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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Amba (''Mahabharata'')}}
{{Short description|A princess of Kingdom of Kashi in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox character
| name = Amba
| image = Amba Mahabharata.jpg
| info-hdr = Information
| caption = Amba, Javanese puppet
| family = Kashya (father)<br> [[Ambika (Mahabharata)|Ambika]] and [[Ambalika]] (younger sisters)
Senabindu (brother)
| significant_other = [[Characters in the Mahabharata#Shalva|Shalva]]
| gender = Female
| home = Kashi Kingdom
| color = #FFC569
| series = [[Mahabharata]]
}}
In the [[Hindu epic]] ''[[Mahabharata]]'', '''Amba''' is the eldest daughter of Kashya, the king of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]] and the sister of [[Ambika (Mahabharata)|Ambika]] and [[Ambalika]]. Amba was abducted by [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru]] prince [[Bhishma]] and holds him responsible for her misfortune. Her sole goal in life became his destruction, to fulfill which she was reborn as [[Shikhandini]], the daughter of king [[Drupada]] and the sister of the epic's female protagonist [[Draupadi]].

==Background==

Amba was the eldest daughter of the king of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]]. She had two younger sisters [[Ambika (Mahabharata)|Ambika]] and [[Ambalika]].<ref name="Mani">{{cite encyclopaedia| last = Mani | first = Vettam | title = Amba| encyclopaedia = Puranic Encyclopaedia: a Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature | publisher = Motilal Banarsidass Publishers | year = 1975  | isbn = 978-0-8426-0822-0 | author-link = Vettam Mani|pages = 27–29}}</ref> Amba is a commonly used word in [[Sanskrit language|Sanskrit]] meaning mother, also with [[Vedic]] linkage as the mother of the [[Vedas]].<ref name="BrodbeckBlack2007">{{cite book|author1=Simon Brodbeck|author2=Professor Brian Black|title=Gender and Narrative in the Mahabharata|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=56fr2p5f7l0C&pg=PA205|year=2007|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-134-11995-0|page=205}}</ref><ref name="Coburn1988">{{cite book|author=T. B. Coburn|title=Devī-māhātmya: The Crystallization of the Goddess Tradition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hy9kf7_TOHgC&pg=PA201|year=1988|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-0557-6|page=201}}</ref>

==Swayamvara==

The ''[[Adi Parva]]'' of the ''Mahabharata'' narrates the events of Amba's [[swayamvara]] at the Kingdom of Kashi. Amba and Salva, the [[Salwa Kingdom|king of Salwa]], were secretly in love and Amba had promised to place the ''[[varmala]]'' on his neck, thereby choosing him as her bridegroom. [[Bhishma]] came to know of the ceremony of the three virtuous princesses, and went to the [[swayamvara]] to win the princesses for his step-brother [[Vichitravirya]]. Upon arrival, Bhishma announced his intention to abduct the brides, challenging the assembled suitors to stop him. Bhishma then forced the princesses into his chariot and rode away. The kings followed and showered Bhishma with arrows; however, Bhishma returned the attack and defeated them. Salva challenged Bhishma for a duel; Bhishma overpowered and wounded Salva, but spared his life. Unaware of Amba's feelings, Bhishma proceeded to [[Hastinapur|Hastinapura]] and presented them to [[Satyavati]], who made arrangements for their marriage to Vichitravirya. Amba approached Bhishma and the council of [[brahmins]] and revealed that she and Salva were in love with each other and that she had been going to choose him as her husband in the swayamvara. Bhishma conceded that she should make her own decision regarding the matter and sent her to Salva with honours, while Ambika and Ambalika were married to Vichitravirya.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01103.htm|work=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva|title=Section CII|publisher=[[Sacred-texts.com]]|author=Kisari Mohan Ganguli|author-link=Kisari Mohan Ganguli}}</ref><ref name="Garrett">{{cite book|author=John Garrett|title=A Classical Dictionary of India Illustrative of the Mythology, Philosophy, Literature, Antiquities, Arts, Manners Customs &c. of the Hindus|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6paBoEtkUt0C&pg=PA27|date=1989|publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Distri|page=27|id=GGKEY:YTLNG1DG7JN}}</ref>

==Salva's rejection==

In the ''Ambopakhyanaparvan'' chapter of the book ''[[Udyoga Parva]]'' of the ''Mahabharata'', the rest of Amba's tale is narrated by Bhishma when [[Duryodhana]] questions him as to why he did not kill [[Shikhandi]], an ally of the [[Pandavas]], the cousins and foes of the [[Kauravas]].<ref name="Coburn1988"/>

