( In this name, the 'sh' sounds like one between s in 'sun' and sh in 'shut'. Th is pronounced like 'th'in 'with'. N is pronounced like n in 'nut'. )
Shanthanu was one of the kings of Kuru race. He was ancestor of Paandavas and Kouravas. He was so pious that his touch would remove the pains and deceases of the ill.
Like many other persons in the Mahaabhaaratham, Shanthanu too had his background. The background is - Once one Mahaabhisha went to Brahma's abode to worship him. At the same time, Ganga too came there to attend the Lord. Her dress flared up due to a sudden wind. All except Mahaabhisha diverted their looks from her. He kept looking at her body adoringly. Brahma was angry for his unworthy conduct at such a place and immediately ordained him to take birth on earth. Accordingly Mahaabhisha was born as Shanthanu to the Kuru king Pratheepa.
Ganga, on her part, fell for Mahaabhisha and wanted to marry him on the earth. While she was on her way to the earth, she accosted the eight Vasus who incurred sage Vasishtha's curse to take birth on earth as a punishment for trying to abduct the sage's cow. They requested her to bear them in her womb and to throw them in the river soon after their birth so that they need not live a mortal life for long. she agreed but wanted to have at least one son to live for her. They assured her that the last Vasu, Prabhaasa, would take one eighth part of each of their life span and live a pious life on the earth for a long time.
With those incidents in the background, Ganga met Shanthanu on the river bank. When shanthanu wondered at her beauty and proposed to marry her, she agreed to marry him if he would not object to her actions , whatever they might be. With a confirmed acceptance of that condition, Ganga married him. Sahanthanu begot seven sons from her whom he threw into the river soon after they were born. Shanthanu bore with that strange act due to his word given to her not to object to her acts. But on the eighth time, he could not hold himself and prevented Ganga from throwing the baby into the river. As their vow was broken, Ganga left Shanthanu taking the boy with her. She named him Devavratha. Devavratha learnt archery from Parashuraama. He was wellversed with all the doctrines and all sciences of the world. Later, after many years Shanthanu met his son on the banks of Ganga but could not recognise. Ganga appeared and handed over the son to Shanthanu.
His famous son Devavratha, sacrificed his own marriage and arranged his father's marriage with Sathyavathi, son of a Daasha king. The gods hailed Devavratha for his sacrifice and named him Bheeshma. He was more well known with that name later. Pleased with that act of Devavratha, Shanthanu awarded him a boon that he could choose the time of his death.
Shanthanu got two sons Chithraangada and Vichithraveerya from Sathyavathi and died when they were still young.
"After praying to Naaraayana, Nara, Sarasvathi and Vyaasa, then one should read the Jayam."
DEDICATED TO MY DEAR NIECE VYSHNAVI KRISHNA