Who Is — character glossary
Every major character, in one place — see which epics they appear in.
KrishnaAn avatar of Vishnu, born to Vasudeva and Devaki but raised by Yashoda.53ShivaGod of dissolution and of yoga, husband of Parvati. Known for his46BrahmaGod of creation, who emerged from a lotus growing from Vishnu's navel.36ArjunaThird of the five Pandavas, the finest archer among them. Krishna's34VishnuGod of preservation, reclining eternally on the serpent Shesha.33IndraKing of the gods, wielder of the thunderbolt, credited with command31ParvatiDaughter of the Himalayas, wife of Shiva, mother of Ganesha and24RamaPrince of Ayodhya, held to be an avatar of Vishnu. Went into fourteen20YudhishthiraEldest of the Pandavas, known above all for his commitment to truth18SitaDaughter of King Janaka, wife of Rama. Abducted by Ravana and held14RavanaKing of Lanka, a ten-headed scholar and devotee of Shiva. The14HanumanA vanara, son of the wind-god Vayu and Anjana, famed for his strength14KarnaSon of Kunti and the sun-god Surya, abandoned at birth and raised by a14GaneshaThe elephant-headed god, son of Shiva and Parvati. Worshipped first14KartikeyaSon of Shiva and Parvati, commander of the gods' armies. Born to kill14BhishmaThe eldest and most revered warrior of the Kuru line, who took a vow14BhimaSecond of the Pandavas, famed for his immense strength. Remembered for13GarudaVishnu's mount, son of Vinata and Kashyapa. Known as an enemy of13DuryodhanaEldest of the Kauravas, son of Dhritarashtra. His rivalry with the12KamsaThe tyrant king of Mathura, Devaki's brother. Warned by a prophecy12LakshmanaRama's younger brother, who went into exile with him unasked.11DraupadiDaughter of King Drupada of Panchala, wife to all five Pandavas. Her11KaliOne of Durga's fiercest forms, born from her forehead in a burst of11VyasaHeld to be the author of the Mahabharata and the compiler of the11BalaramaKrishna's elder brother, who carries a plough as his weapon. Present11DurgaA warrior goddess formed from the combined radiance of the gods,10NaradaA celestial sage who wanders the three worlds with his veena. Appears10DronaTeacher of both the Kauravas and Pandavas, unmatched in archery.9LakshmiGoddess of wealth, prosperity and good fortune, Vishnu's wife.9BharataRama's younger brother, son of Kaikeyi. His mother's boon sent Rama8DhritarashtraThe blind Kuru king, Duryodhana's father. Watched injustice unfold8AbhimanyuSon of Arjuna and Subhadra. Learned to enter the deadly Chakravyuha7SatiDaksha's daughter, Shiva's first wife. Immolated herself in her7PrahladaSon of the demon-king Hiranyakashipu, devoted to Vishnu from6KuntiPandu's wife, mother of Yudhishthira, Bhima and Arjuna — and, as it6DakshaA Prajapati, Sati's father. His enmity toward Shiva led him to leave6DasharathaKing of Ayodhya, father of Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrughna.5VibhishanaRavana's younger brother, devoted to dharma. Exiled from Lanka for5ViduraHalf-brother to Dhritarashtra and Pandu, minister of Hastinapura.5SugrivaVanara king of Kishkindha, Vali's younger brother. Rama killed Vali4DuhshasanaDuryodhana's younger brother. Tried to publicly disrobe Draupadi in4AshwatthamaSon of Dronacharya, held to be immortal. Raided the sleeping Pandava4YashodaNanda's wife, Krishna's foster mother. Witness to and centre of4IndrajitRavana's son, the mightiest warrior on the Lankan side. Named3GandhariWife of Dhritarashtra, mother of Duryodhana. Blindfolded herself for3ShatrughnaRama's youngest brother, son of Sumitra, twin to Lakshmana. Stayed2KaikeyiDasharatha's youngest queen, mother of Bharata. Persuaded by her2ValiVanara king of Kishkindha, Sugriva's elder brother, famed for his2JatayuA giant vulture, friend of Dasharatha. Fought Ravana to stop him2KumbhakarnaRavana's giant elder brother, cursed to sleep for six months at a2ShakuniGandhari's brother, Duryodhana's maternal uncle. The mastermind2SaraswatiGoddess of speech, learning, music and the arts. First a river2MahishasuraA demon who could take the form of a buffalo, protected by a boon2ManasaA folk goddess of serpents, worshipped with particular devotion in2RadhaA gopi of Vrindavana, held to be Krishna's most beloved companion. The1ShurpanakhaRavana's sister, a rakshasi. Became infatuated with Rama in1MandodariRavana's chief queen, devoted to dharma. Repeatedly urged him to1RukminiPrincess of Vidarbha, Krishna's chief queen. Sent Krishna a letter1