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<a href="//en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ulupi&diff=445232&oldid=141382">Show changes</a>Smasherhttps://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ulupi&diff=141382&oldid=previmported>Baddu676: /* Redeeming Arjuna from the curse */2021-08-30T14:55:48Z<p><span class="autocomment">Redeeming Arjuna from the curse</span></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}<br />
{{short description|Naga princess and a wife of Arjuna in the epic Mahabharata}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}<br />
{{Infobox character<br />
|relatives =[[Kunti]] (mother-in-law),<br> [[Pandavas]] (brothers-in-law),<br> [[Draupadi]],<br> [[Chitrāngadā]],<br>[[Subhadra]] (co-wives)<br />
| name = Ulūpī<br />
| family = Kauravya (father)<br />
| children = [[Iravan|Irāvān]]<br />
| image = File:Arjuna and the River Nymph by 1913.jpg<br />
| caption = Arjuna meets Ulupi<br />
| affiliation = [[Nāga]]<br />
| spouse = [[Arjuna]]<br />
| color = #FFC569<br />
| info-hdr = Information<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Ulupi''', also known as '''Uluchi''' and '''Ulupika''', is a character in the [[Hindu]] epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. The daughter of Kauravya, the [[Nāgarāja|king of Nāgas]], she was among the four wives of [[Arjuna]]. She also finds a mention in the ''[[Vishnu Purana]]'' and the ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]''.<br />
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Ulupi is said to have met and married [[Arjuna]] when he was in exile, and with whom she bore his son [[Iravan|Irāvān]]. She played a major part in the upbringing of [[Babruvahana|Babruvāhana]], Arjuna's son with [[Chitrāngadā]]. She is also credited with redeeming Arjuna from the curse of the [[Vasu]]s by restoring his life after he was slain in a battle by Babruvāhana.<br />
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==Etymology and form==<br />
Little is said about Ulupi in the ''Mahabharata''. Ulupi is known by numerous names in the ''Mahabharata''—Bhujagātmajā, Bhujagendrakanyakā, Bhujagottamā Kauravī, Kauravyaduhitā, Kauravyakulanandinī, Pannaganandinī, Pannagasutā, Pannagātmajā, Pannageśvarakanyā, Pannagī, and Uragātmajā.{{Sfn|Vettam|1975|p=806}}<br />
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Ulupi is described as a mythical form of a ''Nāgakanyā'' (Nāga princess), half-maiden and half-serpent.<ref name="Wheeler1867">{{cite book|last=Wheeler|first=James Talboys|title=The History of India from the Earliest Ages: The Vedic period and the Mahá Bhárata|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x15NAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA571|year=1867|publisher=N. Trübner|page=572}}</ref> [[Michael Mott]] in his ''Caverns, Cauldrons, and Concealed Creatures'' described Ulupi as "partly reptilian" – the portion below the waist resembles that of a snake or a crocodile.<ref name="Steiger2010">{{cite book|last=Steiger|first=Brad|title=Real Monsters, Gruesome Critters, and Beasts from the Darkside|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QANlCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA150|year=2010|publisher=Visible Ink Press|isbn=978-1-57859-345-3|page=150}}</ref><ref name="Mott2011">{{cite book|last=Mott|first=Wm Michael|title=Caverns, Cauldrons, and Concealed Creatures: A Study of Subterranean Mysteries in History, Folklore, and Myth|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d0l7AwAAQBAJ&pg=PA98|year=2011|publisher=Grave Distractions Pub.|isbn=978-0-9829128-7-4|page=98}}</ref><br />
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==Birth and early life==<br />
