Ashwatthama

अश्वत्थामा

Son of Dronacharya and Krupi; defeated by Arjuna in the great battle of Mahabharata

GLOSSARY

Achyuta - immortal.
Adharma - unrighteousness.
Adhibhuta - physical region.
Adhidaiva - ancient God.
Adhiyajna - the Entity concerned with Sacrifice.
Adhyatma - Individual Self.
Adityas - Gods of Hindu mythology meaning 'sons of the light'.
Agni - fire.
Ahamkara - egoism
Airavata - heavenly elephant.
Akasa - sky.
Akshara - imperishable.
Ananta - the king of snakes.
Anantavijaya - the name of Yudhisthira's conch meaning 'endless victory'.
Aryaman - king of ancestors.
Asat - non-existent.
Asita - sage in Hindu mythology.
Asuras - heavenly beings that are always at odds with the demigods.
Asvattha - a sacred tree.
Asvatthaman - one fighting on the Kauravas side whose name means 'who has the obstinacy of a horse'.
Asvins - twin Gods of hindu mythology meaning 'lords of pure desire'.
Atma - soul.
Aushadha - plants in general, including rice and barley, eaten by all living beings or it might mean medicine.
Bhagavan - God.
Bharata - refers to the dynasty that ruled ancient India for many generations. The name means 'descendant of the light of wisdom'. Sometimes, it refers to Arjuna or to the first ruler in the dynasty, Bharata or to Dhritarashtra. Another name of India 'Bharat' has originated from this term.
Bhishma - The grandfather of the Pandavas and the Kauravas fighting on the Kauravas side. the name means 'who rules fear'.
Bhrigu - ancient sage.
Bhutas - spirits, ghosts or demons.
Brahma, Brahman, Brahmana, Brahmin, Brahmic and Brahmachari - The words starting with 'Brahm' has the following meanings according to the context it is used in. It might refer to
Brahma - The God of creation belonging to the trinity (3 Gods) of creation, preservation and destruction in Hinduism.
Brahman, Brahmana or Brahmin - God in general or a God realised soul or the specific caste (sub-division) in Hindu society whose duty is to learn, teach sacred texts and look after the temples.
Brahmic - the state of Brahman.
Brahmachari - person practising celebacy or a God realised soul
Brihaspati - chief of priests.
Buddhi - mind, intellect or reason.
Buddhi yoga - sankhya yoga.
Chekitana - a king allied with the Pandavas.
Chitraratha - an indian mythological personality.
Daityas - a name in Hindu mythology.
Devadhatta - the name of Arjuna's conch meaning 'ambassador of the Gods'.
Devala - sage in Hindu mythology.
Devatas or Devas - different Gods in Hinduism.
Dhananjaya - Arjuna meaning 'conqueror of wealth'.
Dharma - righteousness.
Dhrishtadyumna - a king allied to the Pandavas whose name means 'who attacks impurity'.
Dhristaketu - a king allied with the Pandavas whose name means 'continuity of light'.
Dhritarashtra - father of the Kauravas whose name means 'blind ambition'.
Dhrti - constancy.
Dvandva - a word.
Ekitana - one tone of chanting.
Gandharvas - celestial singers.
Gandiva - the bow of Arjuna meaning 'whose song causes terror'.
Ganges - holy river coming down from the himalaya mountains.
Garuda - celestial bird.
Gayatri - a sacred hymn.
Govinda - Sri Krsna meaning 'who is one-pointed light'.
Gudakesa - another name of Arjuna meaning 'who has conquered sleep'.
Guna - nature.
Hari - another name of Lord Krishna meaning 'remover of duality'.
Himalaya - a mountain range north of India.
Hrishikesa - Sri Krsna meaning 'ruler of the senses'.
Ikshvaku - ancient Indian personality meaning 'beholding witness'.
Indra - in Hindu mythology,the king of heaven.
Isvara - God.
Janaka - ancient Indian king.
Janardana - Sri Krsna meaning 'who is worshipped by the people'.