Bhishma ensured that Amba was escorted safely to [[Salwa Kingdom|Salva's kingdom]]. Amba informed Salva that she had come for him. Salva retorted that he no longer desired her, as she was to be wed to another man. He declared that she had been rightfully won by Bhishma, who had defeated and insulted him and the other kings. He accused her of leaving with him of her own free will. Amba pleaded with Salva, whom she considered her true love, to accept her. But Salva reiterated his [[kshatriya]] [[dharma]] and refused to accept her. Rejected, the heart-broken Amba left the Salva Kingdom and retired to the forest.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m05/m05176.htm|work=The Mahabharata, Book 5: Udyoga Parva|title=Section CLXXVI|publisher=Sacred-texts.com|author=Kisari Mohan Ganguli|author-link=Kisari Mohan Ganguli}}</ref>

In another version, Amba stung by this rejection went to [[Bhishma]] and accosted him, stating that he was responsible for all her problems. Bhishma tried to convince Vichitravirya to marry Amba, but he rejected her stating that she was in love with someone else. She then approached Bhishma to marry her. He also refused due to his vow of [[celibacy]]. This further infuriated Amba, as she had now been spurned by three bachelors. She appealed to various kings to defeat Bhishma and bring her justice, but all of them refused, knowing Bhishma's capabilities. Finally, the furious Amba went to the forest to please the gods so that she may have her revenge on Bhishma.<ref name=Shikhandi/>

==Vengeance on Bhishma==

===Parshurama's mediation===

Amba reflected on her plight and considered all the people responsible for it, including herself (as she did not escape Bhishma's chariot when Bhishma was fighting Salva), Bhishma (who abducted her), Salva (who rejected her) and her father (who arranged her swayamvara). She finally arrived at the conclusion that Bhishma was the main culprit and swore to destroy him by austerities or battle. She sought shelter with a group of ascetics that night and narrated her tale to them. There the learned sage [[Shaikhavatya]] consoled Amba and promised to guide her in her austerities.<ref name="Mani"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m05/m05177.htm|work=The Mahabharata, Book 5: Udyoga Parva|title=Section CLXXVII|publisher=Sacred-texts.com|author=Kisari Mohan Ganguli|author-link=Kisari Mohan Ganguli}}</ref>

Other sages discussed amongst themselves Amba's situation and contemplated her alternatives and advised her to return to her father as there are only two true protectors of a woman: a father and a husband. However, Amba declined, deciding to practice austerities. The next day, the sage [[Panchala Kingdom (Mahabharata)#The Srinjayas|Hotravahana]] (of the Srinjaya race), a former king and Amba's maternal grandfather, passed by the place. Upon listening to Amba's woe, the sage advised her not to return to her father and instead approach the sage [[Parashurama]]. Akritavrana, one of Parashurama's disciples, also arrived at the place. Hotravahana introduced Amba to Akritavrana and both of them explained Amba's ordeal to him.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m05/m05178.htm|work=The Mahabharata, Book 5: Udyoga Parva|title=Section CLXXVIII|publisher=Sacred-texts.com|author=Kisari Mohan Ganguli|author-link=Kisari Mohan Ganguli}}</ref> Akritavrana gave Amba two options: either Parashurama should approach Salva to marry her or Bhishma should be defeated by Parashurama. Amba asked Akritavrana to decide who was her culprit. Akritavrana agreed with Amba that Bhishma was the root cause of her plight and should be the target of her revenge. Akritavrana and Hotravahana explained Amba's predicament to Parashurama, whom Amba herself prayed to for help. Parashurama gave his word to Amba that he would slay Bhishma, who was his disciple in the past, and destroy his pride.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m05/m05179.htm|work=The Mahabharata, Book 5: Udyoga Parva|title=Section CLXXIX|publisher=Sacred-texts.com|author=Kisari Mohan Ganguli|author-link=Kisari Mohan Ganguli}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m05/m05180.htm|work=The Mahabharata, Book 5: Udyoga Parva|title=Section CLXXX|publisher=Sacred-texts.com|author=Kisari Mohan Ganguli|author-link=Kisari Mohan Ganguli}}</ref>

When Parashurama arrived with his retinue at [[Kurukshetra]] and sent a message to Bhishma of his arrival, Bhishma came to see his guru, offering him the traditional respects. A pleased Parashurama commanded Bhishma to accept Amba. Bhishma refused, restating that he had taken a vow of celibacy. An infuriated Parashurama threatened Bhishma with death. Bhishma tried to calm the sage, but in vain, and he finally agreed to battle his guru to safeguard his [[Kshatriya]] duty. [[Ganga in Hinduism|Ganga]] tried stopping the battle by beseeching her son as well as the great sage, but failed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m05/m05181.htm|work=The Mahabharata, Book 5: Udyoga Parva|title=Section CLXXXI|publisher=Sacred-texts.com|author=Kisari Mohan Ganguli|author-link=Kisari Mohan Ganguli}}</ref> The great battle lasted for 23 days, without any result. On the 24th day when [[Bhishma]] chose to use a deadly weapon, at the behest of the divine sage [[Narada]] and the gods, Parashurama ended the conflict and the battle was declared a draw.<ref name="Mani"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m05/m05188.htm|work=The Mahabharata, Book 5: Udyoga Parva|title=Section CLXXXVIII|publisher=Sacred-texts.com|author=Kisari Mohan Ganguli|author-link=Kisari Mohan Ganguli}}</ref> Parashurama narrated the events to Amba and told her to seek Bhishma's protection. However, Amba refused to listen to Parashurama's advice and left angrily declaring that she would achieve her objective by asceticism.<ref name="CLXXXIX"/>

