Why Draupadi had five husbands ?



Devi Draupadi is an important character in Indian mythology and there are stories related to her which are talked about most. She was the princess of Panchala kingdom, wife to the five Pandavas and an enigmatic woman with great wisdom and devotion towards her husbands. Everything about Draupadi is fascinating. The tales of her enigmatic beauty, her pride, her devotion, her love, her insult and her great vow are all equally mesmerising. One aspect of her personality which is controversial as well, is her having five husbands. But as everything in life happens for a reason, this is no exception as well. We will look at some of the reasons on why she had five husbands.
As per Narada and Vayu Puranas, Draupadi was composite Avatar of Goddesses Shyamala (wife of Dharma), Bharati (Wife of Vayu), Sachi (wife of Indra), Usha (wife of Ashwinis) and hence married their earthly counterparts in the form of the five Pandavas. Due to an incident happened, Lord Brahma cursed these goddesses to human birth. Devi Parvati thought of the solution wherein they will be born as one woman, Draupadi and hence share the earthly body for a smaller period of time. Draupadi's resistance against injustice reflects Parvati or her Shakti, Kali inhabiting Draupadi's mortal flesh at times. At other times, Draupadi was docile and even waited to be rescued (as in case of Jayadratha and Jatasura) showing the qualities of other goddesses like Sachi and Usha. Other times, she showed astuteness in hiding their true identity and asking Vayu putra Bhima to kill the evil Keechaka like Goddess Bharati would.


Draupadi was also avatar of Goddess Shree or Wealth who was joint wife to five Indras, the five Pandavas. She was to be born several times for imprisoning the Indras. First time was as Vedavati who cursed Ravana (who is another goddess Avatar Swaha, wife to Agni).
She incarnated as Maya-(shadow of Sita) especially to take revenge from Ravana while Agni hid the real Sita. Third one was partial, as Damyanti (whose husband Nala was equivalent to Dharma, Vayu, Indra just like the Pandavas) and her daughter Nalayani. She married Sage Mudgala. The fifth avatar was Draupadi herself. So we find in Draupadi, a composite avatar of Kali, Parvati, Sachi, Shyamala, Usha, Bharati, Shree, Swaha, the eight goddesses.
When Arjuna won Draupadi in swayamber, the Pandavas went to forest to introduced Draupadi to their mother Kunti. Yudhishtira told Kunti in excitement to see what they have brought for her. Kunti replied without seeing, 'SHARE IT AMONG YOURSELVES, Whatever Is There Son'. But upon seeing Draupadi, she thought what blunder she has made. But as Pandavas were follower of Dharma, they could not disobey what their mother told and from that moment Draupadi became common wife of five Pandavas. 


When Kunti asked her sons to share draupadi as their wives, Lord Krishna took Draupadi aside and explained to her. "This awkward situation you find yourself in is of your own making. Draupadi in her previous life asked a boon to God Shiva. According to that boon her husbund should have five qualities:-
1. He would be symbol of Dharma.
2. He would be strong as God Hanuman.
3. He would be skilled in Archery as God Parashurama.
4. He would be intelligent as Deva Guru Brihaspati.
5. He would be most handsome man on the earth.
When, God Shiva told her it's impossible to have all these qualities in a single man, Draupadi told nothing is impossible for God.
So, God Shiva told "Tathastu".


In next life as per result of God Shiva's boon she had five husbund.
1. Yuddhisthira is symbol of Dharma.
2. Bhima is strong as God Hanuman.
3. Arjuna is skilled in Archery as God Parasurama.
4. Shahadeva is the most intelligent as Deva Guru Bruhaspati.
5. Nakula is the most handsome man on earth.
Hence she would have five husbands in her next life. All of them together would possess the qualities she had enumerated. This is the reason cited for the words uttered by Kunti ‘SHARE IT AMONG YOURSELVES”.
Lord Krishna then added," You will spend one year with each husband. Others will be forbidden to enter the chamber in which you and the husband-of-the-year are staying. If one does so, even accidentally, he would be exiled for one year."

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