Ashwatthama, the son of Guru Dronacharya, was born after a great penance and dhyan of many years to Bhagwan Shiv Shankar in order to attain a son who possesses the same valiance as that of Lord Shiva. Aswatthama is considered to be the avatar of one of the eight Rudras and is one of the 7 Chiranjivi’s or the immortal ones according to our mythology. Aswatthama is the lone survivor of the kurukshetra war.
Aswatthama was born with a gem in his forehead which gave him a superior power over all living beings. This gem protected him from any assaults of ghosts, demons, diseases, poisonous insects, snakes, animals etc. The gem was later removed from his forehead by Lord Shri Krishna for his sinful deed of killing innocent 5 sons of Draupadi and the use of Brahmastra to destroy Abhimanyu’s unborn son in Uttara’s womb and end thePaandava dynasty” . So, the Brahmaastra deviated towards Uttara’s fetus and destroyed it. ShriKrishna, Supreme Lord of the Universe, was infuriated. His voice deafening with rage, cursed Ashwatthama saying “May you, Ashwatthama, lead the most wretched life anyone can ever lead. May the sin of every man on Earth haunt you and burden you with guilt. May you roam the lands like a ghost, despicable and contemptible. May you never receive love or affection or sympathy ever in your life unto the end of time.May the wound caused by the removal of this gem never heals, serving you as a reminder of your abhorrent crimes. May you beg for death each moment of your life and may it never come to you. Out of the great affection your father had for you, he granted you immortality as a boon, by the merit of his spiritual prowess. May that very boon be your bane!”
Then, He turned towards Uttara, and said, “If I have tread on the right path all my life and am the upholder of righteousness, may Uttara’s and Abhimanyu’s baby be revived” and sure enough, the infant was revived. He was named Pariksheet, the tested one.
There have been many incidents where people claim to have seen him across centuries, across seasons and across the country.
Incident 1 – Ashwathama seen by Railway Employee
A more than a decade old newspaper article ran about a railway employee on leave. During his wanderings in the jungles of Navsari (Gujarat) he had reportedly seen a very tall man of about 12 feet with a rotten wound on his head. He also claimed to have a conversation with him and learnt that Bheem was much taller and stronger than him.
Incident 2 – Ashwathama met Pilot Baba
The last record of his existence is given in the book “Himalaya kahrahahai” by Pilot Baba. There are also few excerpts on his website. Although the temple where he stayed was washed away in floods but before that he had quite a few interesting conversations with Ashwathama.
Incident 3 – PrithvirajChauhan Hindu King Meeting Ashwathama
When in the year 1192, PrithvirajChauhan lost the battle with the unfair Mohammad Ghori, he left for jungle before being captured. There, as written in PrithvirajRaso, he met an old person with a horrible scar on his head. Being a very good doctor himself,he asked him that he can cure his scar. The old man agreed. But even after week long medication it remained as it is. Prithviraj was surprised and it stuck him that this old man could be Ashwathama because only the wound created by taking out the mani, could have made this incurable wound. He asked the old man if he was Ashwathama and the old man agreed and left right away.
Incident 4 – AshwatthamaEcounter with Saint Naranappa
In late 14th and early 15th century there a poor Brahman called Naranappa. He later came to be known as Kumara Vyasa, because of the Mahabharata epic “KarnataBharataKathamanjari” that he wrote in Kannada. His greatest desire was to write Mahabharat based on original sources, so he used to pray day and night in the temple of Trikooteshwar. One day his prayer was answered when the Lord appeared in his drem and said “Attend the approachingDwadashiPaaran in the VeeraNaarayan Temple. Watch out for one lone Brahman who would leave the feast earliest. He is none other than Ashwathama of Mahabharat. Fall at his feet and request him to narrate the Mahabharat as it happened. You can record it in writing and claim your share of fame”.
Promptly he attended the following DwadashiPaaran at the Veera Narayan Temple, and then followed the Brahmin who finished his feast the earliest and started walking out of the Temple. He approached him and fell at his feet saying, “I know you are Ashwathama, please help me”. At this Ashwathama was taken aback and asked him how do know of know this? Naranappa responded saying “The Veera Narayan Swamy” appeared in his dream and told me so. Ashwathama was pleased hearing this and asked what he needed. Naranappa responded saying hewould like to write the Mahaabharat in Kannada as it happened.
