Ashwatthama: Difference between revisions

In the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] epic the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', '''Ashwathama''' <!--Do not remove, WP:INDICSCRIPT doesn't apply to WikiProject Hinduism-->({{lang-sa|अश्वत्थामा|Aśvatthāmā}}) or '''Drauni''' is the son of [[guru]] [[Drona]] and the grandson of the sage [[Bharadwaja]]. Ashvatthama is a [[Maharathi]]<ref>K M Ganguly (1883–1896). [http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m05/m05168.htm The Mahabharata, Book 5 Udyoga Parva, Section CLXVIII] sacred-texts.com, October 2003, Retrieved 2014-02-11</ref> who fought on the [[Kaurava]] side against the [[Pandavas]] in the [[Kurukshetra War]]. He became a Chiranjivi (immortal) on being blessed by [[Shiva]].

The deceptive plot of his rumoured death led to the beheading of his grieving father [[Drona]], who was decapitated while meditating for his son's [[Ātman (Hinduism)|soul]]. Ashwatthama was appointed as the final [[commander-in-chief]] of the [[Kauravas]] in the Kurukshetra War. Overcome with grief and rage, he slaughters most of the [[Pandava]] camp in a single [[Night combat|night offensive]].  Ashwatthama ruled the Northern Panchala being subordinate to the rulers of Hastinapura.