UrdhvaRoma

  wanted to write about Karna as my part 2 of Bharatha because he is the real tragic hero of MahaBharatha. But net is filled with writings about him. So let me write about little known son of Arjuna called Urdhvaroma. And I don't want to write as twisted tale but as I have heard it from my Yankatte (atte - aunt). Yankatte was my mother's aunt and she was widowed in childhood. She would spend some time in my granny's house and some time in her husband's house. She would tell us all beautiful stories.

UrdhvaRoma was a son of Arjuna (I think. Or may be Bhima's son. I don't remember clearly. ) He was living in the forest. One day when he was practicing archery, Arjuna and Krishna were passing by. Krishna indicated Arjuna to hide and watch. This boy shot an arrow to a large tree. And all the leaves of the tree fell down except for 5 and a half leaves. Krishna and Arjuna came forward and asked him what was all this about. The boy told " After few years there will be a greatest war called Mahabharatha. I will go there and fight and kill everyone except for five pandavas and Krishna (half leaf). Krishna did not like it at all. But he and Arjuna convinced the boy to come to palace with them and stay with Pandavas.
    When Pandavas were doing a yajna, Krishna convinces Arjuna to sacrifice  an animal or human which has hairs on the body pointing upwards (urdhva - up roma - hair) and send Urdhvaroma to bring such an animal or human. UrdhvaRoma goes in search of this. He goes to everywhere but such an animal is not to be found. Tired, thirsty and exhausted he comes to stream to drink water. What does he see in water? He sees a man with urdhva roma in water. His own reflection!!! And in reflection the hair would look pointing upwards. He immediately rushes to his father with the news. Arjuna reluctantly sacrifices the boy. Krishna is happy and the sadist he is , he takes the head of the boy and hangs it on a tree next to Mahabharatha battle ground.
   Days pass by. Mahabharatha war happens and after 18 days of fighting , Pandavas win. Arjuna swelling with pride asks his son - or rather head of his son "how was the war". UrdhvaRoma replies " Sudarshana chakra was spinning and war was won". Arjuna with rage chops the head into pieces.

Note: Unlike Ramayana, Mahabharatha does not have heroes. It has common folk and one villain.