Matsya Kingdom

This article is about the legendary kingdom of Epic Hindu literature. For the historical Iron Age kingdom, see Meena. For the avatar of the Hindu god Viṣṇu, see Matsya. For other uses, see Matsya (disambiguation).

Matsya Kingdom
c. 1400 BCE–c. 300 BCE
Matsya Kingdom and other Mahajanapadas in the Post Vedic period.
Capital	Viratanagari (present-day Viratnagar)
Common languages	Sanskrit
Religion	Hinduism Buddhism Jainism
Government	Monarchy
Maharaja
Historical era	Bronze Age, Iron Age
• Established	c. 1400 BCE
• Disestablished	c. 300 BCE
Today part of	India (in northeast of Rajasthan state)

Virata
Information
Family	Shatanika, Vishalaksha Madirashva Suryadatta (brothers)
Spouse	Sudeshna
Children	Shankha, Uttara (sons) and Uttarā (daughter)

The position of the Matsya kingdom in Iron Age Vedic India.

'Matsya (Sanskrit: मत्स्य) was a Vedic kingdom and later became a part of sixteen Mahajanapadas, which also appears in Hindu Epic literature. The capital of Matsya was at Viratanagari (present-day Bairat, in Rajasthan) which is said to have been named after its founder king, Virata., in what is now the modern state of India. Viratnagar in the northern part of Jaipur district in Rajasthan was its capital.'

"Meen" word also means fish just like "Matsya" which was a word of sanskrit and Fish, meen or matsya is considered as Totem of Meena Moreover, at present in this region (East Rajasthan) Meenas are having a high population concentration and their many different kingdoms existed in this region later taken by rajputs. There is strong possibility of relation between Matsya Kingdom and Meena are residing in subcontinent before pre-vedic era and considered as first inhabitants of this land. Moreover kingdoms of Meena lasted in this region till 16th century.

Mention in Mahabharata

The Pandavas were in the Viratnagar (Matsya Kingdom) for hiding during their Agyatvas. Yudhishtira became a minister,Bheem became a cook,Arjuna became a eunuch dancer,Nakul looked after horses, Sahdev made weapons and Draupadi became a slave during the agyatvas

King Virata

Virata (Sans krit: विराट, IAST vi rāṭa) was the king of the Matsya Kingdom, in whose court the Pandavas spent a year in concealment during their exile. Virata was married to Queen Sudeshnaand was the father of Prince Uttara and Princess Uttarā, who married Abhimanyu, the son of Arjuna. Abhimanyu and Uttara's son Parikshit succeeded Yudhishthira on the throne of Hastinapura, after the war of Mahabharata. He is the titular character of the Virata Parva, the fourth book of the epic Mahabharata

Role in the Kurukshetra War and death

He supported Pandavas in the war. Virata was nominated one of the seven commander, commandeering over an Akshauhini of the Pandavas army. Sahadeva preferred Virata to be the commander-in-chief of their army, but Yudhishthira and Arjuna preferred Dhrishtadyumna, and Virata's nomination was outvoted.

On the first day, his son Uttara was killed by Shalya. On the second day, an enraged Virata killed Shalya's son Madranjaya as revenge for Uttara. During the war, he fought Bhishma several times. On the seventh day, he confronted Drona but his horses, charioteer, banner and chariot were quickly destroyed by Drona. Then, he ran towards his son Shankha's chariot. Together, they managed to stop Drona's onslaught and wounded him. An enraged Drona shot a poisonous arrow at Shankha, killing him instantly and forcing Virata to withdraw.

During the 15th day, he was killed by Dronacharya in a fierce battle, being shot with Drona's arrow.

In a different version, he was killed during a Kaurava attack in the Kurukshetra War along with his sons.

'Vedic era Matsya Kingdoms'

Matsya Kingdom was one of the (sixteen) Mahajanapadas (gr eat kingdoms). Painted Grey Ware culture (PGW) chiefdoms in the region were succeeded by Northern Black Polished Ware(NBPW) from c. 1400-500 BCE, associated with the rise of the great mahajanapada states (mahajanapada states Kuru, Panchala, Matsya, Surasena and Vatsa)'

'By the late Vedic period, they ruled a kingdom located south of the Kurus, and west of the Yamunariver which separated it from the kingdom of the Panchalas. It roughly corresponded to Jaipur in Rajasthan, and included the whole of Hindaun, Alwar with portions of Bharatpur as well as South Haryana. The capital of Matsya was at Viratanagari (present-day Bairat) which is said to have been named after its founder king, Virata. In Pali literature, the Matsya tribe is usually associated with the Surasena. The western Matsya was the hill tract on the north bank of the Chambal River.''''

Matsya among the kingdoms of Epic Indian literature

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References

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