Incarnations in Mahabharata: Main Characters

The war of Kurukshetra — was it just a family feud?

No. It was a Deva-Asura Yuddha, played out upon the plains of earth, veiled in human skin, but driven by celestial intent.

When the Devas secured full control over Swargaloka, the Asuras, humiliated and furious, began taking birth on earth.
They came — not as demons with fangs — but as kings, warriors, generals.
They slipped into dynasties, they wore royal crowns, they gathered armies.

As their numbers rose, adharma bloated.

The balance shattered.
The scale tilted.

So the Devas descended too — amshavatarana — not in full, but as sparks of their celestial selves, housed in human forms.

The war that followed — Kurukshetra — was no mere conflict of cousins.
It was the cosmic reckoning, the rebalancing of dharma and adharma.

Let’s now reveal who was who in this epic masquerade of incarnations.

Asuras in Human Form

• Jarasandha — incarnation of Viprachitti, chief of the Danavas.

• Shishupala — none other than Hiranyakashipu, reborn to challenge Vishnu again.

• Shalya, king of Madra — incarnation of Samhrada, brother of Prahlada.

• Dhrishtaketu — incarnation of Anuhrada, another of Prahlada’s brothers.

• Bhagadatta — born from Bashkala, one of the Daitya warriors.

All these Asuras, and many more, came as kings and allies of the Kauravas.
The Mahabharata lists them clearly — their true forms hidden behind noble appearances.

Celestial Forces Among the Humans

• Drona — the mighty preceptor — was the incarnation of Brihaspati, Guru of the Devas.

• Ashwatthama — a rare blend of fire and silence — born from parts of Mahadeva, Yama, Kama, and Krodha.

• Bhishma — already known — was a Vasu in human form.

• Kripacharya — was a being of the Rudraganas, the fierce attendants of Shiva.

• Satyaki, Drupada, Kritavarma, and Virata — all carried aspects of the Marudganas.

• Dhritarashtra — the blind king — was an incarnation of the Gandharva Hamsa.

• Duryodhana — fiery and cunning — carried within him the spirit of Kali, the dark force of conflict.

• His brothers — Rakshasa spirits, warriors born with cruelty woven into their breath.

The Divine Sons of Kunti and Madri

We already know —
Yudhishthira was Yamaraja,
Bhima was Vayu,
Arjuna was Indra,
Nakula and Sahadeva were the Ashwini Kumaras.

But before even these births…
Kunti, as a young girl, had tested Sage Durvasa’s mantra.
She invoked Surya, the sun god.
And from that invocation was born Karna — golden-armored, radiant-eared.

Kunti, gripped by fear and shame, placed the newborn in a box and released him into the river.

The box floated.

It was found by Adhiratha, a humble Suta and charioteer of Dhritarashtra, and his wife Radha.
They named him Vasusena — the world would know him as Karna.

Karna and the Gift of the Gods

Karna was born with kavacha and kundalas — natural armor and earrings.
He was invincible as long as he wore them.

But Indra, concerned for Arjuna, approached him disguised as a Brahmin.
He asked for the kavacha and kundalas.
Karna gave them away without hesitation.
Such was his heart.

Indra, moved, gave him the Vasavi Shakti — a divine spear that could kill anyone. Once.

The Moon’s Grief

Abhimanyu — son of Arjuna and Subhadra — was the incarnation of Varcha, son of Chandra.

Chandra had pleaded:
'Let him not stay away from me for long.'
So he was granted only 16 years.

Abhimanyu died at sixteen, as promised.

Other Incarnations

• Dhrishtadyumna, Draupadi’s brother — born of yajna, was Agni’s amsha.

• Draupadi’s five sons — were incarnations of the Vishwedevas, universal shining forces.

• Draupadi herself — the incarnation of Shachi Devi, queen of the gods.

• Kunti — was Siddhi Devi, and Madri — Dhriti Devi.

• Gandhari — was Mati Devi, goddess of resolve and patience.

The Divine Line of Krishna

• Sriman Narayana — took form as Krishna.

• Adishesha — became Baladeva, his elder brother.

• Sanatkumara — descended as Pradyumna, Krishna’s son.

• Lakshmi Devi — became Rukmini, Krishna’s chief queen.

• The Apsaras — incarnated as the 16,000 wives of Krishna.

The House of Kunti

• Shurasena, Krishna’s grandfather, had promised his cousin Kuntibhoja his first child.
  His daughter Pritha was given in adoption to Kuntibhoja.
  Thus Pritha became Kunti, mother of the Pandavas.

So, in Mahabharata, we are not looking at a clash of kings.

We are witnessing the descent of celestial forces, the reckoning of karma, the recalibration of cosmic balance.

To know who these beings were,
To understand their true forms,
Is not just learning history —
It is receiving divine insight.

And the Mahabharata promises:
One who learns this with devotion is granted long life, prosperity, and inner awakening.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi