One such warrior of the Mahabharata who is immortal even today, whose body remains permanently scarred and in pain, and who has been wandering for 3000 years, is Guru Dronacharya’s son, Ashwatthama. Please read this entire story to know the secret behind his immortality…
Why did Ashwatthama become immortal?
Ashwathama was blessed with a divine gem (Manikya) from birth, which kept him safe from demons, gods, and death. But after the Mahabharata war, he committed a heinous sin due to which Lord Krishna cursed him…
Ashwatthama’s revenge: Trying to kill the Pandava clan
At the end of the war, when Ashwatthama saw that his father Dronacharya was treacherously murdered and all the Kauravas were killed, he went mad. He decided to destroy the Pandava clan by releasing Brahmastra. That night, he sneaked into the Pandava camp and killed the sleeping Pandava sons by thinking they as Pandava.
Krishna’s curse: “You will never die!”
When the Pandavas caught Ashwatthama, Lord Krishna gave him a terrible curse. “You have killed innocent children, so you will have to wander on this earth for 3000 years! Your body will always ooze pus and blood, and no one will keep company with you!” Krishna snatched his gem and made a wound on his forehead, which never healed.
Where is Ashwatthama today? Is he alive?
It is believed that Ashwatthama is still alive and wandering in the forests, rivers, or the Himalayas. Many people have claimed to have seen a sadhu with a tall, wounded, blood-pus-filled body, chanting “Narayan-Narayan”. According to some stories, he still worships in Shiva temples, but people fear him because diseases spread suddenly in his presence.
Will Ashwatthama ever be destroyed?
According to the Puranas, Ashwatthama will live till the end of Kalyug. He will be liberated when Lord Kalki incarnates. According to some beliefs, only Hanuman Ji, a devotee of Lord Rama, will liberate him.