Ulupi was the daughter of the [[Nāgarāja|Nāga King]] Kauravya.{{Sfn|Vogel|1926|p=208}}{{Sfn|Vettam|1975|p=19}} Her father ruled the underwater kingdom of serpents in the [[Ganga]] river.{{Sfn|Debroy|2010|loc=sec.Arjuna-vanavasa Parva}} Ulupi was a well-trained warrior.{{Sfn|Chandramouli|2012|loc=chpt. Seprent Princess}}<br />
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==Marriage with Arjuna==<br />
[[File:Uluchi Arujann.jpg|thumb|Ulupi induced an unwilling [[Arjuna|Arjun]] to take her for wife]]<br />
Arjuna, the third [[Pandava]] brother, is exiled from [[Indraprastha]]—the capital city of the kingdom—to go on a twelve-year pilgrimage as a penance for violating the terms of his marriage to [[Draupadi|Draupadī]], the brothers' common wife. Accompanied by Brahmins, Arjuna goes to the [[Northeast India|north eastern region]] of present-day India.{{Sfn|Vettam|1975|p=96}}<br />
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One day, when Arjuna bathes in the [[Ganga]] river to perform his rituals, the Naga princess Ulupi, who he mistakes for the current, grasps him and pulls him into the river.{{Sfn|Vettam|1975|p=332}} She holds him with her hands and he travels under her will. They finally end up in an underwater kingdom, the abode of Kauravya. Arjuna comes across a sacrificial fire there and offers his rites to the fire. [[Agni]] is pleased with Arjuna's unhesitating offering of oblations.{{Sfn|Debroy|2010|loc=sec.Arjuna-vanavasa Parva}}<br />
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Delighted by her act, Arjuna inquires Ulupi about her background. She reveals her lineage and admits that she had fallen in love with him. Arjuna, however, declines her proposal citing his celibacy on his pilgrimage. Ulupi argues that his celibacy is limited only to [[Draupadi]], Arjuna's first wife.{{Sfn|Vettam|1975|p=54}} Convinced by her argument, he marries her and spends a night with her.<ref>{{cite book|title=Myths and Legends from India – Great Women|last=Bhanu|first=Sharada|publisher=Macmillan India Limited|year=1997|location=Chennai|isbn=0-333-93076-2|page=7}}</ref> A son named [[Iravan]] was born to them.{{Sfn|Debroy|2010|loc=sec.Arjuna-vanavasa Parva}} Pleased by Arjuna, Ulupi grants him a boon that all animals that live under water will obey him and that he will be never defeated in war under water.{{Sfn|Vettam|1975|p=332}}{{Sfn|Thadani|1931|pp=185–186}}<br />
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==Redeeming Arjuna from the curse==<br />
[[File:Ulupi with death arjuna in aswamedha war.jpg|thumb|left|Ulupi with death arjuna in aswamedha war]]<br />
The [[Vasu]]s, [[Bhishma|Bhīṣma]]'s brothers, cursed Arjuna after he killed Bhīṣma through treachery in the [[Kurukshetra War]].<ref name=LXXXI />{{Sfn|Vettam|1975|p=97}} When Ulupi heard of the curse, she sought the help of her father, Kauravya. Her father went to Ganga, Bhīṣma's mother, and requested her for a relief from the curse. Upon hearing him, Ganga said that Arjuna would be killed by his own son, [[Babruvahana|Babruvāhana]]—Arjuna's son through [[Chitrāngadā]]—and brought back to life when Ulupi placed a gem called [[Nagamani|Nāgamaṇi]] on his chest.{{Sfn|Vettam|1975|p=97}}<br />
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Following her father's advice, Ulupi instigates Babruvāhana to fight Arjuna.{{Sfn|Vettam|1975|p=97}} When Arjuna goes to [[Manipur]] with the horse intended for the [[Aswamedha|Aśvamedha]] sacrifice,<ref name=LXXXI>{{cite book|last=Ganguli|first=Kisari Mohan|title=The Mahabharata: Book 14: Anugita Parva|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m14/m14081.htm|publisher=[[Internet Sacred Text Archive]]|chapter=SECTION LXXXI|date=1883–1896|access-date=3 April 2016}}</ref> the king Babruvāhana, as directed by Ulupi, challenges Arjuna to a duel. In the fierce battle that took place between them, both are mangled by the other's arrows. Finally, Arjuna is mortally wounded and is killed by his son when he shoots a powerful arrow at him.