Aśvatthāmā Avatāra in the Śiva Purāṇa

The Śata Rudra Saṃhitā of the Śiva Purāṇa, Chapter 36, tells how Bhagavān Śiva came into the world by his own aṃśa (a part of himself) as Aśvatthāmā, the son of Droṇācārya. Droṇa had done tapas for a son of great power. The chapter tells of Aśvatthāmā’s part in the Mahābhārata war and of his Brahmaśiras weapon aimed at Arjuna. It tells how Bhagavān Kṛshṇa called on Bhagavān Śiva to turn aside the Brahmāstra, and how Uttarā’s womb was kept safe through Śiva’s Sudarśana. It also says that Arjuna’s tapas to Śiva and the Pāśupata weapon he won are what let the Pāṇḍavas prevail against Aśvatthāmā’s power.

Droṇa’s tapas and the vara

Droṇa was the son of Bharadvāja, and he was born of an aṃśa of Bṛhaspati. He was a man of deep dignity, a master archer, a scholar of the Veda, and the first among those who know all the astras (divine weapons). By his strength and skill he became the ācārya of the Kauravas, and he was known as one of their six great mahārathas. He wanted a son of rare power to support the cause of the Kauravas, so he did hard tapas to Bhagavān Śaṃkara.

Bhagavān Śaṃkara, who loves his devotees, was pleased with Droṇa’s tapas and appeared before him. Droṇa bowed with folded hands and praised him with full devotion. Bhagavān Śiva asked him to name a vara (a boon). Droṇa said: “Give me a son born of your own aṃśa, one whom no one can conquer, of the highest strength.” Śiva said, “So be it!” and vanished. Droṇa went home and told his wife everything with joy. (Śiva Purāṇa, Śata Rudra Saṃhitā, Chapter 36.)

In due time, at the right moment, Bhagavān Śaṃkara, the destroyer of all, was born as Droṇa’s son by his own aṃśa. This great hero with eyes like lotus petals became famous in the world as Aśvatthāmā. (Śiva Purāṇa, Śata Rudra Saṃhitā, Chapter 36.)

Aśvatthāmā in the Mahābhārata war

In the great Bhārata war, Aśvatthāmā fought on the side of the Kauravas with Droṇa’s leave and won great fame. Because Aśvatthāmā was there, the mighty Bhīshma and the other Kaurava warriors could not be beaten even by the devas. The great Pāṇḍava heroes, skilled in every kind of fighting, could not overcome the Kauravas because of Aśvatthāmā, and they suffered much for it. (Śiva Purāṇa, Śata Rudra Saṃhitā, Chapter 36.)

Then Arjuna, following Kṛshṇa’s teaching, did very hard tapas to Bhagavān Śambhu. By Śambhu’s vara he won the great Pāśupata weapon, and by this divine astra he was at last able to prevail. Aśvatthāmā was born of Śiva’s own aṃśa, and he acted through his devotion to Bhagavān Mahādeva. His great courage was Śiva’s own līlā (divine play). (Śiva Purāṇa, Śata Rudra Saṃhitā, Chapter 36.)

The Brahmaśiras

Aśvatthāmā was grieved by his father’s death. He killed the sleeping Pāṇḍava warriors. Arjuna chased him with Kṛshṇa, and Aśvatthāmā let fly the terrible Brahmaśiras astra. A fearful tejas (blazing power) burst out and spread in every direction. Arjuna was worn out and was losing his own tejas. He saw the deadly danger coming and said to Kṛshṇa: “O Kṛshṇa! Kṛshṇa! What is this? It comes from every side, this tejas that cannot be borne!” (Śiva Purāṇa, Śata Rudra Saṃhitā, Chapter 36.)

Kṛshṇa was the first among the devotees of Śiva. He meditated on Pārvatī and Parameśvara and answered: “Know that Droṇa’s son has let fly the all-powerful Brahmaśiras astra. There is no weapon to answer it. Remember Śiva at once, the giver of good, your Prabhu Śiva, the protector of his devotees. Bhagavān Śiva has already given you his great Pāśupata astra. Use its tejas to calm the tejas of this astra.” With these words Kṛshṇa himself meditated on Śiva. Arjuna remembered Śiva in his heart, sipped water for purification (ācamana), bowed low, and at once let go his own astra. The Brahmaśiras had no equal and no answer, yet it was stilled at once by the tejas of Śiva’s own Pāśupata weapon. (Śiva Purāṇa, Śata Rudra Saṃhitā, Chapter 36.)

The guarding of Uttarā’s womb

Aśvatthāmā then decided to wipe out the whole line of the Pāṇḍavas by striking Uttarā’s womb. She carried the future heir of the Kurus, Parīkshit. He let fly his Brahmāstra at the unborn child. Uttarā was tormented by the astra, and with all her heart she praised Kṛshṇa, the husband of Lakshmī. Kṛshṇa meditated on Śiva and received Śiva’s instruction. Then he used the great Sudarśana cakra, which Bhagavān Śiva had given to Bhagavān Vishṇu for protecting the world, and covered the child in the womb completely. (Śiva Purāṇa, Śata Rudra Saṃhitā, Chapter 36.)

Aśvatthāmā understood that Kṛshṇa, first among Śiva’s devotees and acting on Bhagavān Śaṃkara’s command, had used Śiva’s own counter-power to stop his astra. He was the aṃśa of Śiva, and the astra was his. Seeing this, he slowly let the unrest go from his heart. Then Kṛshṇa, full of great joy, made all the Pāṇḍavas fall at Aśvatthāmā’s feet to honour him. Aśvatthāmā was greatly pleased, and through Kṛshṇa’s grace he gave the Pāṇḍavas many loving varas. (Śiva Purāṇa, Śata Rudra Saṃhitā, Chapter 36.)

Aśvatthāmā lives on

The Śata Rudra Saṃhitā says that Bhagavān Maheśvara, born on earth as Aśvatthāmā, did this great and wonderful divine play. He has the highest strength and courage. This avatāra of Śiva, who brings joy to the three worlds, is living even today (ādyāpi) on the banks of the Gaṅgā. Whoever hears or celebrates this account of the Aśvatthāmā avatāra with bhakti (devotion) will gain all that he desires. When he leaves this body, he will reach Śiva’s dhāma (abode). (Śiva Purāṇa, Śata Rudra Saṃhitā, Chapter 36.)

Sources

Śiva Purāṇa, Śata Rudra Saṃhitā, Chapter 36