He walked with a limp, but ended a clan through his brain!
Shakuni, the Prince of Gandharva and the brother of Gandhari, is believed to be the main reason behind the war of Mahabharata.
While we usually discuss how Shakuni, Duryodhan's maternal uncle manipulated him leading to the war, we hardly talk anything about Shakuni 's life.
He has a history, not all are aware of. Do you know while Gandhariwas an ardent follower of Krishna (Vishnu), Shakuni was a Lord Shivadevotee?
Shakuni might have earned your loath for sure but, he will always be an essential part of history. After all, not everyone has the power to win kingdoms through just a mere dice game.
Read on to see how much you know about him.
#1. Shakuni had two sons.
Uluka and Vrikasura are Shakuni's two sons. It is also believed that despite Uluka's insistence on returning back to Gandharva, Shakunirefused to come back to ensure his pledge of killing Bhishma Pitamahand the Kuru clan.
#2. He not only had 100 nephews but 100 brothers as well.
Shakuni was the 100th son of King Subala, and so was also known as Saubala. He had 99 brothers and one sister. He was the youngest and the most intelligent of all his siblings.
#3. Shakuni had no bad feelings for the Pandavas.
The most surprising fact of all. Yes, Shakuni had no ill feelings against Pandavas. The main grudge was against Bhishma Pitamah. Shakuni could not stand the thought of his sister getting married to a blind man. Since Bhishma Pitamah was the one behind the alliance, he ended up earning Shakuni's hatred.
Shakuni, as a revenge, pledged to end his clan.
There is another legendary story which accounts for his hatred, stating that the ancestors of Hastinapurdestroyed the entire clan of Gandharv - Shakuni's kingdom.
#4. Shakuni was an illusionist.
The dice game is legendary when it comes to Mahabharata. Shakuni is seen as a mastermind. Yudhishthira lost it to Shakuni on the basis of his illusionary tricks in the much famous gamble.
#5. Shakuni's dice was made of ivory.
Shakuni's dice is believed to be made of his father's thigh bone but actually, it was made of ivory. It was because of this ivory that he could play tricks in the famous dice game - chaupar.
#6. Shakuni was killed by Sahadeva.
Sahadeva killed Shakuni on the 18th day of the Mahabharata war. He pledged to kill Shakuni as a revenge to Draupadi's insult.
#7. There is a temple devoted to Shakuni in Kerala.
Just like Ravana had a good side, so did Shakuni. The Kuruvar community in the Kollam district of Kerala, acknowledge the good qualities of Shakuni and as a mark of reverence has a temple named Pavitreswaram.
Disclaimer: Image is for illustration purpose only.
#8. Shakuni is regarded as the flag bearer of the Dwapar Yuga.
Dwapar Yuga refers to the age where relations lose feelings, when 'brother would turn against brothers'. If we think of the Kurukshetra as a result of antagonism between the Pandavas and the Kauravas, Shakuni was undoubtedly the catalyst.
Shakuni is often seen as a coward but the fact is despite having ample opportunities to return to his kingdom, he chose to stay and ensure that the Kuru dynasty comes to an end.
Good or bad, one can definitely say there has never been a 'mama' like Shakuni.
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