Japa - silent repitition.
Jayadratha - a king allied to the Kauravas.
Jivas - living beings
Jivatma - soul.
Kalpa - a long period of time.
Kamadhenu or Kamadhuk - the cow in mythology that has undriable milk.
Kapila - a saint.
Karma - one's actions in life.
Kasi - a place in India.
Kasiraja - King of Kasi. It also means 'king of manifested light'.
Kauravas - the 100 brothers and sons of Dhritarashtra.
Kesava - Sri Krsna meaning 'embodiment of the functions of creation, preservation and transformation'.
Kesin - a demon.
Kirti - fame.
Kripa or Kripacharya or Krpa - the teacher of spirituality to the Pandavas and the Kauravas and fighting on the Kauravas side. His name means 'who does and gets'.
Ksama - forgiveness.
Kshattriya - a caste (sub-division) in the Hindu society whose duty is to fight.
Kshetra - field or body.
Kshetrajna - Soul.
Kunti - the mother of the Pandavas whose name means 'who removes the deficiency of others'.
Kuntibhoja - a king allied with the Pandavas. His name means 'who enjoys removing the deficiency of others'.
Kurunandhana - Arjuna meaning 'delight of action'.
Kurus - the dynasty of the Bharatha.
Kurukshetra - the name of the Battle-field.
Kusa - a type of grass.
Kusumakara - a season.
Kutastha - the indivisible.
Madhava - Sri Krsna meaning 'whose sweetness is intoxicating'.
Madhu - a demon.
Madhusudhana - Sri Krsna meaning 'slayer of too much'.
Maharatha - the master of a great car (chariot)
Maharishis - Great sages.
Mahatman - high souled.
Maheshvara - God.
Makara - shark.
Manas - mind, thought or heart depending on the context.
Manipushpaka - the name of Sahadeva's conch meaning 'ornament of jewels'.
Mantra - chant.
Manu - ancient Indian who had written a treatise on righteousness. His name means 'protector of mind'. Some feel the word 'Man' originated from this term.
Margasirsha - a month roghly corresponding to November.
Marichi - a name from Hindu mythology.
Maruts - a kind of Devatas meaning 'those who purify'.
Maya - illusion.
Medha - loving intellect.
Moksha - enlightenment, liberation, nirvana, release from suffering and attainment of supreme eternal happiness and state.
Muni - sage.
Nagas - celestial serpents.
Narada - sage in Hindu mythology.
Narayana - one of the three chief Gods of Hinduism.
Nirvana - enlightenment, liberation, moksha, release from suffering and attainment of supreme eternal happiness and state.
Om - sacred hymn or syllable.
Panchajanya - the name of Krishna's conch meaning 'of the five elements'.
Pandavas - the 5 brothers and sons of Pandu.
Pandu - the father of the Pandavas. The name means 'he who is without prejudice'.
Parabrahman - God.
Paramatma - God.
Paramtapa - 'supreme light'.
Partha - Arjuna meaning 'son of she who excels'.
Paundra - the name of Bhima's conch whose meaning is doubtful.
Pavana - air.
Pitris - ancestors.
Prahlada - great devotee.
Prajapati - the Lord of all beings born.
Prakriti - nature.
Preceptor - refers to Drona,the teacher of the Pandavas and the Kauravas.
Pritha - mother of Arjuna.
Punya - merit.
Purujit - a king allied with the Pandavas. His name means 'who has complete victory'.
Purusha - the soul in the body.
Purushottama - God.
Rajarshis - Great sages.
Rajas or Rajasika - one of the 3 characters or nature of living beings discussed in chapter 17.
Rakshasas - demons.
Rama - another incarnation of Sri Krsna, the chief character in the epic, Ramayana.
Rik veda - one of the 4 Vedas
Rishis - sages.
Rudra - refers to Shiva, the God believed in Hinduism to be the destroyer of lives. The name means 'reliever of suffering'.
Saddhyas - one in hindu mythology.