===Austerities===

Amba gave up food and sleep, and practised asceticism standing still for six months in the [[Yamuna]] river valley, surviving only on air. She became emaciated and developed matted locks. After that, she stood in the waters of the [[Yamuna]], without food and practised austerities. After that, she spent time standing on her tip toes, having eaten only one fallen leaf of a tree. Her penance for twelve years started burning the heavens and the earth. She then went to [[Vatsa]] kingdom, in which many renowned sages lived. She roamed the kingdom, bathing in the sacred waters of the [[Ganges]] (Ganga) and the [[Yamuna]]. Then, she visited the [[ashram]]s of many sages like [[Narada]], [[Uluka]], [[Chyavana]], [[Vishwamitra]], [[Mandavya]], [[Dwilipa]], [[Ramhrada]] and [[Garga (sage)|Garga]] as well as sacred sites like [[Allahabad|Prayag]], [[Bhogavati]] and holy groves. During her journey, she observed difficult vows and performed ablutions in the holy waters.<ref name="CLXXXIX">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m05/m05189.htm|work=The Mahabharata, Book 5: Udyoga Parva|title=Section CLXXXIX|publisher=Sacred-texts.com|author=Kisari Mohan Ganguli|author-link=Kisari Mohan Ganguli}}</ref>

The [[Ganga in Hinduism|goddess Ganga]] appeared before Amba and listened to Amba's tale that her austerities were aimed to destroy [[Bhishma]], [[Ganga in Hinduism|Ganga]]'s son. The angry [[Ganga in Hinduism|goddess Ganga]] replied that since Amba's mind was crooked, she would become a crooked and tortuous river, which will remain dry for eight months and flow in the four months of the rainy season. [[Ganga in Hinduism|Ganga]] declared that the bathing places along the river's course would be in difficult terrain, and it will be infested with crocodiles and other fierce creatures. Amba wandered practising severe vows and forgoing food and water for months. She visited many [[Tirtha (Hinduism)|tirtha]]s in this time and finally returned to [[Vatsa]], where [[Ganga in Hinduism|Ganga]]'s curse materialized. Though half of her became the river Amba, the other half remained human, due to her ascetic merit.<ref name="Mani"/><ref name="CLXXXIX"/>

===Shiva's boon and Amba's death===

The ascetics of Vatsa dissuaded her from the austerities, but Amba maintained her resolve and told them her desire was to be born a man and slay Bhishma to avenge her misery. The god [[Shiva]] appeared to her and blessed her that she would become a man in her next birth and destroy Bhishma. Amba would be born to the king [[Drupada]] of [[Panchala]] and become a great warrior. Amba would remember her previous birth and hatred of Bhishma. Pleased with the boon, Amba created a funeral pyre of wood on the banks of the Yamuna and jumped in the fire saying "for Bhishma's destruction!".<ref name="Mani"/><ref name="CXC">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m05/m05190.htm|work=The Mahabharata, Book 5: Udyoga Parva|title=Section CXC|publisher=Sacred-texts.com|author=Kisari Mohan Ganguli|author-link=Kisari Mohan Ganguli}}</ref><ref name="Garg1992">{{cite book|author=Gaṅgā Rām Garg|title=Encyclopaedia of the Hindu World: Ak-Aq|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WjDcd0cTFxQC&pg=PA371|year=1992|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|isbn=978-81-7022-375-7|page=371}}</ref>

===Garland of ever-fresh lotuses===

Another variant narrates that Amba performed austerities and pleased [[Kartikeya]], the god of war and Shiva's son. He granted her a [[garland]] of ever-fresh lotuses and declared that whoever wore it will destroy Bhishma. With this garland, Amba made one more attempt to seek help of many kings and princes to support her in her just cause. However, there was no response from anyone of them to help her as they did not want to be on the wrong side of Bhishma. In a final effort she approached Drupada but even he declined; in frustration she cast the garland off on a pillar outside Drupada's palace and went for austerities in the forest again. While Amba kills herself, no one dares to touch the garland.<ref name=Shikhandi>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mahabharataonline.com/rajaji/mahabharata_summary_5.php|title=4. Amba and Bhishma|access-date=30 April 2013|publisher= Mahabharataonline.com}}</ref><ref name="Pattanaik2002">{{cite book|author=Devdutt Pattanaik|title=The man who was a woman and other queer tales of Hindu lore|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gVvXAAAAMAAJ|year=2002|publisher=Harrington Park Press|isbn=978-1-56023-180-6|page=60}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=India through the ages|url=https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada|last=Gopal|first=Madan|year= 1990| page= [https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada/page/62 62]|editor=K.S. Gautam|publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India}}</ref>

