In the
Hindu
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
epic the ''
Mahabharata
The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; sa, महाभारतम्, ', ) is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India in Hinduism, the other being the ''Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the struggle between two groups of cousins in the Kuruk ...
'', Ashwatthama ( sa, अश्वत्थामा, Aśvatthāmā) or Drauni was the son of
guru
Guru ( sa, गुरु, IAST: ''guru;'' Pali'': garu'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan-Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: traditionally, the guru is a reverentia ...
Drona
Droṇa ( sa, द्रोण, Droṇa), also referred to as Dronacharya ( sa, द्रोणाचार्य, Droṇācārya), is a major character of the Hindu epic Mahabharata.
In the epic, he serves as the royal preceptor of the Kaurav ...
and
Kripi
The ''Mahabharata'' is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India; it was composed by the sage Vyasa. The most important characters of ''Mahabharata'' can be said to include: Krishna; the Pandavas Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula ...
(sister of
Kripacharya
Kripa ( sa, कृप, Kṛpa, pity), also known as Kripacharya ( sa, कृपाचार्य, Kṛpācārya, Kripa the master), is a figure in Hindu mythology. According to the epic ''Mahabharata'', he was a council member of Kuru Kingdom ...
). He was the grandson of the sage
Bharadwaja
Bharadvaja ( sa, भरद्वाज, IAST: ; also spelled Bharadwaja) was one of the revered Vedic sages
(maharishi) in Ancient India. He was a renowned scholar, economist, grammarian and physician. He is one of the Saptarishis (seven great ...
. Ashwatthama ruled the northern region of Panchala, being subordinate to the rulers of Hastinapura. He was a
Maharathi Maharathi may refer to:
* Maharathi (warrior)
Hindu mythological wars are the wars described in the Hindu texts of ancient India. These wars depicted both mortals of great prowess as well as deities and supernatural beings, often wielding s ...
who fought on the
Kaurava
''Kaurava'' is a Sanskrit term which refers to descendants of Kuru, a legendary king of India who is the ancestor of many of the characters of the epic ''Mahabharata''. Usually, the term is used for the 100 sons of King Dhritarashtra and his wif ...
side against the
Pandavas
The Pandavas (Sanskrit: पाण्डव, IAST: Pāṇḍava) refers to the five legendary brothers— Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva—who are the central characters of the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. They are acknowledg ...
in the
Kurukshetra War
The Kurukshetra War ( sa, कुरुक्षेत्र युद्ध ), also called the Mahabharata War, is a war described in the ''Mahabharata ( sa, महाभारत )''. The conflict arose from a dynastic succession struggle be ...
. He became a
Chiranjivi
Chiranjivi ( sa, चिरञ्जीवि, ) are the eight immortals who are to remain alive on Earth until the end of the current Kali Yuga, according to Hinduism. The Sanskrit term Chiranjivi means “immortal”, even though it does not corr ...
(immortal) due to a curse given to him by
Krishna
Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one ...
.
The deceptive plot of Ashwatthama's supposed death led to murder of his grieving father
Drona
Droṇa ( sa, द्रोण, Droṇa), also referred to as Dronacharya ( sa, द्रोणाचार्य, Droṇācārya), is a major character of the Hindu epic Mahabharata.
In the epic, he serves as the royal preceptor of the Kaurav ...
, who was decapitated while meditating for his son's
soul
In many religious and philosophical traditions, there is a belief that a soul is "the immaterial aspect or essence of a human being".
Etymology
The Modern English noun ''soul'' is derived from Old English ''sāwol, sāwel''. The earliest attes ...
. He was appointed as the final
commander-in-chief of the
Kauravas
''Kaurava'' is a Sanskrit term which refers to descendants of Kuru, a legendary king of India who is the ancestor of many of the characters of the epic ''Mahabharata''. Usually, the term is used for the 100 sons of King Dhritarashtra and his wi ...
in the Kurukshetra War. Overcome with grief and rage, he slaughtered most of the Pandava camp in a single
night offensive. He was among the most prominent warriors of the Mahabharata epic, breaching multiple wartime rules of conduct and morality with his egregious employment of ''
divine weapons''.
Etymology
According to ''The Mahabharata'', Ashwatthama means "the sacred voice which relates to that of a horse". It is so-called because when he was born he cried like a horse.
Some of the patryomics are Dronaputra-He was referred to as "Dronaputra" as he was son of
Dronacharya
Droṇa ( sa, द्रोण, Droṇa), also referred to as Dronacharya ( sa, द्रोणाचार्य, Droṇācārya), is a major character of the Hindu epic Mahabharata.
