Who was Aswathama?
Aswathama was born in the Mahabharata period, i.e. Dwaparyuga. He was counted among the best warriors of that era. He was the son of Guru Dronacharya and nephew of Rajaguru Kripacharya of Kuru dynasty.
It was Dronacharya who made the Kauravas and Pandavas master of weapons. At the time of the Mahabharata war, Guru Drona considered it appropriate to join the Kauravas because of their allegiance to the state of Hastinapur.
Aswathama was also proficient in scripture and weapons education like his father. The father-son duo disbanded the Pandava army during the war of Mahabharata. Seeing the Pandava army discouraged, Shri Krishna asked Yudhishthira to resort to diplomacy to kill Dronacharya.
Death Of Aswathama
Under this plan, it was spread on the battlefield that Ashwatthama was killed. When Dronacharya asked Dharmaraja Yudhishthira to know the truth of Ashwatthama’s death, Yudhishthira replied that ‘Aśvat’thāmā hatō narō vā kun̄jarō vā’ (Ashwatthama is killed, but I do not know whether he was a male or an elephant).
Hearing this, Guru Dron, renouncing his weapon in the son Moh. Sat down in the Kinkartavavimuddha war, he took advantage of the same opportunity and killed him by Dhritadhyumna, the son of Drupada, the Panchal king.
The father’s death distracted Ashwatthama. After the Mahabharata war, when Ashwatthama slaughtered the Pandava sons to avenge the father’s death. And to kill the Abhimanyu son Parikshit, born in Uttara’s womb, to destroy the Pandava dynasty. Lord Shri Krishna By protecting Parikshit, by removing the gem on the forehead of Ashwatthama as punishment. He was made weak and cursed to wander for ages.
It is said that apart from Asirgarh, Aswathama continues to wander along the ‘Gaurighat’ (Narmada River) in Jabalpur city of Madhya Pradesh. According to residents, sometimes they also ask for turmeric and oil to stop the blood flowing from their forehead wounds.
Aswathama Mahabharata Story
Parājayō vā mr̥tyurvā śrēyān mr̥tyurna nirjayaḥ. Vijitārayō hyētē śastrōpasargānmr̥tōpamāḥ That is, those who have surrendered, surrendered, all the enemies are victorious, they are the same as dead -Ashwatthama.
In the Mahabharata, Drona son Aswathama was a warrior who could fight the entire war independently. There were one to one warriors in the Kaurava army. The Pandavas’ army was weaker than the Kaurava army in every respect, but the Kauravas were still defeated.
Ashwaththama was also one of the 18 warriors surviving after the Mahabharata war. Ashwatthama was not defeated in the battle of the entire Mahabharata. They are still undefeated and immortal. Let’s know ten such secrets related to Aswathama’s life which everyone wants to know, and in the end, no one has yet known such secret.
Birth Secret Of Aswathama
Ashwatthama was born to Drona, the son of Bharadwaj Rishi. His mother was Kripi, the daughter of sage Shardwan. Dronacharya’s gotra was Angira. Tapasyarat Drona married Kripi to get children by orders of fathers. Kripi was also very religious, Sushil and Tapaswini. Both were from an affluent family.
As soon as he was born, Aswathama uttered a loud word similar to Uishayashrva (horse), which rose in all directions and vyom. Then Akashvani said that the name of this unique child would be Ashwatthama.
After The Birth Of Aswathama Drona’s Life Changed
After the birth of Ashwatthama, Drona’s economic situation declined. There was no food left in the house. Disaster comes. To overcome this misery, Drona went to his ashram to get education from Parashuramaji.
When Drona returned from the ashram, there was not even a cow in the house. Aswathama used to cry for milk after seeing other sages Kumaras drinking milk. One day, Drona saw that Rishi Kumar had made Ashwatthama drink of rice flour solution and Abodh Balak (Ashwatthama) was happy saying ‘I drank milk’ is. Drona shouted at seeing this.
This proves that Aswathama spent her childhood eating and drinking. There was no milk for them to drink at home. But when he lived among his friends, he used to tell lies that I had drunk milk.
