Panchakanya ✅

Kunti

Kunti is mostly known as the mothers of Pandava, but very few knew that she is also the mother of The Great Warrior Karna. Karna was the eldest son of Prita bu not Pandu's elder one.

Kunti was the daughter of Shurasena and then adopted by Kuntibhojan. She was the sister of Vasudeva ( Biological father of Shri Krishna) and Balarama, Shri Krishna and Subhadra's aunt. She was the first wife of Pandu and the queen of Hastinapur before Gandhari.

Kunti took charge of the palace and was respected and adored in Bhojpur. She grew very close to an old maid "Dhatri" in whom she saw her estranged mother.
One day sage came to perform 'Maha Yajna' in Bhojpur. Durvasa had a mercurial temperament and Kunti was entrusted with the responsibility to look after the eccentric sage, which she dutifully fulfilled.

Pleased, Durvasa gave Kunti amantra and said:
"Whichever Shakti you think of while chanting this Mantra, that Shakti will appear before you in human form, fulfill your desire like a slave, and leave after filling your womb with a son as refulgent as himself.

Kunti was curious. She wants to test  the mantra. Once, she chant the mantra facing Surya Deva. The God gave her child as the prasadh of Surya Dev. He was named Surya Putra Karna. He born with expensive ornaments. Kunti don't want to have a child before her wedding. Although its was very hard for her to leave Karna alone, kept him in an golden basket and send him in the Ashva river just for the sake of her father's good name.

Later, she was married to King Pandu and became the Queen of Hastinapur. Pandu's second wife was Madri. Once, Pandu was cursed by Sage Kindama because he killed him when the sage was with his mate in the form of deer. So, King Pandu went to exile with Kunti and Madri.

In the exile, Kunti informed about the boon she receives from Sage Durvasa. She chant the mantra to Lord Yama and gave birth to Yuthishtira. She chant the mantra to Lord Vayu and Lord Indra and gave birth to Bheemsena and Arjuna respectively. Kunti taught the mantra to Madri. Madri chant this mantra to Ashvini Kumars and gave birth to Nakula and Sahadeva. These five children are known as Pancha Pandava.

Few years after, Pandu forgot about his curse and had relation with Madri. Because of his action, he had to face the death. Madri commits Sati after this incident. Kunti was depressed. But she still was brave to grow her child as a widow. She returned to Hastinapur.

Again few years later, Kunti and Pandavas went to Varnavatha. Duryodhana and Shakuni planned to kill them in Varnavatha, but they escaped. 

During their stay at ekachakra , Kunti and the Pandavas came to know of a demon, Bakasura, who troubled the people. Kunti engineered a plot where Bhima would be able to face and kill the demon. The powerful Bhima brought his might to the fore and defeated Bakasura. Later, Bhima slays the rakshasha Hidimba and he is beseeched by Hidimbi, Hidimba's sister, to wed her. Bhima is reluctant, but Kunti ordered Bhima to marry Hidimbi seeing merit in the woman. Hidimbi would go on to birth Ghatothkacha , who later takes part in the Kurushektra war.

Once, Arjuna won Draupadi in her Swayamvar in Pachala. The Pandava brought her to their hermitage. They informed to Kunti who was involved in her prayers, that they had brought alms, signifying Kanyadhana. Kunti ask them to share it between themselves. But Kunti realized her mistake when she look at Draupadi as the alms. Kunti apologized to Draupadi. Later Draupadi was married to The Pandavas.

Death of Kunti

After the Kurusekhtra War , Kunti moved to a forest near the Himalayas with her brothers-in-law, Vidura & Dhiratharastra  and and sister-in-law, Gandhari , where all four of them later perished in a forest fire, attaining heaven.