In the epic, he serves as the royal preceptor of the Kaura ...
, Guruputra-
Kauravas
''Kaurava'' is a Sanskrit term which refers to descendants of Kuru, a legendary king of India who is the ancestor of many of the characters of the epic ''Mahabharata''. Usually, the term is used for the 100 sons of King Dhritarashtra and his wi ...
and
Pandavas
The Pandavas (Sanskrit: पाण्डव, IAST: Pāṇḍava) refers to the five legendary brothers— Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva—who are the central characters of the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. They are acknowledg ...
used to call him "Guruputra" as he was their guru's son and Kripi Kumara-His mother's name was
Kripi
The ''Mahabharata'' is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India; it was composed by the sage Vyasa. The most important characters of ''Mahabharata'' can be said to include: Krishna; the Pandavas Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula ...
.
Birth and Life Prior to the War
Ashwatthama is the son of
Drona
Droṇa ( sa, द्रोण, Droṇa), also referred to as Dronacharya ( sa, द्रोणाचार्य, Droṇācārya), is a major character of the Hindu epic Mahabharata.
In the epic, he serves as the royal preceptor of the Kaurav ...
and
Kripi
The ''Mahabharata'' is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India; it was composed by the sage Vyasa. The most important characters of ''Mahabharata'' can be said to include: Krishna; the Pandavas Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula ...
. He was born in a cave in a forest (in present-day Tapkeshwar Mahadev Temple, Dehradun,
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand ( , or ; , ), also known as Uttaranchal ( ; the official name until 2007), is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the "Devbhumi" (literally 'Land of the Gods') due to its religious significance and ...
). Drona does many years of severe penance to please Lord
Shiva
Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...
in order to obtain a son who possesses the same valiance as Lord Shiva.
Ashwatthama is born with a gem on his forehead which gives him power over all living beings lower than humans; it protects him from hunger, thirst, and fatigue. Though an expert in warfare, Drona lives a simple life, with little money or property. As a result, Ashwatthama has a difficult childhood, with his family unable to even afford milk. Wanting to provide a better life for his family, Drona goes to the
Panchal Kingdom to seek aid from his former classmate and friend,
Drupada
Drupada (Sanskrit: द्रुपद, lit. ''firm-footed'' or ''pillar''), also known as Yajnasena (Sanskrit: यज्ञसेन, lit. ''he whose army is sacrificial''), is a character in the Mahābhārata. The son of King Prishata, he wa ...
. However, Drupada rebukes the friendship, claiming a king and a beggar cannot be friends, humiliating Drona.
After this incident, and seeing the plight of Drona,
Kripa
Kripa ( sa, कृप, Kṛpa, pity), also known as Kripacharya ( sa, कृपाचार्य, Kṛpācārya, Kripa the master), is a figure in Hindu mythology. According to the epic ''Mahabharata'', he was a council member of Kuru Kingdo ...
invites Drona to
Hastinapur
Hastinapur is a city in the Meerut district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. ''Hastinapura'', described in Hindu texts such as the ''Mahabharata'' and the Puranas as the capital of the Kuru Kingdom, is also mentioned in ancient Jain tex ...
. Thus, Drona becomes the guru of both the
Pandavas
The Pandavas (Sanskrit: पाण्डव, IAST: Pāṇḍava) refers to the five legendary brothers— Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva—who are the central characters of the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. They are acknowledg ...
and
Kauravas
''Kaurava'' is a Sanskrit term which refers to descendants of Kuru, a legendary king of India who is the ancestor of many of the characters of the epic ''Mahabharata''. Usually, the term is used for the 100 sons of King Dhritarashtra and his wi ...
. Ashwatthama is trained in the art of warfare along with them.
[K M Ganguly(1883-1896)]
The Mahabharata, Book 5 Udyoga Parva, Section CLXVIII
sacred-texts.com, October 2003, Retrieved 2013-11-14
Later, Drona asked his disciples to give him his
Dakṣiṇā
or Dakshina ( sa, दक्षिणा) is a Sanskrit word found in Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh and Jain literature where it may mean any donation, fees or honorarium given to a cause, monastery, temple, spiritual guide or after a ritual. It may be ex ...
; requesting the capture of
Drupada
Drupada (Sanskrit: द्रुपद, lit. ''firm-footed'' or ''pillar''), also known as Yajnasena (Sanskrit: यज्ञसेन, lit. ''he whose army is sacrificial''), is a character in the Mahābhārata. The son of King Prishata, he wa ...
