Parikesit

In the Mahabharata, Parikesit is the grandson of the Pandawa hero Arjuna, and succeeds Yudistira as the ruler of Hastinapura.

According to the Mahabharata, Parikesit ruled for 24 years and died at the age of sixty. Upon the commencement of the Kali Yuga, the present dark age of sin, the five Pandawa brothers retire and set off on pilgrimage. Young Parikesit is duly invested as king, and despite the sinfulness of the age rules as a wise and just monarch over a kingdom of great prosperity.

Though Parikesit is depicted as being born after the end of the great war, he holds an important role as the heir of the Pandawa brothers. At his birth, the chief priest predicts to King Yudistira that he will be a great devotee of Vishnu, and since he was saved in the womb by the god, he will be known as Vishnurata ("One who is always protected by the Lord"). It is also foretold that Parikesit will be everdevoted to virtue, religious principles and the truth and would be a wise monarch. He would be as exemplary a warrior as Arjuna, his own grandfather, and would expand the fame of his family. He is given the name Parikesit as part of the prophesy that he would search and test for Vishnu, across the world and within every human being.

Parikesit dies due to the curse of a Brahman, who caused him to be killed by a magical serpent hidden inside a guava.

59cm (with stand) x 13 cm; puppet-- wood, fabric (cotton and velvet), glass and metal beading, ribbon, wool tassels / stand-- plastic bottle, sand.