Talk about Mahabharat , and one cannot miss the stories and mysteries that revolve around the great warrior Ashwatthama. However, his life took a tragic turn when Lord Krishna cursed him. During the Kurukshetra war that he will have to live a life full of sorrows and miseries and will pray for death till the end of time. But what was the reason that Ashwattdhama was cursed in the first place, and most importantly, does it mean that he is alive even today?
THE CURSE
Lord Krishna cursed Ashwatthama for committing a heinous act. In the final stages of the Mahabharata war, Ashwatthama, in a fit of vengeance, used the powerful Brahmastra weapon against the Pandavas. However, it ended up killing the unborn child of Abhimanyu, who was in Uttara’s womb. For this, Krishna cursed Ashwatthama to live a life of misery, to wander the earth for eternity with a festering wound on his forehead, and to never find peace or death.
THE LEGEND OF ASHWATTRDHAMA’S IMMORTALITY
The curse implies that Ashwatthama is immortal and continues to live through the ages. This has led to numerous stories and sightings of the ancient warrior across India. For instance, locals at the Asirgarh Fort in Madhya Pradesh assert that Ashwatthama visits a temple in the fort every morning at dawn to offer prayers. Described as a tall man with a prominent forehead wound, this figure fits the description of Ashwatthama’s curse.
ASINGARH FORT, MADHYA PRADESH
One of the most famous legends is associated with the Asirgarh Fort in Madhya Pradesh. Locals believe that Ashwatthama visits a temple in the fort every morning at dawn to offer prayers. He is described as a tall man with a prominent wound on his forehead, fitting the description of Ashwatthama’s curse.
DOCTOR’S ENCOUNTER
Additionally, there are accounts of a doctor who treated a tall man with a severe forehead wound that never healed. The patient disappeared mysteriously after the doctor jokingly inquired if he was Ashwatthama, leaving the doctor bewildered. The wound was described as if “his brains were pulled out from the front of his head.”
FAMOUS PILOT BABA
Furthermore, the famous Pilot Baba, who was previously a fighter pilot with the Indian Air Force, has also claimed to have seen Ashwatthama in the foothills of the Himalayas. He had said that the cursed warrior now lived among the Himalayan tribes and even offers his prayers at a temple of Lord Shiva every day, till date.
CONCLUSION
While these stories fuel the belief in Ashwatthama’s immortality, they remain unverified and are often considered folklore. Nevertheless, the mystery of Ashwatthama continues to intrigue people, blending myth with reality and keeping the legend of the Mahabharata alive in contemporary times. Consequently, the tale of Ashwatthama serves as a poignant reminder of the epic’s enduring legacy and its profound impact on Indian culture and storytelling.