. While the
Kauravas
''Kaurava'' is a Sanskrit term which refers to descendants of Kuru, a legendary king of India who is the ancestor of many of the characters of the epic ''Mahabharata''. Usually, the term is used for the 100 sons of King Dhritarashtra and his wi ...
failed, the
Pandavas
The Pandavas (Sanskrit: पाण्डव, IAST: Pāṇḍava) refers to the five legendary brothers— Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva—who are the central characters of the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. They are acknowledg ...
defeated Drupada and presented him before Drona. Drona took the southern half of Drupada's kingdom, crowning Ashwatthama as king of it.
Role in the Kurukshetra war
Since
Hastinapura
Hastinapur is a city in the Meerut district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. ''Hastinapura'', described in Hindu texts such as the ''Mahabharata'' and the Puranas as the capital of the Kuru Kingdom, is also mentioned in ancient Jain tex ...
, ruled by
King Dhritarashtra, offered Drona the privilege of teaching the
Kuru
Kuru may refer to:
Anthropology and history
* Kuru (disease), a type of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy associated with the cannibalistic funeral practices of the Fore people
* Kuru (mythology), part of Meithei mythology
* Kuru Kingdom, ...
princes, both Drona and Ashwatthama are loyal to Hastinapur and fight for the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra war. Before Dronacharya's death, Ashwatthama visits his father, desiring a blessing of victory that he is denied. Drona advises Ashwatthama to win the war using his own strength and not through a blessing.
On the 14th day of the war, he kills a division of
Rakshasas
Rakshasas ( sa, राक्षस, IAST: : Pali: ''rakkhaso'') lit. 'preservers' are a race of usually malevolent demigods prominently featured in Hindu mythology. According to the Brahmanda Purana, the rakshasas were created by Brahma wh ...
including Anjanaparvan (son of
Ghatotkacha
Ghatotkacha ( sa, घटोत्कच, , literally: "Bald Pot") is a prominent character in the story of ''Mahabharata''. His name comes from the fact that his head was hairless (''utkacha'') and shaped like a ghatam, or a pot. Ghatotkacha ...
). He also stands against
Arjuna
Arjuna (Sanskrit: अर्जुन, ), also known as Partha and Dhananjaya, is a character in several ancient Hindu texts, and specifically one of the major characters of the Indian epic Mahabharata. In the epic, he is the third among Panda ...
several times, trying to prevent him from reaching
Jayadratha
Jayadratha () is the king of the Sindhu kingdom featured in the Mahabharata. He was married to Dushala, the only sister of the hundred Kaurava brothers. The son of the king Vriddhakshatra, he is killed by Arjuna. He has a son named Suratha.
Et ...
, though is unsuccessful.
Death of Drona
On the 10th day of the war, after
Bhishma
Bhishma (Sanskrit: भीष्म, , ), also known as Pitamaha, Gangaputra, and Devavrata, played an integral role in Mahabharata. He was the supreme commander of the Kaurava forces during the Kurukshetra War mentioned in the Hindu epic M ...
falls,
Drona
Droṇa ( sa, द्रोण, Droṇa), also referred to as Dronacharya ( sa, द्रोणाचार्य, Droṇācārya), is a major character of the Hindu epic Mahabharata.
In the epic, he serves as the royal preceptor of the Kaurav ...
is named the supreme commander of the armies. He promises
Duryodhana
Duryodhana ( sa, दुर्योधन, ) also known as Suyodhana, is the primary antagonist in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata.'' He was the eldest of the Kauravas, the hundred sons of the blind king Dhritarashtra and his queen Gandhari. Being ...
that he will capture
Yudhishthira
''Yudhishthira'' (Sanskrit: युधिष्ठिर, IAST: ''Yudhiṣṭhira'') is the eldest among the five Pandava brothers. He is mentioned in the ancient epic Mahabharata. He was sired by King Pandu of the Kuru Dynasty and his first w ...
, but then he repeatedly fails to do so.
Duryodhana
Duryodhana ( sa, दुर्योधन, ) also known as Suyodhana, is the primary antagonist in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata.'' He was the eldest of the Kauravas, the hundred sons of the blind king Dhritarashtra and his queen Gandhari. Being ...
taunts and insults him, which greatly angers Ashwatthama, causing friction between Ashwatthama and Duryodhana.
Krishna
Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one ...
knows that it was not possible to defeat an armed Drona. So, Krishna suggests to
Yudhishthira
''Yudhishthira'' (Sanskrit: युधिष्ठिर, IAST: ''Yudhiṣṭhira'') is the eldest among the five Pandava brothers. He is mentioned in the ancient epic Mahabharata. He was sired by King Pandu of the Kuru Dynasty and his first w ...
and the other
Pandavas
The Pandavas (Sanskrit: पाण्डव, IAST: Pāṇḍava) refers to the five legendary brothers— Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva—who are the central characters of the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. They are acknowledg ...
