Story of Asvatthama Son of Dronacharya

During the churning of Kshira Sagara (the milky ocean), there came up Halahala, the fuming poison which was capable of burning the entire universe. All Devas, Danavas, Manavas, Yakshas, Gandharvas fled in fear. All of them rushed to Lord Siva under the leadership of Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma. Lord Siva consumed the Halahala, but his half-heart withheld it in his throat. However, it started burning him. A Vishapurusha (poisonous man) sprung out of him with folded palms. Lord Shiva asked him not to kill the people.  He also told him that in the Dvapara Yuga, during the Mahabharata war, with the blessings of himself he would be able to kill oppressive Kshatriyas. He made it clear that he would be born as Bharadvaja’s grandson and be raised as a Brahmin, but would be attracted towards Kshatriyahood.

Dronacharya was born as the son of Bharadvaja and to Drona a son was born. He had a gem stone embedded on his forehead right from birth. Also when he was born, he cried loudly like Indra’s horse and so he was named as Asvatthama (one whose voice is like that of horse) by a heavenly voice. His childhood passed in a very poor condition as his father had no earnings. Once, baby Asvatthama was very hungry. Kripa, the maternal uncle of Asvatthama was giving him flour mixed with water instead of milk. Drona saw the same. He felt very sad and went to his old time friend Drupada to ask for a cow for feeding his son with milk. But, Drupada refused to give any cow.

Asvatthama grew up and he was very mighty and skilled in warfare. The Pandavas killed Dronacharya by deceit. Asvatthama took his father’s assassination very much to his heart and he vowed to exterminate the Pandavas. He went along with Kritavarman and Kripa to the Pandava camp. There they saw a ferocious demon, who was none other than Mahakala Rudra. Asvatthama tried to win the demon, but failed. Finally, he worshipped Mahakala and offered himself as sacrificial beast. Mahakala Rudra blessed him. He handed his sword to Asvatthama and entered his body. Asvatthama was now possessed by Mahakala Rudra.

Asvatthama kicked Dhristadyumna to death as the punishment for killing his Guru. Shikhandi, the eunuch and Bhishma’s assassin was hacked in to pieces and thousands of other warriors of the Pandava side were mercilessly killed. Ashwatthama was finally killed by the Pandavas in the Mahabharata battle.