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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Ambika (''Mahabharata'')}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Ambika (''Mahabharata'')}}
{{short description|Mother of blind king Dhritrashtra in the epic ''Mahabharata''}}
{{short description|Mother of blind king Dhritrashtra in the epic ''Mahabharata''}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
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{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox character
{{Infobox character
| info-hdr = Information
| info-hdr = Information
| image = Bhisma fight in Swayamvara.jpg
| image = Ambika - Divya Chitram Series.jpg
| alt = Ambika
| alt = Ambika
| caption = Artwork of Ambika.
| caption = [[Bhishma]] abducts the princesses [[Amba (Mahabharata)|Amba]], Ambika and [[Ambalika]] from the assemblage of suitors at their swayamvara
| spouse = [[Vichitravirya]]
| spouse = [[Vichitravirya]]
| children = [[Dhritarashtra]]
| children = [[Dhritarashtra]]
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| color = #FFC569
| color = #FFC569
}}
}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', '''Ambika''' ([[Sanskrit]]: अंबिका, ''ambikā'') is the daughter of Kashya, the King of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]], and wife of [[Vichitravirya]], the King of [[Hastinapur|Hastinapura]].
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{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
'''Ambika''' ({{Lang-sa|अम्बिका|translit=Ambikā}}) is a princess featured in the [[Mahabharata]]. The daughter of Kashya, the King of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]], she is abducted by [[Bhishma]] during her [[svayamvara]], and becomes the wife of [[Vichitravirya]], the King of [[Hastinapur|Hastinapura]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2012-02-28 |title=Ambika, Aṃbikā, Ambikā: 29 definitions |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/ambika |access-date=2022-11-16 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Bhisma fight in Swayamvara.jpg|thumb|Bhishma abducts Ambika and her sisters during their svayamvara ceremony.]]


==History==
==Legend==
[[File:Mahabharata_Partial_Family_Tree.png|thumb|''Mahabharata'' Partial Family Tree]]
[[File:Mahabharata_Partial_Family_Tree.png|thumb|''Mahabharata'' Partial Family Tree]]
Along with her sisters, [[Amba (Mahabharata)|Amba]] and [[Ambalika]], Ambika was taken by force by [[Bhishma]] from their [[swayamvara]], the latter having challenged and defeated the assembled royalty. He presented them to his step-mother, [[Satyavati]] for marriage to Vichitravirya. While Amba expressed her desire not to marry him as she was in love with a king named Salwa, Ambika and Ambalika married Vichitravirya and spent seven years in their husband's company. Vichitravirya was afflicted with [[tuberculosis]] and subsequently died from the disease.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01103.htm |title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CII |publisher=[[Sacred-texts.com]] |access-date=2012-08-15}}</ref><ref name=B>{{cite book|title=Myths and Legends from India - Great Women|last=Bhanu|first=Sharada|publisher=Macmillan India Limited|year=1997|location=Chennai|isbn=0-333-93076-2|pages=35–6}}</ref>
Along with her sisters, [[Amba (Mahabharata)|Amba]] and [[Ambalika]], Ambika was taken by force by [[Bhishma]] from their [[swayamvara|svayamvara]], the latter having challenged and defeated the assembled royalty. He presented them to his step-mother, [[Satyavati]], for marriage to Vichitravirya. While Amba expressed her desire not to marry him as she was in love with a king named Salva, Ambika and Ambalika married Vichitravirya, and spent seven years in their husband's company. Vichitravirya was afflicted with [[tuberculosis]], and subsequently died from the disease.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01103.htm |title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CII |publisher=[[Sacred-texts.com]] |access-date=2012-08-15}}</ref><ref name=B>{{cite book|title=Myths and Legends from India - Great Women|last=Bhanu|first=Sharada|publisher=Macmillan India Limited|year=1997|location=Chennai|isbn=0-333-93076-2|pages=35–6}}</ref>