, that if Drona were convinced that his son was killed on the battlefield, then his grief would leave him vulnerable to attack.
Krishna
Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one ...
hatches a plan for
Bhima
In Hindu epic Mahabharata, Bhima ( sa, भीम, ) is the second among the five Pandavas. The ''Mahabharata'' relates many events that portray the might of Bhima. Bhima was born when Vayu, the wind god, granted a son to Kunti and Pandu. Af ...
to kill an elephant by the name Ashwatthama while claiming to Drona it was Drona's son who was dead. Ultimately, the gambit works (though the details of it vary depending on the version of the Mahabharata), and
Dhrishtadyumna
Dhrishtadyumna ( sa, धृष्टद्युम्न, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the courageous and splendid one) is the son of Drupada—the king of the Panchala kingdom—and the twin brother of Draupadi in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''.
Dhri ...
beheads the grieving sage.
Narayanastra usage
After learning of the deceptive way his father was killed, Ashwatthama becomes filled with wrath and invokes the ''
Narayanastra
In Hindu mythology, the Narayanastra () is an astra, a celestial missile, affiliated to the Hindu deity, Vishnu, in his form of Narayana.
Description
This astra ("celestial weapon" in Sanskrit) fires a volley of millions of deadly missiles ...
'', against the Pandavas.
When the weapon is invoked, violent winds begin to blow, peals of thunder are heard, and an arrow appears for every Pandava soldier. Knowing that the
astra ignores unarmed persons,
Krishna's instructs all the troops to abandon their chariots, disarm, and surrender to the weapon. After getting their soldiers to disarm (including Bhima with some difficulty), the astra passes by harmlessly. When urged by Duryodhana to use the weapon again, desirous of victory, Ashwatthama sadly responds that if the weapon is used again, it will turn on its user.
In some versions of the story, like the
Neelakantha Chaturdhara
Neelakantha Chaturdhara ( sa, नीलकण्ठ चतुर्धर, IAST: ''Nīlakaṇṭha Caturdhara'') (also referred as Neelakantha Chaturdhar) was a scholar who lived in Varanasi in the later half of the 17th century, famous for his ...
compilation, the
Narayanastra
In Hindu mythology, the Narayanastra () is an astra, a celestial missile, affiliated to the Hindu deity, Vishnu, in his form of Narayana.
Description
This astra ("celestial weapon" in Sanskrit) fires a volley of millions of deadly missiles ...
destroys one
Akshauhini
An ''akshauhini'' ( sa, अक्षौहिणी ''akṣauhiṇī'') is described in the Mahabharata (Adi Parva 2.15-23) as a battle formation consisting of 21,870 chariots (Sanskrit ''ratha''); 21,870 elephants (Sanskrit ''gaja''); 65,610 hors ...
of the Pandava army completely. After the use of Narayanastra, a terrible war between both armies takes place. Ashwatthama defeats Dhrishtadyumna in direct combat, but failed to kill him as
Satyaki
Yuyudhana ( sa, युयुधान, '), better known as Satyaki ( sa, सात्यकि, ), was a powerful Yadava chieftain of Narayani Sena, belonging to the Vrishni clan to which Krishna also belonged. According to the Puranas, he was ...
and
Bhima
In Hindu epic Mahabharata, Bhima ( sa, भीम, ) is the second among the five Pandavas. The ''Mahabharata'' relates many events that portray the might of Bhima. Bhima was born when Vayu, the wind god, granted a son to Kunti and Pandu. Af ...
cover his retreat.
Becoming commander
After the terrible death of
Dushasana
Dushasana ( sa, दुःशासन, , ), also spelled Duhshasana, Dussasana or Duhsasana, also known as Sushasana, is an antagonist in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. He was second eldest among the Kaurava princes and the younger brother of D ...
, Ashwatthama suggests Duryodhana make peace with the Pandavas, keeping in mind the welfare of
Hastinapur
Hastinapur is a city in the Meerut district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. ''Hastinapura'', described in Hindu texts such as the ''Mahabharata'' and the Puranas as the capital of the Kuru Kingdom, is also mentioned in ancient Jain tex ...
