in the Mahabharata. (Mohan) At last, I have reached the conclusion, just as Draupadi has. Does she now receive the gift of heaven? In one of the various versions of Mahabharata, after the war, Draupadi and her five husbands depart from the materialistic world to embark on their journey towards heaven.

If someone were to ask me, Yudhisthira or Arjuna should have been the first ones to have fallen during the journey and not make it to heaven. But definitely in a male-dominated world full of male-dominated Gods, Draupadi had to be the first one to fall. When Bhima asked Yudhisthira, he explained, ‚The princess did not commit any sin. And even though she loved us equally, she was slightly biased towards Arjuna.? (Mohan) To me, a justification like that simply echoes one thing, the ever-present bias of Indian society towards men. Alas, this kind of bias still exists.

India's sex ratio, which was 917 females for every 1000 males in

2011 and has been steadily declining, supports the statement. If this trend continues, the time will come when Draupadi, a legendary Indian woman, will regain the respect she deserves. Due to the imbalanced sex ratio, women may have to marry multiple men, resembling Draupadi's situation in the 25th century.
Bibliography

1. Mohan, K. (n. d.). The Mahabharata in Sanskrit. Retrieved from www.sacred-texts.

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Jaya - An illustrated retelling of the Mahabharata.