After Vichitravirya's death, his mother Satyavati sent for her first born, [[Rishi]] [[Vyasa|Veda Vyasa]]. She asked him to sire children with the widowed queens of Vichitravirya according to the prevalent custom of [[Niyoga]]. Veda Vyasa had come from years of intense meditation and as a result, he looked tremendously unkempt. When he approached Ambika, she closed her eyes in fear. As a result, the blind [[Dhritrashtra]] was born from their union. When he approached Ambalika, she turned pale in fear. Her son [[Pandu]], the result of their union, was born with a pale appearance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01106.htm |title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CV |publisher=Sacred-texts.com |access-date=2012-08-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01107.htm |title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CVI |publisher=Sacred-texts.com |access-date=2012-08-15}}</ref>
After Vichitravirya's death, he left behind no heirs. His mother Satyavati sent for her first born, the [[rishi]] [[Vyasa]]. She asked him to sire children with the widowed queens of Vichitravirya according to the prevalent custom of [[Niyoga]]. Vyasa had come from years of intense meditation, and as a result, looked tremendously unkempt. When he approached Ambika, she closed her eyes in fear. As a result, the blind [[Dhritrashtra]] was born from their union. When he approached Ambalika, she turned pale in fear. Her son [[Pandu]], the result of their union, was born with a pale appearance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01106.htm |title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CV |publisher=Sacred-texts.com |access-date=2012-08-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01107.htm |title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CVI |publisher=Sacred-texts.com |access-date=2012-08-15}}</ref>


After the death of Pandu, Ambika accompanied her mother-in-law Satyavati and sister Ambalika to the forest and spent the rest of her days in spiritual retreat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01129.htm |title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CXXVIII |publisher=Sacred-texts.com |access-date=2012-08-15}}</ref>
After the death of Pandu, Ambika accompanied her mother-in-law Satyavati, and sister Ambalika to the forest, and spent the rest of her days in spiritual retreat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01129.htm |title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CXXVIII |publisher=Sacred-texts.com |access-date=2012-08-15}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]


{{Hindu-myth-stub}}

Revision as of 06:58, 16 November 2022

Ambika
Ambika
Artwork of Ambika.
Information
FamilyParents
  • Kashya (Father)
Sisters
SpouseVichitravirya
ChildrenDhritarashtra
RelativesKauravas (grand children)

Ambika (Sanskrit: अम्बिका, romanized: Ambikā) is a princess featured in the Mahabharata. The daughter of Kashya, the King of Kashi, she is abducted by Bhishma during her svayamvara, and becomes the wife of Vichitravirya, the King of Hastinapura.[1]

File:Bhisma fight in Swayamvara.jpg
Bhishma abducts Ambika and her sisters during their svayamvara ceremony.

Legend

Mahabharata Partial Family Tree

Along with her sisters, Amba and Ambalika, Ambika was taken by force by Bhishma from their svayamvara, the latter having challenged and defeated the assembled royalty. He presented them to his step-mother, Satyavati, for marriage to Vichitravirya. While Amba expressed her desire not to marry him as she was in love with a king named Salva, Ambika and Ambalika married Vichitravirya, and spent seven years in their husband's company. Vichitravirya was afflicted with tuberculosis, and subsequently died from the disease.[2][3]

After Vichitravirya's death, he left behind no heirs. His mother Satyavati sent for her first born, the rishi Vyasa. She asked him to sire children with the widowed queens of Vichitravirya according to the prevalent custom of Niyoga. Vyasa had come from years of intense meditation, and as a result, looked tremendously unkempt. When he approached Ambika, she closed her eyes in fear. As a result, the blind Dhritrashtra was born from their union. When he approached Ambalika, she turned pale in fear. Her son Pandu, the result of their union, was born with a pale appearance.[4][5]

After the death of Pandu, Ambika accompanied her mother-in-law Satyavati, and sister Ambalika to the forest, and spent the rest of her days in spiritual retreat.[6]

References

  1. ^ www.wisdomlib.org (28 February 2012). "Ambika, Aṃbikā, Ambikā: 29 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  2. ^ "The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CII". Sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  3. ^ Bhanu, Sharada (1997). Myths and Legends from India - Great Women. Chennai: Macmillan India Limited. pp. 35–6. ISBN 0-333-93076-2.
  4. ^ "The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CV". Sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  5. ^ "The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CVI". Sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  6. ^ "The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CXXVIII". Sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
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