. Later, after Duryodhana is struck down by
Bhima
In Hindu epic Mahabharata, Bhima ( sa, भीम, ) is the second among the five Pandavas. The ''Mahabharata'' relates many events that portray the might of Bhima. Bhima was born when Vayu, the wind god, granted a son to Kunti and Pandu. Af ...
and facing death, the last three survivors from the Kaurava side, Ashwatthama,
Kripa
Kripa ( sa, कृप, Kṛpa, pity), also known as Kripacharya ( sa, कृपाचार्य, Kṛpācārya, Kripa the master), is a figure in Hindu mythology. According to the epic ''Mahabharata'', he was a council member of Kuru Kingdo ...
, and
Kritvarma
Kritavarma ( sa, कृतवर्मा, translit=Kṛtavarmā) is a Yadava warrior in Hinduism. He appears as a minor character in the Mahabharata, fighting in the Kurukshetra war for the Kauravas.
According to F.E. Pargiter, he was the son of ...
rush to his side. Ashwatthama swears to bring Duryodhana revenge, and Duryodhana appoints him as the commander-in-chief.
Attack on Pandava Camp
Along with
Kripa
Kripa ( sa, कृप, Kṛpa, pity), also known as Kripacharya ( sa, कृपाचार्य, Kṛpācārya, Kripa the master), is a figure in Hindu mythology. According to the epic ''Mahabharata'', he was a council member of Kuru Kingdo ...
and
Kritavarma
Kritavarma ( sa, कृतवर्मा, translit=Kṛtavarmā) is a Yadava warrior in Hinduism. He appears as a minor character in the Mahabharata, fighting in the Kurukshetra war for the Kauravas.
According to F.E. Pargiter, he was the son o ...
, Ashwatthama plans to attack the Pandavas camp at night.
Ashwatthama first kicks and awakens
Dhrishtadyumna
Dhrishtadyumna ( sa, धृष्टद्युम्न, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the courageous and splendid one) is the son of Drupada—the king of the Panchala kingdom—and the twin brother of Draupadi in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''.
Dhri ...
, the commander of the Pandava army and the killer of his father. Ashwatthama strangles the half-awake Dhrishtadyumna by choking him to death as the prince begs to be allowed to die with a sword in his hand. Ashwatthama proceeds with butchering the remaining warriors, including the
Upapandavas
In the Hindu epic Mahabharata, the ''Upapandavas'' (, sa, उपपाण्डव, lit. ''junior Pandavas''), also known as ''Pandavaputras'' (, sa, पाण्डवपुत्र, lit. ''sons of Pandavas''), Draupadeyas or ''Panchakumar ...
,
Shikhandi
Shikhandi ( sa, शिखण्डी, translit=Śikhaṇḍī) is a character in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. Born as the daughter of Drupada, the King of Panchala, Shikhandi becomes a biological male after agreeing to a sex exchange with a ya ...
,
Yudhamanyu
Uttamaujas ( sa, उत्तमौजस्) and Yudhamanyu ( sa, युधामन्यु) are two brothers from the Panchala kingdom featured in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. In some versions of the epic, they were the sons of Panchala k ...
,
Uttamaujas
Uttamaujas ( sa, उत्तमौजस्) and Yudhamanyu ( sa, युधामन्यु) are two brothers from the Panchala kingdom featured in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. In some versions of the epic, they were the sons of Panchala k ...
, and many other prominent warriors of the Pandava army. Even as some soldiers try and fight back, Ashwatthama remains unharmed due to his activated abilities as one of the eleven
Rudras
Rudras refer to the forms of the god Rudra, whose traditions have since been associated with Shiva. They make up eleven of the thirty-three gods in the Vedic pantheon.Hopkins pp. 172-3 They are at times identified with the storm deities referred ...
. Those who try to flee from Ashwatthama's wrath are hacked down by
Kripacharya
Kripa ( sa, कृप, Kṛpa, pity), also known as Kripacharya ( sa, कृपाचार्य, Kṛpācārya, Kripa the master), is a figure in Hindu mythology. According to the epic ''Mahabharata'', he was a council member of Kuru Kingdom ...
and
Kritavarma
Kritavarma ( sa, कृतवर्मा, translit=Kṛtavarmā) is a Yadava warrior in Hinduism. He appears as a minor character in the Mahabharata, fighting in the Kurukshetra war for the Kauravas.
According to F.E. Pargiter, he was the son o ...
at the camp's entrances.
After the slaughter, the three warriors go to find Duryodhana. After relaying to him the deaths of all the
Panchalas, they announce that the Pandavas have no sons with whom to rejoice their victory. Duryodhana felt greatly satisfied and avenged at Ashwatthama's ability to do for him what Bhishma, Drona, and Karna could not. With this, Duryodhana breathes his last, and mourning, the three remaining members of the Kaurava army perform the cremation rites.
