Ambā-Śikhaṇḍinī

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>This chapter examines the narrative of Ambā and her transformation into Śikhaṇḍinī, exploring the intersections of gender, identity, vengeance, and agency in the Mahābhārata. Through Ambā’s journey—from abduction and rejection to asceticism and eventual rebirth as Śikhaṇḍinī—the chapter interrogates the boundaries of gender and the quest for justice within patriarchal structures. The analysis foregrounds Ambā’s agency in seeking vengeance against Bhīṣma, her negotiation of identity through transformation, and the broader implications for understanding gender and power in epic literature. By situating Ambā–Śikhaṇḍinī’s story within the contexts of succession, transformation, and the politics of the Kuru dynasty, the chapter reveals how questions of gender, identity, and agency shape both personal destinies and the epic’s unfolding narrative.</jats:p>