Hidimbi

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Hiḍimbī
Bhima and Hedemba.jpeg
Bheema and Hidimbi, painting by Raja Ravi Varma.
AffiliationRakshasa, Devi
AbodeKamyaka Forest
TextsMahabharata
Personal information
SiblingsHidimba
ConsortBhima
ChildrenGhatotkacha

Hiḍimbī (Sanskrit:हिडिम्बी, IAST: Hiḍimbī), or Hiḍimbā, is the wife of the Pandava Bhima and mother of great warrior Veer Ghatotkacha in the Mahābhārata. She meets Bhima in the 9th sub-parva (Hidimva-vadha Parva) of the Adi Parva. She is also referred to as Bhuṭanadevī (भुटनदेवी) or Pallavī (पल्लवी).

Hiḍimbā and Bhīma[]

The story begins in the Lākṣāgṛha of the Mahābhārata after the Pāṇḍavās reached a dense forest. Exhausted from their travels, they all fell asleep at night, except for Bhīma who kept watch.

In the same forest lived Hiḍimbī and her brother Hiḍimbā, a very powerful rakshasa. He smelled the Pāṇḍavās at a distance and as usual asked the Hiḍimbī to lure the well-built Bhīma into a trap so he could eat him. Hiḍimbī confronted Bhīma and instead fell in love with him. She assumed the form of a very beautiful lady and approached Bhīma, expressing her desire to marry him by revealing her true identity, as well as her brother's intentions. Bhīma confronted Hiḍimbā but was soon overpowered. It was only with the supernatural powers of Hiḍimbī, supporting Bhīma from a distance, that he could overcome and slay Hiḍimbā. Kuntī and other Pāṇḍavās all watched the duel from a distance.[1]

Yudhishthira explaining the rules of marriage to Hiḍimbī

Marriage[]

After killing Hiḍimba, Bhīma married Hiḍimbī. Bhīma decided to live with her till a child was born. Hiḍimbī agreed and they married. Within a year, Hiḍimbī gave birth to a son. They named him Ghaṭotkaca as his head resembled a pot. Ghaṭotkaca went on to become a great warrior and an important figure in the Mahābhārata war.[2]

Temple[]

India[]

There is a temple in Manali in Himachal Pradesh dedicated to the worship of Hidimbi. According to the legend, Hidimbi stayed back in the forest to perform penance and attain the status of a Goddess.[3]

Nepal[]

Bhutandevi Mandir (Nepali: भुटनदेवी मन्दिर) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Bhutandevi in Hetauda city.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Marriage of Bhima and Hidimba – the Mahabharata". 22 January 2014.
  2. ^ "Mahabharata's Bhima was married to a rakshasi – do you know who she is". 5 May 2016.
  3. ^ "All you need to know about Hidimbi, the demoness wife of Bhima".
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