Aftermath of the Attack
![Asvattama was arrested and brought to Draupadi by Arjuna](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/Asvattama_was_arrested_and_brought_to_Draupadi_by_Arjuna.jpg)
The Pandavas and
Krishna
Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one ...
who were away during the night, now return to their camp the next day morning. Hearing the news of these events Yudhishthira faints and the Pandavas become inconsolable. Bhima angrily rushes to kill Drona's son. They find him at sage
Vyasa
Krishna Dvaipayana ( sa, कृष्णद्वैपायन, Kṛṣṇadvaipāyana), better known as Vyasa (; sa, व्यासः, Vyāsaḥ, compiler) or Vedavyasa (वेदव्यासः, ''Veda-vyāsaḥ'', "the one who cl ...
's ashram near the bank of Bhagiratha.
The now triggered Ashwatthama invokes the ''
Brahmastra
In Hindu mythology, the ''Brahmastra'' (IAST: ''Brahmāstra'') is an '' astra'' (weapon) that is said to be able to destroy the whole universe, capable of destroying creation and vanquishing all beings. Only Parasurama, Rama, Meghnada, Bhisma, ...
'' against the Pandavas to fulfill the oath of killing them. Krishna asks
Arjuna
Arjuna (Sanskrit: अर्जुन, ), also known as Partha and Dhananjaya, is a character in several ancient Hindu texts, and specifically one of the major characters of the Indian epic Mahabharata. In the epic, he is the third among Panda ...
to fire the ''
Brahmashirā'', the anti-missile, against Ashwatthama to defend themselves. Vyasa intervenes and prevents the weapons from clashing against each other. He asks both Arjuna and Ashwatthama to take their weapons back. Arjuna, knowing how to do so takes it back.
![Narada and Vyasa came to stop Brahmasironamakastra used by Aswatthama and Arjuna](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/Narada_and_Vyasa_came_to_stop_Brahmasironamakastra_used_by_Aswatthama_and_Arjuna.jpg)
Ashwatthama not knowing the process to retrieve the ''Brahmastra'', instead directs the weapon towards the womb of the pregnant
Uttara Uttara, which means "north" in Sanskrit and many other South Asian languages, may refer to:
Places
* Uttara Export Processing Zone, Bangladesh
* Uttara, a suburb north of Dhaka, Bangladesh
*Uttara East Thana
*Uttara West Thana
*Uttaradit, a city i ...
(Arjuna's daughter-in-law) in an attempt to end the lineage of the Pandavas.
Krishna
Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one ...
saves
Uttara Uttara, which means "north" in Sanskrit and many other South Asian languages, may refer to:
Places
* Uttara Export Processing Zone, Bangladesh
* Uttara, a suburb north of Dhaka, Bangladesh
*Uttara East Thana
*Uttara West Thana
*Uttaradit, a city i ...
's unborn child from the effects of ''Brahmastra'', on the request of Draupadi, Subhadra and Sudeshna. As the child faced a test of life even before being born, Lord Sri Krishna named him
Parikshit
Parikshit ( sa, परीक्षित्, ) was a Kuru king who reigned during the Middle Vedic period (12th-10th centuries BCE). Along with his son and successor, Janamejaya, he played a decisive role in the consolidation of the Kuru state, ...
(literally: "the tested one") and later on this child succeeds Yudhisthira to become the next king of
Hastinapura
Hastinapur is a city in the Meerut district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. ''Hastinapura'', described in Hindu texts such as the ''Mahabharata'' and the Puranas as the capital of the Kuru Kingdom, is also mentioned in ancient Jain tex ...
. Ashwatthama was then made to surrender the gem on his forehead and cursed by
Krishna
Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one ...
for 3000 years that he will roam in the forests with blood and puss oozing out of his injuries and cry for death but death would not meet him.
Lineage
A theory is propounded by historians R. Sathianathaier and D. C. Sircar, with endorsements by Hermann Kulke, Dietmar Rothermund and Burton Stein. Sircar points out that the family legends of the
Pallavas
The Pallava dynasty existed from 275 CE to 897 CE, ruling a significant portion of South India, the Deccan, also known as Tondaimandalam. The dynasty rose to prominence after the downfall of the Satavahanas, Satavahana dynasty, with whom they ...
speak of an ancestor descending from Ashwatthama and his union with a Naga princess. It was the son born from this union, that would have started this dynasty. This claim finds support in the fact that
Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram ('; ) also known as ''Conjeevaram,'' is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu in the Tondaimandalam region, from Chennaithe capital of Tamil Nadu. Known as the ''City of Thousand Temples'', Kanchipuram is known for its temple ...
was where the Pallavas would dwell, and this was earlier a part of the ''Naga Kingdom''.
