Tag: history

During the 13th year of the Pandavas' exile, when they had to live in disguise, Arjuna took the name Brihannala and taught dance and music to the princess Uttara in King Virata's court. As Brihannala, Arjuna pretended to be a eunuch, which was part of their concealment strategy.

Arjuna traveled to the Himalayas and performed severe penance to obtain the Pashupatastra from Lord Shiva. This was one of the most powerful weapons in the Mahabharata, capable of destroying any target. Lord Shiva tested Arjuna's devotion by appearing as a hunter (Kirata) and engaging him in battle before granting the weapon.

Hanuman promised to stabilize and strengthen Arjuna's chariot during the Kurukshetra war. He appeared on Arjuna's flag (dwijah) and protected his chariot from the powerful weapons of the enemy. This blessing was sought by Arjuna through Krishna's advice and helped ensure his chariot remained stable despite devastating attacks.

In the Mahabharata, Abhimanyu was the son of Arjuna and Subhadra (Krishna's sister). While Arjuna had other wives including Chitrangada and Ulupi, and Draupadi was shared among the Pandavas, Subhadra alone was Abhimanyu's mother.

Shaktiastra was the divine weapon Karna received from Indra in exchange for his Kavacha (armor) and Kundala (earrings). This weapon was guaranteed to kill Arjuna, though Karna ultimately could not use it against Arjuna due to a curse. Brahmastra, Pashupatastra, and Suryastra are other celestial weapons in the Mahabharata.

The word 'commando' originates from the Afrikaans word 'kommando' used during the Second Boer War (1899-1902) to describe mobile Boer irregular military units. These Boer kommandos were among the earliest organized guerrilla-style forces, though modern special forces like the British SAS (formed 1941) later formalized the concept. The South African Kommandos represent the historical origin of both the term and early commando tactics.

In the Mahabharata, Arjuna took a terrible vow to kill Jayadratha by sunset of the next day or end his own life, because Jayadratha had helped prevent Arjuna's son Abhimanyu from escaping the chakravyuh formation, leading to Abhimanyu's death. Despite the Kauravas protecting Jayadratha with a layered formation, Arjuna fulfilled his vow on the 14th day of war.

The Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was America's first centralized intelligence agency, established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1942 during World War II. The OSS was responsible for espionage and unconventional warfare behind enemy lines, and was disbanded after WWII but later evolved into the modern CIA in 1947.

Karna was arguably the most powerful warrior among the Kauravas, superior even to Arjuna in martial skill. He had divine weapons, impenetrable armor, and was equal to Arjuna in archery. However, due to curses, his chariot getting stuck in mud, and his promise not to attack Arjuna twice, Karna was killed by Arjuna on the 17th day of the war.

SAS stands for Special Air Service, Britain's elite special forces unit founded in 1941 during WWII. Despite the 'Air' in the name, they are a multi-role special forces unit, not an air force unit. The name originated from their initial cover as a parachute unit. The SAS is renowned for counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, and special reconnaissance missions worldwide.