Abhimanyu

2021-05-28T04:03:21Z

2409:4072:28B:E91D:FDEF:B992:B59:E875: /* In popular culture */

{{Short description|Son of Arjuna in the Indian epic Mahabharata}}
{{About|tragic hero of the [[Hindu]] [[Indian epic poetry|epic]] ''[[Mahabharata]]''}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox character
| color = #FFC569
| image = Uttara Abhimanyu.jpg
| info-hdr = Information
| alt = Abhimanyu
| caption = [[Uttarā (Mahabharata)|Uttarā]] pleads to Abhimanyu as he leaves for the war
| weapon = [[Bow and arrows]], [[sword]]
| spouse = [[Uttarā]]
| children = [[Parikshit]]
| family = [[Arjuna]] (father)<br />[[Subhadra]] (mother)
| relatives = {{unbulleted list|[[Krishna]] and [[Balrama]] (maternal uncles)|[[Yudhishthira]], [[Karna]], [[Bhima]], [[Nakula]], [[Sahadeva]] (paternal uncles)|[[Draupadi]], [[Uloopi]], [[Chitrāngadā]] (step-mothers)|[[Srutakarma]], [[Iravan]], [[Babruvahana]] (half-brothers)}}
| series = [[Mahabharata]]
}}

'''Abhimanyu''' is a character of the ancient Hindu epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. He was the son of the third Pandava prince [[Arjuna]] and Yadava princess [[Subhadra]]. He is believed to be an avatar of [[Varchas]], son of [[Chandra]]. From childhood, Abhimanyu was raised by his maternal relatives as his father was sent into exile for 13 years. During his adolescence, his father returned from exile. Abhimanyu then married [[Uttarā]], princess of Matsya. During the [[Kurukshetra War]], Abhimanyu fought from his father's side. On the thirteenth day of the war, the young warrior was brutally killed by many warriors. His son, [[Parikshit]], was the one who saved the lineage from extinction.{{sfn|Mani|2015}}

==Etymology and epithets==

* Arjuna Putra (अर्जुन पुत्र) - true successor of [[Arjuna]]. Abhimanyu was one of the greatest archers in the world .
* Subhadranandan (सुभद्र नंदन) - son of [[Subhadra]].
* Soubhadri (सौभद्रि) - son of [[Subhadra]].
* Varchas Avatar (वर्चस् अवतार)- avatar of [[Varchas]].
* Krishna Shishya (कृष्ण शिष्य) - the disciple of [[Krishna]].
* Raudra dhari (रौद्रधारी) - one who possessed the mighty bow named Raudra which was given by his uncle [[Balrama]] which he received from lord [[Shiva]]

==Legends==
===Birth===
Abhimanyu was born to [[Arjuna]], the 3rd Pandava, and [[Subhadra]], the sister of Sri [[Krishna]]. After the Pandava [[Yudhishthira]] lost the game of dice, all the Pandavas along with [[Draupadi]] were sent in exile for 13 years. Subhadra, during this period, stayed with her brothers in Dwarka, where she, along with her family members, raised Abhimanyu. He was trained in arms and warfare by [[Pradyumna]], [[Balarama]] and [[Krishna]]. Abhimanyu was given the Raudra bow by Balarama.<br>
After Pandavas finished their exile, [[Duryodhana]] didn't agree to return their wealth and fortune. Thus, Pandavas had to fight a battle to get their rights back.{{sfn|Mani|2015}}

