Amba
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214385366
2008-05-23T09:07:54Z
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{{for|Hindu Goddess|Durga|Parvati}}
:''For the Iraqi condiment, see [[amba (condiment)]].''
:''For the geologic feature, see [[amba (geology)]].''
:''For the Advanced Microprocessor Bus Architecture, see [[AMBA (bus protocol)]].''
'''Amba''' (meaning "mother" in Sanskrit) is another name for Goddess [[Durga]] or [[Parvati]], consort of Lord [[Shiva]].
'''Amba''' (अम्बा) was the eldest daughter of King of [[Benares|Kashi]] in the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] epic of the [[Mahābhārata]].
Along with her sisters [[Ambika]] and [[Ambalika]], she was taken by force by [[Bhishma]] from their [[Swayamvara]]. (Bhishma challenged the assembled Kings and Princes and defeated them.) He presented them to [[Satyavati]] for marriage to [[Vichitravirya]], the king of [[Hastinapura]].
Vichitravirya married only her sisters and rejected Amba since she had already given her heart to another. When Amba went to see her beloved, he rejected her as well in shame of losing the combat against Bhishma at the Swayamvara. Amba then returned to Bhishma and demanded that he marry her. He declined since he had already taken a vow of bachelorhood. Enraged that she was going to be an unmarriageable women, she swore to kill him, at least in her next life, and died.
She was re-born as [[Shikhandi]] the son of [[Drupada]]. In the battle of [[Kurukshetra]], Shikhandi was instrumental in Bhishma's death.
{{Mahabharata}}
{{HinduMythology}}
[[Category:Characters in the Mahābhārata]]
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[[es:Ambā]]
[[id:Amba]]
[[mr:अंबा]]
[[pt:Amba]]
[[ta:அம்பா]]