Shikhandi
Encyclopedia
Shikhandi is a character in the Hindu
epic, the Mahābhārata
. He was originally born as a girl child named 'Shikhandini' to Drupada
, the king of Panchala
. Shikhandi fought in the Kurukshetra war
on the side of the Pandavas, along with his father Drupada and brother Dhristadyumna
.
He had been born in an earlier lifetime as a woman named Amba, who had won in swayamvara by Bhishma
for his younger brother and later sent her back to her lover who insulted her and sent her back to Bhishma. Rejected by Bhishma
for marriage, due to his oath of lifelong celibacy, and feeling deeply humiliated and wanting revenge, Amba carried out great prayers and penance with the desire to be the cause of Bhishma
's death. Amba was then reborn as Shikhandini.
King Drupada knew who she was and she was sent on exile as king Drupada feared of fighting from Bhishma. She again did great prayers and gained manhood. In the battle of Kurukshetra
, Bhishma
recognised him as Amba reborn, and not wanting to fight 'a woman', lowered his weapons. Knowing that Bhishma
would react thus to Shikhandi, Arjuna
hid behind Shikhandi and attacked Bhishma
with a devastating volley of arrows. Thus, only with Shikhandi's help could Arjuna
deal a death blow to Bhishma
, who had been virtually invincible until then.
Shikhandi was finally killed by Ashwatthama
on the 18th day of battle.
In the Javanese tradition, 'Srikandi' (as she is known) never becomes a man, but is a woman equal to men.
shikhandini
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
epic, the Mahābhārata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
. He was originally born as a girl child named 'Shikhandini' to Drupada
Drupada
Drupada , also known as Yajnasena, is a character in the Mahābhārata. He is king of the land of Panchala.In his youth he studies with, and becomes a friend of Drona. Drupada makes him promise to share all his fortunes with him. Later, when Drupada becomes king of Panchaladesa, Drona reminds him...
, the king of Panchala
Panchala Kingdom
This article is about the kingdom of Panchala during the epic-ages. For the historical kingdom, see Panchala.Panchala Kingdom extended from Himalayas in the north to river Charmanwati in the south during the period of Mahabharata. It had Kuru, Surasena and Matsya kingdoms to the west and the forest...
. Shikhandi fought in the Kurukshetra war
Kurukshetra war
According to the Indian epic poem Mahābhārata, a dynastic succession struggle between two groups of cousins of an Indo-Aryan kingdom called Kuru, the Kauravas and Pandavas, for the throne of Hastinapura resulted in the Kurukshetra War in which a number of ancient kingdoms participated as allies of...
on the side of the Pandavas, along with his father Drupada and brother Dhristadyumna
Dhristadyumna
Dhrishtadyumna , also known as Draupada, was the son of Drupada and brother of Draupadi and Shikhandi in the epic Mahābhārata...
.
He had been born in an earlier lifetime as a woman named Amba, who had won in swayamvara by Bhishma
Bhishma
Bhishma or Bheeshma or Devavrata or 'Bhishma Pitamah' was the eighth son of Kuru King Shantanu who was blessed with wish-long life and had sworn to serve the ruling Kuru king. He was one of the most prominent characters of the great Indian epic, the Mahabharata. He was the grand uncle of both the...
for his younger brother and later sent her back to her lover who insulted her and sent her back to Bhishma. Rejected by Bhishma
Bhishma
Bhishma or Bheeshma or Devavrata or 'Bhishma Pitamah' was the eighth son of Kuru King Shantanu who was blessed with wish-long life and had sworn to serve the ruling Kuru king. He was one of the most prominent characters of the great Indian epic, the Mahabharata. He was the grand uncle of both the...
for marriage, due to his oath of lifelong celibacy, and feeling deeply humiliated and wanting revenge, Amba carried out great prayers and penance with the desire to be the cause of Bhishma
Bhishma
Bhishma or Bheeshma or Devavrata or 'Bhishma Pitamah' was the eighth son of Kuru King Shantanu who was blessed with wish-long life and had sworn to serve the ruling Kuru king. He was one of the most prominent characters of the great Indian epic, the Mahabharata. He was the grand uncle of both the...
's death. Amba was then reborn as Shikhandini.
King Drupada knew who she was and she was sent on exile as king Drupada feared of fighting from Bhishma. She again did great prayers and gained manhood. In the battle of Kurukshetra
Kurukshetra
Kurukshetra is a land of historical and religious importance. Historically the land belonged to Punjab now a district in Haryana state of India. It is a holy place and is also known as Dharmakshetra . According to the Puranas, Kurukshetra is named after King Kuru, the ancestor of Kauravas and...
, Bhishma
Bhishma
Bhishma or Bheeshma or Devavrata or 'Bhishma Pitamah' was the eighth son of Kuru King Shantanu who was blessed with wish-long life and had sworn to serve the ruling Kuru king. He was one of the most prominent characters of the great Indian epic, the Mahabharata. He was the grand uncle of both the...
recognised him as Amba reborn, and not wanting to fight 'a woman', lowered his weapons. Knowing that Bhishma
Bhishma
Bhishma or Bheeshma or Devavrata or 'Bhishma Pitamah' was the eighth son of Kuru King Shantanu who was blessed with wish-long life and had sworn to serve the ruling Kuru king. He was one of the most prominent characters of the great Indian epic, the Mahabharata. He was the grand uncle of both the...
would react thus to Shikhandi, Arjuna
Arjuna
Arjuna in Indian mythology is the greatest warrior on earth and is one of the Pandavas, the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata. Arjuna, whose name means 'bright', 'shining', 'white' or 'silver' Arjuna (Devanagari: अर्जुन, Thai: อรชุน, Orachun, Tamil: Arjunan, Indonesian and Javanese: Harjuna,...
hid behind Shikhandi and attacked Bhishma
Bhishma
Bhishma or Bheeshma or Devavrata or 'Bhishma Pitamah' was the eighth son of Kuru King Shantanu who was blessed with wish-long life and had sworn to serve the ruling Kuru king. He was one of the most prominent characters of the great Indian epic, the Mahabharata. He was the grand uncle of both the...
with a devastating volley of arrows. Thus, only with Shikhandi's help could Arjuna
Arjuna
Arjuna in Indian mythology is the greatest warrior on earth and is one of the Pandavas, the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata. Arjuna, whose name means 'bright', 'shining', 'white' or 'silver' Arjuna (Devanagari: अर्जुन, Thai: อรชุน, Orachun, Tamil: Arjunan, Indonesian and Javanese: Harjuna,...
deal a death blow to Bhishma
Bhishma
Bhishma or Bheeshma or Devavrata or 'Bhishma Pitamah' was the eighth son of Kuru King Shantanu who was blessed with wish-long life and had sworn to serve the ruling Kuru king. He was one of the most prominent characters of the great Indian epic, the Mahabharata. He was the grand uncle of both the...
, who had been virtually invincible until then.
Shikhandi was finally killed by Ashwatthama
Ashwatthama
A hero of the Indian epic Mahābhārata, Ashwatthama or Ashwatthaman was the son of guru Drona. He is one of the seven Chiranjeevins. Dronacharya loved him very dearly. The rumours about his death in the Kurukshetra war, led to the death of his father from the hands of Prince Dhrishtadyumna...
on the 18th day of battle.
In the Javanese tradition, 'Srikandi' (as she is known) never becomes a man, but is a woman equal to men.
External links
shikhandini