According to a Tamil folklore, when Abhimanyu was in his mother's womb, he heard about the [[Padmavyuha|Chakravyuh]] and gained half knowledge to enter the Chakravyuh.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2009-11-29|title=Abhimanyu and the Battle of Kurukshetra|url=https://www.utahkrishnas.org/abhimanyu-and-the-battle-of-kurukshetra/|access-date=2020-08-09|website=Radha Krishna Temple in Utah|language=en-US}}</ref> However, in the epic, Abhimanyu simply learns to enter Chakravyuh from Arjuna.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Vyasa|first=Krishna-Dwaipayana|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=anomAwAAQBAJ&q=%22Sanjaya+said%2C+%27The+Parthas+then%2C+headed+by+Bhimasena%2C+approached+that+invincible+array+protected+by+Bharadwaja%27s+son.+And+Satyaki%2C+and+Chekitana%2C+and+Dhrishtadyumna.+the+son+of+Prishata%2C+and+Kuntibhoja+of+great+prowess%2C+and+the+mighty+car-warrior+Drupada.+and+Arjuna%27s+son+%28Abhimanyu%29%2C+and+Kshatradharman%2C+and+the+valiant+Vrihatkshatra%2C+and+Dhrishtaketu%2C+the+ruler+of+the+Chedis%2C+and+the+twin+sons+of+Madri%2C+%28viz.%2C+Nakula+and+Sahadeva%29%2C+and+Ghatotkacha%2C+and+the+powerful+Yudhamanyu+and+the+unvanquished+Sikhandin&pg=PT2619|title=THE MAHABHARATA of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa: Complete 18 Parvas|date=2014-03-25|publisher=Darryl Morris|language=en}}</ref>
===Marriage===
Before the [[Kurukshetra War|war of Kurukshetra]], the Pandavas stayed with [[Virata]], the king of [[Matsya Kingdom]]. He asked Arjuna to marry his daughter, [[Uttarā (Mahabharata)|Uttarā]], but Arjuna refused to marry her as he was her teacher during the Agyatvās. However, he proposed the marriage of Uttara with Abhimanyu. Abhimanyu agreed to marry her and they got married in the city of [[Upaplavya]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Abhimanyu|date=April 1971|publisher=Amar Chitra Katha Private Limited|isbn=9788184821062}}</ref> Uttara later got pregnant with a son. {{sfn|Chakravarti|2007}}

According to a folktale named [[Sasirekha Parinayam]], Abhimanyu married Shashirekha—the daughter of Balarama—before his marriage to [[Uttarā (Mahabharata)|Uttarā]]. There is no evidence of this event in the [[Mahabharata|original epic]] and is developed by local oral traditions. The tale narrates that Abhimanyu fell in love with Vatsala, but Vatsala's father wanted her to marry [[Laxman Kumara|Laxmana Kumar]], the son of [[Duryodhana]]. Wanting to help his cousin, [[Ghatotkach]]a took the form of Vatsala and injured Laxmana Kumar's arm. After the incident, Laxmana broke his marriage to Vatsala. Meanwhile, the real Vatsala was in a forest along with Abhimanyu where they married.<ref>{{citation | url=http://www.epicindia.com/magazine/Culture/a-study-in-folk-mahabharata-how-balarama-became-abhimanyus-father-in-law | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217055941/http://www.epicindia.com/magazine/Culture/a-study-in-folk-mahabharata-how-balarama-became-abhimanyus-father-in-law | url-status=dead | archive-date=17 February 2012 | author=Indrajit Bandyopadhyay | title=A Study In Folk "Mahabharata": How Balarama Became Abhimanyu's Father-in-law | date=29 October 2008 | periodical=Epic India: A New Arts & Culture Magazine}}</ref>

===The Kurukshetra War===
[[File:Abhimanyu killing the famous warriors of kaurava army.jpg|thumb|Abhimanyu fighting the Kaurava army|right]]
In the war, Abhimanyu fought from his father's side. He displayed great valour in the war, despite the fact that he was a youngster. He killed warriors including Rukmartha, Brihadbala, [[Laxman Kumara|Laksmana]] (Duryodhana's son), Dushmanara (Dushyasana's second son), six counsellors and seven foster brothers of Karna, sons of Shalya, etc.<ref>https://www.utahkrishnas.org/abhimanyu-and-the-battle-of-kurukshetra/</ref>
He also fought and defeated mighty warriors including [[Drona]], [[Ashwatthama]], [[Kripa]], [[Shalya]], [[Duryodhana]], [[Dushasana]], [[Vrishasena]], etc. in direct and joint attacks when he had his bow in hands. He also fought against mighty warriors such as [[Bhishma]] and [[Bhagadatta]].{{sfn|Mani|2015}}

