APIFantasy | Myth and Folklore Anthology

Indian/Hindu Mythology - Mahabharata: Ekalavya

Ekalavya is called one of the foremost of Kings in the Rajasuya Yagna where he honours Yudhishthira by offering shoes with respect. Though he did not have his right thumb, he was noted as a powerful archer and warrior.

In the Mahabharata, Ekalavya was the son of Hiranyadhanus, the chief of Nishada. He served under King Jarasandha's army as General. His father Hiranyadhanu, was the commander of the most powerful king of the period, Jarasandha. Ekalavya held an indomitable will to master the art of archery. He once stayed hidden in the forest while guru Drona was teaching the Kaurava and Pandava brothers. After they had left for the ashram, Ekalavya collected the mud on which his Guru walked, as a symbolic gesture of reverence for his Guru's knowledge and footsteps. He went into the forest and fashioned a statue of Drona under a big old well-grown tree. He began a disciplined program of self-study over many years. Accepting the statue as his guru, he practised before it every single day.

One day, when Drona and his students were going out into the forest, Arjuna saw a dog that could not bark because of an amazing construction of arrows in and all around his mouth. This construction was harmless to the dog but prevented the dog from barking. Drona was amazed but also distressed: as he had promised Arjuna that he would make him the greatest archer in the world. Wondering who such a fine archer could be, Drona and his students investigated and came upon Ekalavya. Upon seeing Drona, Ekalavya came and bowed to him.

Drona asked Ekalavya where he had learned archery. Ekalavya replied, "under you, Guruji", and showed Drona his statue while explaining what he had done. Drona then reminded Ekalavya that to truly be Drona's pupil, Ekalavya would have to pay guru dakshina. Readily, Ekalavya offers to do anything for Drona. Drona asks Ekalavya to cut off his right thumb as Guru Dakshina. Happy and smiling, Ekalavya cuts off the thumb and presents it as Gurudakshina to Dronacharya.

The Bhagavata Purana mentions Ekalavya assisted Jarasandha, when he attacked Mathura, to take revenge on the death of Kansa. In this battle, Ekalavya was killed by Lord Krishna, because Krishna knew about the future war of Mahabharat and that Ekalavya could become an obstacle in the establishment of dharma. Some theories say, later Eklavya was born as Dhrishtadyumna, son of Drupad, king of Panchala and helped in establishing dharma as he was born as Dronahantak (one born to kill Drona) and killed Acharya Drona, to complete his revenge. In the Malaysian text, there is a mention that King Phalgunadi was killed by Acharya Drona and later Phalgunadi took birth as Eklavya.

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