Sahadeva - one of the Pandavas. His name means 'equal to the Gods'.
Saibya - a king allied with the Pandavas. His name means 'son of unselfishness'.
Sama veda - one of the four Vedas
Samsara - external world.
Sanjaya or Samnjaya - the person narrating the Bhagavad Gita with the help of a divine eye given to him by God. His name means 'he who is victorious over all'.
Samjaya - the person narrating the Bhagavad Gita with the help of a divine eye given to him by God.
Sankara - Shiva, the God of destruction
Sankhya - spiritual path by Knowledge.
Samnyasa - the renunciation of materialistic life.
Sat - existent.
Sattva or Sattvika - one of the 3 characters or nature of living beings discussed in chapter 17.
Satyaki - a king allied to the Pandavas. His name means 'whose nature is truth'.
Savyasachin - Arjuna meaning 'he who can use both of his hands skillfully'.
Siddhas - sages.
Sikhandin - a king allied to the Pandavas. His name means 'who dwells at the summit'.
Skanda - a God of Hinduism
Smrti - recollection.
Somas - a plant.
Somadatta - His name means 'ambassodor of the nectar of devotion'.
Sri - Respect.
Subhadra - seperate wife of Arjuna. Her name means 'excellent of excellence'.
Sudras - the caste (sub-division) in the Hindu society whose duty is to do labour.
Sughosa - the name of Nakula's conch meaning 'excellent battle-cry'.
Svadha - the food offered to ancestors.
Svarga - heaven.
Tamas or Tamasika - one of the 3 characters or nature of living beings discussed in chapter 17.
Tapas - meditation.
Tyaga - sacrifice.
Uchchaisaravas - mythological kingly horse born in the ocean when it was churned for nector.
Usana - a musician.
Ushmapas - a name in hindu mythology.
Uttamaujas - fighting on Pandavas side. His name means 'excellent ability'.
Vada - a way of debate.
Vainateya - the eagle.
Vaisvanara - the energy in the stomach that digests food.
Vaisyas - the caste (sub-division) in the Hindu society whose duty is to do business.
Vak - vibrations.
Varna-Sankara - inter-mixture of castes.
Varshneya - Sri Krsna.
Varuna - king of water-Gods.
Vasavas - Indra, the king of the celestial Gods.
Vasu - Lord of wealth.
Vasudeva - Sri Krsna.
Vayu - wind.
Vedanta - scriptures belonging to the end period of the Vedas.
Vedas - the ancient holy text of the Hindus.
Vedic - of the Vedas.
Vasuki - the lord of serpents.
Vasus - a name in hindu mythology.
Vikarna - a king allied to the Kauravas. His name means 'who is deaf to evil'.
Vikranta - who is not overcome.
Virata - a king allied with the Pandavas. His name means 'brilliantly shining'.
Vishnu - Sri Krsna meaning 'he who pervades the universe'.
Visvadevas - universal dieties.
Visvesvara - Sri Krsna meaning 'Lord of the universe.
Visvas - in hindu mythology.
Vivasvat - ancient Indian personality. His name means 'brilliantly shining'.
Vrishni - Krishna's clan.
Vrkodara - refers to Bhima meaning 'who has a voracious appetite'.
Vyasa - sage and author of Mahabharatha (and hence Bhagavad Gita) and other major religious works in Hinduism like Brahma sutras.
Yadava - the caste following Krishna.
Yajna - vedic ritual.
Yajur veda - one of the 4 vedas.
Yaksas - those who protect wealth.
Yama - the God of death.
Yoga - spiritual way.
Yogeswara - Sri Krsna meaning 'Lord of yoga'.
Yogi or Yogin - the person following yoga.
Yudhamanyu - a king allied with the Pandavas. His name means 'who conquers the mind'.
Yudhisthira - the eldest of the Pandavas known for his truthfulness. His name means 'who remains committed to the ideal'.
Yugas - a measurement of time.
Yuyudhana - a king allied with the Pandavas. His name means 'defender of wealth'.