Arjuna's Chariot......Kapi Dhwaja

Arjuna’s chariot also known as the Kapi Dhwaja because of the flag it carried of Hanuman ji.

The chariot on which both, Sri Krishna and Arjuna, rode was donated by Agni (the fire-god) to Arjuna, and that was indication that this chariot was capable of conquering all directions, wherever it was drawn through out the three worlds. This was the story behind the gifting of the chariot – Once when roaming in the Khandava Vana, Arjuna and Krishna met the god of fire, Agni. Agni was in great hunger and needed to burn down the entire Khandava Vana to quench his hunger (please note – the real reason why Agni wants to burn this forest is to cure his stomach ailment, that is a different story related to king Swetaki.). But Takshaka, the serpent-king lived in the same forest and was a friend of Indra’s. So the latter brought down heavy rains to thwart Agni’s plans to burn the woods. Agni requested Krishna and Arjuna to help him realize his goal. The three of them then invoked Varuna, the God of the oceans, who blessed Arjuna with the Gandiva – the moon bow created by Brahma. In this way, Arjuna came into possession of his famous bow. Agni also gave Arjuna an incandescent chariot with four horses yoked, and bearing a flag that would one-day be occupied by Hanuman. Arjuna also obtained his famous conch. (this is a great story in itself… will surely share it in my coming blogs)

With Krishna using the Sudarshana Chakra Arjuna and Krishna waged a successful battle against Indra and helped Agni burn down the entire Khandava Vana including all its demons and evil spirits

To please Agni, the fire-god, Krishna arranged to offer him the Khandava forest. The Lord, asked Arjuna to burn down the forest and would accompany him as his charioteer. Agni (the demigod in charge of the southeastern portion of the universe) was so satisfied with the offering that he presented Arjuna with the Gandiva bow, a team of horses, a chariot, two inexhaustible quivers, and armor. The Lord’s chariot, yoked with the horses named Saibya, Sugriva, Meghapuspa and Balahaka. Srila Viswanätha Cakravarti quotes the following text of the Padma Purana describing Lord Krishna’s chariot horses: Saibya was green like a parrot’s wings, Sugriva yellow-gold, Meghapuspa the color of a cloud, and Balahaka whitish.”

Lord Hanuman meets Sri Krishna.

Lord Hanuman is Chiranjeevi – one who lives forever. Thus even as various eras passed by Hanuman was ever-present. He was also told that Lord Sriram would reappear as Lord Krishna at a future time. Thus Hanuman appears in the Mahabharata at two junctures – once to quell the pride of Bheema and the second time to see Lord Krishna. We all know about the incident in which an arrogant Bheema could not budge the tail of a feeble monkey (later realizing that monkey is lord Hanuman himself) though he tried with all his might. But the meeting of Hanuman and Arjuna is quite interesting as well.

In an argument between Hanuman and Arjuna, Arjuna claimed that he could reconstruct the bridge built by the Vanar army during Lord Sriram’s war with Ravana using his archery skills. Hanuman laid the challenge that if Arjuna could build a bridge that could withstand his weight, let alone an army’s, then he would be on the flag of Arjuna’s chariot in the war. But should Arjuna fail it was decided that Arjuna would give up his life by entering a pyre. Arjuna built a bridge in a jiffy and when Hanuman stepped on it the whole bridge collapsed, Arjuna, immensely disappointed decided to end his life. At this moment Lord Krishna appeared and asked Arjuna to build the bridge again. After Arjuna rebuilt the bridge, Lord Krishna touched the bridge and asked Hanuman to walk over it. Despite his best efforts Hanuman could not break the bridge; at this instant Hanuman saw Lord Sriram in Krishna and was overcome with emotion. He promised to aid Arjuna in the war by being on the flag of Arjuna’s chariot, thus stabilizing and protecting it.