The ashvamedha or horse sacrifice was a way for a powerful king to assert his domination in northern India. In epic literature The epic poem, the Mahabharata, tells of a conflict between two branches of the reigning Kuru clan possibly around 1000 BCE. However, archaeology has not furnished conclusive proof as to whether the specific events described have any historical basis. The existing text of the Mahabharata went through many layers of development and mostly belongs to the period between c. 400 BCE and 400 CE. Within the frame story of the Mahabharata, the historical kings Parikshit and Janamejaya are featured significantly as scions of the Kuru clan. A historical Kuru King named Dhritarashtra Vaichitravirya is mentioned in the Kathaka Samhita of the Yajurveda ( 1200–900 BCE) as a descendant of the Rigvedic-era king Sudas. His cattle were reportedly destroyed as a result of conflict with the vratya ascetics; however, this Vedic mention does not provide corroboration for the accuracy of the Mahabharata's account of his reign. Kuru family tree in Mahabharata See also Kuru related King Kuru Uttara Kurus, Uttara Kuru Kingdom Kuruvansh Ror Vansh Other Mahabharta related Parikshit, Janamejaya Panchala, Videha, Magadha, Nishada Historicity of the Mahabharata Modern archaeology of Vedic era Cemetery H culture Painted Grey Ware culture Kingdoms of Ancient India Present day regions Regions of Haryana Regions of Rajasthan Regions of Uttar Pradesh Notes References Sources External links Kuru Kingdom Mahabharata of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated to English by Kisari Mohan Ganguli The Kuru race in Sri Lanka - Web site of Kshatriya Maha Sabha Coins of Kuru janapada Kingdoms of the Puru clan Iron Age countries in Asia Iron Age cultures of South Asia Ancient peoples Indo-Aryan peoples Mahabharata Rigvedic tribes Mahajanapadas Locations in Hindu mythology Regions of Haryana Regions of Rajasthan Regions of Uttar Pradesh Regions of Punjab, India Former kingdoms