Hidimbi

2022-06-29T11:14:51Z

122.161.51.152:

{{short description|Character from Indian epic Mahabharata}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Refimprove|date= February 2013}}
{{Infobox deity
| name = Hiḍimbī
| god_of =
| image = Bhima_and_Hedemba.jpeg
| type = hindu
| caption = Bheema and Hidimbi, painting by [[Raja Ravi Varma]].
| siblings = [[Hidimba]]
| abode = [[Kamyaka Forest]]
| children = [[Ghatotkacha]]
| consort = [[Bhima]]
| affiliation = [[Rakshasa]], [[Devi]]
| texts = [[Mahabharata]]
}}

'''Hiḍimbī''' ([[Sanskrit]]: {{Lang|san|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''' or '''Pallavī'''.
==Hiḍimb and Bhīma==

The story begins in the [[Lakshagraha|Lākṣāgṛha]] of the [[Mahābhārata]] after the [[Pandava|Pāṇḍavā]]s 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 Hiḍimba and her brother [[Hidimba|Hiḍimbā]], a very powerful [[rakshasa]]. He smelled the [[Pandava|Pāṇḍavā]]s 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 and soon overpowered the Rakshasa and slew him. Kuntī and other Pāṇḍavās all watched the duel from a distance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ritsin.com/bhima-hidimba-mahabharata.html/|title = Marriage of Bhima and Hidimba – the Mahabharata|date = 22 January 2014}}</ref>

[[File:Yudhistira telling to Hidimbi about rules of Marriage.jpg|thumb|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 [[Ghatotkacha|Ghaṭotkaca]] as his head resembled a pot. Ghaṭotkaca went on to become a great warrior and an important figure in the [[Mahābhārata]] war.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/and-more/mahabharata-s-bhima-was-married-to-a-rakshasi-do-you-know-who-she-is_1882366.html|title = Mahabharata's Bhima was married to a rakshasi – do you know who she is|date = 5 May 2016}}</ref>

==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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/spiritual/religion/article/all-you-need-to-about-hidimbi-the-demoness-wife-of-bhima/520224|title = All you need to know about Hidimbi, the demoness wife of Bhima}}</ref>

=== Nepal ===
'''[[Bhutandevi Mandir]]''' ([[Nepali language|Nepali]]: भुटनदेवी मन्दिर) is a [[Hindu temple]] dedicated to Goddess Bhutandevi in [[Hetauda|Hetauda city]]. The name of the city—Hetauda is believed to be derived from the name of the goddess.<ref>{{Cite web |title=नेपालको मौलिक पर्व हो छठ |url=https://www.tukhabar.com/2021/11/134169/ |access-date=2022-03-14 |website=Tukhabar |language=ne}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Hidimba Devi Temple]]
* [[Hidimba]]
* [[Kaleshwari Group of Monuments]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Mahābhārata}}
{{HinduMythology}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Rakshasa in the Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Hindu goddesses]]

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Hidimbi