Bhishma

Bhishma

 The extraordinary, stunning and leading character of the Mahabharata is Bhishma. He was a brave warrior, a skilled administrator and a scholar. After Shantanu's death, he fulfilled his father's obligations to his brothers. Till his brother Vichitravirya became an adult, he ruled Hastinapur so efficiently that the kingdom was filled with pleasures. After the death of Vichitravirya, he took over the reins of the state until his offspring became incapable of governance. For the marriage of his brother, he took away his three daughters Amba, Ambika and Ambalika from Swayamvara organized by the King of Kashi and brought them to Hastinapur.

 On reaching Hastinapur, as he was preparing to marry these girls to Vichitravirya, the eldest of these, Amba said to him, "I love Salva, the lord of the plane named Saubha and have considered her my husband. Now do what you think is appropriate according to the religion. "Bhishma married Ambika and Ambalika to Vichitravirya. After listening to Amba, he sent her to Salvaraj with respect for the security of the soldiers. Salvaraj refused to accept him, saying that Bhishma defeated me openly and that I could not protect Amba. Being thus neglected, humiliated and unhappy, Amba had to return to Hastinapur.

 Bhishma attempts to marry Amba with Vichitravirya. But Vichitravirya refused to marry a woman who loved another man. Bhishma himself could not marry Amba because of his vow to remain unmarried. No other legatee could be found with whom Amba could be married. Many years passed in this way. Bhishma once again advised Amba to go to Salve. Amba initially denied it. But in the end, she left after persuading people. Salve once again refused to adopt him.

 In this way Amba was very annoyed at being repeatedly neglected and humiliated. His sweet nature turned into angry, intolerant and bitter. She began to blame Bhishma for her condition. First he requested many Kshatriya heroes and nobles to take revenge from Bhishma. But no one was ready to envy Bhishma. Then he decided to go to the shelter of God. He practiced hard. The Lord, satisfied with his penance, gave him a garland and said that the wearer of it would kill Bhishma and fulfill your wish.

 Amba gave that garland to many brave ladies to wear but no one agreed to wear it due to fear of Bhishma. After being disappointed from all four sides, she went to Dhrupad Naresh. He also refused to take the garland. Frustrated, Amba hung the rosary at Drupada's door.

 After this she went to Veerwar Parashurama. Parashuram was very sad to hear his agony. He challenged Bhishma to battle for Amba. There was a long war between the two heroes. No one got a decisive victory in this war. Parashurama eventually withdrew from the war.

 Amba, sad and reeling from the fire of revenge, then went to the Himalayan region to do austerities to Lord Shankar. There he meditated hard to please Lord Shankar. Pleased with his penance, Lord Shankar gave him a boon that in the next life you will take revenge by killing Bhishma. Amba was so happy to receive this groom that she did not wait for death to die. He made a pyre and jumped into it and ended his life.

 In the next life, Amba was born to Drupada. After growing up, he saw the garland hanging at the palace door one day and put it around his neck. The King of Drupada was horrified to see this. He feared that Bhishma would attack him and kill him in the family. He deported his daughter into the forest.

 The exiled daughter went to the forest and started penance again. Seeing his devotion and devotion, God made him male to female and he became famous as Shikhandi.