==Rebirth as Shikhandi==
{{main|Shikhandi}}

Drupada had no children so he did austerities in the forest seeking the blessings of Shiva for begetting a son. Shiva granted him the boon that a girl would be born to him, but will transform into a boy later. As prophesied, Amba was reborn as Shikhandini, whose true gender was not disclosed and she was brought up as a boy. When Drupada got his daughter in the garb of a son married to the daughter of [[Hiranyavarna]], the king of [[Dasharna]], his true identity was revealed not only to the chagrin of the girl, her father but also to Shikandini himself. The agitated Hiranyavarna declared war on Panchala. Distressed by the turn of events, Shikhandini went into the forest to fast unto death but was saved by a [[yaksha]] (a forest deity), Sthunakarna, who helped him by offering his own gender in exchange to Shikandini's female gender. Thus Shikhandini became the male Shikhandi. After Hiranyavarna's death, Shikhandi returned to swap sexes with the yaksha, however the yaksha was cursed by his master the god [[Kubera]] to remain female until Shikhandi's death.<ref name="Mani"/>

In the variant where the garland of ever-fresh lotuses is mentioned, Shikhandini wears the garland once and Drupada realizes that she will slay Bhishma.<ref name=Shikhandi/>

Meanwhile, over the course of time, Ambika and Ambalika had grandchildren [[Kauravas]] and [[Pandavas]], who became arch enemies. [[Draupadi]], the daughter of Drupada, was married to the Pandavas. When a great [[Kurukshetra war]] between Pandavas and Kauravas ensued, Shikhandi sided with his brothers-in-law, while Bhishma was with the Kauravas. Bhishma had vowed "not to shoot at a woman, anyone who used to be a woman or has a woman's name or appears to be a woman",<ref name="Doniger1999">{{cite book|author=Wendy Doniger|title=Splitting the Difference: Gender and Myth in Ancient Greece and India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G4pgM3birUwC&pg=PA284|year=1999|publisher=University of Chicago Press|isbn=978-0-226-15641-5|page=284}}</ref> so he narrated to the Kaurava leader Duryodhana Amba's tale and refused to fight Shikhandi. When Bhishma led the Kaurava army, Shikhandi rode as the charioteer of [[Arjuna]], the third of the Pandava brothers. On seeing Shikhandi, Bhishma lowered his weapons. Shikhandi and Arjuna pierced Bhishma's body, though all Shikhandi's arrows were not so effective in wounding Bhishma. At this stage, it was also the desire of Bhishma to die. Before collapsing, he cried out that it was Arjuna's arrow that killed him and not of Shikhandi. Bhishma lay on a bed of arrows for days and died on the holy day of [[Uttarayana]]. Amba's vengeance was fulfilled when Shikhandi became the cause of Bhishma's death.<ref name="Mani"/><ref name="MachacekWilcox2003">{{cite book|author1=David W. Machacek|author2=Melissa M. Wilcox|title=Sexuality and the world's religions|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p52Envn3rLkC&pg=PA126|year=2003|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-57607-359-9|page=126}}</ref>

Shikhandi is killed in a sword fight with [[Ashwatthama]] when he, [[Kripacharya]], and [[Kritavarma]] attacked the [[Pandava]] camp on the night of the final day of battle.<ref>K M Ganguly (1883-1896). [http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m10/m10008.htm The Mahabharatha Book 10: Sauptika Parva section 8] Ashwatthama killing Shikindin, October 2003, Retrieved 2015-10-2</ref>

==Literary Assessment==
The spiritual guru [[Ganapathi Sachchidananda]] says Amba was a "great person" and praises her love, fearlessness and resolve, but cautions against emulating the princess, who was never happy driven by revenge. He considers her tale giving the moral to avoid haste in love and life.<ref name="Swamiji">{{cite book|author=Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji|title=100 Stories: Stories from Indiann Mythology: Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1909Ly5ieJEC&pg=PA274|year=2015|publisher=SGS International Vedic Assn|page=275|id=GGKEY:PGU195JDY66}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|35em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.mahabharataonline.com/rajaji/mahabharata_summary_5.php Rajaji Mahabharata Summary/Amba and Bhishma]

{{Mahabharata}}
{{HinduMythology}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]

Amba Mahabharata - Revision history

Delinker at 11:46, 31 July 2023