Disrespect Of Father
When the father saw this state of child Ashwatthama. He considered himself guilty of this and wandered from place to place to arrange cow for him. And wandered for religious charity but he did not find any cow in charity. In the end, he wondered why not go to his childhood friend Raja Drupada.
He accompanied his son Aswathama to the court of King Drupada. The boy Ashwatthama had seen the father’s contempt in Raja Drupada’s Rajya Sabha. He must have seen his compulsion and cruel irony that even the masters of the arsenal are insulted by the ruling madam. What would have happened to Ashwatthama’s child mind when his father was pushed out of there.
Aswathama Became Teacher And King
Drona from Ashwatthama moved from Panchal state to Hastinapur in Kuru state, and there he started teaching bow and arrow to Kuru Kumaris. There he used to teach Kripa Shastra. Aswathama also began to help in this work of his father. He also used to teach sainikas to Kurus.
Drona later became the Acharya of the Kauravas. He taught Arjun etc., including Duryodhana. Showing generosity towards Acharya, the Pandavas snatched away the kingdom of Drupada in Guru Dakshina. Later Drona returned half the kingdom to Drupada and gave half to Ashwatthama. Ashwatthama became the king of Uttar Panchal by taking half the kingdom and made Ahichhatra the capital of his kingdom.
Now Drona was the best Acharya of India. In the Kuru State, he had full respect from Bhishma, Dhritarashtra, Vidur, etc., so the days of absence were gone.
Aswathama, Who Excelled In All Disciplines
Ashwatthama was made of gold by burning in the fire of the struggle of life. He received the knowledge of Dhanurveda from the great father, Dronacharya. Drona told Aswathama all the secrets of Dhanurveda. He had proved all the Divyastra, Agnayya, Varunastra, Parjanyastra, Vyavastra, Brahmastra, Narayanastra, Brahmashir etc. He too became an archer of the ranks of Drona, Bhishma, Parashurama. Krupa, Arjuna and Karna were not even better than that. Narayanastra was a weapon whose knowledge was not known to any warrior of Mabharat except Drona. It was a terrible weapon.
No one had doubts about Ashwatthama’s Brahma Teja, bravery, patience, titheksha, arsenal, ethics, intelligence. The nobles on both sides were aware of his power. All the prominent persons of the Mahabharata period were fans of Ashwatthama’s strength, intelligence and piety.
While enumerating the chariots and the charioteers, Bhishmaji praises King Duryodhana about Ashwatthama, but he also speaks of Ashwatthama. There was no other warrior like him on the Kaurava side.
Fear Of Aswathama
When the army of demons led a terrible attack under the leadership of Ghatotkacha all the Kaurava heroes stood away, then Ashwatthama alone stood there. He killed Ghatotkacha’s son Anjanaparva. He also killed an Akshohini army of Pandavas and wounded Ghatotkacha.
Aswathama was the chief maharathi of the Kaurava army. Kururaj organized the eleven Akshohini troops of his side under the command of eleven nobles. These were – Drona, Krupa, Shalya, Jayadratha, Sudakshin, Kritavarma, Ashwatthama, Karna, Bhurishrava, Shakuni and Bahlik. Hence Ashwatthama occupies a prominent position among the eleven generals.
Here in the war, Arjuna, Krishna, Yudhishthira, Bhima, Nakula, Sahadeva, Drupada, Dhrishtadyumna and Ghatotkacha etc. were fighting. Despite him, Ashwatthama killed 90 sons of Drupada, Sut Surath and Shatrunjaya, Kuntibhoja and heroes like Balanik, Shataniak, Jayashv, Shruthaya, Hemmali, Parshvdhra and Chandrasen in the battle and drove away Yudhishthira’s army.
Fear and terror prevailed in the Pandava side because of this destruction by Aswathama. It was now essential to stop Ashwaththama. Everyone was considering it; otherwise, the defeat was sure the next day.
Aswathama Gaja(Elephant) killed
Drona commanders are made at the behest of Karna in the eleventh day of battle after Bhishma lay down on Shashiya. Duryodhana and Shakuni tell Drona that if they take Yudhishthira captive. The war will end automatically. So at the end of the day, Drona proceeds to beat Yudhishthira in battle and Arjun comes to rain his arrows. Stops them from. Nakula was with Yudhishthira and Arjuna also returned to Yudhishthira. Thus the Kauravas could not capture Yudhishthira.
