Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana): Difference between revisions

| family  = Chitrangada (father), Chandramudra (mother), Matrasena (brother), Susharma (brother), Medha, Mridula and Mihika (so called sisters)

| home = [[Kalinga]] (by birth), [[Hastinapura]] (By marriage)

}}'''Mayurī''' is the wife of [[Duryodhana]] and mother of [[Laxman Kumara]] and Lakshmanaa in folklores. She is one of the antagonists of the epic [[Mahabharata]] and she is the daughter in law of [[Dhritarashtra]] and [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]]. She is a good friend of Urvi, [[Karna]]'s second wife.

Mayuri is a prominent character in the epic [[Mahabharata]]. She is known basically as the wife of [[Duryodhana]]. She is the only one who is a mother [[Laxman Kumara]] and his sister [[Lakshmanaa]]. In the ''Mahabharata'', Duryodhana's wife is mentioned four or five times, the complexion of beauty, and she was a Maharani of [[Hastinapura]], capital of the [[Kuru Kingdom]].

She is mentioned in the [[Shanti Parva]] about her marriage and kidnappings and in [[Stri Parva]] Mayuri lose [[Duryodhana]]. After the death of [[Duryodhana]], Mayuri committed Sati.

Duryodhana's marriage is found in the Shanti Parva of Mahabharata. The tale of the Swayamvar of Chitrangada's daughter is narrated by Narada, the god sage. The text never mentions the name of the princess but states that she is fair and beautiful.{{sfn|Chakravarti|2007}}

Duryodhana was invited to the [[Svayamvara]] of the daughter of King Chitrangada of [[Kalinga (Mahabharata)|Kalinga]]. Duryodhana went to the city of Rajapura, taking along his dear friend [[Karna]]. Many legendary rulers like [[Shishupala]], [[Jarasandha]], Bhishmaka, Vakra, Kapotaroman, Nila, [[Rukmi]], Sringa, Asoka, Satadhanwan etc. attended the ceremony. After the commencing of the ceremony, the lovely princess entered the arena with a garland in her hand, surrounded by her nursemaid and bodyguards. As she was being informed about the names of the participants & their lineage, she walked away from Duryodhana. Duryodhana refuses to accept her rejection and already smitten by the princess, took her away on his chariot challenging other suitors to beat him & Karna. Karna successfully battled with the rest of the suitors to protect his friend. Karna easily defeated the pursuing Kings and the other royal suitors abandoned their pursuit after seeing Karna's fighting prowess. On reaching [[Hastinapur]], Duryodhana justified his act by giving the example of his great grandfather [[Bhishma]] abducting three princesses of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]] for his stepbrother, [[Vichitravirya]]. Finally, the fair lady consented and married Duryodhana.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Anonymous|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ygA2240G74kC&q=Narada+said%2C+%27Having+thus+obtained+weapons+from+him+of+Bhrigu%27s+race%2C+Karna+began+to+pass+his+days+in+great+joy%2C+in+the+company+of+Duryodhana%2C+O+bull+of+Bharata%27s+race.&pg=PT7783|title=The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Complete)|publisher=Library of Alexandria|isbn=978-1-4655-2637-3|language=en}}</ref>

{{Blockquote|Behold, the beloved wife of Duryodhana and mother of Lakshmanaa and Laxman Kumara, the Queen of Hastinapura, the woman who was with her friend, Supriya, who is the beautiful princess of Kalinga, The Daughter of Chitrangada and Vaishali, the woman who was sorrowing for her husband, Duryodhana, the woman who committed Sati and who mourned for her husband and son who died during the war, Mayuri fell on her heroic spouse, Duryodhana's breast, the king of Hastinapura|Gandhari|Translated By Kisari Mohan Ganguli}}

Her beauty was immense for [[Duryodhana]] and so he had kidnapped her. [[Karna]] also was with [[Duryodhana]] but as he died, she had commited sati and so Lakshmanaa, their daughter, too commited sati as her husband, Samba, was dead. In [[Kerala]], Mayuri is given the title "Mayureshwari" for Mayuri is worshipped with [[Duryodhana]]. In the [[Yakshagana]] plays, [[Duryodhana]] is played and is further referred to some extent as Kondadakuli.