<ref>{{cite book|last=Ganguli|first=Kisari Mohan|title=The Mahabharata: Book 14: Anugita Parva|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m14/m14079.htm |publisher=[[Internet Sacred Text Archive]]|chapter=SECTION LXXIX|date=1883–1896|access-date=3 April 2016}}</ref> Chitrāngadā rushes to the spot and abuses Ulupi for instigating Babruvahana to fight Arjuna.{{Sfn|Vettam|1975|p=97}} Repenting of his deed, Babruvahana is determined to kill himself, but is promptly stopped by Ulupi. She goes to her kingdom and brings the Nagamani. When she places the Nagamani on Arjuna's chest, his life is restored, thus relieving him of the Vasus' curse.<ref>{{cite book|last=Ganguli|first=Kisari Mohan|title=The Mahabharata: Book 14: Anugita Parva|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m14/m14080.htm|publisher=[[Internet Sacred Text Archive]]|chapter=SECTION LXXX|date=1883–1896|access-date=3 April 2016}}</ref> When brought back to his life, Arjuna becomes happy to see Ulupi, Chitrāngadā, and Babruvahana. He takes all of them to [[Hastinapur]].{{Sfn|Vettam|1975|p=97}}<br />
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==Retirement of the Pandavas==<br />
Upon the onset of the [[Kali Yuga]], the [[Pandavas]] along with [[Draupadi]] retired and left the throne to their only heir Arjuna's grandson, [[Parikshit]]. Giving up all their belongings and ties, they made their final journey of pilgrimage to the Himalayas, accompanied by a dog. Ulupi went back to her kingdom in the Ganga river.<ref>{{cite book|last=Ganguli|first=Kisari Mohan|title=The Mahabharata: Book 17: Mahaprasthanika Parva|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m17/m17001.htm|publisher=[[Internet Sacred Text Archive]]|chapter=SECTION 1|date=1883–1896|access-date=3 April 2016}}</ref><br />
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==References==<br />
{{Reflist|30em}}<br />
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==Bibliography==<br />
{{refbegin}}<br />
* {{cite book|last=Chandramouli|first=Anuja|title=ARJUNA: Saga Of A Pandava Warrior-Prince|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-ucDRHzIx_AC|year=2012|publisher=Leadstart Publishing Pvt Ltd|isbn=978-93-81576-39-7}}<br />
* {{cite book|last=Debroy|first=Bibek|author-link=Bibek Debroy|title=The Mahabharata: Volume 2|year=2010|publisher=[[Penguin Books]]|isbn=978-0-14-310013-3|page=536}}<br />
* {{cite book|last=Sweety|first=Dr.Shinde |title=Arjun: Without A Doubt|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xP9qBgAAQBAJ|year=2015|publisher=Leadstart Publishing PvtLtd|isbn=978-93-81836-97-2}}<br />
* {{cite book|last=Vogel|first=Jean Philippe|title=Indian Serpent-lore: Or, The Nāgas in Hindu Legend and Art|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=caskYEbIQDoC|year=1926|publisher=Asian Educational Services|isbn=978-81-206-1071-2}}<br />
* {{cite book|last=Thadani|first=N.|title=The Mystery of the Mahabharata|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tCAnrHq8r1kC|volume=4|year=1931|publisher=India Research Press|id=GGKEY:EUL3QR74A0R}}<br />
* {{cite book|last=Vettam|first=Mani|title=Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary With Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature|publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]]|year=1975|location=Delhi|isbn=0-8426-0822-2}}<br />
{{refend}}<br />
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{{Mahabharata}}<br />
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[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]<br />
[[Category:Nāgas]]</div>imported>Baddu676