But as the destructive power of Drona increases, panic spreads in the Pandavas’ game. The father and son together ensured the defeat of the Pandavas in the Mahabharata war. Seeing the collapse of the Pandavas, Shi Krishna asked Yudhishthira to resort to deceit. Under this plan, in battle, it was spread that ‘Ashwatthama was killed’, but Yudhishthira was not ready to lie. Then the elephant named Aswathama of Avantiraja was slaughtered by Bhima. It was then spread in the war that ‘Ashwatthama was killed’.
When Guru Dronacharya asked Dharmaraja Yudhishthira to know the truth of Ashwatthama. He replied – ‘Ashwatthama was killed, but an elephant’. At the same time, Sri Krishna performed the conch shell due to which the noise of Guru Dronacharya could not hear the last word ‘Elephant’,. And he understood that my son was killed. Hearing this, he gave up his arms and closed his eyes in the battlefield and sank into mourning. This was the occasion when Draupadi’s brother Dhrishtadyumna, knowing Dronacharya was unarmed, beheaded him with a sword. This news was tragic for Ashwatthama. After deceitful murder of the father, Ashwatthama breaks all the rules of war and stares at him.
Aswathama Uses Narayanastra
Saddened by his father’s deceitful death, Ashwatthama uses Narayanastra by force. Causing his entire army, including the Pandavas, to be destroyed in one stroke.
Narayanastra would have destroyed all, but to avoid this weapon. The Pandavas immediately order Krishna to abandon their weapon and get down from the chariot. And say that all surrender in front of Narayanastra otherwise they will be killed.
All Pandavas and the army do the same. All of them could be saved by dedication. When Aswathama sees that all the Pandavas have survived, he suspects that weapon. Then he uses firearms on Arjuna, but due to Shri Krishna, Arjun again escapes. Then Ashwatthama gets very angry, he throws his bow and starts doubting his knowledge.
Finally, The Use Of Brahmastra
On the eighteenth day, three warriors of the Kauravas are left – Ashwatthama, Kripacharya and Kritavarma. On this day, the pledge of the slaughter of Pandavas was taken by Aswathama. But do not understand how to kill the Pandavas.
An owl kills them all when an owl attacks a crow at night. Seeing this incident, Ashwatthama gets the same idea in his mind. He arrives at the Pandavas’ camp with Kripacharya and Kritavarma at the dead of night beheads the five sons of the sleeping Pandavas as Pandavas. Dhrishtadyumna wakes up from this incident, Ashwatthama kills him too.
Everyone condemns this misdeed of Ashwatthama. Saddened by the murder of her sons, Draupadi begins to mourn. Hearing his mourning, Arjuna vows to cut off the head of the evil Brahmin son Ashwatthama. Hearing Arjuna’s vow, Aswathamaruns away, then Arjuna chases him, making Shri Krishna a charioteer and taking his Gandiva-bow. If Ashwatthama does not get protection anywhere, due to fear, he uses Brahmastra on Arjuna.
Arjuna also has to use Brahmastra in compulsion. Arjuna withdraws his weapon at the sages’ prayer, but Ashwatthama turns his brahmastra towards Abhimanyu’s widow Uttara’s womb. Krishna saves Uttara’s womb with his power.
Sri Krishna Says
Finally, Sri Krishna says, ‘O Arjuna! Dharmatma, sleeping, inattentive, drunk, maid, ignorant, charioteer, killing a woman and child is forbidden according to religion. It has acted against religion, killing sleeping innocent children. If alive, you will sin again, so immediately fulfil your vow by killing it and placing its severed head in front of Draupadi.
