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Showing posts from March 26, 2016


How Arjuna Received The Gandiva Bow? - Story Of Gandiva Bow In Mahabharata

Gandiva was the bow of Arjuna in the Mahabharata. Arjuna received the Gandiva bow from Agni. Legend has it that Agni gave Arjuna the bow for helping in performing the Khandava Dahanam or the burning of the Khandava forest. There is an interesting story as to how Arjuna came to receive the Gandiva bow from Agni. Once there was a king named Shvetaki. He conducted several types of yajnas for several years and this filled the kingdom with smoke. The yajna place was continuously under smoke and the Rishis found it difficult to even breathe. They all left the place. This did not deter Shvetaki who decided to conduct another yajna for 12 years but none of the Rishis were ready to take part in it. Shvetaki then prayed to Shiva for a solution and He gave him Durvaasas as the priest for the yajna. Durvaasas continued the yajna for 12 years pouring unlimited materials into Agni. Agni was now overfed and could no longer take anymore food. His brilliance started to fade and t