- Karusha Kingdom
Karusha Kingdom was one among the many kingdoms ruled by
Yadava kings in the central and western India.It lies to the south of Chedi. Karusha king Dantavaktra supported Chedi king
Sishupala and was killed by Vasudeva Krishna. Karusha Kingdom is identified as modernDatia district ofMadhya Pradesh .References in Mahabharata
Karusha was mentioned as a kingdom of ancient India (Bharata Varsha) along with the Kuntalas, the Kasi-kosalas, the Chedis, the Bhojas. (6,9)
Alliance with Yadavas, Chedis and Magadhas
Alliance with the Yadavas
*Karusha king is mentioned as attending the self-choice of
Draupadi along withBala Rama and Vasudeva Krishna, the greatYadava heroes.(1,188)Alliance with the Chedis
*Karusha king came to
Yudhisthira 's new palace atIndraprastha along with his friendSisupala , the king ofChedi Kingdom and with the VrishiYadava heroes(2,4)Alliance with the Magadhas
*The mighty Vaka, the king of the Karushas, capable of fighting by putting forth his powers of illusion, waiteth, upon Jarasandha, as his disciple. The Karusha king Dantavakra also wait upon
Jarasandha the king of Magadha. (2,14)Dispute with Chedi King Sisupala
*Chedi king Sisupala, disguising himself in the attire of the king of Karusha, ravished the innocent Bhadra, the princess of Visala, the intended bride of king Karusha. (This Karusha is certainly not Dantavakra, Sisupala's friend). (2,44)
Karusha region on the sea coast
"Karusha was also a type of tree (3,111). Karusha region was probably the regions where these trees grew in abundance"
Kiratas (hunter-gatherers) armed with cruel weapons and ever engaged in cruel deeds, eating of fruits and roots and attired in skins and living on the northern slopes of the Himavat and on the eastern mountains and in the region of Karusha on the sea-coast (possibly in the sea coast of
Bangladesh ) and on both sides of the Lohitya mountains (Lohit ,Arunachal Pradesh . They brought tribute toPandava kingYudhisthira .(2,51)Karushas in Kurukshetra War
The assembled kings of the Chedi and the Karusha tribes joined the
Pandavas with all their resources. (5,22). Karusha army was placed under the general Dhristaketu who was the king ofChedi Kingdom (5,199). The Chedis, Karushas and Kasis were placed under him.Other armies allied with the
Pandavas who fought along with the Karushas were the Matsyas, Panchalas, Srinjayas, Somakas, Prabhadrakas, some Surasenas, Suras, some Kekayas, Pandyas, Kanchis, Keralas, Cholas, Dravidas, Andharas, some Kosalas, some Magadhas and theYadavas underSatyaki and Chekitana. (6-47,54,98,107) (7-9,11,21,153), (8-12,30,47,49,54,56,73,78Other References
*A virtuous and truthful king of Kasi and Karusha was called a mad dog for having renounced his territories and riches! (3,25)
*At (1,67) Karushaka tribe was linkied with theAsura clan called "Krodhaveshas"
*One of the sons of Manu was named Karusha. (1.75)
*There was a sage named Karusha who dwelled in the western kingdoms. (12,207)See also
Kingdoms of Ancient India Other kingdoms in this group include:
#Chedi
#Surasena
#Dasarna
#Heheya
#Kunti
#Avanti
#Malava
#Gurjara
#Anarta
#Saurashtra
#Dwaraka
#Vidarbha.References
*Mahabharata of
Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa , translated to English by Kisari Mohan Ganguli
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.