Even after hearing these words of Shri Krishna, Arjuna took pity on his Guruputra and took Ashwatthama alive in the camp and stood before Draupadi. Draupadi, looking at the tied Guruputra like an animal, said, ‘O Aryaputra! These are Guruputras and Brahmins. A Brahmin is always worshipable, and killing him is a sin. You have gained knowledge of these unique weapons from his father. Acharya Drona is standing in front of you as a son. By killing them, their mother Kripi will be like me and mourn in son’s death. She did not sati with Dronacharya because of her special attachment to the son. Kripi’s soul will always curse me. If my dead sons cannot come back after killing them, then you should free them. ‘
Hearing these religious utterances of Draupadi, everyone praised her. On this, Shri Krishna said, ‘O Arjuna! According to the scriptures, the slaughter of impure Brahmin is also a sin and not punishing the terrorist is also a sin, so do what is right.
Realizing his point, Arjuna cut Ashwatthama’s head hair with his sword and took out the gem of his forehead. When Mani came out, he became Mr.less. Later Shri Krishna cursed Ashwatthama to wander for 6 thousand years. Finally, Arjuna expels him from the camp in the same humiliating state.
Where Is Ashwathama Now
Thus, the violence and curse in anger and sadness conclude this great scholar and Durdarsha Veer’s story. Yudhishthira had put a question in front of Lord Krishna how Ashwatthama alone committed such a terrible scandal-
Kripa, Hardikya and Ashwatthama (Drauni) said this dialogue to Duryodhana after the great destruction and then told King Dhritarashtra and said that we are three Pandavas are five and no one is left.
They then went in all three directions. Krupa went to Hastinapur. Kritavarma Dwarka and Drauni (Ashwatthama) went to the forest with Vyasa. Even today, incidents of sighting of Ashwatthama are recorded in the jungles of India. Sometimes he was seen in Madhya Pradesh’s forests, sometimes in the woods of Orissa and sometimes in the forests of Uttarakhand. Ashwatthama is still alive today, and he will live till the end of Kalpa.
Ashwatthama was the son of Dronacharya. Dronacharya pleased Shiva with his penance and received a son named Ashwatthama from his share. Ashwatthama had many powers given by Shiva. He was part of Shiva himself.
Since birth, there was a priceless gem in Ashwatthama’s forehead, which kept him fearless from demons, demons, weapons, disease, deity, serpent etc. Due to this gem, no weapon could be affected.
Draupadi suggested to take away her gem from Arjuna, who gave life to Ashwatthama. Therefore, Arjuna took his crown and gave his life. Arjuna gave this gem to Draupadi whom Draupadi gave to Yudhishthira.
According to Shiv Mahapuran (Shatrudrasamhita-37), Aswathama is still alive and lives on the Ganges banks, but it is not stated where he resides.
Question Answer About Aswathama
1. Where is Aswathama now?
Answer: It is believed that Ashwatthama is still alive and comes to a fort of Madhya Pradesh to worship Lord Shiva every day. According to the belief, Ashwatthama wanders along the banks of Gwarighat (Narmada River) in Jabalpur city of Madhya Pradesh. Apart from this, information about their wanderings is also found in Asirgarh Fort.
2. How did Ashwathama die?
Answer: Under this plan, it was spread on the battlefield that Ashwatthama was killed. When Dronacharya asked Dharmaraja Yudhishthira to know the truth of Ashwatthama’s death, Yudhishthira replied that ‘Aśvat’thāmā hatō narō vā kun̄jarō vā’ (Ashwatthama is killed, but I do not know whether he was a male or an elephant).
Hearing this, Guru Dron, renouncing his weapon in the son Moh. Sat down in the Kinkartavavimuddha war, he took advantage of the same opportunity and killed him by Dhritadhyumna, the son of Drupada, the Panchal king.
The father’s death distracted Ashwatthama. After the Mahabharata war, when Ashwatthama slaughtered the Pandava sons to avenge the father’s death. And to kill the Abhimanyu son Parikshit, born in Uttara’s womb, to destroy the Pandava dynasty. Lord Shri Krishna By protecting Parikshit, by removing the gem on the forehead of Ashwatthama as punishment. He was made weak and cursed to wander for ages.
It is said that apart from Asirgarh, Aswathama continues to wander along the ‘Gaurighat’ (Narmada River) in Jabalpur city of Madhya Pradesh. According to residents, sometimes they also ask for turmeric and oil to stop the blood flowing from their forehead wounds.
