Ashwatthama: Difference between revisions
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There is a shrine for Ashwatthama in the famous [[Padmanabhaswamy Temple|Ananthapadmanabhaswamy]] temple of [[Thiruvananthapuram|Thiruvanthapuram]]. |
There is a shrine for Ashwatthama in the famous [[Padmanabhaswamy Temple|Ananthapadmanabhaswamy]] temple of [[Thiruvananthapuram|Thiruvanthapuram]]. |
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==Incidents of meeting Ashwatthama== |
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1. Ashwathama has been seen by Railway Employees. |
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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. |
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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. |
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He claimed to have spoken to her and learned that Bhima was much taller and stronger than him. (Also read 19 Awatara Dewa Shiva) |
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2. Ashwathama meeting with the sage Naranappa |
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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). |
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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) |
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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. |
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3. Aswathama meets Swaminarayan’s parents |
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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) |
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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. |
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4. Aswathama Seen in Ludhiana, Punjab |
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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. |
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5. Aswathama seen near the river Narmada (Gujarat) |
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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. |
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6. Vasudevan and Saraswati Meet Ashwathama at Shoolpaneeshawar |
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Vasudevan and Saraswati, a brahmin who was considered to be the incarnation of Dattatreya by their followers, saw Ashwatthama in the dense forest of Shulpaneeshawar near Katarkheda, in 1912. |
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It is said that Vasudevan and 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. ” |
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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. ” |
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7. Pilot Baba meets Ashwatthama in person |
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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. |
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Pilot Baba recounts the events of Ashwathama’s meeting and has a detailed conversation with him. |
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8. Ashwatthama can often be seen at the Old Fort Asirgarha fort |
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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. |
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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. |
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9. Ashwattama seen in Lilotinath Mandir Lakhimpur Kheri temple, Utar Pradesh |
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Locals have seen Ashwathama several times at this temple. People also tell about flowers on Shivalinga in the morning.<ref>https://egod.eu/is-ashwathama-still-alive-9-facts-ashwathama-still-alive/</ref> |
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== References == |
== References == |
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Revision as of 13:13, 25 November 2022
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2022) |
| Ashwatthama | |
|---|---|
| Ashwatthama Ashwatthama uses Narayanastra | |
| Information | |
| Weapon | Bow and Arrow, Sword |
| Family | Dronacharya (father) Kripi (mother) |
| Relatives | Kripacharya (maternal uncle) Bharadwaja (grandfather) |
In the Hindu epic the Mahabharata, Ashwatthama (Template:Lang-sa) or Drauni was the son of guru Drona and Kripi (sister of Kripacharya). He was the grandson of the sage Bharadwaja. Ashwatthama ruled the northern region of Panchala, being subordinate to the rulers of Hastinapura. He was a Maharathi[1] who fought on the Kaurava side against the Pandavas in the Kurukshetra War. He became a Chiranjivi (immortal) due to the blessing of lord Shiva and was cursed by lord Krishna to suffer for 3000 years in penance after the Kurukshetra war for attacking the womb of Uttara.[2][3]
The deceptive plot of Ashwatthama's supposed death led to murder of his grieving father Drona, who was decapitated while meditating for his son's soul. He was appointed as the final commander-in-chief of the Kauravas 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.
Ashwatthama was born with the mixed portions of Shiva, Kāla, Krodha and 4 parts of Yama in him according to the epic Mahabharata and according to the holy Shiva Purana he is said to be the 19th incarnation of lord Shiva, he was a master of 64 Kalas (art forms) and 18 Vidyas (subjects) just like lord Krishna, Ashwatthama was master of all combat skills and before the Kurukshetra war Bhishma declared Ashwatthama as a warrior defeating whom was virtually impossible for any other warrior on that field specially in his anger as in his rage Ashwatthama was capable of becoming as ferocious and as destructive as lord Rudra himself.
Etymology
According to The Mahabharata, Ashwatthama means "the sacred voice which relates to that of a horse".[4] It is so-called because when he was born he cried like a horse.[5]
Birth and Life Prior to the War
 | This section relies largely or entirely upon a single source. (September 2021) |
Ashwatthama is the son of Drona and Kripi. He was born in a cave in a forest (in present-day Tapkeshwar Mahadev Temple, Dehradun, Uttarakhand). Drona does many years of severe penance to please lord Shiva in order to obtain a son who possesses the same valiance as lord Shiva.
