https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=2409%3A4063%3A6C0C%3A2F6D%3A0%3A0%3AD9CA%3A7609Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]2026-08-14T03:18:25ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ahilawati&diff=163850Ahilawati2021-08-28T08:52:12Z<p>2409:4063:6C0C:2F6D:0:0:D9CA:7609: </p>
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<div>{{use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}<br />
{{use Indian English|date=February 2016}}<br />
{{short description|Female figure in the epic Mahabharata}}<br />
{{Infobox Character<br />
| name = Mauravi (Ahilawati)<br />
| spouse = [[Ghatotkacha]]<br />
| children = [[Barbarika]], Meghavarna and Anjanaparvan (Sons)<br />
| family = Mura (father), [[Hidimbi|Hidimba]] (Mother-in-Law), [[Bhima]] (Father-in-Law)<br />
| series =<br />
}}<br />
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'''Ahilāvati''', also known as '''Mourvi''' and '''Kamkanthika''', was a ''Nāga Kanyā''<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bandyopadhyay |first1=Indrajit |title=Mahabharata Folk Variations |date=2013 |isbn=9781105320767 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V-RKCAAAQBAJ&pg=PT16&lpg=PT16&dq=Ahilawati+-wiki#q=Ahilawati%20-wiki |access-date=8 September 2018 |language=en}}</ref> (meaning snake-girl) and was married to [[Ghatotkacha]]. Her father was Mura, an ally of [[Narakasura|Naraka]]. Shri Krishna, along with his wife [[Satyabhama]] went to defeat Narakasura after he stole God [[Varuna]]'s umbrella and Goddess [[Aditi]]'s earrings. First she fought with Satyabhama. After Shri Krishna killed [[Narakasura]], he killed Maurvi's father, Mura. Mauravi decided to avenge her father's death. However, after knowing the truth about Shri Krishna she put down her weapon. Shri Krishna told her that soon she would get married.<br />
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As per a folktale, Ahilavati was the daughter of [[Vasuki]], the sacred serpent of Shiva. As per the tale, Ahilavati had been cursed by Goddess [[Parvati]] for offering stale flowers to Lord Shiva, the curse was that she would get a mortified man as her husband.<ref>{{cite web |title=Get Over Draupadi. This Female Character In Mahabharat Was The Reason That Bheem Did Not Die. She Was Also His Daughter-In-Law |url=https://daily.bhaskar.com/news/JM-MYTH-mahabharata-brave-woman-5618149-PHO.html |website=dailybhaskar |access-date=8 September 2018 |language=en |date=9 June 2017}}</ref> It is said that [[Bhima]] was poisoned by [[Shakuni]] and [[Duryodhana]] and thrown in a river, after which he wafted and reached Ahilyavati's kingdom. Owing to the curse, Ahilyavati soon recognised him as [[Vaayu]]'s son and asked her father to provide jeevan-daan (life) to him, failing which she would burn herself alive in Bhima's pyre. [[Vasuki]] gave him the elixir obtained from lord [[Shiva]], post which [[Bhima]] came back to life.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Keith |first1=Arthur Berriedale |title=The Sanskrit Drama in Its Origin, Development, Theory & Practice |date=1992 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ. |isbn=9788120809772 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sfqRhylNBpwC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Ahilawati+-wiki |access-date=8 September 2018 |language=en}}</ref><br />
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It is said that Mauravi (Ahilawati) took a vow that she will only marry the man who can defeat her in intelligence and in a battle. In order to fulfil this vow, Mauravi killed many men. Upon the recommendation of [[Shri Krishna]], [[Bhima]]'s son [[Ghatotkacha]] was asked to marry Mauravi. He defeats her and marries her. After this her vow is fulfilled. After a series of such incidents, Ghatotkacha finally married Ahilawati and they had a son named [[Barbarika]] or the present-day [[Khatushyamji]], who is also known as 'Sheesh ka daani' or 'Haare ka sahara'.<br />
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== References ==<br />
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{{Mahābhārata}}<br />
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[[Category:Characters in Hindu mythology]]<br />
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