Mahabharata Quiz - 31

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Question - 31

When did the Pandava-s begin their exile? Is it possible to find out the exact year of the beginning of their exile? 

Answer:

Yes, it is possible to decipher the beginning year of exile from the year of the war already deciphered in Question 28

The Mahabharata war was started immediately after the 13-year exile period got over. 

That year being 3136 BCE corresponding to the year Krodhi, we can get the beginning of exile, 13 years before that. 

It was year Khara, in 3149 BCE. 

Counted from then, thirteen years got over by Krodhi in 3136 BCE. 

In between these years, Adhika Maasa occurred 5 times, according to Bhishma.

Those years were as follows:

1. Vaishakha in  the year Vijaya, 3147 BCE 

2. Aswayuja in the year Manmatha, 3145 BCE

3. Shravana in the year Vilambi, 3142 BCE

4. Jyeshtha in the year Plava, 3139 BCE

5. Caitra in the year Krodhi, 3136 BCE

These dates offer a valuable clue namely, there was an Adhika Maasa in the first month of the last year of their exile. 

Since Adhika Maasa occurs only once in two to two and a half years, there should not be any other Adhika Maasa in the year Krodhi after they completed their exile. This statement is vital in understanding events that have taken place after the exile was over. 

(For details of the exile period, refer my book 'Mahabharata 3136 BCE')

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