As a blessing of Mahakala, Ashwatthama was born with a precious gem on his forehead which gives him power over all living beings lower than humans; it protects him from gods, demons, spirits, snakes, all sorts of celestial weapons, diseases, hunger, thirst, fatigue and would even recover his deepest wounds in no time. Though an expert in warfare, Drona lives a simple life, with little money or property. As a result, Ashwatthama had 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. However, Drupada rebukes the friendship, claiming a king and a beggar cannot be friends, humiliating Drona publically in his court.
After this incident, and seeing the plight of Drona, Kripa invites Drona to Hastinapur. Thus, Drona becomes the guru of both the Pandavas and Kauravas. Ashwatthama was trained in the art of warfare along with them.[6]
Later, Drona asked his disciples to give him his Dakṣiṇā; requesting the capture of Drupada. While the Kauravas failed, the Pandavas 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, ruled by King Dhritarashtra, offered Drona the privilege of teaching the Kuru princes, both Drona and Ashwatthama were loyal to Hastinapur and fought 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 advised Ashwatthama to win the war using his own strength and not through a blessing.
On the 14th day of the war, he kills more then a division of Rakshasas along with his uncle Kripacharya and also killed Anjanaparvan (the powerful son of Ghatotkacha) and makes Ghatotkacha retreat from the battlefield defeating him after destroying all his illusions and magical attacks. He also stands against Arjuna several times, trying to prevent him from reaching Jayadratha, though is unsuccessful but saves Karna from Arjuna's wrath by giving him lift on Ashwatthama's chariot after Karna's chariot gets destroyed by Arjuna.
12th Day War
King Nila, resembling a veritable fire, his arrows constituting its sparks and his bow its flame, began to consume the Kuru ranks, like a conflagration consuming heaps of dry grass. The valiant son of Drona, who from before had been desirous of an encounter with him, smilingly addressed Nila as the latter came consuming the troops, and said unto him these polite words, 'O Nila, what dost thou gain by consuming so many common soldiers with thy arrowy flames? Fight with my unaided self, and filled with rage, strike me.' Thus addressed, Nila, the brightness of whose face resembled the splendour of a full-blown lotus, pierced Aswatthaman, whose body resembled an assemblage of lotuses and whose eyes were like lotus-petals with his shafts. Deeply and suddenly pierced by Nila, Drona's son with three broad-headed arrows, cut off his antagonist's bow and standard and umbrella. Quickly jumping down from his car, Nila, then, with a shield and an excellent sword, desired to sever from Aswatthaman's trunk his head like a bird (bearing away its prey in its talons). Drona's son, however, O sinless one, by means of a bearded arrow, cut off, from his antagonist's trunk, his head graced with a beautiful nose and decked with excellent ear-rings, and which rested on elevated shoulders. That hero, then, the brightness of whose face resembled the splendour of the full moon and whose eyes were like lotus-petals, whose stature was tall, and complexion like that of the lotus, thus slain, fell down on the earth. The Pandava host then, filled with great grief, began to tremble, when the Preceptor's son thus slew Nila of blazing energy.[7]
14th Night War
When Ghatotkach started using illusionary powers against Kauravas. Then all the warriors of Kauravas retreated except Dronacharya and Ashwatthama. Dronacharya was battling on the other front that time.Then Ashwatthama alone faced Ghatotkach and countered 100s of illusions of the latter. He fought valiantly against Ghatotkach During the progress of battle he killed Anjanaparvan(Son of Ghatotkachh).He killed many warriors Of Panchals, sons of Drupada, 10 sons of Kuntibhoja(cousins of Pandavas),etc. He killed 1 Akshauhini of Rakshasas by ordinary bow and ordinary chariot within Moments(twinkling of eye) in the very sight of Bheema,Arjuna,Lord Krishna.
Ghatotkach was frequently getting asistance from Bheema Dhristadyumna Yudhishthir and many Pandavas troops but Ashwatthama kept his senses under control and battled against all of them single handedly for very long time. At last after slaying many great warriors Ashwatthama, shot a terrible shaft on Ghatotkach’s chest which swooned away Ghatotkach. Then, Dhristadyumna took the latter away from Ashwatthama’s presence.And Pandavas troops headed by Yudhishthira including Bheema also retreated from Ashwatthama’s presence.
