Shantanu’s story in the Mahabharata

Shantanu’s story in the Mahabharata (1)yields many clues about his family and the society at that time.

Shantanu, the king of Hastinapur, had a life of trials and tribulations. His first wife Ganga bore him eight sons, but she drowned the first seven in a river immediately after their birth. Even after the birth of eighth baby (Devavrata) she tried to do the same thing with the newborn, but Shantanu somehow managed to save the child before Ganga could drown him. In addition, Shantanu appears to have lost Ganga while trying to save that child, perhaps in reality putting an end to her life (accidentally or otherwise).

It depicts a horrifying tale for everyone. Hardly anything could be worse than this for a man (Shantanu) - his wife (kids’ mother) killing the new born babies one by one after birth. Moreover, it shows that Ganga probably was also suffering from some unknown disease or condition which made her act in a very strange and deadly manner. She could even be the victim of a postnatal psychological condition, e.g. postpartum depression or peripartum depression (2).

Shantanu thus must have spent a great deal of his life suffering terribly and silently. No wonder he wanted to find happiness after Ganga’s exit and even decided to marry another woman, Satyavati, at all costs. He also agreed to Satyavati’s pre-nuptial condition that her sons should rule the kingdom after his death (3). This pact with Satyavati led to the disqualification of Devavrata (later Bhishma) -- his ex-wife Ganga’s only surviving son and the legitimate heir to throne -- as future king of Hastinapur.

From Satyavati, Shantanu had two sons (Chitrangada and Vichitravirya), both of whom ascended to the throne, one after other, after Shantanu’s death. Satyavati lived for many years after her husband’s death and continued to play an important role in the affairs of her family and kingdom of Hastinapur.

Shantanu’s life story sheds light on several issues. For example,

(1) It appears that even long ago there were cases of some women experiencing drastic psychological changes during and after childbirth, which led to the tremendous suffering of these women, their families and the newborns. Since nobody was able to properly diagnose and understand psychological reasons (postpartum depression etc. perhaps) behind such odd behavior, people (especially the writers from that era) used supernatural and mythical explanations to justify it. For example, the drownings of the newborn by Ganga were explained in the Mahabharata as the result of a curse on the Vasus during previous lives.

(2) Shantanu had only one woman at a time as his wife (Ganga and then Satyavati), implying that even a king long ago would prefer to lead a monogamous life.

(3) Shantanu treated his wives with respect and as equal partners, which shows that women were enjoying rights similar to their husbands’.

(4) Shantanu, even though belonging to the Kshatriya caste and a king, married Satyavati (a Sudra girl) which indicates that there was no taboo about intercaste marriages.

(5) Shantanu, in spite of being a king, did not force Satyavati (a poor Sudra girl) to marry him against her wish, which indicates that the marriage used to be possible when both man and woman would agree to it.

(6) Shantanu agreed to the conditions (pre-nuptial agreement) put forward by his would-be wife (Satyavati) and continued to honor them afterwards. It shows that woman had a considerable say in her married life, both during the selection of a husband and while living with him as his wife afterwards.

(7) Shantanu’s wife Satyavati did not commit sati (self-immolation) when Shantanu died, which indicates that sati for widows was neither necessary nor a Hindu religious custom.

(8) After Shantanu’s death, Satyavati continued to live in the palace and acted as a matriarch for the family, even making important decisions for her kin and kingdom. She also arranged the wedding of her son and would be the first one to welcome her daughter-in-law. This indicates that the Hindu women did not leave their houses or abandon their families after their husbands died. Moreover, the Hindu widows did not go and live in a remote and secluded temple or holy place, but continued to live with their families and play an important role in the society.

References

(1) C. Rajagopalachari, Mahabharata, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mumbai, 1996, P.17-28.

(2) “What is postpartum depression?” http://www.singlemom.com/HEALTH/resources_researches/bach_postpartum_depression.htm

(3) “Issues involving ancient Hindu women”, http://www.geocities.com/lamberdar/women.html

------------------------------------

By: Dr. Subhash C. Sharma
Email: [email protected]
Date: Aug. 13, 2007

link to: Related topics by the author