APIFantasy | Myth and Folklore Anthology

Indian/Hindu Mythology - Mahabharata: Parts 4-6

#4: Amba and Bhishma

Of the two sons of Satyavati, Chitrangada was killed in battle and was succeeded by his brother, Vichitravirya. Since he was still young, Bhishma governed the kingdom in his name till he came of age. When he did come of age, Bhishma began to look for a bride for him. He received news that the daughters of king Kasi were looking to choose their husbands and went to secure their hand for his half-brother.

When Bhishma arrived, the other princes gathered for the competition were chagrined. Bhishma was a known hero and they thought he had come as a suitor. They felt let down. They began to disparage him for his age and his vow of celibacy and the princesses barely looked at him. Enraged, Bhishma challenged the assembled princes and defeated them all. Following this, he took the three princesses and set out for Hastinapura.

They hadn't gone far when Salva, king of the Saubala country, intercepted them and challenged Bhishma as one of the princesses, Amba, had chosen him for her husband already. Bhishma defeated him and returned to Hastinapura.

Preparations for the princesses' wedding to Vichitravirya began. When everyone was assembled for the marriage, Amba spoke up against her marriage, claiming that Bhishma knew the scriptures well and should act accordingly since she had already chosen Salva as her husband. Agreeing, Bhishma sent her to Saubala with the proper escort.

Amba was overjoyed and met with Salva, telling him that she was free to marry him, but Salva refused. He said that he had been disgraced as Bhishma had defeated him before everyone present. He could not receive her now and she should return and do as he says. With this, she was sent back to Bhishma where she told him what had happened.

Bhishma tried to persuade Vichitravirya to marry her, but he refused on the grounds that she had someone else in her heart. Amba tried to persuade Bhishma to marry her himself, but he could not do so because of his vow and convinced her that she needed to persuade Salva to marry her.

Amba spent six years in bitterness as both men refused to marry her and she was left in a quandary. All her anger was directed towards Bhishma and she began to seek ways to destroy him. No warrior would go against Bhishma as his prowess was too great until eventually Amba sought the graces of Lord Subrahmanya who gave her a lotus garland and told her that the wearer of the garland would be the enemy of Bhishma. Yet this garland was not accepted by any man.

At last she met with Parasurama who, after hearing her sad story, asked if he should talk Salva into marrying her. But she refused, saying that marriage was not her desire any longer. All she wanted was to see Bhishma destroyed. Parasurama was moved by her story and his own hatred for the Kashatrias and fought Bhishma, but eventually, he too was defeated and advised her to seek reconciliation with Bhishma.

Consumed with rage and grief, Amba went to the Himalayas where she practised rigorous austerities to gain the grace of Siva who granted her the boon she had wanted. She was promised that in her next life, she would slay Bhishma. Amba, impatient for rebirth, built a pyre and plunged into the fire. Due to Siva's boon, her next life was as the daughter of King Drupada. One day she saw the lotus garland at the gates of the palace and put it around her neck. Fearing Bhishma's wrath, Drupada sent his daughter into exile.

There she practiced austerities and was transformed into a male known as Sikhandin. When Arjuna attacked Bhishma on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Sikhandin was his charioteer. Bhishma instantly knew Sikhandin was a female and his code of chivalry did not allow him to fight him. This way, shielded by Sikhandin, Arjuna was able to conquer Bhishma.

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#5: Devayani and Kacha

In the ancient times, there was constant conflict between the devas (gods) led by Brihapati and the asuras (demons) guided by Sukracharya. The asuras had one advantage over the devas - Sukracharya alone possessed the secret of Sanjivini, calling the dead back to life, which allowed the asuras to be brought back from the dead time and again to continue the long battle against the devas who felt this disadvantage greatly. They went to Brihaspati's son, Kacha, and implored him to seek the good graces of Sukracharya so they could obtain the secret of Sanjivini. Kacha agreed and went to Sukracharya who, under obligation to not turn away a worthy pupil, accepted him.