The common name given to the combined kingdoms of Kuru and Panchala as per Mahabharata Bhishmaparva Chapter 9 verse 39.

A holy place towards the east of Kurukshetra. Bathing here grants one brahmaloka as per Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 83 verse 166.

A sage mentioned in the Rigveda. He was also known as Rijrashwa,

A kingdom in ancient India. It owes its name to Kuru and its capital was Hastinapura as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 94 verse 49.

A king born in Janaka’s dynasty. His father’s name was Aja and his son was Arishtanemi.

Janaka – Veerada – Nandivardhana – Suketu – Devarata – Brihadrata – Mahavira – Dhritaketu – Haryashva – Maru – Pratisvaka – Krithuradha – Devameedha – Vidhruta – Mahadhruta – Kritirata – Maharoma – Swarnaromaprastharoma – Siradhwaja (Sita’s father Janaka)-Kurudhwaja – Dharmadhwaja – Kritadhwaja – Bhanuman – Shakradyumna – Shuchi – Vanadhwaja – Urjaketu – Aja – Kurujit as per Bhagavata Navamaskanda.

Considered a holy place. It is located to the north of the Drishadwati and the south of the Saraswati rivers as per Bhashabharata Aranyaparva Chapter 83 verse 4, which also states that bathing here grants a person entry to swargaloka. Pulastya has said that even the dust from Kurukshetra falling on a person grants him swargaloka.

As per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 31 verse 139, Takshaka lives on the banks on the Ikshumati river in Kurukshetra. Kurukshetra was earlier known as Samantakapanchaka. It became a holy place because Kuru meditated here according to Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 94 verse 50. Shantanu married Satyavati and they had 2 sons – Chitrangada and Vichitravirya. Once, when Chitrangada went for a hunt, he saw a gandharva who also had the same name. The gandharva was furious that a mortal shared his name and killed the prince. This incident happened in Kurukshetra as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 101 verses 8-9.

The famous rakshasas Sunda and Upasunda conquered the worlds and settled in Kurukshetra as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 209 verse 27. Before the Khandava burned, Thakshaka had started residing in Kurukshetra as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 226 verse 4. During their exile, the Pandavas had visited Kurukshetra as per Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 5 verse 1. Once the king Maandaata performed a yajna here as per Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 126 verse 45. The famous sage Mulgala used to live in Kurukshetra as per Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 260 verse 3.

Bhishma and Parashurama once fought a fierce battle in Kurukshetra. Parashurama wanted Amba, the daughter of the king of Kashi to be married to Bhishma. The war between the Pandavas and Kauravas was fought here and this is also the setting for the Bhagvad Gita as per Mahabharata Bhishmaparva Chapter 25 verse 42. Bhishma lay on a bed of arrows in Kurukshetra as per Bhishmaparva Chapter 119 verse 92.

The emperor Sudarshana, a son of Agni and a gracious host married Okhavati and stayed in Kurukshetra as per Mahabharata Anushasanaparva Chapter 2 verse 40.

The name given to the region ruled by Kuru.

The son born to Tapati and Samvarana. He grew like an agni and was well learned by the age of 10. At the age of 16, he married Saudamini, the daughter of Sudama as per Vamanapurana Chapter 21.

A famous sage who visited Bhishma while he was lying on the bed of arrows as per Mahabharata Shantiparva Chapter 47 verse 8.

A famous Puruvanshi king.

Antecedents: Vishnu – Brahma- Atri – Chandra – Budha – Pururavas – Ayus – Nahusha – Yayati – Puru – Janamejaya – Prachinvan – Namasyu – Veetabhaya – Shundu – Bahuvidha – Samyati – Rahovadi – Bhadrashwa – Matinara – Santurodha – Dushyanta – Bharata – Suhotra – Suhota – Gala – Garda – Suketu – Brihalkshetra – Hasti – Ajameedha – Riksha – Samvarana – Kuru

As per Bhagavata Navamaskanda and Agnipurana Chapter 278, Kurukshetra was built by him.

Kuru had 4 sons – Parikshit, Sudhanus, Jahnu, Nishadhashwa. The rest of the dynasty is as below.

Sudhanus – Chyavana – Kriti – Uparicharavasu – Brihadratha – Kushagra – Rishabha – Pushpavan – Juhu. Brihadratha’s other son was Jarasandha. Jarasandha’s sons were Sahadeva, Soma, Turya, Shrutashru.

Jahnu – Suratha – Viduratha – Sarvabhauma – Jayatsena – Ravyaya – Bhavuka – Chakrodhata – Devatithi – Riksha – Bhima – Praticha (Pratiya). Praticha had 3 sons – Devapi – Shantanu – Balhika. Shantanu was also known as Mahabhishak and his descendants included Dhritarashtra and Pandu. Hence they are known as Kauravas. However, since Pandu’s sons were born of devas, they weren’t Kauravas.

Kurukshetra became sacred thanks to Kuru’s emditation as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 94 verse 80. Once, when Kuru was ploughing Kurukshetra, Indra appeared there and they had a conversation as per Mahabharata Shalyaparva Chapter 53 verse 6. Once, when Kuru was performing a yajna at Kurukshetra, Saraswati appeared there as Surenu (Okhavati) and wet the sacred ground for him as per Mahabharata Shalyaparva Chapter 38 verses 26-27.