- Kichaka
Kichaka (
Sanskrit : कीचक ), in theHindu epicMahābhārata , was the brother of queen Sudeshna of KingVirata , the king ofMatsya . Kichaka was slain byBhima during one year of hidden exile spent by Pandavas at the court of king Virata. King Virata was killed by Drona during the great war.Village
Katrathal , an ancient historical village ofSikar district inRajasthan ,is believed to be associated with Kichaka. (Fact|date=June 2007)Kichaka Kingdom
Kichaka Kingdom is identified to be one of the
Matsya Kingdom ruled byMatsya rulers.Kichaka Kingdom was allied to King
Virata . The Kichaka king (or chief), known by the name Kichaka was the commander-in-chief of the Matsya-army under kingVirata . He belonged to theSuta caste (4,15). He was the main strength of kingVirata against his arch-enemy viz the Trigarta king Susharman (2,25). He got attracted to the wife ofPandavas vizDraupadi (4,15). He was later slain by thePandava Bhima (4,22). Some believe that the village namedEkachakra were thePandavas finally settled after the escape from the murder-attempt, belonged to the kingdom of Kichaka. At (1,162) is mentioned that the city named Vetrakiya (a city on the banks of river Vetravati, the modern-day riverBetwa ) was the capital of this kingdom. Vetravati is believed to be same as the river Suktimati on the banks of which lied the Chedi capital Suktimati. It is a tributary ofYamuna to the east ofCharmanvati , yet another tributary ofYamuna . Kingdom of Kichaka is identified to be lying between Charmanwati and Vetravati rivers, i.e., to the south of southern- Panchala; to the north of Chedi and to the east of Matsya-proper.
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