To this Ashwathama agreed under 2 conditions. He said that Naranappa should start writing Mahabharat every-day after bath, wearing a wet Dhoti and he should not disclose about this to anyone, else the flow would stop forever. He said “You can keep writing till such time your Dhoti is wet and the Mahabharata would flow from your pen as it happened. The moment your clothes dry up, the flow would stop. Naranappa, was immensely excited about the project, and he kept his secret till the time he reached the “GadaaParv” – The time when Duryodhan and Bheem had mace fight. At this moment it is believed that Ashwathama was in tears — remembering his dearest friend Duryodhan and the unjustified way in which Bheemkilled Duryodhan. Naranappa overcome with excitement disclosed this secret to his wife, and his writing flow stopped immediately. That is why his Mahabharat ends with GadaaParv
Incident 5 – Aswathama Meeting Parents of Swaminarayan
Dharmdev and Bhaktimaa (father and mother of Swaminarayan) were cursed over two hundred years ago by Ashwatthama – son of Dronacharya. He was tall and well-built robed in orange clothes as a Brahman. His head was covered above his eyebrows and was covered with Bhasm, with big anger filled eyes.
Mother Bhakti and father Dharm were on their way back from Vrindavan where Shree Krishna proclaimed to them that their troubles in their village, Chapaiyaa would soon end after he himself would be born to them.
On the way back home one night, as they walked through the forest they lost their way, seeing a Brahman roaming in the forest, they asked him for direction. The Brahman with a deep voice asked where they were coming from as they looked stressed and scared. Dharmdev explained that they were a SarvariyaaSaamVedee Brahman and his Kuldev was HanumaanJi and up on HanumanJi’s advice at they went to Vrindavan. Dharmdev further explained the whole incident as well as telling him how they had a revelation from Lord Krishna and ShreematiRadharani in Vrindavan. With this the Brahmin in anger said “Krishna my arch enemy? Will be born to you? I curse Him for the pain I have borne as of Him, that He as your son will never be able to bear weapons and neither shall he be able to fight in any war.” Saying this he left pushing Dharmdev aside. Bhaktimata started trembling and crying. Just then Hanuman arrived and calmed them and showed them the right way and told them that they need not fear as God does not need any weapon nor need to fight to rid evil and tyranny. This incident shows that Ashwathama is still roaming in forests and jungles of India today. This was just over 200 odd years ago.
Incident 6 – Aswathama Seen in Ludhiana, Punjab
(Narrated by an unknown person): My Father’s uncle was a famous (Vaidya) – Doctor in Ludhiana. He would spend hours meditating too. He was a Bhakt of Data Dayal, a well Known Guru in Punjab (try to search for Data Dayal on net). One day as he was closing his shop in the afternoon, it was summer time and everything was shut due to summers, in 1968-69, Ludhiaanaa, Punjab, just then an old person came to him, whose face was covered and spoke to him in crude Punjabi and Hindi mix, “Badaanaamsunaahaiteraa, bhautbadaavaidyahaitu? Ilaajkarsakdaahaimeraa? My father’s uncle said – “Tell me what the problem is?” and when he removed the Pagadee from his head, there was a dent on the forehead. He had never seen such a dent before, as if the brain was taken away from the fore front, yet the skin was tight as if nothing had happened. My dad’s uncle was a bit nervous but still said that he would like to have a second look at him. He said – “Tenupataahai main kaunhoon?” and my dad’s uncle said – “I think I know who you are but still let me get my stuff.” By the time he brings his stuff from the almirah, that man had left, never to be found again. But he said that his eyes always haunted him, He had blue eyes, which were so sharp as if he would walk inside his brain.
Incident 7 –Aswathama seen nearby Narmada River (Gujarat)
(Narrated by someone) I have also heard from numerous people that others have spotted someone with a dent in the forehead roaming around the Narmada River (Gujarat). He was described as a tall person, and that there was tons of flies, bugs and other insects surrounding him all the time.
By : Archa Dave
