In the Mahabharata, Gandhari is the queen of Hastinapura,
wife of Dhritarashtra and the mother of the Kauravas. According to Adi Parva
chapter 110 of the Mahabharata, when she heard that her husband was blind from
birth, she wrapped a thick band of cloth over her eyes so she could not see.
The name Gandhari because she was the princess of Gandhara.
Sage Vyasa blessed Gandhari that she would have one hundred
sons. Although she got pregnant, she did not deliver for two years. When she
heard the news that Kunti, wife of Pandu, had given birth to a son, in sheer
despair and jealousy she hit her womb so hard that a big mass of flesh came
out.
On advice of Sage Vyasa, the mass of flesh was cut into 100
pieces and deposited in jars of ghee. The remaining pieces were put in an
additional jar. In due course, 100 sons, and a daughter Dushala came out of the
jars.
When her sons grew up, she noticed their wrong doings and
their animosity for Pandavas. However, she remained silent. She did try to interfere
meekly many times but those were not genuine efforts.
When Duryodhana came to take her blessings before the
Mahabharata war, she merely said that dharma alone would win. At the end of the
war, she lost her hundred sons, brother, son-in-law and numerous other dear
ones. Overcome by emotion, she burst out at Sri Krishna saying that if he had wished
things could have been different. She cursed Sri Krishna that his clan will
kill each other and perish.
Gandhari died in a forest fire where she had gone to do
penance with Dhritarashtra and Kunti.