Lac house (Lakshagraha) is an important incident in the Mahabharata.
Duryodhana attempted to kill Pandavas by setting fire to the wax house. Lac
house is known as Lakshagraha or Jatu Graha. Highly inflammable materials were
added during the construction of the house. This story is an important turning
point in the Mahabharata.
Yudhisthira was declared the crown prince of Hastinapura and
the popularity of the Pandavas was on the rise. Duryodhana and his brothers
could not tolerate the rise of the Pandavas. They along with their maternal uncle,
Shakuni, hatched a plot to kill the Pandavas.
They got a house built with highly inflammable materials in
the city of Varanavata. An important festival is held here annually.
Shakuni and Duryodhana persuaded Dhritarashtra to advise
Pandavas to participate in the festival in Varanavata.
Pandavas along with their mother Kunti visited Varanavata
and stayed in the house of lac.
Purochana, a faithful servant of Duryodhana, accompanied them. The duty of Purochana was to set fire to the house at the opportune time.
Purochana, a faithful servant of Duryodhana, accompanied them. The duty of Purochana was to set fire to the house at the opportune time.
However, Vidura, paternal uncle of Pandavas and Kauravas,
came to know about the treacherous plot and sent a messenger to Pandavas warning
about the impending danger.
On getting the message, Bhima, the second of Pandavas, dug a
tunnel from the house into a nearby forest.
Pandavas silently set fire to the house and escaped into the
forest.
The news soon spread that the Pandavas had perished in the fire.
To confirm this people found six charred bodies – these were
of a women and five sons who had sought shelter that night in the house of lac.
The relationship between Pandavas and Kauravas
strained forever after this incident. The fight between them came into the
open.