Mahabharata – 77

By

Sankar Mukherjee

&

Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya

Presently at the request of Indra the king of gods, Uparichara left the woods &went back to his palace. It was the month of Agrahayana or November – December,when the Sun is in Scorpio.The people of Chedi kingdom were filled with joy to find their King come back with gifts from Indra, the king of heaven.At once the whole country was plunged in worship of Indra & merry making.It was after this worship that the gifts of Indra entered into the royal palace.Other kings emulated king Uparichara.And the worship of Indra spread in different kingdoms.During the worship of Indra people would be decked in new clothes.They would play with the fish,they would stage dramas.Dance performances  would also take place.There would be volleys of jokes cracked at the royal court.The whole society would be thus plunged in joy & in merry making.

Indra the kings of gods & Sachidevi his consort used to visit the ceremonies of Indra worship.And they would bless the kingdom of Chedi as well as other kingdoms with rains & harvest.

Uparichar the king of Chedi had five sons. They were delegated power to rule the provinces.Brihadratha ruled Maghadha,the Second son was Pratyagraha the third son was Kusamva the fourth son was Mavella & the fifth son was Yadu.Yadu was a great warrior. He was invincible.It were these five sons who founded five seperate royal dynasties.The great king Uparichara often used live in the crystal chariot gifted by Indra.He used then to travel in the skies & at that time the celestial ministrels & the elfin dames could greet him with songs & dance.He was named Uparichara only because he travelled above the earth in the skies in the crystal chariot.