A further corroboration is that the
gotra
In Hindu culture, the term gotra (Sanskrit: गोत्र) is considered to be equivalent to lineage. It broadly refers to people who are descendants in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor or patriline. Generally, the gotra fo ...
of the Pālave Maratha family is
Bharadwaja
Bharadvaja ( sa, भरद्वाज, IAST: ; also spelled Bharadwaja) was one of the revered Vedic sages
(maharishi) in Ancient India. He was a renowned scholar, economist, grammarian and physician. He is one of the Saptarishis (seven great ...
(grandfather of Ashwatthama), same as the one which Pallavas have attributed to themselves in their records.
Vaidya C.V., History of Medieval Hindu India, pg.281
/ref>
There is a shrine for Ashwatthama in the famous Ananthapadmanabhaswamy temple of Thiruvanthapuram.
In Popular Culture
*In Mahabharat (1988 TV series)
''Mahabharat'' is an Indian Hindi-language epic television series based on the ancient Sanskrit epic of the same title. The original airing consisted of a total of 94 episodes and were broadcast from 2 October 1988 to 24 June 1990 on Doordarsh ...
, Pradeep Rawat (actor)
Pradeep Rawat (born 21 January 1952) is an Indian actor who works predominantly in Telugu, Hindi, and Tamil language films. Notable for playing villainous roles, Rawat's first appearance was in B.R. Chopra's ''Mahabharat'' as Ashwatthama. He ...
acted as Ashwatthama.
*In Krishna (TV series)
''Shri Krishna,'' also known as ''Krishna'' is an Indian Hindi-language television historical series, created, written and directed by Ramanand Sagar. It is an adaptation of the stories of the life of Krishna, based on Bhagavata Purana, Brahma ...
,Mukul Nag
Mukul Nag is an Indian actor. He is best known for playing the revered saint, Sai Baba of Shirdi, in the Hindi language historical drama series ''Sai Baba (TV series)''. The series was produced by Sagar Films and broadcast by Star Plus in 2008.
...
acted as Ashwatthama.
* In 2013 version of the Mahabharata, Ashwatthama was portrayed by Ankit Mohan
Ankit Mohan is an Indian film and television actor who mainly works in Marathi cinema. He is known for television shows like ''Mahabharat'', ''Kumkum Bhagya'', ''Naagin 3'', '' Haiwaan'' and ''Kaatelal & Sons'' as well as the Marathi film ''Fa ...
.
*In the TV show Suryaputra Karn
''Suryaputra Karn'' () is an Indian historical epic television series, which premiered on 29 June 2015 on Sony Entertainment Television (India) and Sony Entertainment Television Asia. The show aired Monday through Friday nights at 8:30 PM. Prod ...
, Kunal Bakshi
Kunal Bakshi is an Indian television actor. He has done lots of serials for almost all the leading channels.
Television
* '' Baalveer Returns'' as King Emaaya Egypt Evil
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bakshi, Kunal
Living ...
acted as Ashwatthama.
*In Dharmakshetra
''Dharmakshetra'' is a mythological drama series which aired on the channel The EPIC Channel. The series is set in the aftermath of the battle of Mahabharata. The story is told from the perspective of the various characters as they are brough ...
, Ashwatthama was portrayed by Saurabh Goyal.
*In Kurukshetra (2019 film)
''Kurukshetra'' is a 2019 Indian Kannada-language mythological war film written by J. K. Bharavi and directed by Naganna. The story is based on the epic poem ''Gadhayuddha'' by Ranna, which itself is based on the Indian epic ''Mahabharata''. ...
, Ashwatthama was portrayed by Bharat Gowda.
*In Ek Aur Mahabharat
''Ek Aur Mahabharat'' (''English language translation'': One More Mahabharat) is an Indian television series based on the Mahabharata directed by Dr. Chandraprakash Dwivedi It was telecast on Zee TV in 1997 while Dwivedi was the channel's progra ...
,Ashwathama was portrayed by Ashok Lokhande
Ashok Lokhande (born 9 September 1962) is an Indian film, television and theatre actor. He is best known for playing the role of Arun Rathi (Bhabasa) in the Star Plus Show ''Diya Aur Baati Hum'' and its sequel ''Tu Sooraj, Main Saanjh Piyaji''. ...
.
Incidents of meeting Ashwatthama
Ashwatthama
In the Hinduism, Hindu epic the ''Mahabharata'', Ashwatthama ( sa, अश्वत्थामा, Aśvatthāmā) or Drauni was the son of guru Drona and Kripi (sister of Kripa, Kripacharya). He was the grandson of the sage Bharadwaja. Ashwa ...
is believed to be alive even today. There are some incidents of several people meeting him.
