Shikhandi
Shikhandi | |
---|---|
Dhristadyumna (brother) Draupadi (sister) | |
Spouse | Unnamed princess of Dasarna |
Children | Kshatradeva |
Shikhandi (
Shikhandi, whose natal female identity is sometimes rendered Shikhandini,
In Javanese wayang tradition, Shikhandi is known as Srikandi and is born as a male, and changes into a female. She becomes the second wife of the Pandava brother Arjuna, Draupadi being the first.[4][5]
Legend
Previous birth
In the majority of the versions of the Mahabharata,
Before her wedding ceremony could commence, Amba told Bhishma that she had fallen in love with the King of Salva, and was not ready to marry anyone else. Hearing this from her, Bhishma sent Amba with grandeur to her desired husband. However, Salva rejected her, stating that as Bhishma had bested him at the svayamvara, he regarded him to be her rightful husband. Amba returned to Bhishma and demanded that he marry her according to
According to an iteration by
Sex exchange
Due to his childlessness, King Drupada propitiated Shiva, who told the king that a girl would be born to him, who in due course, would become a man. When Shikhandi was born to Drupada's queen, she was raised and dressed as a boy. When Shikhandi reached the traditional age of maturity, Drupada decided to offer her hand in marriage to the daughter of Hiranyavarman, the King of Dasharna. Shikhandi's wife soon realised that her husband was not a man, and Hiranyavarman soon caught wind of this information. Outraged, he sent a messenger to Drupada to determine the truth, and started preparations for war with the latter. Drupada insisted that Shikhandi was indeed a man. Distressed by her parents' suffering, Shikhandi left the city, deciding to fast to death. She found a forest that humans were terrified to enter, because it was inhabited by a yaksha named Stunakarna. She entered the premises of the yaksha, and started to perform austerities. When Stunakarna enquired regarding her practices, Shikhandi told him her tale. Feeling compassionate, the yaksha offered to exchange his sex with her for a certain period of time, to which Shikhandi agreed. Shikhandi returned to his father as a man, and informed him of this incident. Relieved, Drupada invited Hiranyavarman to send envoys to inspect the manhood of his son. A number of beautiful women were dispatched by Hiranyavarman to Drupada, who confirmed Shikhandi's manhood. Thus, the two kings were able to renew their peace.[10]
When Kubera visited Stunakarna's premises, the yaksha did not greet him due to her female form. Angered, Kubera cursed the yaksha, stating that the sex exchange that had been performed would be permanent. When the yaksha begged Kubera to lift the curse, the latter told her that she would regain her true sex after the death of Shikhandi.[11]
Kurukshetra War
Before the Kurukshetra War, Bhima opts for Shikhandi to be the commander-in-chief of the Pandava army, as he was born to kill Bhishma, but Arjuna and Krishna prefer Dhrishtadyumna instead. Shikhandi is made the commander of one of the seven akshauhinis of the Pandava army.
On the first day of the war, Shikhandi confronts Ashwatthama, and both warriors wound each other several times, before withdrawing from the battle. On the seventh day of the war, he confronts Ashwatthama again, and manages to wound him on the forehead. However, an enraged Ashwatthama destroys his chariot, and wounds him badly. Luckily, Satyaki comes to his rescue.
On the night of the ninth day of battle, after a decisive defeat, the
On the twelfth day of the war, Shikhandi's only son, Kshatradeva, is killed by Duryodhana’s son,
Shikhandi, along with the Upapandavas, are killed by Ashwatthama on the 18th day of the war. Dazed, Shikhandi is killed in a sword fight with Ashwatthama when Ashwatthama, Kripacharya, and Kritavarma attacked the Pandava camp at night.[14]
According to Devdutt Pattanaik, Ashwatthama kills Shikhandi's lover in front of him; in other versions, it is Shikhandi's partner who is butchered.[15]
References
- ^ "The Mahabharata, Book 8: Karna Parva: Section 6". www.sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (28 September 2011). "Shikhandi, Śikhaṇḍi, Śikhaṇḍin, Shikhandin, Śikhaṇḍī, Sikhandī, Shikhamdi, Sikhamdi: 31 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (28 January 2019). "Story of Śikhaṇḍī". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
- ^ Studies in Indo-Asian Art and Culture. International Academy of Indian Culture. 1980. p. 283.
- ^ Hartana, S.S., 2017. Origins, journeys, encounters: a cultural analysis of wayang performances in North America (Doctoral dissertation).page=49 [1]
- ^ Sorabji, Cornelia, and Warwick Goble. Shikhandi: The Maiden-knight and Other Stories. Bombay: Blackie and Son, 1916. Print.
- ^ "The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section LXVII".
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (9 January 2015). "Bhishma Battles Parashurama [Chapter 4]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
- ^ Rajagopalachari, Raja (1951). Mahabharata. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. p. 22.
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (9 January 2015). "Bhishma Assesses the Heroes and Reveals Shikhandi's Mysterious Birth [Chapter 6]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (28 January 2019). "Story of Ambā". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (9 January 2015). "The Ninth Day of the Great Battle; The Invincible Bhishma [Chapter 9]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (9 January 2015). "The Tenth Day of Hostilities; The Fall of the Grandsire Bhishma [Chapter 10]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
- ^ "MAHABHARATA - After the Battle". Archived from the original on 17 June 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
- ^ Pattanaik, Devdutt. Shikhandi and Other Tales They Don't Tell You. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print