===Death===
[[File:The Pandavas' nephew Abhimanyu battles the Kauravas and their allies.jpg|300px|thumb|left|Abhimanyu is trapped into the Chakravyuh]]
On the 13th day of the war, Arjuna was diverted to South by Susharma and Trigartas. Taking advantage of his absence, [[Duryodhana]] and his allies made a plan to trap Yudhisthira so that the war can be stopped easily and without losing much army
The army of Kauravas, under Dronacharya, formed [[Padmavyuha|Chakravyuha]]. Abhimanyu knew how to enter it but didn't know how to exit. He went into the trap followed by his paternal uncles. Near the edges of the Charavyuha, Abhimanyu ends up killing Laxmana, the son of Duryodhana. Outraged by the killing of his son, Duryodhana orders Dronacharya to change the plan into killing Abhimanyu, but Abhimanyu was followed by the remaining four Pandavas. However the four Pandavas were stopped by [[Jayadratha]]. Jayadratha defeated all four of them, [[Drupada]] too was stopped and trapped. [[Ashwathama]] and [[Kritavarma]] defeated [[Dhrishtadyumna]] and the [[Upapandavas]], leaving Abhimanyu all alone. Before reaching the center, Abhimanyu killed many other warriors like Rukhmartha, Brihadbala, Shon, etc. After Abhimanyu reached the centre of the trap, he was attacked by [[Drona]], [[Dushasana]], [[Ashwatthama]], [[Karna]], [[Shakuni]], [[Duryodhana]] [[Kripa]], [[Kritavarma]] [[Vrishasena]] and Drumasena (Dushasana's son), and many other warriors at a same time, which was against the rules of the war.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mahabharata and Abhimanyu Vadh: How did Arjuna's son Abhimanyu die and what happened after his death?|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/spiritual/religion/article/how-did-arjunas-son-abhimanyu-die-in-kurukshetra-battle-of-mahabharata-and-what-happened-after-his-death/589008|access-date=2020-08-09|website=www.timesnownews.com|language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Abhimanyu battling alone in the Chakravyuha.jpg|thumb|Abhimanyu fighting using a wheel]]
He fought all of them and defeated all of them in single combat and all out attack. Karna destroyed Abhimanyu's bow. Abhimanyu resumed fight with other weapons like sword, mace, etc. He killed all of Karna's foster brothers, younger son of Dushasana and defeated other prominent warriors. His weapons were cut off by Ashwatthama, Karna and Drona. Abhimanyu was fatally injured, but he fought the warriors using a wheel. He fought valiantly with it, until it too was destroyed. He finally engaged in mortal combat using the mace with Dushashana's eldest son. He was killed by Dushasana's son while he was still rising to his feet, in opposition to the rules of fair war.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 7: Drona Parva: Abhimanyu-badha Parva: Section XLVII|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07046.htm|access-date=2020-07-26|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
*In [[B. R. Chopra|B.R. Chopra's]] classic series, [[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)|Mahabharata (1988)]], Mayur Verma (Master Mayur) played Abhimanyu.
*Abhimanyu was portrayed by Anuj Sharma in the series, [[Krishna (TV series)|Shri Krishna]].
*[[Paras Arora]] portrayed Abhimanyu in [[StarPlus|Star plus]]'s successful series, [[Mahabharat (2013 TV series)|Mahabharata (2013)]].
*In [[Sony Entertainment Television|SET]]'s [[Suryaputra Karn]]a, [[Meghan Jadhav]] portrayed Abhimanyu.
*In the Telugu epic movie [[Mayabazar]], [[Akkineni Nageswara Rao]] portrayed Abhimanyu.
*In the series 'Dharmakshetra' on Epic Channel, the character of Abhimanyu was portrayed by Vishal Thakkar.
*In the Tamil epic movie [[Mayabazar]], [[Gemini Ganesan]] portrayed Abhimanyu.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
* {{Cite book|last=Chakravarti|first=Bishnupada|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ivQ6CwAAQBAJ&q=Abhimanyu&pg=PT105|title=Penguin Companion to the Mahabharata|date=2007-11-13|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-93-5214-170-8|language=en}}
* {{Cite book|last=Mani|first=Vettam|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mvXsDwAAQBAJ&q=abhimanyu&pg=PP5|title=Puranic Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Work with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature|date=2015-01-01|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-0597-2|language=en}}

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Abhimanyu