Ashwatthama took weapons of full 8 carts in that long Duel.Also Rakshasas power were obviously high due to Night factor in that battle. He not only defeated Ghatotkachh but also forced him to flee several times that night during the battle. All the forces with Apsaras and many more applauded him for his act.Then after sometime Ghatotkach once more battled Ashwatthama.This time he fainted Ashwatthama for a moment then Dronacharya’s son quickly recovered his senses and once more swooned Ghatotkach for a long time.[8]
Death of Drona
On the 10th day of the war, after Bhishma falls, Drona is named the supreme commander of the armies. He promises Duryodhana that he will capture Yudhishthira, but then he repeatedly fails to do so. Duryodhana taunts and insults him, which greatly angers Ashwatthama, causing friction between Ashwatthama and Duryodhana. Krishna knows that it was not possible to defeat an armed Drona.
On the 15th day of war, both Ashwatthama and Dronacharya together wreaks havoc upon the battlefield, so Krishna suggests to Yudhishthira and the other Pandavas, that if Drona were convinced that his son was killed on the battlefield while keeping Ashwatthama busy somewhere else far from his father, then Drona's grief would leave him vulnerable to attack. Krishna hatches a plan for Bhima 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 beheads the grieving sage.
Narayanastra usage
After learning of the deceptive way his father was killed, Ashwatthama becomes filled with wrath and invokes the destructive Narayanastra, 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 compilation, the Narayanastra destroys one Akshauhini of the Pandava army completely. However 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 and Bhima cover his retreat during which Ashwatthama defeats Satyaki injuring him badly with just one arrow and then defeats Bhima as well after that Bhima retreats from the battlefield along with Satyaki and Dhrishtadyumna.[9] Seeing the entire Pandava army running away from Ashwatthama in fear and defeat Arjuna gets angry and engages in a duel against Ashwatthama, where Ashwatthama overpowers Arjuna completely and makes him struggle real hard just to get control over Ashwatthama and send him out of the battlefield somehow.
16th Day War
By using an ordinary bow Ashwatthama fired millions of arrows at a time which resulted in the stupefaction of Arjuna himself. Then after some time he again overpowered Arjuna as Lord Krishna and Arjuna were bathed in blood but at last Arjuna pierced his steeds and steeds carried Ashwatthama away and also his weapons were exhausted. King Malayadhwaja of Pandya Kingdom was one of the mightiest warrior of Pandavas and on that day he fought brilliantly against Ashwatthama. After a long duel of Archery between them Ashwatthama made Malayadhwaja carless, weaponless and had obtained an opportunity to kill him on the spot but he spared him temporarily for more fight.Then Malayadhwaja proceeded against Ashwatthama on an elephant and sped a powerful lance which destroyed latter’s diadem.Then Ashwathama cut off the head and arms of Malayadhwaja and also killed 6 followers of Malayadhwaja. All the great warriors of Kauravas then applauded him for his act.[10] Bhima had a fierce fight with Ashwatthama who repeatedly called him a coward because he slew an elephant. They hurled several powerful arrows at each other and the duel was witnessed by Hanuman, who is the son of Vayu like Bhima and Amsha of Shiva like Ashwatthama. The battle was so intense and astonishing that it was being witnessed by all the celestial beings aswell, eventually both of them fell unconscious on their respective chariots by the end of that terrifying battle.[11][12][13]
Becoming commander
After the terrible death of Dushasana, Ashwatthama suggests Duryodhana make peace with the Pandavas, keeping in mind the welfare of Hastinapur. Later, after Duryodhana is struck down by Bhima and facing death, the last three survivors from the Kaurava side, Ashwatthama, Kripa, and Kritvarma rush to his side. Ashwatthama swears to bring Duryodhana revenge, and Duryodhana appoints him as the commander-in-chief.[citation needed]
Attack on Pandava Camp
Along with Kripa and Kritavarma, Ashwatthama plans to attack the Pandavas camp at night.
Before entering the Pandavas camp Ashwatthama came face to face with a terrifying form of lord Shiva, without a second thought Ashwatthama attacked that ghost with all his powerful weapons including his, spear, mace, sword, arrows and celestial weapons but failed to harm him a bit, after that he sat on a fire pit and prayed to lord Shiva outside the camp fearlessly while all the ghosts and demons of lord Shiva appeared out of no where and charged towards Ashwatthama furious, being pleased on Ashwatthama lord Rudra appeared before him in his true form and entered Ashwatthama's body making him completely unstoppable that night, after that Ashwatthama entered the Pandavas camp, after entering the camp Ashwatthama first kicks and awakens Dhrishtadyumna, the commander of the Pandava army and the killer of his father.[14] 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, Shikhandi, Yudhamanyu, Uttamaujas with the powerful devine sword that he attained from lord Shambhu and destroys all their attacks mid-air with that sword, he also killed 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. Those who try to flee from Ashwatthama's wrath are hacked down by Kripacharya and Kritavarma 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
The Pandavas and Krishna 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's ashram near the bank of Bhagiratha.
