There are n number of strange and unknown facts from Mahabharata as no one has the complete knowledge of Mahabharata written by Lord Ganesha.
My fellow quorans have already given many facts and here I’m adding few more to the list.
Vedvyas is not a name but a post given to those who had knowledge of Vedas. There were 27 Vedvyas before Krishnadweepayan. And Krishnadweepayan was the 28th Vedvyas, who was given this name because he had a wheatish skin colour like Lord Krishna and he was born on an island.
Strange but true that there are 10 other Gitas that exist like Vyadh Gita, Ashtavakra Gita, Parashar Gita etc. Though Shri Bhagwad Gita is the pure and complete Gita which contains information by Lord Krishna.
Vaishampayan the disciple of Vedvyas first time read Mahabharat in the House of the King Janamejay who was the grandson of Abhimanyu and son of Parikshit. Many sarpyagya was done by him to take the revenge of his father’s death.
There are 33 main Gods according to Dharma Granthas and one of them is Ashtha Vasu who was born as Shantanu and Ganga’s son. Their 8th son was known as Bhishma.
In Mahabharat, Vidur was the avatar of Yamraj and was a great scholar of Dharma Shatra and Artha Shastra. Due to the curse of Rishi Mandavya’s he had to be born as human.
IMAGE CREDITS - Vidhyasri Shivasailam
Generally people know about six-sided dice. Amazing is that the dice through which Shakuni had defeated the Pandavas in the game of Checker had four sides.
It is said that Mahabharat teaches about Dharma and many people even connect it with truth or lies but nowhere in any instance in Mahabharat truth or lies are defined. Each and every action of people in Mahabharat depends upon the situations in which they are in.
Arjun was cursed by Urvashi an Apsara of Indralok as he was addressing her ‘mother’ and said that he would become a eunuch. On this Lord Indra told Arjun that this curse is going to serve as a boon during the one year stay in hiding and after spending that period he would regain his masculinity. And in Mahabharat after spending 12 years in forest, Pandavas spent 13th year of exile in cognito, in the court of king Virat. Arjuna used this curse and lived as eunuch named Brihannala.
Lord Krishna reminded Arjun about his unsatisfied boon i.e when Arjun saved Duryodhan’s life when they are living in a forest and said that he would ask for it in an appropriate time. So, Arjun went to Duryodhana, and asked for five golden arrows that was chanted by the mantras of Bhishma and declared that with the help of these arrows Pandavas were killed.
Eklavya was reincarnated as Draupadi’s twin brother Dhrishtadyumna. As he was killed by Krishna during Rukmini’s abduction. So, in place of guru dakshina Krishna blessed him that he can reincarnate and take revenge on Drona.
Draupadi was Goddess Durga’s Avatar. Once in the late night, Bhima saw that Draupadi, as Goddess Durga, was asking for Bhima’s blood in her empty bowl, scared to death, he narrated the entire story to his mother, Kunti. Then she asked Draupadi never to hurt Bhima. Being a mortal, Draupadi had to promise her and in the act she bites her lip hesitantly. Kunti wiped off the blood from her lips with the edge of her cloth and promised her that Bhima will fill the bowl for her.
Iravan Sacrificed Himself to Goddess Kali to Ensure the Victory of the Pandavas
Iravan (Also - Iravant, Iravat and Aravan), the son of Arjun and naga princess Uloopi sacrificed himself to goddess Kali to ensure the victory of his father and his team in the Kurukshetra war. He however, had a last wish – He wanted to marry a girl before he died. Now, getting a girl who knew her husband would die in few days was a tricky task. Which girl would ever marry a man to embrace widowhood?So, Lord Krishna took the form of a nubile Mohini, married Iravan and even wept like a widow after her husband Iravan died.
Duryodhana approached Sahadeva to Seek Mahurat of Kurukshetra War
Sahadeva who had eaten the flesh of his father Pandu after his death could not only see past, and future but also had a great knowledge in Astrology. This is the reason why Shakuni sent Duryodhana to Sahadeva to ask the mahurat (right time) of the Mahabharat War. Sahadeva being honest had disclosed it to Duryodhan in spite knowing the fact that Duryodhan was his real enemy in the battle. Sahadeva could already see the great war coming however he could not warn his brothers because he had a curse - The moment he would reveal the future he would die and so Lord Krishna had advised him to answer questions wrt to future only in the form of questions.
Yuyutsu, was the only Kaurava who survived after the Kurukshetra War
Yuyutsu, Dhritarashtra’s son from a vyasa dasi did not war from the side of Kauravas but from Pandavas. No, not because he was always taunted by his step brother but he just like Vibhishan was destined to follow the righteous path and so just before the war he chose the side of Pandavas. He was in fact the only surviving son of Dhritarashtra, who although was a son of dasi performed the last rites of his father. He was also the guardian of Parikshit, the grandson and future king of Hastinapur.
BALARAMA WAS ABHIMANYU’S FATHER –IN – LAW
Abhimanyu was the son- in - law of Balarama. Abhimanyu’s wife Vatsala was the daughter of balarama.Balarama wanted that Vatsala should marry Laxman who was Duryodhana’s son . Abhimanyu and Vatsala both loved each other and wanted to get married. Abhimanyu took the help from his brother Ghatotkacha . Ghatotkacha knew magic and he by his magic tricks went to Laxman’s marrage and terrified the groom. He then took Vatsala with him and flew away and went to his brother Abhimanyu. Laxman was very upset from all this and he vowed that he will not marry throughout his life. Due this Duryodhana was full of anger (There is a famous movie in Telugu on this story).
Still, there are many more unknown facts about Mahabharata which we will come to know when Ashwattama - the next Vedvyas of Kali Yuga compiles all the veda’s and publishes to people.