Arjun wooden puppet

ARJUN

(West Java's Sundanese ethnic style, in batik cloths; adaptation of Hindu epic Mahabharata)

Symbol of the truth and honesty of mankind, true and loyal to friends, having acute sense of duty, outstanding warrior.

Arjun was the third of the five Pandava brothers, son of Kunti by weather God Indra, king of gods. Arjun played a central role in the Kurukshetra war. He symbolized the truth and honesty of mankind.

Among his wives was Subhadra, and among his sons was Parikshita who succeeded Yudhisthira as the emperor of the Pandava kingdom.

Arjun described his traits as follows:

            I always fight till the end and I always win.

            I have never fought by unfair means in any battle.

            I never frighten my enemies by meanness.

            I can use my both hands when I shoot my arrows.

I have taken an oath that I will destroy that person (and his kinsmen) who hurts my brother Yudhisthira.

I cannot be defeated by anyone.

Arjun was depicted as a wholesome and well-rounded personality, a healthy mind in a healthy body, well-built and extremely handsome, true and loyal to friends, having acute sense of duty. He was an outstanding and diligent student, learning everything that his teacher Dronacharya could teach him, and early attaining the status of outstanding warrior.

He was also sensitive and thoughtful as demonstrated by his misgivings about the Kurukshetra war. As both sides fell into battle-formation and faced each other on the battlefield, his heart grew heavy filled with doubt. He saw at the opposite side arrayed before him his own kinsfolk, the elders of his clan, his very teacher, and his friends. “Would it be worthwhile to annihilate his own kindred for the sake of a kingdom?” he asked himself. He resorted to Krishna for guidance.

Responding to Arjun’s confusion and moral dilemma, Krishna explained to Arjun his duties as a warrior and prince. Krishna deemed that it was Arjun’s duty to struggle to uphold righteousness without consideration of personal loss, consequence or reward; the discharge of one’s moral duty superseded all other pursuits, spiritual and material, in life.

Final journey

Arjun ended his days in a final journey of pilgrimage in the Himalayas. He just climbed half way to the peak, let his eldest brother Yudhisthira reach the peak alone. Arjun reunited with his brothers in heaven.

Product specification:
    Wood:       Alstonia spp.
    Dress:        Batik cloth.
    Process:    Hand made.
    Colour:       Full colour.
    Height:       ± 55 cm.
    Weight:      Approx. 2.5 kg (including packaging).