The now triggered Ashwatthama invokes his powerful Brahmashirsha astra from a tiny blade of grass against the Pandavas to fulfill his oath of killing them. Krishna asks Arjuna to also fire his 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.
Ashwatthama forgetting the process to retrieve his Brahmashirsha astra back instead directs the destructive weapon towards the womb of the pregnant Uttara (Arjuna's daughter-in-law) in an attempt to end the lineage of the Pandavas.
Krishna saves Uttara's unborn child from the effects of Ashwatthama's Brahmashirsha astra, 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 (literally: "the tested one") and later on this child succeeds Yudhisthira to become the next king of Hastinapura. Ashwatthama was then made to surrender the gem on his forehead and cursed by Krishna for 3000 years that he will roam in the forests with loneliness, guilt, ulcers, blood and puss oozing out of his injuries crying for death but death would not meet him and no human will be able to heal him and also that he will forget all his knowledge and powers.[15]
Television
In Mahabharat (1988 TV series), Ashwatthama was portrayed by Pradeep Rawat. In 2013 version of the Mahabharata, Ashwatthama was portrayed by Ankit Mohan. In the TV show Dharmakshetra, Ashwatthama was portrayed by Saurabh Goyal. In the TV show Suryaputra Karna, Ashwatthama was portrayed by Kunal Bakshi.
Lineage
A theory is propounded by historians R. Sathianathaier and D. C. Sircar, with endorsements by Hermann Kulke, Dietmar Rothermund and Burton Stein.[16] Sircar points out that the family legends of the Pallavas 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 was where the Pallavas would dwell, and this was earlier a part of the Naga Kingdom.
A further corroboration is that the gotra of the Pālave Maratha family is Bharadwaja (grandfather of Ashwatthama), same as the one which Pallavas have attributed to themselves in their records.[17]
There is a shrine for Ashwatthama in the famous Ananthapadmanabhaswamy temple of Thiruvanthapuram.
References
- ^ K M Ganguly (1883–1896). The Mahabharata, Book 5 Udyoga Parva, Section CLXVIII sacred-texts.com, October 2003, Retrieved 2014-02-11
- ^ Staff, India com (4 June 2020). "Mahabharat Mythology: Is Ashwatthama Still Alive Even After so Many Years?". India News, Breaking News, Entertainment News | India.com. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
- ^ "Ashwatthama: কপাল বেয়ে সেই লাল রক্তের স্রোত! আজও নাকি বেঁচে আছেন মহাভারতের অশ্বথামা". The Bengali Chronicle (in Bengali). 26 July 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ "The Mahabharata, Book 7: Drona Parva: Drona-vadha Parva: Section CXCVII".
- ^ "Sanskrit - Asien.net".
- ^ K M Ganguly(1883-1896). The Mahabharata, Book 5 Udyoga Parva, Section CLXVIII sacred-texts.com, October 2003, Retrieved 2013-11-14
- ^ https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07029.htm
- ^ https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07152.htm
- ^ K M Ganguly(1883-1896). The Mahabharatha Book 7: Drona page 478-479 Aswathama defeated Satyaki, Bhima, Drishtadyumna, October 2003, Retrieved 2015-01-13
- ^ "The Mahabharata, Book 8: Karna Parva Index"
- ^ "Conversation between Dhritarashtra and Sanjaya". www.sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
- ^ "Bhima's Defeat of Ashwathama". 17 March 2019.
- ^ "The Mahabharata, Book 8: Karna Parva Index".
- ^ "The Mahabharata, Book 10: Sauptika Parva: Section 8".
- ^ Mythgyaan (16 October 2017). "Who is Ashwathama? Why he was cursed by Krishna? Is he still alive?". Mythgyaan. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ Stein, Burton (2016). "Book Reviews: Kancipuram in Early South Indian History, by T. V. Mahalingam (Madras: Asia Publishing House, 1969), pp. vii-243". The Indian Economic & Social History Review. 7 (2): 317–321. doi:10.1177/001946467000700208. ISSN 0019-4646. S2CID 144817627.: "...the rather well-argued and plausible stand that the Palavas were indigenous to the central Tamil plain, Tondaimandalam..."
- ^ Vaidya C.V., History of Medieval Hindu India, pg.281
External links
Original text online (in Sanskrit)
- GRETIL etext (Muneo Tokunaga)
- Mahābhārata online
- History: Encounters with Ashvatthama
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