List of Places in Kuru Kingdom - Varanavata

Varanavata

This was the ancient capital of the Kuru kings and their forefathers. It lies on the foothills of the Himalayas, like the capital of northern Panchala viz Ahichatra. This city could be a place called Shibpuri to the north-east of Rishikesh in Uttarakhand. It was north of Hastinapura and Pramanakoti. Pandavas lived there for one year commanded by Dhritarashtra, which was like a banishment from Hastinapura (1-61,95). At that time a festival of Siva had commenced in the town of Varanavata (1,145). The concourse of people was great and the procession was the most delightful ever witnessed. Varanavata was a beautiful and populous town. Pandavas lived there in a house made of inflammable materials like lac. Duryodhana wanted to murder the Pandavas by setting that mansion ablaze. Pandavas escaped through an underground passage (1,150) that took them to the city outskirts. Emerging, they reached the northern banks of the Ganges. They crossed the river and moved south. Finally they reached a dense forest (1,152). They were then in the territory of Rakshasas. Here Bhima slew Rakshasa Hidimba (1,156) and begat Ghatotkacha with Rakshasas' sister. Bhima sported with her for one year in the regions of Guhyakas (southern Tibet) and ascetics, on the banks of Manasa-sarovara (a lake in southern Tibet) (1,157).

• The Kuru army for Kurukshetra War camped at Varnavata (Varana) (5,19).
• Pandavas asked for Varanavata, if Duryodhana is unwilling to give half the kingdom: "Give us even Kusasthala, Vrikasthala, Makandi, Varanavata, and for the fifth any other that Duryodhana liked" (5,31).
• Yudhisthira wrote: "I prayed for only five villages, viz, Avishthala, Vrikasthala, Makandi, Varanavata, with any other as the fifth;--Grant us, we said, five villages or towns where we five may dwell in union" (5,72) (5,82).
• Yuyutsu, fought in Varanavata with many kings together, and was for six months unvanquished. In another battle at Varanasi he overthrew with a broad-headed arrow the prince of Kasi, desirous of seizing a maiden to marry at a Swayamvara (self-choice ceremony) (7,10). Thus it is clear that Varanavata and Varanasi (capital of Kasi, Banaras) were two different towns, though sounds similar.
• Vyasa met Pandavas at Varanavata (2,76).
• Hanuman mistook Varanavata to be the capital of Kurus (3,150).