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Alphabetical List of Unique Nouns in Mahabharata:-
| Alphabetical List, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, Y, Z |
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Table of Contents
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Higher Level Categories
Names of People
Most of the nouns in Mahabharata are names of various people or personalities. Example includes names of Warriors, Kings, Women and Sages.
Women
There are several names of women mentioned in Mahabharata. But the number of women mentioned is lesser than the number of men! This classification is not absolute. I plan to classify some women in the generic category as womens who were brides of Aila-Puru-Bharata-Kuru lineage. Another way of classification is grouping them as women from various kingdoms. So the basis of classification can always differ. Duhsala is classified under the category of Kaurava, though she is a women, but she is also a Kaurava, thus causing an overlap.
- Apsara E.g.:- Urvasi, Menaka, Rambha
- Devamata E.g.:- Aditi, Diti, Danu
- Draupadi Wife of the Pandavas; She is an individual; but called by several names like Panchali, Yajnaseni and Krishna
- Goddess Several goddess names are mentioned in Mahabharata, like Uma, Gauri most of them synonyms of Durga
- Kunti Mother of the Pandavas
- Lady_Asura E.g.:- Sarmishtha
- Lady_Kasi E.g.:- Amva, Amvika, Amvalika
- Lady_Madra E.g.:- Madri
- Lady_Matsya E.g.:- Uttara
- Lady_Yadava E.g.:- Subhadra, Rukmini, Satyabhama, Damayanti
- Rakshasi E.g.:- Mandodari, Trijata etc
- Saptamata The seven mothers of Skanda
- Satyavati The mother of Vyasa
- Skanda_Matri The 100s of mothers who supported Skanda
- Skandas_Women The women who is related to Skanda and infant mortality
- Woman_Generic Currently added in generic category, needs further classification
Kings
It is very difficult to categorize kings into sub-groups. There are Kuru kings who were a sub-section of the Bharata kings. The Bharatas were a sub-section of the Puru kings, who themselves were a sub-section of Aila kings. But some researches consider the Kurus, the Bharatas, the Purus and the Ailas as distinct clans who allied together in some time of history. I here classified them all as part of the Aila group for the moment.
- King_Aila
- King_Generic
- King_Ikshwaku
- King_Kasi
- King_Magadha
- King_Other
- King_Sauvira
- King_Sindhu
- King_Sivi
- King_Trigarta
- King_Yadava
Individual Kings
Warriors
Most of the warriors mentioned in Mahabharata were participants of the Kurukshetra War. But there were warriors participated in other battles like the battles during the Aswamedha sacrifice and Rajasuya sacrifice of Yudhisthira.
- Warrior_Generic
- Warrior_Kalinga
- Warrior_Kekaya
- Warrior_Kosala
- Warrior_Kuru
- Warrior_Magadha
- Warrior_Panchala
- Warrior_Pandava
- Warrior_Trigarta
- Warrior_Yadava
Individual Warriors
- Ashwathama
- Bhishma
- Dhrishtadyumna
- Dhristadyumnas_Son
- Drona
- Drupada
- Karna
- Karnas_Son
- Sakuni
- Sakunis_Brother
- Shalya
- Shikhandi
- Viratas_Brother
- Viratas_Son
Sages
There are numerous sages and ascetics mentioned in Mahabharata. Some of these sages seems to be co-authors of Mahabharata along with Vyasa because which they added their name into Mahabharata. Sages are classified into Gotras (clans) where ever information about their Gotra is available. Sometimes sages mentioned as part of a region, (with no information about their Gotra) such as the southern region are added to Sage_Agastya_Gotra but other times like with Sage_Panchala and Sage_Videha they are mentioned under the region in which they belong.
The Bharadwajas and the Gautamas were two major branches of the Angiras and the Gargas were a branch of the Bharadwajas. I consider the Agastyas and the Vasisthas to be two major branches of the Bhargavas. The Bhargavas were also known as the Varunis since they gave importance to the Vedic god Varuna in comparison to Indra. The two founder sages Agastya and Vasistha were mentioned as sons of Mitra-varuni. I consider this Mitra-varuni to be a Bhargava sage, rather than what the literature will make us to believe that they were the sons of two gods viz. Mitra and Varuna. The Vyasas were a branch of the Vasisthas. I have kept the disciples of Vyasa also among the Vyasas, till I know their correct gotra.
