Ashwatthama
Ashwatthama is the son of Guru Drona and Kripi and the grandson of the Rishi Bharadwaja. He was born due to the divine grace of Lord Shiva. He fought on the Kaurava side against the Pandavas in the Kurukshetra War. Ashwatthama, is a famous character in the great epic Mahabharatha.
Ashwatthama and his uncle (mother’s brother) Kripa, were chiranjeevis and will live in this earth till the end of kaliyuga. Kripa was also a great warrior, a scholar and an expert in all forms of art. He is a humble and a brave man, who also lived a simple life with much devotion on Lord shiva.
His father, Dronacharya has lived a simple life without much wealth. He was a noble and pious man, who never interested in enjoying comforts and luxuries in his life.
Dronacharya became the guru of the Pandavas and Kauravas in Hastinapur. And he also trained his son Aswathama in several arts.
Ashwatthama took charge as army general and he has participated in the Kauravas side in the Kurukshetra War.
Ashwatthama was born with a gem in his forehead which gives him great power.
Ashwatthama is a great warrior in the battle field.
After the death of Drona, Ashwatthama was planned to attack the pandavas with Narayanastra. But the pandavas were left unharmed due to the grace of Lord Krishna. After that Ashwatthama, killed the pandavas sons and the soldiers of the pandavas army.
Ashwatthama still not satisfied with the death of pandavas sons, directed the brahmastra weapon towards the womb of Uttara, who was the wife of Arjuna’s son Abimanyu. And the child was later saved by Lord Krishna, and he was the great king Parikshit. After pandavas, he ruled Hastinapur in a proper manner, and was loved by his people.
Due to the advice of sage vyasa, Ashwatthama has surrendered the gem on his forehead to Pandavas for his forgiveness. And due to the bad deeds of Ashwatthama, Lord Krishna has cursed him to suffer from several health problems, and to roam all around the world without the help of anyone for a long period.
Some of the unknown facts about Ashwatthama are as follows:-
1. Ashwatthama is an immortal, who would live till the end of this Kaliyuga, but as per the curse of Lord Krishna, he would not be in a peaceful state, and he would have to suffer from various health issues, would roam all around the world, till the end of his Kaliyuga.
2. Since the Jewel from the head of Ashwatthama was removed by the Pandavas, Ashwatthama faces severe injury on his head since from the previous Yuga, and it is believed to be incurable.
3. As per the articles published by some magazines, it is believed that few people had met Ashwatthama in the forests of North India, and interacted with him. Even after he was treated by a few doctors for his head injury, still his injury was not recovered, since it was caused due to the curse of Lord Krishna.
4. Ashwatthama had done cruel acts during the time of Kurukshetra war. Though he was advised by the great Bahliga, the pious brother of Shantanu, he has neglected his advice, and finally he met up with Krishna’s curse, and as a result, still he suffers from severe skin disease and head injury.
5. Those who saw Ashwatthama before few years ago had mentioned that his height was 12 feet, and though he suffers from various health issues, yet, he has got super natural powers, like flying, vanishing and taking the shape of any form.
6. It is also believed, that during the next Yuga, Ashwatthama would be the next Vyasa, and he would also write lot of holy works, similar to the present Veda Vyasa, who wrote lot of Puranas.
7. It is believed that Ashwatthama worships Lord Shiva on a daily basis at a Shiva Temple which is situated in Madhya Pradesh.
8. Ashwatthama also met the parents of Swami Narayan at a forest, and when they enquired about a particular place, due to his dislike with Lord Krishna, he has wrongly guided them, and made them to roam in the forests for a long time.
9. During the end of this Kaliyuga, Ashwatthama would become a devotee of Lord Krishna, and he would also be a friend to Lord Kalki Bhagavan.
10. Ashwatthama is also having the powers to bless us, and if we worship him, by chanting the mantra, “OM Sri Ashwathamaya Namaha”, he would even present before us either in a particular form or in a formless manner, and would bless us.
11. Ashwatthama Mantra is like the Kartaviryarjuna Mantra, and by reciting it, we would be relieved from unknown fears, tensions and we would get peace of mind.
12. Ashwatthama is also believed to carry the sins of mortals like us, and would grant good karma to us, based on our sincere devotion on him.
13. Ashwatthama is considered to be an aspect of Lord Shiva, and worshipping him during the annual Shivaratri day is considered to be a good act.
14. Ashwatthama though he himself suffers from some incurable diseases, yet, he is having the powers even to remove the dreaded diseases from our body, and hence, it is highly suggested to worship the great Ashwatthama along with other deities on a daily basis.
“OM SRI ASHWATHAMARE NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY
R.HARISHANKAR