Abhimanyu

Abhimanyu is the name of two persons in Hindu Mythology. One was the son of Manu Chakshush by his wife Nadvala, and the other was a more famous character who who was a son of Arjun by his wife Subhadra, and whose name figures in the Mahabharata, and in some other ancient Sanskrit texts.

Mahabharata's Abhimanyu was said to be the incarnation of Varcha who was son of Som. According to Mahabharata, he was married to Uttara, the daughter of the king of Virat. In the battle of Mahabharat, he was said to be only person who knew how to penetrate the Chakravyuh battle-array, that was formed by the Kauravs as per the counsel of Dron. At that time, Arjun was busy elsewhere and therefore Kauravs thought no other person form the camp of Pandavs could break through it.

However, they were mistaken in this conclusion. Abhimanyu told his uncles that he knew how to break through the battle-array. He revealed the story that his father Arjun had taught him how to break through such Chakravyuh while he was still in his mothers womb. It is said while Arjun was telling all these things to his mother, she slipped into sleep, and thus he was prevented in knowing as to how one could come out safe from such Chakravyuh.

At that point of time, his uncles assured him that they would follow him at the time of breaking in through the Chakravyuh. Once he made an opening, they would not let the opening close.

As per the plan of Pandavs, Abhimanyu broke open the Chakravyuh and entered into it while his uncles were unable to do so. Abhimanyu was alone fighting inside the Chakravyuh and showed great bravery. He fought the great warriors Dron, Duryodhan, Karn etc at the very tender age of just sixteen.

However, he was finally killed by the combined group of warriors in violation of war rules of that period. At that time his wife Uttara was pregnant with his child. She shortly gave birth to a son who was named Parikshit, known to be the last ruler of Dvapar Yuga. He succeeded the throne of Hastinapur, that was won by Pandavs in the Mahabharat War.

Nearby pages
Abhinandannath, Abhirup, Abhishek Pushkarni, Abhishyant, Abhorrence