Polyandry is a form of polygamy in which a woman takes two or more husbands at the same time. Polyandry is contrasted with polygyny, involving one male and two or more females. If a marriage involves
Draupadi and her husbands, the five Pandava brothers. Top down, from left to right: the twins Nakula and Sahadeva stand either side of the throne on which Yudhishthira and Draupadi sit between Bhima and Arjuna.
Sepulchral inscription for Allia Potestas, Museo Epigrafico, Terme di Diocleziano, Rome
Draupadi with her five husbands – the Pandavas. The central figure is Yudhishthira; the two to his left are Bhima and Arjuna. Nakula and Sahadeva, the twins, are to his right. Their wife, at far right, is Draupadi. Deogarh, Dashavatara Hindu Temple.
Draupadi, also referred to as Krishnā, Panchali and Yajnaseni, is one of the central characters of the ancient Sanskrit epic, the Mahabharata. Born from a yajna conducted by King Drupada of Panchala,
Depiction of Draupadi in the Kuru court by Raja Ravi Varma, c. 1888-90
A 1940s print depicting the birth of Draupadi from the fire sacrifice
A scene from Draupadi's Svayamvara: Draupadi looks on as Arjuna aims at the eye of the fish, Kalighat painting.