The story of Amba

We have left one important character, Amba, behind. She was the eldest daughter of the king of Kasi. Let us recall that Bhsihma had forcefully carried the three daughters, Amba, Ambika and Ambalika, away to Hastinapura for his nephew, Vichitravirya to marry. If we recall the event, Amba had excused herself saying that she was already in love with king Salva. But, Salva refused to accept her as she was captured by Bhishma. The Kaurava seer would not take her back either as her mind was with Salva. Finally, in frustration, she left with only one aim in mind, to take revenge on Bhishma.

Penance with an aim

Amba went into forest and started meditating on Lord Subrahmanya, famous for many divine victories. After years of penance, the Lord appeared before the princess and asked what she wanted. Amba had only one wish, revenge on Bhishma who destroyed her life. The Lord, after some thought, gave her a garland of ever fresh lotus flowers. Whoever wore the garland would cause the death of Bhishma.

Bhishma was known never to face any woman in fight. So, Amba approached many princes, known for their valour and enmity to Bhishma with the garland. No one dared an open conflict with the formidable Bhishma, even with the divine garland. Amba finally went to king Drupada who was his arch rival . The Panchala king,too, refused to face Bhishma at any cost. Amba lost all hopes and hung the garland above the gates of Drupada’s palace and left the place in total frustration.

Parasurama for help

Some ascetics, whom she met on the way, advised Amba to approach Parasurama for help. The sage had destroyed seven generations of kings in revenge for the killing of his father. He was also the best known warrior who ever lived on the face of earth.

Parasurama listened to Amba with sympathy. How could he help her? Could he force Salva to accept her?

Amba had given up all interests in marriage. Revenge on Bhishma was her only mission left in life. Parasurama agreed to challenge Bhishma on her behalf. He fought a fierce battle for several days against the valiant Bhishma. Finally, the sage admitted that it was beyond him to defeat the Kaurava warrior. He advised Amba that her only hope would be to get the blessing of Lord Siva.

Blessing from Lord Siva

Amba, accordingly, started meditating on the Lord. After days of hard penance Lord Siva was pleased and appeared before her. The Lord blessed her that she would be able to kill Bhishma in her next birth. The princess of Kasi was so consumed with the passion for revenge that she immediately ended her life by jumping into fire.

Birth of Sikhandi

Amba soon took birth as daughter to king Drupada of Panchala. During her childhood days she used to play in the palace courtyard. One day the child found the garland hanging at the gate of the palace . Out of childhood curiosity, she picked it up and wore it around her neck. Suddenly, memories of her past life and her hatred for Bhishma rushed back to her mind. She retired to forest to do penance again with the hope of becoming a male to face Bhishma. Lord Siva came to her rescue again. With his blessing Amba became a male and came to be known by the name Sikhandi.

We shall learn in the final episodes of the Mahabharata war how Bhishma met his death at the hands of Sikhandi.