One of the most honored figures of the Indian epic, the Mahabharata. He gave up marriage and throne for his father’s sake. To the people of India he is the symbol of mature wisdom.

Long ago in Dwapara Yuga there ruled a famous dynasty of kings of the Lunar Race, that is, the race of Moon. King Shantanu was the most famous amongst them. He ruled a big empire with his capital at Hastinavati. He married Gangadevi; no one in Devaloka (or the World of the Gods) could equal her in beauty. She gave birth to a son called Devavrata. She had to go back, leaving the child in the care of Shantanu; she did not come back to the earth.

So Shantanu took up the entire burden of bringing up the little son with care and affection. He was both father and mother to him. He engaged very learned scholars to teach him the Vedas and the Puranas. Devavrata was taught archery by the greatest archer of the times, Parashurama. Shantanu himself was a good and just king. Devavrata learnt from his father how to rule the kingdom following the ideals of Truth and Justice. Thus Devavrata was well trained in every way to take up the reins of kingship, when he came of age.