The Kasyapas were a branch of an obscure group of sages known as the Marichas the only known members of it being Maricha, the uncle of Ravana who is later termed as a Rakshasa; and the founder sage Marichi. The Naga sages were a branch of the Kasyapas.
The Manu sages were an ancient lineage, probably as early as when humans started of their migration from Africa and a branch started moving in the direction of India. Their race also continued to the later stages and the latest of them authored the Manu-smriti. Some of them were sages as well as kings (or rather rulers or chiefs). Some of them were instrumental in the establishment of the Vaishnava cult. Some of them authored laws for the society like Manu-Smriti, which became controversial in recent times.
The Atris were also an ancient lineage. Some sages whose lineages cannot be traced but their regionality is known are places in the respective regions (Panchala, Videha). The Saiva sages are instrumental in the establishment of the Saiva cult. The Deva sages were the sages like Narada who were mentioned as coming from or as going to the territories of the Devas (Tibet). They could also be extensive travelers who travel beyond the ancient Indian sub-continent. Sages whose regionality or race is not known are placed in the generic category.
Individual Sages
The Devas and the Members of the Exotic Tribes
- Skanda - Seems to be a Yaksha; Also known as Guhyaka, and Guhyaka was s synonym of Yaksha
- Kubera - Kubera was the king of the Yakshas. He is also a god in Buddhism
People belonging to an exotic tribe
- Skandas_Men Yakshas?
The Five Pandavas and their associates
Pandava
Sons and Wives of Pandavas
The Kauravas
The Yadavas
Other Personal Names
There are some people mentioned in Mahabharata, who are neither kings, nor warriors, nor sages. An important person among them is Vidura. He was like a minister to Dhritarashtra. There are also names of other ministers, advisors, scholars and names of many Brahmanas and Sudras in Mahabharata. Certain names are names of animals in fable-stories. Some are mentioned as mere names with no explanation.
Tribe Names
A large amount of names found in Mahabharata are names of various tribes. Often they are also names of the kingdoms in which they inhabit.
Names of Localities
A major part of the nouns in Mahabharata are names of localities like the kingdoms, cities, places, rivers, lakes, mountains and regions. These names gives a great deal of insight into the geography of the period in which Mahabharata originated. There is enough information to derive a geo-political map of the Mahabharata period.
Plants and Animals
Mahabharata is rich with the names of flora and fauna. It contains many names of plants, trees, birds, animals and species of fish, insects as well as horses, elephants, kine and deers.
Objects, Materials and Substances
Objects like bows, conch shells, gems are given names in Mahabharata. Similarly we can find names of many materials, and substances.
Terms (Astronomy, Ritual, Philosophy, Other)
Some nouns are describing various Sanskrit terms prevalent in those ages. Some of them are astronomical terms, some are battle terms, some are about the caste, occupation etc of the people, some names of colors, numbers and food items, name of musical note, terms explaining beliefs and philosophies and some generic terms.
Astronomy, Time and Measurement
Military
Caste, Occupation, Creed
Belief
Philosophy and Science
Miscellaneous
Parva and Upaparva Names
The names of chapters (upaparva) and volumes or books (parva) of Mahabharata are repeated in the text of Mahabharata. Most of them are found in the Parva-Sangraha-Parva.
Leaf Level Categories
Below are the leaf level categories. Each of these categories has a link which will lead to the nouns belonging to that category. There is no concrete boundaries between categories. Some nouns actually belongs to more than one category. The boundaries between categories are not rigid.
Jijith Nadumuri Ravi
Research data published for the interest of people researching on Mahabharata.
Suggestions are welcome: email:moc.liamg|rnhtijij#moc.liamg|rnhtijij
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Created by Jijith Nadumuri at 14 Feb 2010 08:00 and updated at 27 Aug 2011 07:43