ASHWATHAMA
- TERRIFYING AND POWERFUL CHARACTER IN MAHABHARATA
Ashwathama is a Chiranjeevi, an immortal being (believed to be a
living survivor of the Kurukshetra War), born to Drona, the Guru of the
Pandavas, and Kripi (Sister of Kripacharya, The Kulaguru - Chief priest of
Hastinapur). Ashwathama is one of the seven "Chiranjivi" among
Rishyashringa, Kripacharya, Galav, Shatanand, Kaashyapa, and Parashurama.
Ashwathama is one of Saptarishis of the next (8th)
Manvantara (Surya’s son Savarnya will the Manu of 8th Manvantara). Ashwathama
is so special due to a very strong lineage and from a family of Saptarishis
both on the Paternal and Maternal side.
Ashwathama’s father was Guru Drona who is the son of Great Sage
Bharadhwaja. (Bharadhwaja is one of the Saptarishi’s of our current
Manvantara). Bharadhwaja himself was the grandson of Great Sage Angirasa
(Angirasa is quoted to be Saptarishi of first Manvantara).
Ashwathama mother is Kripi, who is the daughter of Rishi Shardwan.
Rishi Shardwan was the son of Gautama Maharishi. (Gautam Maharishi is
Saptarishi of this Manvantara)
Some other important facts to consider about him are, both his parents
were different, as they were not born out of the human womb. Guru Drona was
born in a vessel made of leaves and hence the name Drona. Similarly, Kripi is
born out of the Vitality of Sage Shardwan. Guru Drona meditated and did severe
penance to Lord Shiva to have a son who should be an avatar of Lord Shiva
himself. Hence, Ashwathama is considered as 12th Rudra by many as he is an
Amsha of Shiva joined with Yama and Kama - three devas merged together.
When Ashwathama was born he made a loud cry like Indra’s horses, he
was named Ashwathama by an akashvani (voice from space). He was born with a
gemstone on his head, which gives him power over all living beings lower than
humans; it protects him from hunger, thirst, and fatigue. Guru Drona and Kripi
loved their son very much and Ashwathama also had a tremendous love for his parents.
Though an expert in warfare, Dronacharya lives the simple life of
a Brahmin, with little money or property. As a result, Ashvathama has a
difficult childhood, with his family unable to even afford milk. Young
Ashwathama was so clever that he understood the predicament of his parents and
prayed to Lord Shiva for milk. Lord Shiva was so happy with Ashwathama’s prayer
that he provided with milk that dripped on the Shiva linga (Statue) in the cave
where they lived. (This temple is called Tapkeshwar Temple and located near
Dehradun.)
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.
After this incident, and seeing the plight of
Drona, Kripacharya invites Drona to Hastinapur. There, he comes
upon the attention of his co-disciple Bhishma. Thus, Dronacharya becomes
the guru of both Pandavas and Kauravas in Hastinapur.
Ashwathama is trained in the art of warfare along with them.
After Pandavas defeated the king of Panchal and offered the throne as
guru-dakshina, Drona gave the rulership of Northern Panchala kingdom to his son
Ashwathama and (Fee for the Teacher) stayed at Hastinapura the capital of Kuru
Kingdom. Ashwathama always sided with Kauravas as Duyodhana was his friend. He
supported them in each blameworthy act. As Drona loved his son, he also sided
Kauravas in the great war. Ashwathama supported Kauravas in reprehensible act
towards Draupadi. Thus, He presented himself as a disgraceful leader who was
confused and full of greed as born in a poor family.
Since Hastinapura, ruled by King Dhritarashtra, offered
Dronacharya the privilege of teaching the Kuru princes, both Dronacharya and
Ashwathama are loyal to Hastinapur and fight for the Kauravas in the
Kurukshetra war. Before Dronacharya's death, Ashwathama visits his father,
desiring a blessing of victory that he is denied. Drona advises Ashwathama to
win the war using his own strength and not through a blessing.
The sixth day was marked by a prodigious slaughter. Drona caused
an immeasurable loss of life on the Pandava side. The formations of both the
armies were broken. However, Bhima managed to penetrate the Kaurava
formation and attack Duryodhana. Duryodhana was defeated but was rescued
by others. The Upapandavas (sons of Draupadi) fought with Ashwathama and
destroyed his chariot. The day's battle ended with the defeat of the Kauravas.
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 Ashwathama, causing friction
between Ashwathama and Duryodhana.
On 15th day, After King Drupada and
King Virata were slain
by Drona, Bhima and Dhrishtadyumna fought him on the
fifteenth day. Because Drona was very powerful and invincible, having the
irresistible Brahmanda astra, Krishna hinted to Yudhishthira that Drona
would give up his arms if his son Ashwathama were dead. Bhima proceeded to kill
an elephant named Ashwathama and loudly proclaimed that Ashwathama was dead.
Drona approached Yudhishthira to seek the truth of his son's death.
Yudhishthira proclaimed Ashwathama Hatahath, Naro Va Kunjaro Va, implying
Ashwathama had died but he was not sure whether it was Drona's son or an
elephant, The latter part of his proclamation (Naro va Kunjaro va) was drowned
out by the sound of a conch blown by Krishna intentionally (a different version
of the story is that Yudhishthira pronounced the last words so feebly that
Drona could not hear the word elephant). Prior to this incident, the chariot of
Yudhishthira, proclaimed as Dharma Raja (King of Righteousness), hovered
a few inches off the ground. After the event, the chariot landed on the ground
as he lied.
Drona was disheartened and laid down his weapons. He was then killed
by Dhrishtadyumna to avenge his father's death and satisfy his vow.
