on penalty of exile. Arjuna broke this agreement
and was sent away from the other brothers for 12
years.
During his exile Arjuna had relationships with
many women. He married Krishna’s sister Sub-
hadra, to whom was born their son Abhimanyu,
who played an important role in the Mahabharata
war. Arjuna at this time also met up with Para-
shurama, the BRAHMIN warrior and incarnation
of VISHNU; he taught Arjuna the use of magical
weapons. For helping the god AGNI and KRISHNA
burn down the Khandava forest, Arjuna received
his bow Gandiva, his most cherished weapon.
Returning home Arjuna was forced into soli-
tary exile again for 13 years when his brother Yud-
histhira lost everything to the Kauravas in a dice
game. In his wanderings he met a hunter—Shiva
in disguise—from whom he received the devas-
tating Pashupata weapon. In the last year of his
exile he served Virata, king of the Matsya people,
disguised as a eunuch. There he taught music and
dance to the women. He also helped Virata fight
his enemies.
In the final battle of Kurukshetra, the conclu-
sive battle of the Mahabharata, Krishna served
as Arjuna’s charioteer. The BHAGAVAD GITA details
Arjuna’s momentary failure of will as the battle
is about to begin and Krishna’s teachings to him.
After the victory, when the customary ashva medha
(HORSE SACRIFICE) was done, Arjuna followed the
sacrificial horse on its wide wanderings, fighting
many kings and claiming many countries for the
Pandavas. During these wanderings he encoun-
tered his own son Babhruvahana, whom he fought
and killed. The son was revived, however, by a
Naga princess (see NAGAS) who had once been his
lover.
After the war, in which most of Krishna’s
Yadava tribe were killed, Arjuna himself performed
the funeral rites for Krishna, who had accidentally
been killed by a hunter, and for Krishna’s father,
Vasudeva. Arjuna took the remnants of the Yadava
tribe and their women back to Hastinapura, the
Pandava capital.
In his old age Arjuna went to live in the Hima-
layas with his brothers and Draupadi, leaving the
kingdom to his grandson, Parikshit (Abhimanyu’s
son).Further reading: J. A. B. van Buitenen, trans., The
Mahabharata. Vol. 1, The Book of the Beginnings, Vol. 2.,
The Book of the Assembly Hall, vol. 3., The Book of Virata
and the Book of Effort (Chicago: University of Chicago
Press, 1973–78); Ruth C. Katz, Arjuna in the Mahab-
harata: Where Krishna Is, There Is Victory (Columbia:
University of South Carolina Press, 1989); P. C. Roy,
trans., The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa,
12 vols. (Calcutta: Oriental, 1952–62).Arsha Vidya Gurukulam (est. 1986)
The Arsha (from the RISHIS) Vidya (knowl-
edge) Gurukulam (spiritual learning center and
residence) at Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, was
founded in 1986 by SWAMI DAYANANDA SARAS-
WAT I (1930– ) in the tradition of the ancient
gurukulams of India. The institute is dedicated
to the traditional study of advaita VEDANTA, SAN-
SKRIT, HATHA YOGA, AYURVEDA, Vedic chanting,
MEDITATION, astrology, and other classical Indian
disciplines. It offers courses in the UPANISHADS,
BHAGAVAD GITA, VEDANTA SUTRA, and other clas-
sical Vedic texts in English. The more than 15
teachers have all studied with Dayananda Saras-
wati. The center offers short- and long-term
study programs and on-site accommodations.
The 54-acre campus includes a temple dedicated
to Lord Dakshinamurti, considered the first
teacher of Vedic knowledge.
The Gurukulam also sponsors the All India
Movement (AIM) for Seva, established in New
Delhi in 2000, as its service outreach. It hopes
to unite Indian society through service and car-
ing, in a way that promotes self-sufficiency and
dignity among those served. It seeks to transform
Indian society by bridging the gap between privi-
leged and less-privileged people through a policy
of Indians’ caring for fellow Indians. AIM has 22K 44 Arsha Vidya Gurukulam