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According to mythology, Maharishi Bharadwaj saw Apsara Ghritachi bathing in the Ganges, and his arousal led to semen being collected in a vessel (drona), from which Guru Dronacharya was born
Dronacharya was a master of the Vedas, Vedangas, and weaponry, gaining widespread fame. (News18 Hindi)
According to ancient scriptures, several prominent figures in the Mahabharata were not born biologically. This includes Karna and Dronacharya.
Dronacharya was said to be born from a vessel filled with semen, making him the unplanned son of the renowned Maharishi Bharadwaj. The sage is said to have preserved his semen in a kalash (sacrificial vessel), from which Drona was born. While this may seem implausible, modern science suggests that human sperm can be preserved for decades and used to produce offspring, making the mythological story intriguingly comparable.
Maharishi Bharadwaj: A Sage of Ancient Wisdom
Maharishi Bharadwaj was a highly revered figure in ancient times, respected even by Lord Ram. He was the son of Brihaspati and the maternal grandfather of Kubera. According to the Charak Samhita, Bharadwaj acquired knowledge of Ayurveda and grammar from Lord Indra. He was celebrated as a seer of the past, present, and future, a philosopher, and a wise man.
Bharadwaj’s influence spanned the Ramayana and Mahabharata periods. He was one of the Saptarishis in the Mahabharata, where Acharya Drona, his ayonija (not born from a womb) son, played a pivotal role.
Mythological Scripts About Dronacharya’s Birth
According to one mythological script, Maharishi Bharadwaj saw the apsara Ghritachi bathing in the Ganges and became infatuated. His arousal led to the ejaculation of semen, which he collected in a vessel. From this vessel, the child named Drona was born. This child later became a celebrated teacher and archer, earning the title Dronacharya. Ghritachi is thus considered his mother.
Who Was Apsara Ghritachi?
Ghritachi was a famous apsara, the daughter of Kashyap Rishi and Pradha. As per mythological tales, she bore 10 sons with Rudrashva, 100 daughters with Kushanabh, and a son named Kuru with Pramiti. The story of Drona’s birth from Bharadwaj remains one of the most remarkable.
Drona was a master of the Vedas, Vedangas, and weaponry, gaining widespread fame. Born in Dehradun (Drona-dun, meaning ‘bowl of Drona’), he became renowned for his wisdom and skills.
Dronacharya’s Life And Death
Dronacharya married Kripi, the sister of Kripacharya, and they had a son named Ashwatthama, believed to be chiranjivi (immortal). He taught the Kauravas and Pandavas, with Arjuna being his favourite disciple.
Despite his affection for the Pandavas, Drona fought for the Kauravas in the Mahabharata due to his allegiance to Hastinapur. On the 15th day of the war, Drona was deceived into believing his son Ashwatthama was dead. Overcome with grief, he disarmed himself and was killed by Dhrishtadyumna.
The Connection to Gurugram
It is believed that Dronacharya founded Gurgaon (literally ‘Guru’s village’) as a training ground for princes in the art of war. In April 2016, the city’s name was officially changed to Gurugram.
Scientific Parallels
Research by the National Library of Medicine confirms that human sperm can be preserved for over 20 years and used to produce offspring. In a case from 1971, a 52-year-old man’s sperm was stored and later used to conceive healthy children.
Studies show that sperm stored for up to 40 years can still be viable for assisted reproductive techniques like ICSI-IVF.