200212 – 2020 February 12
www.drtps-shiksha.in
+919502038875
ASHWATHAMA in Kurukshetra WAR after DRONA’s Death
After learning of the deceptive way
his father (Dronacharya) was killed, Ashwathama becomes filled with wrath and
invokes the celestial weapon called the 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. This puts fear into the Pandava army, but Krishna, while stopping the troops, advises that the army lay down all
its weapons and surrender to the weapon. As he is the part of Narayana, he
knows about the weapon, as the weapon only targets an armed person while
ignores unarmed ones. After getting their soldiers to disarm (including Bhima with some difficulty), the astra passes by harmlessly,
Although Narayan astra failed to harm Arjuna and Krishna as they both were
divine persons. When urged by Duryodhana to use the weapon again, desirous of
victory, Ashwathama sadly responds that if the weapon is used again, it will
turn on its user.
Along with Kripa
and Kritavarma, Ashwathama plans to attack the Pandavas camp at night.
Ashwathama first kicks and awakens Dhrishtadyumna, the commander of the
Pandava army and the killer of his father. Ashwathama 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. Ashwathama proceeds with butchering
the remaining warriors, including Shikhandi, Yudhamanyu, Uttamaujas,
and many other prominent warriors of the Pandava army; many texts put an
emphasis on his exploits against those from Panchal. He also
kills Draupadi’s children in their sleep. Even as some soldiers try
and fight back, Ashwathama remains unharmed due his activated abilities as one
of the eleven Rudras. Those who try to flee from Ashwathama's wrath are
hacked down by Kripacharya and Kritavarma at the camp's entrances.
After the slaughter, the three
warriors go to find Duryodhana. They find Duryodhana already dead and,
mourning, they perform the cremation rites.
The Pandavas and Krishna who
were away during 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. The Pandavas, along
with Krishna, went to save Bhima. They found him to
sage Vyasa's ashram near the bank of Bhagiratha.
The now triggered Ashwathama
invokes the Brahmashirastra against the Pandavas to fulfill the oath
of killing them. Krishna asks Arjuna to fire the Brahmashirastra
against Ashvathama to defend themselves. Vyasa intervenes and prevents the
weapons from clashing against each other. He and Narada asked both Arjuna and
Ashwathama to take their weapons back. Arjuna, knowing how to do so takes it
back.
On 16th day when Karna was to head
after Drona Kawrava side, Pandava's mother Kunti secretly met
her abandened son Karna and requested him to spare Pandava's as they are their
younger brothers. Karna then promised Kunti that he will spare the
Pandava's, except Arjuna.
On the seventeenth
day, Karna defeated Bhima and Yudhisthira in
battle but spared their life. Later Karna resumed duelling with Arjuna.
During their duel Karna's chariot wheel got struck in the mud and Karna asked
for a pause. But Krishna reminded Arjuna about Karna's ruthlessness
onto Abhimanyu while he was similarly left without chariot and
weapons. Hearing his son's fate, Arjuna shot his arrow and decapitated Karna.
On the same day, Bhima swung his mace and shattered Dushasana's
chariot. Bhima seized Dushasana and killed him, thus fulfilling his vow
when Draupadi was humiliated.
After the terrible death
of Dushasana, Ashwathama suggests Duryodhana make peace with the Pandavas,
keeping in mind the welfare of Hastinapur.
On the 18th
day, Shalya took over as the commander-in-chief of the remaining
Kaurava forces. Yudhishthira killed king Shalya in spear combat
and Sahadeva killed Shakuni. Nakula kills Shakuni’s
son Uluka. Realizing that he had been defeated, Duryodhana fled
the battlefield and took refuge in the lake, where the Pandavas caught up with
him. Under the supervision of the now returned Balarama, a mace battle
took place between Bhima and Duryodhana. Bhima broke the rules (under
instructions from Krishna), and struck Duryodhana below the waist,
leaving him mortally wounded.
Later, after Duryodhana is struck
down by Bhima and facing death, the last three survivors from
the Kaurava side, Ashwathama, Kripa,
and Kritvarma rush to his side. Ashwathama swears to bring Duryodhana
revenge, and Duryodhana appoints him as the commander-in-chief.
Ashwatthama, Kripacharya, and
Kritavarma gathered at Duryodhana's deathbed and promised to avenge the
actions of Bhima. They attacked the Pandavas' camp later that night and
killed all the Pandavas' remaining army including their children. Amongst
the dead were Dhrishtadyumna, Shikandi, Uttamaujas, and children
of Draupadi. Other than the Pandavas and Krishna,
only Satyaki and Yuyutsu survived.
While fighting with Arjuna, both
used Brahmastra, the most dreadful weapon for maximum destruction. All the
sages and Lord Brahma, the Lord of creation appeared to both and advised the to
withdraw their weapons because their collision would cause univeral
destruction. Ashwathama was given the option of deviating his weapon towards
and uninhabited place, so that the weapon could explode resulting no harm.
Because of his barbarous thoughts, Ashwathama instead directed the weapon
towards the womb of the pregnant Uttara, who was the wife of Abhimanyu. Krishna
himself saved the child within the womb who became the great Parikshita in the
future.
Ashwathama was arrested and brought
to Draupadi by Arjuna. The angered Pandavas want to kill Ashwathama, but Sage
Vyasa stopped them to do this. As a punishment, Ashwathama was asked by Vyasa
to surrender the gem on his forehead to Pandavas. Krishna then cursed
Ashwathama that he will roam in the jungle with blood and puss oozing out of
his wounds and cry for death for 3000 years.
200222 – 2020 February 22
www.drtps-shiksha.in
+919502038875
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