Kuru

The Kurus were one of the most prominent tribes in current North-eastern India. The tribe is known to have inhabited the region since at least the 10th century BC, and was part of the second wave of Indo-Aryan migration into India after Vedic times. It appears as a chief tribe in Rigveda, having 18 verses under their rule. The Kurus here were further divided into two branches; the first is”Imukuras” (or “Imakas”), and the second one is “Uttarambras.” The Kurus played a prominent part in the early history of India.

The Kurus also figure prominently in the Mahabharata, especially during the waning years of their dynasty. The Kurus here appear as a ruling clan under a Gandhara king on the banks of Sindhu (Indus) at “Kurukshetra.”

Kuru Dynasty

In the Indian literary tradition, the Kuru dynasty was founded by Puru (also known as Paurava). The Puranas trace the genealogy of the Kuru dynasty through several avatars. Upadana Vamsi mentions that Brahma created seven different races on the earth and sent them to different lands. Five of those races were called dasyus, or impious people. The other two races were called Aryas, the Kuru, and the Panchala, which were believed to have been created by Brahma himself. The Bhagavata Purana links the origin of the Kurus with the story of a king named Kusha from South India. He had three sons, Nimi, Puru, and Yadu. Brahma killed nimi in a war. Purus and Yadus split up and departed to different places. Puru then married a princess called Pritha, who belonged to an ancient family of the Yadu dynasty.

The Puranas describe the early years of the Kuru dynasty as one of anarchy. The Kauravas and the Pandavas were cousins in the mortal realm, and spent their childhood playing together and fighting with each other. However, as they grew older, they began to harbour animosity toward each other and thereby strained relations between their respective families (the Pandava and Kaurava clans).

The Kurus were one of the most powerful tribes of Iron Age India, enjoying a hegemony in present-day North India. They gained importance during the late Vedic period by supporting the Kurukshetra war. After it, they assumed imperial proportions by dominating the other tribes, unifying much of northern India under one political authority.

This was followed by a period of relative quiet in which the Kurus consolidated their realm and developed their resources. This quiet period was succeeded by the stormy period of the epic.

The Kurus had marital relations and alliances with the Yadavas of Mathura, the Panchalas, the Bhojas, and the Sutas. They had conquered Kashi, Avanti, and Kosala, which, together with their territories, formed their empire. The modern-day Kushinagar district was known as Kurukshetra, which is believed to be named after them.

At their peak, the Kurus ruled over vast territories, including eastern Uttar Pradesh, south-western Haryana, western Madhya Pradesh, and a considerable part of Rajasthan at the time of Mahabharata. The capital of their empire was Kurukshetra. This period’s other notable cities are Thanesar, Vaishali, Ayodhya, and Kampilya. By the time of Mahabharata, they controlled most of present-day northwest India, except Kashmir and Gujarat in the west.

The Kurus had close relations with the neighbouring tribes of the Panchalas, Yadavas, and Srinjayas. According to Vedic mythology, the Kurus were descendants of a prince Puru (also known as Paurava), the son of King Kakudmi, a descendant of Svayambhuva Manu, who was the son of Surya.

Geography

According to Mahabharata, the Kurus had their capital at Kurukshetra in North India. The location of Kurukshetra, also known as Dharmakshetra or Shakadvipa during the time of Mahabharata, is believed to be in the modern-day district of Chirawa in Rajasthan. Rigveda has mentioned it as “Kurukṣetra.” In Vishnu Purana, it has been referred to as “Kuṣaṇa Kuru.” Kurukshetra was famous for its costly place of pilgrimage. The sacred texts, the Puranas, are mostly written in Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar from about the 4th century CE. Later, this area was referred to as Panchala-land (the territory of the Panchala kingdom). Panchala-land is said to be the present-day region of southern Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, and northern Rajasthan.

Society

The social structure of Kurus was based on a class of ruling Kshatriyas and three other classes of warriors, the brahmins, vaishyas, and Shudras. The army was divided into chariotry, infantry, and cavalry divisions. During the time of Mahabharata, the Kurus were ruled by a single chief on behalf of the King.

Puru (or Paurava) is believed to be the dynasty’s founder. Puru’s son, Aja (or Asva), was the next chief. His son Mahisha was a tyrant who ruled the kingdom with his uncle Kamsa (or Kushmanda).

The origins of Yadavas are also traced to Maya. King Purusara was a descendant of the Maya in Mahabharata, and his ancestor founded the Yadu dynasty.

Culture

The culture of the Kurus was secular. They adopted a way of life similar to other tribes, such as Panchalas. 

The Kurus were worshippers of Vishnu and Shiva. It is believed that Kakudmi, the ancestor of the Paurava dynasty, had a boon from Vishnu. He was given the qualities of being “devoted to truth, blessed with the quality of bravery, full of riches, famous for his valour and intolerance for moral turpitude.” 

Rulers

• King: Puru (later Paurava) – 1,77 thousand years ago

• King: Aja (or Asva) – 508,000 years ago (Lord of the earth)

• King: Mahisha – 478,000 years ago. Also known as Kuru-Kshatraveer.

• King: Kamsa – 44-20th centuries BCE or 515,000 to 1000 BCE. Also known as Kushmanda or Kushmanda-Kuru.

• King: Parikshit – 20th century BCE (Slayer of Keshi and Shakuni)

• King: Janmejaya – 20th century BCE (Slayer of Takshaka)

• King: Bhima – 18th or 19th century BCE (Slayer of Baka)

• King: Yudhishthira – 17th Century BCE. Also known as Viduratha or Jitari, or Satyajit.

• King: Dhritarashtra – 11th Century BCE. Also known as Drona or Dhruti-Svadharma. He was the son of Pandu, the son of Vivasvat, and fathered by Panchala king Arjuna (Arjuna was born in Kurukshetra).

The Downfall of the Kuru Dynasty

There are several legends about the downfall of the Kurus.

The Kuru king Puru was very fond of gambling, and once, he won a lot of money. He spent all the money and could not repay the losers who defeated him in gambling. According to this theory, his sons rebelled against him and ordered that no man could play Sivatrathistra with them without permission. The Pandavas (the five Kuru kings who founded the Pandava dynasty) played Sivatrathistra on their brothers. This infuriated the Kurus, and they caused a famine that killed many people. 

Conclusion

The Kurus were one of the most powerful and influential Mahajanapadas in the Indian subcontinent, whose original capital was at Kurukshetra. They were a central power among the Mahajanapadas. Their rulers eventually controlled vast territories that stretched from Bengal in the east to at least as far as Multan in the west. The dominance of these rulers can be inferred from their unparalleled architectural accomplishments, which included such structures as stupas, monasteries, and temples.