1. Ashwathama has been seen by Railway Employees.
An article in one of the newspapers that is more than a decade old features a railroad employee who is on leave and on vacation.
While he was on vacation and strolling in the forests of Navsari, Gujarat, this train employee reported seeing a very tall man with a head wound.
He claimed to have spoken to her and learned that Bhima was much taller and stronger than him. (Also read 19 Awatara Dewa Shiva)
2. Ashwathama meeting with the sage Naranappa
Naranappa wrote his version of Mahabharata with the help of Ashwathama. The Mahabharata ends with Gadaa Parwa. It is said that Naranappa met Ashwattama and asked for help to write Mahabharata in Kannada (Kannada Version).
Ashwatthama agreed with the conditions. He will start writing Mahabharata every day after he cleans himself. He had to wear wet dothi (brahman clothing). The Mahabharata story will continue to flow into his hands until the dothi he uses is dry. He must not tell this secret to others. (Also read Mahabharata Adiparwa Chapter 9: Curse of Parashurama)
Long story short, when he’s writing reached Gada Parva, the story of Bhima and Duryodhana’s fight, he happily shared this secret with his wife. From then on, the Mahabharata story stopped at Gada Parva.
3. Aswathama meets Swaminarayan’s parents
Dharmdeva and Bhaktimaataa (Swaminarayan’s father and mother) were cursed more than two hundred years ago by Ashwatthaamaa. This is explained in the Satsangi Jivan written by Shatanand Muni. (Also read Dashavatara 10 Awatara Wisnu)
When they got lost in the forest and they met someone – He was tall and tall in an orange robe as a Brahmin. When they told the brahmins about Ka they told them Ka would be born as their son. The brahmana angrily called Krishna his enemy and cursed them.
4. Aswathama Seen in Ludhiana, Punjab
Around 1968 – 1969: A doctor described an incident meeting a person who had an injured forehead. He had never seen such a wound as if his brain had been removed from his forehead, yet his skin was tight as if nothing had happened. By the time the doctor tried to get his belongings from the tool cabinet, the man was gone and was never found again. But he said his blue eyes were always in his shadow.
5. Aswathama seen near the river Narmada (Gujarat)
Many people have seen someone with a wound on his forehead roaming around the river Narmada (Gujarat). He is described as a tall person, and there are lots of flies and insects that surround him all the time.
6. Vasudevanand Saraswati Met Ashwatthama at Shoolpaneeshawar
Vasudevanand Saraswati, a brahmin who was considered to be the incarnation of Dattatreya by their followers, saw Ashwatthama in the dense forest of Shoolpaneeshawar near Katarkheda, in 1912.
It is said that Vasudevanand Saraswati got lost in the forest. In the middle of the forest, they met a tall brahmin. They were escorted out of the forest by this brahmin. When they approached the edge of the forest, the brahmin said he could only lead them here. When asked by Vasudevan, “Who are you, your body is not a normal human body. Are you a ghost or a yaksha? Introduce yourself. ”
The brahmin replied, “You are right, all of that is true, everything looks abnormal. Because I’m not from this yuga. I come from Dwapara Yuga. I am Ashwatthama. ”
7. Pilot Baba meets Ashwatthama in person
Pilot Baba is an Indian spiritual teacher who was previously Commander Wing Kapil Singh, a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force. Baba’s pilots have established a number of Ashrams and spiritual centers in India and abroad.
Pilot Baba recounts the events of Ashwathama’s meeting and has a detailed conversation with him.
8. Ashwatthama can often be seen at the Old Fort Asirgarha fort
It is said that Ashwathama settled around the Asirgarh fort for the last 5000 years. And he worships Lord Shiva at the fort shrine early in the morning. What is still a mystery is that every morning fresh flowers and sandals are dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is believed that he was the first devotee of the day.
People associated with the area tell a myth that sometimes Ashwathama is seen at night and stays around Asirgarha Fort. And sometimes ask for turmeric and oil to stop the blood on his forehead. He bathed in the ponds around the fort and worshiped Lord Shiva at the Citadel shrine.
9. Ashwattama seen in Lilotinath Mandir Lakhimpur Kheri temple, Utar Pradesh
Locals have seen Ashwathama several times at this temple. People also tell about flowers on Shivalinga in the morning.
References
External links
Original text online
GRETIL etext
(Muneo Tokunaga)
History: Encounters with Ashvatthama
{{Authority control
Chiranjivins
Characters in the Mahabharata