ASHWATTHAMA - A CHIRANJIVI WITH JEWEL ON THE FOREHEAD
ASHWATTHAMA - A CHIRANJIVI WITH JEWEL ON THE FOREHEAD
Ashwatthama is the son of Guru Dronacharya and Kripi, the twin sister of Kripacharya. He was the grandson of sage Bharadwaja.
Ashwatthama is a mighty Maharathi who fought on the Kaurava side against the Pandavas in the Kurukshetra War. Ashwatthama is considered as avatar of one of the eleven Rudras and one of the seven Chiranjivis. He is believed to be living 5000 years and still alive.
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.
The gem is embedded at the center of his forehead.
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.
Ashwatthama was the final Commander In-chief in the Kurukshetra war appointed by Duryodhana.
Ashwatthama never died instead still dwells in forests and will do so till the end of Kaliyuga. When the war was won by the PANDAVAS only few of the KAURAVAS were left alive among whom was Ashwatthama.
Yudhisthira had said to Drona that Ashwatthama was killed. Here he was referring to the elephant named Ashwatthama who died in the battlefield. Drona mistook him for his son and wept bitterly. Taking advantage of this, Dhrishtadyumna, Son of Drupada beheaded Drona. It was then Ashwatthama pledged that he would kill all the Pandavas. After the war one night he with his sword entered Pandava tent with the intention to kill the Pandavas, however due to dim light he mistook the sons of Pandavas as his rivals and by mistake killed all of them. This woke all the people present at the scenario. After learning this Shri Krishna cursed him that his war wounds would never heal and he shall stay on earth till the end of Kaliyuga. Till date, it is believed Ashwatthama roams in forests begging for oil to apply on his wounds. It is believed that when one constantly meditates where there is not even a single digit decibel of audible sound he will hear the cries of Ashwatthama sitting in pain and agony. People have even claimed of hearing his voice asking for oil. Thus he is one of the 7 ChiranjIvis or immortals.
- Ashwatthama
- Mahabali
- Parashurama
- Hanuman
- Kripa
- Vibhishana
- Markandeya
Ashwatthama was immortal because he never feared death in the war and so death could not defeat him.
The last three survivors from the Kaurava side in the Kurukshetra war was Ashwatthama, Kripa, and Kritvarma.
Yudhishtira's white lie :
Drona had an obsessive love for his son Ashwatthama. His life revolved around his son Ashwatthama. How can we kill our tutor and a Brahmin priest like Drona. To kill a Brahmin was a sin in the Hindu world. The Pandava camp was in a dilemma. Then Krishna told them that though Drona was a Brahmin by birth he lived the life of a Kshatriya and was doing warfare. Let's take advantage of his love and cravings for Ashwatthama and spread the news of Ashwatthama was killed in the war. It was Krishna's plan to eliminate Drona from the battlefield which will give Pandavas an edge in the Kurukshetra war. As instructed by Krishna the Pandavas started talking among themselves that Ashwatthama was no more. Drona after hearing this turned to Yudhishtira the most honest man for his take about the death of Ashwatthama. As per the plan of Krishna he said Ashwatthama was killed. The first lie by Yudhishtira though it was a white-lie prompted by Krishna. However, as an afterthought he murmured that he was not sure whether it was an animal or man. In fact an elephant named Ashwatthama was killed. Drona did not hear the murmur. He put his weapon down and started meditating for his son's soul. By seizing the opportunity Krishna shouted kill him, kill him and Dhrishtadyumna, the son of Drupda with one sweep with his sword beheaded Drona.
Ashwatthama and Narayana-astra :
Ashwatthama after sighting the killing of his unarmed father by deception sworn to kill all Pandavas. Ashwatthama released a dreadful celestial missile called Narayana-astra to finish of the Pandavas. The Narayana-astra spat out fire and covered the sky with dark serpents with giant fangs. Krishna advised the army to put down the weapons and kneel down to respect it. It will not harm the unarmed. But Bhima wanted to kill Ashwatthama at once did not obey Krishna. The Narayana-astra enveloped him with fire and the dark, fanged serpents would have surely destroyed him had Arjuna and Krishna not rushed to his rescue. They forced him down from the running chariot and pulled the mace from his hand. Bhima was at first furious at being stopped. But then he saw how the Narayana-astra withdrew.
"Shoot it again" said Yudhishtira to Ashwatthama after seeing and impressed by the power of the dreaded missile. "Go and avenge the killing of your father". But Ashwatthama said, "I can't". Narayana-astra can be used only once. If it is used again it will turn against the user.
The curse of Krishna :
The offense of Ashwatthama and his one-night raid in the Pandava camp and killing of Pandava sons when they were asleep enraged Krishna and he cursed Ashwatthama that he will beg for death and roam around in pain and agony and that his wounds of war will never heal and he will cry for oil to apply on his injured body.
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 Bhagirathi. This now triggered Ashwatthama to invoke the Brahmashir-astra against the Pandavas to fulfill the oath of killing them. Krishna asks Arjuna to fire the Brahmashir-astra 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. Out of rage, Ashwatthama instead directs the weapon towards the womb of the pregnant Uttara in an attempt to end the lineage of the Pandavas. The angered Pandavas want to kill Ashwatthama, but Sage Vyasa stopped them to do this. As a punishment, Ashwatthama was asked by Vyasa to surrender the gem on his forehead to Pandavas. Krishna then curses Ashwatthama that he will roam in the forests with blood and pus oozing out of his injuries and cry for death for 5000 years. Since he had no fear of death during war, death would not meet him.
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