Word

Mahaprasthana

Sanskrit

महाप्रस्थान

IAST

mahāprasthāna

In General

Mahaprasthana is a yajna by which Pandavas with their wife panchali set for their spiritual journey by climbing the Himalaya Mountain.

Purana

After the Great war Pandavas ruled the Kuru Kingdom to prosperity for 36 years. Being lost all their children, near and dear ones they were not happy in life. After the swargarohana of Sri Krishna they lost all interest in worldly life. They anointed Parikshith, son of Abhimanyu as king and set for a final journey, the Mahaprasthana.

Mahaprasthana was a Yajna by their life. Accordingly they left the palace and all material belonging and tread towards north to climb the great Himalaya Mountain. Dharmaputra who was walking in front, was followed by a dog. On the way the four brothers and Pancati fell down dead. Dharmapulr continued his journey accompanied by the dog without turning back or looking behind. At the end of the journey, Indra was waiting for him with his chariot. He told Dharmaputra that his brothers and wife had already taken their places in Heaven and that he should leave behind the dog and get into the chariot to go to Devaloka. Dharmaputra pleaded that it was not right for him to enter Devaloka after deserting the dog which had followed him so far. Even though Indra pressed him very much to enter the chariot without the dog, Dharmaputra did not yield. At last the dog assumed the form of Yama who appeared and explained to them that he had taken the form of a dog and followed his son Dharmaputra to test his noble nature. They were all happy and all the three of them proceeded in the chariot to Devaloka.

After the Great war Pandavas ruled the Kuru Kingdom to prosperity for 36 years. Being lost all their children, near and dear ones they were not happy in life. After the swargarohana of Sri Krishna they lost all interest in worldly life. They anointed Parikshith, son of Abhimanyu as king and set for a final journey, the Mahaprasthana.

Reference

M. B. (Mahaprasthanika Parva, Chapter 3)